The Vampire Issue: Faith Hunter, L.A. Banks, Anne Rice, Buffy vs. X-Files
Monster Complex Magazine #1
Vampire Author Interviews, Features, Lists, Quizzes, and More
Welcome to the premiere issue of Monster Complex Magazine! (Yes, it’s a website page. Just go with me here.) For this first “issue,” Monster Complex features vampires in literature, TV, and cinema.
We’re thrilled to offer exclusive interviews with urban fantasy authors Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock) and Delizhia Jenkins (Vampire Hunters Academy), our tribute to L.A. Banks (Vampire Huntress Legend), and overviews of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles and Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. Test your knowledge of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the X-Files, and the Universal Monsters, check out the Top 5 Underrated Vampire Movies, and peruse our list of 50 Vampire Book Series. If you want even more—check out BONUS links to other websites about vampire books, vampire movies, vampires on television, and vampires in comics.
Enjoy!
Will Christopher
Editor, Monster Complex Magazine
P.S.—What do you want Monster Complex to feature in future issues? Be sure to take our poll below!
The Vampire Issue: Table Of Contents
FEATURES
Faith Hunter
In this exclusive interview, Faith Hunter shares how her shapeshifting Cherokee vampire hunter Jane Yellowrock has grown over the course of the books, explains why she doesn’t write sex scenes, and reveals how she’ll know when it’s time to end the series.
L.A. Banks
Taken from classic interviews, how urban fantasy author L.A. Banks crossed genre lines, the elements of her childhood that made their way into her stories, and why she called Dracula the “Hugh Hefner of vampires.”
Anne Rice
A look at what Anne Rice calls the the “most significant and thrilling deal” of her career, plus an overview of the impact of The Vampire Chronicles on literature, screen, and the stage—and the future with AMC.
Laurell K. Hamilton
The author reveals the origins of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, outlines the arc of Anita Blake’s love life, and explains why her combination of romance, mystery, and horror is here to stay.
Delizhia Jenkins
Vampire Hunters Academy author Delizhia Jenkins talks about her inspiration for the series, gives us a peek at the latest book, and reveals why you shouldn’t fall in love with a vampire.
LISTS
Top 5 Underrated Vampire Movies
POLLS AND QUIZZES
Poll: What’s Your Favorite Type of Monster Story?
Quiz: How Well Do You Know The Universal Monsters?
Quiz: Was That Monster On An Episode Of X-Files Or Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
LINKS
Features
Faith Hunter Interview
“She goes from hating vampires to working with her worst enemy.”
New York Times bestselling author Faith Hunter has written more than 40 books in a variety of genres, including urban fantasy, thrillers and mysteries. Her Jane Yellowrock novels are part of a dark urban fantasy series starring a Cherokee who is a shape-shifter and vampire hunter for hire. In this exclusive interview, urban fantasy author Faith Hunter shares how her shapeshifting Cherokee vampire hunter Jane Yellowrock has grown over the course of the books, explains why she doesn’t write sex scenes, and reveals how she’ll know when it’s time to end the series. Read the Faith Hunter interview!
Remembering L.A. Banks
“I was like, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to write something and this will not happen. My guys are gonna make it.’”
Urban fantasy author Leslie Esdaile Banks (1959-2011) wrote the Vampire Huntress Legend series under the pen name L.A. Banks. In her career, she wrote more than 40 novels in various genres, including African-American literature, romance, women’s fiction, crime suspense, dark fantasy, horror, and non-fiction. In this retrospective feature, excerpts from classic interviews explain how Ms. Banks crossed genre lines to create her own brand of science fiction, the elements from her childhood that made their way into her stories, and why she called Dracula the “Hugh Hefner of vampires.” Read the L.A. Banks article here!
The Impact of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles And What's To Come
“It’s always been my dream to see the worlds of my two biggest series united under a single roof.”
A look at Anne Rice’s comprehensive deal with AMC Networks, which she calls the the “most significant and thrilling deal” of her career. Also, we have an overview of the impact of The Vampire Chronicles on literature, screen, and the stage—and their future with AMC. Read the overview here!
Laurell K. Hamilton Spotlight
“I decided I would try to even things up. I may have overcompensated just a little.”
Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter is a series of urban fantasy novels, short stories, and comic books by Laurell K. Hamilton. The books, which have sold more than six million copies, star Anita Blake—a St. Louis-based vampire hunter, zombie raiser, and supernatural consultant for the police. The long-running book series celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018. In these interview excerpts, the author explains where she got the idea for the Anita Blake series, talks about how Anita’s love life has evolved over the course of the series, and reveals why her combination of romance, mystery, and horror is here to stay. Read the Laurell K. Hamilton roundup here!
Delizhia Jenkins Interview
“This book prepares the readers for the next phase in Sanaya’s journey as a Huntress, which will be nothing but total darkness.”
