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Editorial Review Product Description
From the bestselling author illustrator team of the 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation comes the truly gory tale of the historical Dracula
The Dracula myth has sparked a legacy of endlessly entertaining creepy tales. The fictional character, originally penned by Bram Stoker, was inspired by and named after a real-life fiend-Prince Vlad Dracula, the fifteenth-century ruler of Wallachia-a man infamous for massacring and impaling his enemies. In brilliant four-color illustrations, Vlad the Impaler tells the ghastly prince's life story from his seizure as a boy by the Turkish Sultan, to his love life, to his maniacal attempts to retain power regardless of whose throat he must slit.
From the bestselling writer and illustrator team who brought us The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation-hailed by Stan Lee as "beautifully and compellingly written and illustrated. . . . It will surely set the standard for all future works of contemporary history, graphic or otherwise"-this graphic novel, based on a true story, is replete with gory details of torture tactics. Ideal for readers who made 30 Days of Night and World War Z bestsellers, the combination of riveting legend and blood-and-guts drawings will be an anticipated addition to the graphic novel fan's library. ... Read more Customer Reviews (4) 
Kids comic book and nothing more
I was hoping for a scholarly book on Vlad Tepes, unfortuneatly this was nothing but a long comic book. If you love comics then this might be good for you, but if you are looking for historical non-fiction then look somewhere else.
Comic book
Very disappointed!I did not realize that this was a graphic novel or comic book.The text is also too small to read on the iPad without zooming in on each page.Not sure if it is a good story or historical account because I could not get past reading a comic book when I was looking for a novel.It would have been nice to preview a few pages before purchasing.
There is no hero running through the book's pages
Vlad the Impaler was real. Also known as Vlad Dracula, he was a ruler of Wallachia in the 15th century and became famous for his use of impalement as a form of execution. A controversial person, he is even today still considered by some to be an example of leadership. However, most everyone else considers him nothing less than a terror. And of course, the name he used for himself, Dracula, is more famous as a fictional vampire.
This slim graphic novel, which has colored pictures on every page, starts in Vlad's childhood and goes on to his death. He is definitely not shown in a positive light. There is no hero running through the book's pages. Vlad is a vengeful, murderous, raping, depraved psychopath. He finds no redemption by the end. It's basically a no-frills story of his life, and it's gory...yes, it's gory. This book is not for the sensitive reader. To be fair, it's not as gory as it could be, considering what Vlad did, but it still has more than enough to turn a reader's stomach.
As a child, Vlad lives with his good-looking brother Radu as hostages in the Ottoman Empire. Radu takes to this new culture like a duck to water, converting to Islam and becoming lovers with the sultan's son. He's a gentle spirit and tries to reason with Vlad's dangerous anger. It's no use. Vlad resents where he lives, hates people who aren't Christian, and wants revenge against anyone who's wronged him, or whom he believes has wronged him. He watches people get tortured and he kills animals because he can. During this time, his father and other brother are murdered by their enemies, which only makes Vlad more ferocious and raging.
In adulthood, Vlad takes over Wallachia. Being in power only lets him take his depravity to new heights. He slaughters men, women, and children to show people that his rule is absolute. Sometimes he kills for revenge, sometimes as a matter-of-fact business, and sometimes out of pure enjoyment. It's his enjoying the torture and death that's the most disturbing. Throughout the book, he becomes progressively worse. One of the most brutal and stark images comes about halfway through the story, when one of Vlad's helpers looks up in horror at all the impaled people. There aren't any words and there don't have to be.
Vlad eventually dies in battle, his head held up. After this, the fictional Count Dracula makes a cameo, complaining, "Frankly, I'm ashamed of my accomplishments compared to those of this so-called human being...." Count Dracula lets readers know the real Dracula was far more evil than the fictional one.
-- Danica Davidson
VLAD THE IMPALER
VLAD THE IMPALER is a historical piece about Vlad Dracula. A fifteenth century prince of Wallachia--Southern Romania--known for his brutal and cruel reign; he was called "the Impaler" because of his propensity to impale his enemies and showcase the victims to the public.
Vlad Dracula's modern legend is one that is much more literary than factual. His name was borrowed by Bram Stoker for his legendary vampire Dracula; probably a case of the man more evil than his literary counterpart. Vlad sat upon the throne of Wallachia no less than three times. As a boy he was a captive of the Ottoman Empire and as an adult his overriding concern was power.
VLAD THE IMPALER covers the terrain of Vlad's life with a powerful simplicity. He is portrayed as a monster. The language is simple and the dialogue competent. The artwork runs from colorful and bold to dark and muted depending on the deeds of the characters.
Vlad Dracula is neither antagonist nor protagonist. He is simply the story, and the people around him--a faithful friend and advisor, a wife, a brother--serve as the humanity. He is a monster filled with rage, lust, hatred, and paranoia. A man with great boldness, but a man burdened with a lack of decency.
VLAD THE IMPALER is a disturbing yet intriguing story. It only grazes the man's life, but it is startling. It tells a story of barbarity, love, faith, and betrayal. It is told with style, but it creates more questions than it answers. It is a story that will entertain, but also lead the reader into a deeper survey of a man whose name is known, but who--as a man--is mostly unknown.
-Gravetapping
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