The X-Files/30 Days of Night #1

While 30 Days of Night can be considered a hardcore horror property, The X-Files always had more of a sci-fi spin, although it was never afraid to descend into the depths of horror fantasy. After last year’s disastrous theatrical outing, most X-Philes considered the franchise all but dead. Luckily, 30 Days of Night scribe Steve Niles and Tool’s Adam Jones haven’t quite given up on the house that Chris Carter built, and have fashioned a brand new series combining the two worlds into one fright fest co-published by IDW and DC Comics’ Wildstorm imprint.

Seeing as how the series is going to span 6 issues, the first issue does a good job of setting the mood and bringing Mulder and Scully into the fold. While perhaps this may feel a little more like an X-Files story and less like a 30 Days of Night tale, this issue is really the story of Henry-Lee “Patches” Brown. Patches is a snow plow operator in Wainwright, AK, about 75 miles southwest of Barrow, AK, the setting of the original 30 Days of Night. Patches stumbles upon the remains of a vampirific feeding frenzy and sticks around long enough to give a statement to Mulder and Scully before retreating back home. The vampires really only appear on the final page, but the ending of the issue is classic horror and really leaves the reader in an uncomfortable situation that will linger in the mind until issue 2 hits the stands.

Niles and Jones have done a tremendous job capturing the feel of The X-Files and giving the correct tone to Mulder and Scully. While Mulder may come off a tad abrasive with his dispassionate sarcasm, it’s a reflection of the prodding he receives from fellow agent Daniel Robert “Frenchy” French who is skeptical that “Spooky” Mulder can provide any actual assistance in this investigation. Frenchy feels like a good foil for Spooky, though it seems telegraphed that Frenchy won’t live to see the final page of issue 6. The issue makes pains not to provide a context to Mulder and Scully’s investigation allowing the reader to place it anywhere within X-Files continuity they choose. Also, 30 Days of Night characters like Vicente and Sheriff Eben Olemaun are absent, as to not pigeonhole the series into a specific timeframe in the 30 Days of Night lore.

While Niles and Jones capture the feel of Mulder and Scully, Tom Mandrake captures their likenesses without losing his own style and flair for illustration. Mandrake has always had the ability to render texture and shape using a scratchy style heavily dependent on the weight and flow of his line work, and his artwork is perfectly suited for turning a snow storm heavy Alaskan coastal town into a creepy and dreadful environment. His characters have the ability to express heavy emotion and subtle fear while simultaneously floating through pages constructed to highlight movement and direct the eye deftly from frame to frame.  Few have the ability Mandrake has to illustrate gore with a doctor’s clinical casualness yet compose people who appear uncomfortable just being near it. He’s an amazing asset to this series and will no doubt find new fans during this series.

As a fan who found Chris Carter’s X-Files (and MillenniuM) during my formidable years, and as a boy who grew up during the era of cheap and easy to rent VHS horror movies, The X-Files/30 Days of Night #1 seems like fan service at first, but easily moves into the realm of genuine expression with each turn of the page. Niles, Jones, and Mandrake seem to be in perfect unity crafting this series and the only drawback appears to be that the reader must wait for 30 days and nights before the next monthly issue hits the stands.