30 Days of Night
Encyclopedia
30 Days of Night is a three-issue horror
comic book
mini-series
written by Steve Niles
, illustrated by Ben Templesmith
, and published by IDW Publishing
in 2002. All three parties co-own the property.
Edited by Scott Dunbier, the series takes place in Barrow, Alaska
, so far north that during the winter the sun does not rise for 30 days. In the series, vampire
s, being vulnerable to sunlight, take advantage of the prolonged darkness to openly kill the townspeople and feed at will.
Initially an unsuccessful film pitch, the series became a breakout success story for Steve Niles, whose previous works had received relatively little attention. It was also the first full-length work by co-creator Ben Templesmith. The series has been followed by numerous sequel series and, in 2007, was adapted into a film of the same name
.
, humanity rebelled and persecuted
most of their race. After a millennium
, only a handful survived, led by Vicente.
In the series, vampirism is portrayed as a virus, one that can be spread through scratches, bites, and contact with vampire blood. The disease turns humans who contract it undead, gives them a mouthful of shark-like fangs and black eyes, as well as superhuman strength and speed, an aversion to sunlight, and superhumanly acute senses of sight, smell, and hearing. However, these senses can be weakened by extreme cold. Also, some vampires possess additional powers, such as teleportation
, telepathy
and the ability to disguise oneself. Vampires in the series differ in many ways from their mythological counterparts: impaling them with a wooden stake will not, on its own, kill them; neither will exposing them to garlic or even fire. They are extremely resilient, capable of withstanding grenades going off on their bodies, or surviving after losing half of their faces to explosions. The only way to kill them is to behead them, or expose them to the vitamins generated in direct sunlight, which sets them on fire, and burns them to ash rapidly. Also, ultraviolet light burns them and probably can kill them. But they can never stay dead for long; if blood hits their ashes they will regenerate.
of 22-page comic books from IDW Publishing
. These single issues are now collected in several trade paperbacks
, as well as hardcover collections.
There was an announcement on April 1, 2008, for another addition to the series that turned out to be Ben Templesmith's April fool's joke for that year:
nominations in 2005. These included:
and Ghost House Productions. The screenplay went through several versions and writers, among them Steve Niles and Stuart Beattie. The film was directed by David Slade
and stars Hollywood actors Josh Hartnett
and Melissa George
. It was released on October 19, 2007, and was filmed at Henderson Valley Studios in Auckland, New Zealand.
A sequel to the film has been confirmed as being in the works. Steve Niles and Ben Ketai will be the writers. In an interview with ReelzChannel, writer Brian Nelson
stated, "I'll just tantalizingly say it is possible you might see more of the Stranger in the future." The sequel Dark Days
stars Rhys Coiro
, Mia Kirshner
, Harold Perrineau, Kiele Sanchez
, Diora Baird
, Katharine Isabelle
, Marc Sorian, and Monique Ganderton
.
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
written by Steve Niles
Steve Niles
Steve Niles is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre, Simon Dark, Mystery Society and Batman: Gotham County Line....
, illustrated by Ben Templesmith
Ben Templesmith
Ben Templesmith is an Australian comic book artist best known for his work in the American comic book industry, most notably the Image Comics series Fell, with writer Warren Ellis, which is credited with pioneering a new format for commercial comics, and IDW's 30 Days of Night with writer Steve...
, and published by IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
in 2002. All three parties co-own the property.
Edited by Scott Dunbier, the series takes place in Barrow, Alaska
Barrow, Alaska
Barrow is the largest city of the North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is one of the northernmost cities in the world and is the northernmost city in the United States of America, with nearby Point Barrow being the nation's northernmost point. Barrow's population was 4,212 at the...
, so far north that during the winter the sun does not rise for 30 days. In the series, vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
s, being vulnerable to sunlight, take advantage of the prolonged darkness to openly kill the townspeople and feed at will.
