Graphic Novel Review - 'Fangs' by Sarah Andersen

2023 EDIT:

Reread: Remains cute, funny, ironic, and morbid. A nice little Halloween read.

Gruesomely adorable. Adorably gruesome. And sweet, like fallen rose petals in dirt, in a full moon.

Final Score: 3.5/5





Original Review:



A cute little anecdotal comic for adults, that can be read in five minutes.

'Fangs' by Sarah Andersen (of 'Sarah's Scribbles' fame) is all about the modern day romance between Elsie, a three-hundred-year-old vampire and sadistic goth woman, and Jimmy, a rugged and down-to-earth (in comparison) werewolf. They're sweet together, and the book plays out their funny, gruesome, adorable, bittersweet, and even existential episodes; each told on a single page.

I mainly wanted to read this because I love vampires (I'm not too hot on werewolves), and because of Sarah Andersen. 'Fangs' is pretty much humourous slice-of-life, like her usual works, but with a literal monstrous twist.

I find Elsie to be a strangely appealing and complex vampire lady. She makes no apologies for who she is, nor for her bloodthirsty nature; she's a killer (or was, she just steals blood packs now), and a Satanist. She wears modern clothing for a woman in her twenties, but is into the gothic/Victorian aesthetic as well; black dresses and umbrellas and all. She's lonely, but not really angsty, nor uncomfortable. She's cute and terrifying at the same time; someone you'd want to know but not actually meet. I love her on page 53, where she gives encouragement to a sad little dark-skinned girl dressed as a vampire for trick-or-treating.

I'm sure that if 'Fangs' were more action-orientated, Elsie would be able to kick anyone's arses, and drain them of their blood.

There's a nice, dark touch on the black and white sketch artwork: Elsie is almost always shown in a grey shade in her panels. Because without her black dresses, black hats, her umbrella and sunglasses when out in the daylight, the sun will burn her immediately.

'Fangs' - a short, funny read for Halloween. The hardback cover jacket is awesome, too - red and black clothbound, similar to the classic luxury covers found on old bookshelves, for books like 'Dracula'.


"In the 1700s, they called me "The Night Witch."" [...] "In the 1800s the papers dubbed me "The Black Huntress."" [...] "In 1920 I declared myself "Queen of Darkness."" [...] "Now I am called..." [...] ""Mornin' Creampuff!""


(Elsie really hates mornings. But she loves the night, and the rain.)

Final Score: 3.5/5