Flagler's Few, Volume 3 - The Vampirate of Matanzas Inlet

Matanzas Inlet is a small channel just south of St. Augustine, Florida.  It is named Matanzas (the Spanish word for "slaughters") due to the massacre that occurred back in the late 1500s when the Spanish came in and murdered over 200 French Huguenots.

It also plays an important setting in Andre R. Frattino's latest Flagler's Few graphic novel, The Vampirate of Matanzas Inlet.

As with Frattino's prior books, this story is fiction mixed with a good dose of non-fictional history.  Told between flashbacks and present day events, the story focuses on Roger and his ancestor, the famed pirate Captain Rogerick Blimes.  Centuries ago, Captain Blimes defeated the evil "Mad Eyes" Gaunt and captured his demon-possessed soul in a skull, which he later hid somewhere around St. Augustine, Florida.  Obviously, that very skull plays a very important part in events occurring in the present.  With the Flagler's Few two members down, Roger feels as if he has been betrayed by all of his friends - until he runs into a friend from his past (quite literally), who reminds him what loyalty is and what fun living a "pirate" life can be.  Raven and the Professor are worried about Roger, but he doesn't see it that way.

Now, you may be asking - what about that "vampirate" referenced in the title to the story? Well, that's another little subplot being told throughout this story. It seems Captain Blimes, in exchange for help in defeating Gaunt, agreed to assist a pregnant woman escape capture - but he was never able to rescue her, as she died giving birth during their escape.  He took the child with him - a child that just so happened to be born cursed as a vampire!  Raised on a pirate's ship (raised as a boy, mind you), Maddie grew up with indebted to Captain Blimes, and ultimately, to his descendants.  Which, of course, brings us to the present, where a young vampire girl (or rather, young in appearance) seems to be protecting Roger at every turn.

Frattino weaves another fun tale with banshees, vampires, possession, and good ol' pirate excitement. It's not only a tale of treasure hunting and high-seas pirating, but it's also a tale of friendship, loyalty, and well - the return of a member of the group thought gone (and his return brings with it some great geek-out references!).  The art, by Frattino, with Effie Rodriguez on inks, isn't quite as refined as the previous two books.  The characters' looks are not always consistent, and some of the panels seem a bit rushed.  However, none of that detracts from the story, and overall, the book was a great read (with a really good payoff at the end).

Don't see any word yet on a fourth graphic novel, so I guess I'll have to wait until I see Frattino at another comic convention and ask him then...

RATING:  8 witchy telepathic things out of 10 for taking the real history and locations of Florida and mixing them up with some great supernatural tales!

Flagler's Few, Volume 2 - Lost Souls of Savannah

Writer and artist Andre Frattino takes a quick detour from his Flagler's Few regular cast to spotlight the ghost that was seen in the first book - Victor, the guitar-playing ghost.  Frattino provides a rather detailed backstory for Victor - not necessarily his life, but rather his death and his after-life.

Lost Souls of Savannah tells the story of Victor's journey - his journey to find a way to get his life back, but also his journey of self-discovery and the darkness that resides within him, now that he is dead.  While the first graphic novel brought together the team of ghost-hunters through mishaps and a bit of fun, this one takes a more serious turn.  Victor is told by a Hoodoo priestess that he can regain his life if he first collects five souls that haunt the streets of Savannah, Georgia.  Desperate to become solid again, Victor agrees to the deal.  With the help of the priestess's son, a would-be writer, and a young photographer, Victor tracks down the five souls that will give him back his humanity.

Or will they?

Frattino provides a few twists along the way that will make the reader question the characters and reminds readers that inside of everyone there's both good and bad - it's up to each individual to choose which path he or she will take.  In fact, there are two huge twists as the story winds down, and they provide a very satisfying ending to Victor's backstory.  The story is a nice change of pace following the action packed first graphic novel and definitely showcases his talent as a writer.

