Dark Red #1

Located off the highway at Fall’s End, there is a Buffalo Jump filling station that operates around the clock. One of its employees, Charles “Chip” Ipswich, is diligently mopping the floors when a semi-truck pulls in. The truck is driven by Camden Rickenbaugh, who is accompanied by his friend Stu. Cam, visibly intoxicated, engages in conversation with Chip, grabbing two beers in the process. He asks Chip if he was the one he saw leaving Evie Keen’s place the other night. Cam confesses that he has been visiting her lately, which triggers his jealousy towards Chip for getting close to the only decent woman in the vicinity. Cam goes on to vent his frustrations, blaming the Democrats for shutting down their refinery, the Mexicans for taking all the jobs, and now feeling resentful towards young men like Chip who are “taking their women.” He taunts Chip about a locket he wears, insinuating it contains some kind of Spanish fly. In response, Chip’s eyes glow red, and he warns Cam that he should go home due to his excessive drinking. Cam immediately backs down and parrots Chip’s words. Their conversation is interrupted by Renee’s yell, demanding Chip to mop the area again because Stu couldn’t hold his beer. Chip asserts that he needs to finish by seven, as it was his only condition for taking the job. Renee threatens to offer his position to someone else if he doesn’t comply. Meanwhile, Stu vomits on the floor. Before Chip begins mopping, he sees the sun rising, marking the start of an eventful day. Tim Seeley delivers a captivating beginning to this series, showcasing Chip’s race home with an intriguing decoration in his coffin. Trouble looms on the horizon, leaving readers wondering how events can unfold under sunlight. As the day transitions into evening, Evie Keen enters the story, establishing her relationship with Chip. A humorous television program plays in the background after Evie leaves, adding comedic flair to the subsequent scene when three unexpected visitors arrive. Chip demonstrates that he is not one to be trifled with over the next four pages, but the final page takes both Chip and readers by surprise. It’s a fantastic start to a vampire tale set in an unconventional setting.