So who decides if you are human? Is it enough that each person holds on to the unshakeable belief that he or she is human? What if everyone else thought that you were not one of them? Does that shake your beliefs or do you hold onto them with a vice-like grip — afraid that your last attempts to stave off insanity must mean that you must hold these beliefs closer than ever?
Richard Matheson's I Am Legend forces us to ask the question: if everyone else on the planet is alike and you are the only one who is "different," then who is really human — you or them? What if all of them were bloodthirsty vampires out to kill you? Every single one of them! Since you are obviously in an abject minority, does it really matter that you believe that they are "freaks"? Does it give you the right to decide that their lives are not worth it and yours is more important?
These questions hit home; uncomfortably so, in fact, in this book. When it is in the stark black and white that is the graphic novel adaptation from IDW by Steve Niles and Elman Brown, there is no question that this is not just any other "cool" vampire book.
This book will dispel any preconceived notions about graphic novels or vampire stories. The protagonist is not a muscle-bound super-smart guy who uses cool technology and martial arts moves to bring down vampires. Robert Neville is just another small town guy who has suffered the loss of his wife and daughter to the vampire manifestation (or is it a "virus"?) and has to survive being hunted down every night. He's neither good looking, nor does he have a technology expert helping him hunt vampires. He does so the old-fashioned way — shaping wooden stakes from planks and putting up garlic cloves everywhere.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I'm not looking forward to the movie, but this sounds fantastic!
2 - Sibin
Thanks! It is a great book.