Initially an unsuccessful film pitch, the series became a breakout success story for Steve Niles, whose previous works had received relatively little attention. It was also the first full-length work by co-creator Ben Templesmith. The series has been followed by numerous sequel series and, in 2007, was adapted into a film of the same name
30 Days of Night (film)
30 Days of Night is a 2007 American horror film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name. The film is directed by David Slade and stars Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and Danny Huston...
.
Story
30 Days of Night was a three-issue miniseries that jump-started the careers of writer Steve Niles and artist Ben Templesmith. Vampires flock to Barrow, Alaska, where the sun sets for about 30 days, allowing them to feed without the burden of sleep to avoid lethal sunlight. When the vampire elder Vicente learns of this plan, he travels to Barrow to end the feeding, in order to preserve the secrecy of vampires. Because of the cold, the vampires' senses are weakened and a few of the town's residents are able to hide. One such resident is Sheriff Eben Oleson, who saves the town by injecting vampire blood into his veins. He uses his enhanced strength to fight Vicente, saving the lives of the few remaining townspeople, including his wife Stella. Suffering the same weakness as all vampires, Eben allows himself to die and turns to ash when the sun rises.Humans
- Eben OlemaunEben OlemaunEben Olemaun is a fictional character in the comic 30 Days of Night created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.-Character Bio:Eben Olemaun, the primary protagonist of 30 Days of Night, is the sheriff of the small town of Barrow, Alaska. When the vampires attack Barrow, Olemaun leads a small group...
- Stella OlemaunStella OlemaunStella Olemaun is a fictional character in the comic 30 Days of Night created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.-Character bio:Stella Olemaun is the wife of Eben Olemaun, the sheriff of the small town of Barrow, Alaska...
- Jason Clifton
- Agent Andy Gray
- Jose Alex Diaz
Vampires
The Nosferatu were once ruled by a "Council of Elders" led by Vicente. When the Council decided to make themselves known to the human raceHuman Race
Human Race refers to the Human species.Human race may also refer to:*The Human Race, 79th episode of YuYu Hakusho* Human Race Theatre Company of Dayton Ohio* Human Race Machine, a computer graphics device...
, humanity rebelled and persecuted
Persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
most of their race. After a millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
, only a handful survived, led by Vicente.
In the series, vampirism is portrayed as a virus, one that can be spread through scratches, bites, and contact with vampire blood. The disease turns humans who contract it undead, gives them a mouthful of shark-like fangs and black eyes, as well as superhuman strength and speed, an aversion to sunlight, and superhumanly acute senses of sight, smell, and hearing. However, these senses can be weakened by extreme cold. Also, some vampires possess additional powers, such as teleportation
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
, telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
and the ability to disguise oneself. Vampires in the series differ in many ways from their mythological counterparts: impaling them with a wooden stake will not, on its own, kill them; neither will exposing them to garlic or even fire. They are extremely resilient, capable of withstanding grenades going off on their bodies, or surviving after losing half of their faces to explosions. The only way to kill them is to behead them, or expose them to the vitamins generated in direct sunlight, which sets them on fire, and burns them to ash rapidly. Also, ultraviolet light burns them and probably can kill them. But they can never stay dead for long; if blood hits their ashes they will regenerate.
- VicenteVicente (30 Days of Night)Vicente is a character from the 30 Days of Night franchise, first appearing in the original comic. He is the husband of Lilith, and together they are referred to as the "elders". In Dark Days, Lilith claimed that they were the parents of all other vampires. However, Vicente stated that he had...
- Marlow
- LilithLilith (30 Days of Night)Lilith is a character from the 30 Days of Night franchise, first appearing in the original comic sequel, Dark Days. She is the wife of Vicente, and together they are referred to as the "elders". She claims to be the mother of all other vampires...
- Agent Norris
- Santana
- Dane
- Billy
- Zurial
- Thomas Ramandt
- Eben OlemaunEben OlemaunEben Olemaun is a fictional character in the comic 30 Days of Night created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.-Character Bio:Eben Olemaun, the primary protagonist of 30 Days of Night, is the sheriff of the small town of Barrow, Alaska. When the vampires attack Barrow, Olemaun leads a small group...