Delizhia Jenkins is an urban fantasy and paranormal romance author whose love whose works include The Vampire Hunters Academy series and The Lost Queen: Mercury’s Heir. In this exclusive interview, Miss Jenkins talks to Monster Complex about Vampire Hunters Academy, shares about her inspiration for the series, and explains the problem with loving vampires. Read the interview here!
Lists
Top 5 Underrated Vampire Movies
Five Essential Vampire Flicks To Sink Your Teeth Into
Filmmakers have been cranking out movies about vampires for nearly as long as filmmakers have been cranking out movies. In fact, Dracula has been the subject of more films than any other fictional character—with the exception of Sherlock Holmes. Over the years, the silver screen has seen vampire films make billions of dollars. But for every blockbuster vampire film, there are scores of films that fell through the cracks—or have fallen out of favor with modern movie audiences. Monster Complex friend Van Barnett offers five vampire movies that deserve a second look. Discover more about these movies here!
50 Vampire Book Series
Including series from Stephanie Meyer, P.C. Cast, Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Richelle Mead, Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, L.A. Banks, and a whole bunch more!
Vampires have captivated readers and audiences for more than a hundred years—in literature, on screen, in comics, and anywhere else you can plant your stake and tell a vampire story. Here are no less than fifty book series that star vampires and the people who love and/or kill them—including series from author Stephanie Meyer, P.C. Cast, Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Richelle Mead, and a whole bunch more!
Poll and Quizzes
Poll: What's Your Favorite Type of Monster Story?
Quiz: How Well Do You Know The Universal Monsters?
Quiz: Was That Monster On An Episode Of X-Files Or Buffy The Vampire Slayer?
FURTHER READING
More About Vampire Fiction
Interview: ‘Anno Dracula’ Author Kim Newman (Monster Complex)
7 of the Best Diverse Vampire Novels for Adult Readers (Book Riot)
Books By Black Authors That Will Make Good Horror Movies (Madame Noire)
Fangs For Nothing: 12 Underappreciated Vampire Novels (Book Riot)
28 Blood-Suckingly Good Vampire Books for Adults (Book Riot)
The 10 Best Vampire Novels No One Has Read (Barnes and Noble)
13 Bloodlust-Worthy Vampire Books (Uncorked Librarian)
Best Vampire Books (Best Fantasy Books) - including Best Vampire Romances, Best YA Vampire Books, Best Vampire Books for Adults, Best Vampire Romance Fantasy, and Best Paranormal Romance
23 Vampire Books That Are Way Better Than Any Halloween Movie (Country Living)
The Power of the Cross: Vampires in Christian Fiction (FamilyFiction)
Urban Fantasy Author Patricia Briggs—Walking The Line (Monster Complex)
Dracula Books By Bram Stoker, Dacre Stoker (Monster Complex)
Complete Jane Yellowrock Novels by Faith Hunter (Monster Complex)
Vampire Academy Books by Richelle Mead In Order (Monster Complex)
More About Vampire Movies
Monster Mash: 13 Movies Where Frankenstein Meets Dracula Meets The Wolfman (Monster Complex)
'Blade' Started a Revolution and Then Was Abandoned by Marvel (Hollywood Reporter)
20 Best Vampire Movies, Ranked (Esquire)
10 Best Vampire Movies Of All Time: From Nosferatu to Twilight (Screen Rant)
25 Best Vampire Movies, Ranked (Collider)
New 'Dracula' Film Coming From Director Karyn Kusama (Monster Complex)
30 Best Vampire Movies, Ranked by Decade & Sub-Genre (Studio Binder)
‘Hotel Transylvania 4’ Coming Christmas 2021 (Monster Complex)
Will Blumhouse Be the New Hammer Horror? (Monster Complex)
More About Vampire TV
Dracula Drama ‘Brides’ To Star Gina Torres (Monster Complex)
Stephen King’s ‘Jerusalem’s Lot,’ ‘Salem’s Lot’ Headed To Screens (Monster Complex)
Giles Actor Is Game For ‘Buffy’ Reboot (Monster Complex)
Flashback: ‘Being Human’ (2008) (Monster Complex)
More About Vampire Comics
19 vampire comics and graphic novels to sink your teeth into (SYFY)
Dracula vs. The Marvel Universe! 14 Times The Lord of The Undead Fought Superheroes! (Den of Geek)
7 Weird Things That You Probably Didn't Know About BLADE (Nerdist)
A Guide To Buffy The Vampire Slayer Comics (ComicBook.com)
Sink Your Teeth into the Best Vampire Comics of All Time (Comic Book Herald)
10 Best Vampires In Comics (Including Morbius) Comic Fans Need To Know About (CBR)
5 Vampire Comics You May Have Never Read (Ken Preston)
13 Best Vampires in Comics (Paste Magazine)
Top 13 Depictions Of Vampires In Comics (Horror Fuel)
Over the decades, there have been LOTS of robots on TV—including helpers and heroes, plus warnings about evil robots. We look at robots from a couple dozen TV shows, including sci-fi series, cartoons, and sitcoms.