The fourth trade in the Cal McDonald story (there's also several sparsely illustrated bookbooks, none of which I've read). Cal McDonald, in case you're not familiar with the character, is an alcoholic junkie monster-fighting private detective. His best/only friend is a ghoul, Mo'lock, who is serious, loyal, and frequently charming. In this story Cal meets Nosferatu, who I felt was depicted well. No sexing-up of ancient Romanian vampires HERE.

In the first trade (which I strongly recommend as it was done with Ben Templesmith, who makes me cream my pants on a regular basis, which you know if you read these regularly) Cal's substance abuse was a punchline. Not to say that it isn't anymore, but in this trade I think the reader is forced to see how lonely and alone he is, how his addictions both destroy him and keep him going. It gave the story a lot more depth.

Steve Niles remains one of my favorite writers in comics today. ( )