- Stella OlemaunStella OlemaunStella Olemaun is a fictional character in the comic 30 Days of Night created by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.-Character bio:Stella Olemaun is the wife of Eben Olemaun, the sheriff of the small town of Barrow, Alaska...
Collected editions
30 Days of Night was originally published as several mini-seriesLimited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
of 22-page comic books from IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
. These single issues are now collected in several trade paperbacks
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
, as well as hardcover collections.
- 30 Days of Night (paperback, collects 30 Days of Night #1-3, June 2004, ISBN 0971977550). The first printing featured the autographs of Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.
- 30 Days of Night (hardcover, collects 30 Days of Night #1-3, December 2004, ISBN 1435235061)
- The Complete 30 Days of Night (hardcover, collects 30 Days of Night #1-3, January 2004, ISBN 1932382178)
- Dark Days (paperback, collects Dark Days #1-6, April 2004, ISBN 1932382167)
- The Complete Dark Days (hardcover, collects Dark Days #1-6, December 2004, ISBN 1932382615)
- 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow (paperback, collects Return to Barrow #1-6, October 2004, ISBN 1932382364)
- 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow (hardcover, collects Return to Barrow #1-6, October 2004, ISBN 1435236149)
- 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales (paperback, collects Bloodsucker Tales #1-8, September 2005, ISBN 1932382785)
- 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales (hardcover, collects Bloodsucker Tales #1-8, August 2005, ISBN 1933239115)
- 30 Days of Night: Three Tales (paperback, collects 30 Days of Night Annual #2, 30 Days of Night: Dead Space #1-3, 30 Days of Night: Picking up the Pieces, July 2006, ISBN 1933239921)
- 30 Days of Night Annual #2: "The Journal of John Ikos" - Written by Steve Niles, art by Nat JonesNat JonesNat Jones is an American artist working primarily in comic books and film. Jones is best known for his work on Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer.-Penciller:*Crypt of Dawn *The Crow / Razor: Kill the Pain...
. - 30 Days of Night: Dead Space - Written by Steve Niles and Dan Wickline, art by Milx.
- "30 Days of Night: Picking Up the Pieces" - Written by Steve Niles, art by Ben Templesmith.
- 30 Days of Night Annual #2: "The Journal of John Ikos" - Written by Steve Niles, art by Nat Jones
- 30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease (paperback, collects Spreading the Disease #1-5, July 2007, ISBN 1600100856). Written by Dan Wickline, art by Alex Sanchez.
- 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella (paperback, collects Eben and Stella #1-4, November 2007, ISBN 1600101070). Written by Steve Niles and Kelly DeConnick, art by Justin Randall.
- 30 Days of Night: Red Snow (paperback, collects Red Snow #1-3, January 2008, ISBN 1600101496). Written and illustrated by Ben Templesmith.
- 30 Days of Night: Beyond Barrow (paperback, collects Beyond Barrow #1-3, March 2008, ISBN 1600101550). Written by Steve Niles.
- 30 Days of Night: 30 Days 'Til Death (paperback, collects 30 Days 'Til Death #1-4, December 2008, ISBN 1600104411). Written and illustrated by David Lapham.
There was an announcement on April 1, 2008, for another addition to the series that turned out to be Ben Templesmith's April fool's joke for that year:
- 30 Days of Night: Blood of Christ (paperback, collects Blood of Christ #1-3). Written and illustrated by Ben Templesmith. Templesmith later stated that this was an April Fools joke on his official forum "The Conclave".
