30 Days of Night: Falling Sun by Rodney Barnes

 

Book Name: 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun

Author: Rodney Barnes

Comic Series: 30 Days of Night

Original Story, Adaptation, or Something Else: Original Story

Published Date: Expected publication July 21, 2026

Official Synopsis: The town of Barrow, Alaska, has survived vampires before. But decades after the first attack, when the long polar night falls, it’s no longer just vampires stalking the darkness for revenge…and no one is safe in this horror graphic novel. Over two decades after the terrifying vampire attack of 30 Days of Night, the town of Barrow, Alaska, has moved on. When troubled teenager Jalen James moves to town, fleeing the gang violence of Los Angeles, he finds himself trapped in a place just as dangerous. As both vampires and Jalen’s former gang seek revenge, the people of Barrow must remember its history if they want to survive the long polar night. While Jalen deals with the trauma he is running from, an old vampire is resurrected from blood and ash…and vows to avenge his slain brother, Vicente. The dark of night will protect neither Jalen nor Barrow from the past, and they’ll have to come together and defeat their demons if they ever want to see the sun again. Writer Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia, Full Moon) and artist Chris Shehan (House of Slaughter, The Autumnal) dare you to survive Barrow after dark in this cult-classic revival as original co-creator Steve Niles returns to the series as a story consultant.

Review: This quick read revisits the world of Barrow, Alaska, from the cult classic 30 Days of Night. The horror in the book is strong, thanks to the atmospheric artwork from Chris Shehan, with the vampires looking scary and the fear among the townspeople palpable. The writing is taunt with solid plotting. However, even with this combination of good art, good writing, and a good plot, something feels missing and makes the end product just okay.

The plot deals with a combination of vampires being reborn and wanting to return to Barrow, Alaska, to feast, a town dealing with survivor's guilt from the original incident 20 years before, and an inner-city youth who is fleeing Los Angeles to live with his uncle for a new start. Of these plotlines, my favorite was the people of the town dealing with its history, with some treating it as a myth and others haunted by bad dreams from the incident nightly.

The comic starts with an intriguing premise and features a handful of effective horror sequences, but the pacing is uneven. Long stretches of exposition interrupt the momentum, and several supporting characters are too thinly developed to leave much of an impression. Although the vampires remain visually menacing, they rarely feel as overwhelming or frightening as they have in previous installments, reducing the sense of danger. The artwork is solid throughout, using heavy shadows and stark contrasts to create an appropriately grim atmosphere. However, strong visuals can only carry the story so far. By the conclusion, Falling Sun feels competent but ultimately forgettable. Readers who enjoy the franchise will likely find enough to appreciate, but those looking for a standout horror comic may come away wishing the story had taken greater risks. It's a respectable read that lands squarely in the middle of the pack.

What Works: 20 years later, and vampires in an Alaskan town that is permanently dark in the middle of winter is still a fun concept.

What Doesn’t: The whole book, especially the ending, feels rushed.

Final Thoughts: This book was okay. I wanted it to be better given how much I enjoyed the original 30 Days of Night, but in the end, its sequel is just serviceable.

Rating: Five out of Ten Fangs

MISC

Version Read: Electronic

How Acquired: Advance Readers Copy from NetGalley

Special Notes: This was an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.