Crimson (Wildstorm)
Crimson is a fantasy-horror comic book vampire comic book series created from artist Humberto Ramos and writer Brian Augustyn, from story concepts by F.G. Haghenbeck and Oscar Pinto.
| Crimson | |
|---|---|
_Cover.jpg.webp) Cover of Crimson vol. 1 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Cliffhanger Wildstorm Comics (DC Comics) |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Publication date | May 1998 – February 2001 |
| No. of issues | 24 plus one special |
| Main character(s) | Alex Elder |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | Humberto Ramos Oscar Pinto Francisco Haghenbeck |
| Written by | Brian Augustyn Francisco Gerardo Haghenbeck Oscar Pinto Humberto Ramos |
| Penciller(s) | Humberto Ramos |
| Inker(s) | Chris Elarmo Sandra Hope |
| Letterer(s) | Amie Grenier |
| Colorist(s) | Alex Bleyaert Ian Hannin Rob Ro |
| Editor(s) | Scott Dunbier |
| Collected editions | |
| Loyalty and Loss | ISBN 1-56389-532-3 |
| Heaven & Earth | ISBN 1-56389-647-8 |
| Earth Angel | ISBN 1-56389-768-7 |
| Redemption | ISBN 1-56389-790-3 |
Publication history
The series debuted in 1998 and ran for twenty-four issues. The first seven issues were published as part of the Image Comics' Cliffhanger imprint of creator-owned comics and then the final seventeen at DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint.
Also published were a Crimson Sourcebook special issue as well as a one-shot starring Scarlet X. Scarlet X - Blood on the Moon was set in Mexico and featured the origin of Joe the Indian.
Plot
Crimson revolves around a young man named Alex Elder who is attacked by a gang of vampires while out late with his friends. Bitten, Alex is saved by Ekimus, the last of an ancient race pre-dating humanity, who claims Alex is "The Chosen One." Alex becomes the first and last of his kind, gaining powers beyond that of a normal vampire, who is destined to bring the end to vampirekind. The series follows Alex as he adjusts to life as a vampire and shoulders the responsibilities of being a hero. The comic features not only vampires, but werewolves and other supernatural beings and elements, as well as Biblical themes and deities.
Main characters
- Alex Elder - the protagonist. A sixteen-year-old teenager who on a night out with friends is ambushed by a savage vampire gang. He is saved by Ekimus, who feeds Alex his blood and turns him into "The Chosen One": a vampire endowed with magical powers so as to destroy all other vampires, and who is chronicled to save the world from the coming apocalypse.
- Ekimus - a wise, repentant and ancient being known as a "Grigori", who guides Alex in his new life as a vampire. He is known as the source of all vampirism throughout the world.
- Scarlet Thinbault X - a female operative and daughter of "The Order of the Red Hood"; a family-led organisation dedicated to hunting and destroying demonic creatures. She befriends Alex and later becomes his love interest.
- José - nicknamed "Joe". A Mexican Indian vampire who becomes Alex's street mentor and best friend.
- Lisseth - the main antagonist, and Ekimus' former lover. She is coined "The Mother of All Vampires", bent on bringing about the apocalypse and ruling all of creation.
- Victor Van Fleet - a U.S. senator and powerful vampire lord with aspirations for the presidency. He is allied with Lisseth.
Collected editions
The series has been collected by DC Comics into four trade paperbacks:
- Crimson:
The whole series has also been collected in hardcover:
- The Complete Crimson (collects #1–24 as well as Crimson: Scarlett X Blood on the Moon, and the Crimson Sourcebook, 640 pages, August 2018, ISBN 1-68415-167-8)
Other media
Toys
Palisades Toys released toys based on the series.
References
- Crimson (Image) at the Grand Comics Database
- Crimson (DC) at the Grand Comics Database
- Crimson at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)