Review by Frank Plowright

A third visit to the pulp novels of Jean Ray retrieves The Red-Eyed Vampire. Moreso than the previous adaptations this has an interesting start, possibly contracting an earlier adventure never transformed into a graphic novel. Over two tidily constructed pages we learn of vicious killer Ebenezer Krank who terrorised continental Europe before being run to ground by Harry Dickson. He’s now due to be executed for his crimes and has requested Dickson be present when this occurs in the small German town of Hildesheim.

As in previous books, artist Onofrio Catacchio puts in every effort to create the period atmosphere from the living rooms of large German houses to the brickwork in the London sewers, while lightning strikes on moody, rainy nights. His vampires stand out as wretched creatures, lacking the nobility of the legends the story channels.

Ray’s original material predates the idea of vampires as common culture, and through the adaptation team of Doug Headline and Luana Vegari the concept of vampires is so unusual that Dickson has to explain them to his assistant Tom Mills. Mills is still in the somewhat creepy habit of addressing Dickson as “Master”, one of few signifiers of any personality from a cast whose only purpose is to move the plot forward.

Previous books have been soaked in a supernatural atmosphere, but the threats of The Court of Terror had a human explanation. Is that the case again here? Dickson certainly treats the idea of a vampire seriously enough, and all the clues lead to that conclusion.

As a pure detective story The Red-Eyed Vampire is a very well constructed period piece, moodily drawn, but won’t hold great appeal for mystery fans expecting their detectives to have greater personality.