i was starting to think i was the only person here who got this...

i'll start by saying i'm not a comic book person...or in this case "graphic novel" i believe is the proper name. but this is very well done.

it is like watching a new episode set in 1971. the 'feel' of the series is very much captured unlike the preposterous and juvenile 'gold key' comics. i was instantly engaged and look forward to following this story. it actually feels more DS than the audiodramas.

as CB mentions most of the character introductions and plot setups are perfunctory. especially roger, david and quentin. but since "we" already "know" them it's not a problem although a newcomer might have pause. maybe they'll actually integrate quentin into the storyline better than on the original series. in the "present" he always just stood around with little to do.

the artwork is very well done. the original actors well represented. of course several of them are deceased(bennett, edmonds, hall)but do the living actors get some sort of compensation for their likenesses being used?

speaking of the old 'gold key' comics from what i've been able to gather only barnabas, julia, liz, roger, quentin and professor stokes are featured. the rest of the characters are made up and do not correlate to the series. is this correct?

who besides "us" is so eagerly awaiting this release?

is it just depp's huge fanbase?

i've seen several picture of eva green with dark hair...

and of course traditionally both elizabeth and vicki are brunette. yet here burton has chosen, with the exception of julia, to give all of the female characters a similar shade of blond. i wonder why?

no matter who joan is cast as on the series at some point she seems to morph back into "liz". she just did haughty and matriarchal so well it's her default. does her wardrobe here go glam again, i forget?

i agree this storyline is the last truly original one on the series before it devolves into rehashes and retreads and teenagers playing with dollhouses.

it is a great storyline it's just that the setup is a bit misleading in terms of who will be the primary players here. although it is set in an alternate timeband it is also set in the "present" in terms of atmosphere. it's not another sojourn into the past and in general i prefer the "present time" storylines so that's another reason i like it.

i've been rewatching the end of the leviathan storyline and the introduction of 1970 parallel-time...

those first episodes when barnabas first sees the room and it's inhabitants are certainly some of the series' most goosebump inspiring. especially the catty exchanges between "hoffman" and "elizabeth". roger spying "himself" in the room is another very memorable moment and the whole setup is highly mysterious and atmospheric.

but the way that this plot is introduced is somewhat misleading. liz, roger, julia, carolyn and willie are the characters used to set this storyline up. they're the most prominently featured and the implication is that they will be the focus characters...

but we all know how that went, don't we? after the initial setup the main cast departs to tarrytown for the filming of HODS, quentin, angelique(not featured in the movie)and the secondary characters(cyrus, sabrina, bruno, etc.)take over and then they are largely absent for the rest of the time period.

don't get me wrong. i very much enjoy this period and storyline. but having seen it before i'm slightly disappointed knowing that the main collins family will be away for much of it. the sneak peak we get at characters like parallel-time liz, roger, carolyn and company are fascinating and i would love to have seen more of them. at least "hoffman" gets alot of screen time. she's too much fun.

so elizabeth's legendary chartreuse "hostess gown" made it's debut in this episode?

whatever the producers paid for that monstrosity they certainly got their money's worth. i find it highly amusing that they schlepped that insane thing from the studio in new york out to tarrytown for the shooting of HODS. it lasted nearly the show's entire five year run.

it's sort of liz's signature piece. i believe it was meant to make her look "regal".

perhaps instead of fixing up the old house as on the original series here barnabas fixes up collinwood and throws the costume party to fete it's restoration. it would be nice to see the place fixed up from the woeful condition of some of the pictures we've seen.

the cooper cameo is however a bit "campier" than i'm comfortable with. it's too literal. not subtle and sort of credence to some of the "funny" assessments we've  gotten from those involved.

i'm not a comic person at all but these look great. i might have to pick them up...

interesting that they pick up in 1971 after the series ended. with maggie gone i guess david will not have a governess in these stories(unless daphne shows up)?

fashionwise i see julia is continuing with the growing out of her hair that started in 1970. the hemlines look longer as would be fitting as the 1970's progressed. nice to see that, in the name on continuity and character habit, liz is wearing her jacket over the shoulders as she so frequently did on the series. and the needlepoint is a nice touch.

looks great.