The art actually feels a little less refined than the first book - and I wonder if that isn't because Frattino brings in inker Ryan English to "bring his pencils to life," as he indicates in his introduction to the story.  Personally, I think Frattino's art already shined; however, perhaps writing, drawing, inking, and lettering a book like this might be a bit taxing for one person, so I can forgive the fractional depreciation of the art. And maybe English is a very talented artist in his own right; I just don't think their combination necessarily works so well together.

I bought this book (as well as the third one) at the same time as the first book, so it also has a personalized drawing in the front, with the creator's autograph - this time, depicting me holding the all-important lantern (you have to read the story to understand what the lantern's significance is).  While the books can be bought online, I'd suggest finding Frattino at a convention so you can get them personalized this way - it makes them all the more special.

RATING:  7 union sharpshooters out of 10 for telling a good ol' fashioned ghost story from the ghost's point of view!

Flagler's Few, Volume 1 - The Reaper of St. George Street

At this year's MegaCon, I happened across writer/artist Andre Frattino while walking up and down the aisles of artist alley.  Frattino was touting his wares (as was every other creators in artist alley), and while I initially walked past, I had to go back and take a second look.  He had several graphic novels at his table - The Reaper of St. George Street. Lost Souls of Savannah. The Vampirate of Matanzas Inlet.  With titles like those, how could I not take a closer look.  Frattino was friendly and definitely excited about his work - a series of tales about a group if unlikely ghost hunters in Florida's very own haunted city, St. Augustine. I was hooked, so I picked up all three books (after all, I'm a huge supporter of independent comic creators - the fact that these told ghost stories set in my own back yard? well, that was simply an added bonus).

The Reaper of St. George Street is the first volume in this series, and it introduces readers to this eclectic cast of characters.  William Garrings, the doubting Thomas who carries a chip on his shoulder following the death of his father.  Franklin Dinklemyer, the uber-nerd with all the sci-fi / fantasy / comic knowledge you'll ever need.  Roger Blimes, the modern day pirate (better known as a pick-pocket).  Allison Stewart, the resident witch who calls herself "Raven."  These guys certainly aren't Ghost Hunters, that's for sure.

So, what exactly are they?

Well, they are real people.  Sort of.  I mean, obviously, they aren't real, since they are simply drawings on a page.  But they are well-rounded, well developed characters, and in just under 250 pages, Frattino gives you everything you need to know to not only like each and every one of them, but to root for them and turn each page, dying to see how they are going to defeat the ghost (or in this case, the Reaper).  While the art is not what might be termed "mainstream" comic art, it has flair and style all its own that lends the right mix of humor and haunting to the story.

The story centers around a fellow college student that William meets upon his arrival in St,. Augustine.  Claire Evans hasn't been sleeping well. She is plagued by nightmares of this shadowy creature following her.  Attacking her.  Killing her.  She wakes up screaming, unsure of what is happening.  William quickly falls for Claire - until Roger shows him a picture of Claire.  In an antique shop, he shows William an image of Claire from the 1800s!  Could she be a ghost?  But William doesn't believe is ghosts.  Doesn't he?  It gets even more confusing when he sees a ghost eaten by the shadowy creature that has been haunting Claire's dreams.  With the help of Franklin, Roger, and Raven, William sets out to uncover the truth and, quite possibly, save Claire's life.

With real St. Augustine settings and history thrown into the mix, this story has a very cinematic feel to it, and I could easily see this transferred into television or film.  Frattino paces the story nicely, knows when to cut scenes and jump, and with the obligatory ending that opens the door for further stories, he's got a winner on his hands.

And not only did I get a cool Raven bookmark when I bought all three books, but he was kind enough to sketch me into the book itself!  Now, how cool is that?

RATING:  9 copies of Demonslayers out of 10 for keeping it real, even in the midst of a fun-filled, ghost-haunted romp through a fictionalized St. Augustine.