Awards
30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow garnered Steve Niles's and Ben Templesmith's first Eisner AwardEisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
nominations in 2005. These included:
- Nomination, Best Limited Series
- Nomination, Best Writer (Steve Niles)
- Nomination, Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Ben Templesmith)
Films
A film adaptation of the original 30 Days of Night mini-series was produced by Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
and Ghost House Productions. The screenplay went through several versions and writers, among them Steve Niles and Stuart Beattie. The film was directed by David Slade
David Slade
David Aldrin Slade is a British film director who began his career making music videos. His work includes videos for artists such as Aphex Twin, Rob Dougan, System of a Down, Stone Temple Pilots, Tori Amos, and Muse.-Life and career:...
and stars Hollywood actors Josh Hartnett
Josh Hartnett
Joshua Daniel "Josh" Hartnett is an American actor and aspiring producer. He first came to audiences' attention in 1997 as "Michael Fitzgerald" in the television series Cracker. He made his feature film debut in 1998, co-starring with Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later for Miramax...
and Melissa George
Melissa George
Melissa Suzanne George is an Australian film and television actress who has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Melissa is perhaps best known for her role as Angel Parrish on the Australian soap opera Home and Away...
. It was released on October 19, 2007, and was filmed at Henderson Valley Studios in Auckland, New Zealand.
A sequel to the film has been confirmed as being in the works. Steve Niles and Ben Ketai will be the writers. In an interview with ReelzChannel, writer Brian Nelson
Brian Nelson (screenwriter)
-Early life:Nelson holds degrees from Yale University and from UCLA. He worked as a drama instructor at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia in the early 1980s, where he taught Gilmore Girls actress Lauren Graham, Little Miss Sunshine screenwriter Michael Arndt, and UCLA screenwriting...
stated, "I'll just tantalizingly say it is possible you might see more of the Stranger in the future." The sequel Dark Days
30 Days of Night: Dark Days
30 Days of Night: Dark Days is a 2010 American horror film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name. It was directed by and written by Ben Ketai, alongside co-writer Steve Niles. It is a sequel to the 2007 film, 30 Days of Night...
stars Rhys Coiro
Rhys Coiro
Rhys Coiro is an American film, television and stage actor. Coiro may be best known for his role on the HBO original series Entourage as Billy Walsh.-Personal life:...
, Mia Kirshner
Mia Kirshner
Mia Kirshner is a Canadian actress and social activist who works in movies and television series. She is best known for her portrayal of Jenny Schecter on The L Word and for her role in the 2006 crime film The Black Dahlia as Elizabeth Short.- Early life :Kirshner was born in Toronto, Ontario,...
, Harold Perrineau, Kiele Sanchez
Kiele Sanchez
Kiele Michelle Sanchez is an American actress who stars in the A&E Network drama The Glades. Previously she starred as the second-eldest Sorelli sister, Anne, a therapist in her mid-twenties, in The WB's comedic ensemble drama, Related. She was cast as a co-star in the third season of the ABC...
, Diora Baird
Diora Baird
Diora Lynn Baird is an American actress and former model for Guess? who has appeared in films such as Wedding Crashers and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning .-Early life:...
, Katharine Isabelle
Katharine Isabelle
Katherine Isobel Murray , better known by her screen name Katharine Isabelle, is a Canadian actress, best known for her portrayal of Ginger in Ginger Snaps, and as Gibb in Freddy vs. Jason.-Biography:...
, Marc Sorian, and Monique Ganderton
Monique Ganderton
Monique Ganderton is a Canadian stunt woman and actress who works in television and film.Ganderton was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She started out in modeling before moving to stunt work. She has doubled Tricia Helfer, Leelee Sobieski, Bridget Moynahan, Daryl Hannah, Rebecca Romijn, Famke Janssen...
.
Novels
An ongoing series of 30 Days of Night novels are being published by IDW Publishing and Pocket Books. They include a novelization of the film.- 30 Days of Night (film novelization) by Tim LebbonTim LebbonTim Lebbon is a horror and dark fantasy writer, and a judge at the 2005 World Fantasy Convention.-Life and career:Lebbon was born in London. His short story "Reconstructing Amy" won the Bram Stoker Award for Short Fiction in 2001 and his novel Dusk won the 2007 August Derleth Award from the...
- 30 Days of Night: Rumors of the Undead by Steve Niles and Jeff MariotteJeff MariotteJeff Mariotte is an author who currently lives in Arizona with his wife, author Maryelizabeth Hart, and family. As well as his own original work, he is best known for writing novels and comic books based on licensed properties.-Biography:...
- 30 Days of Night: Immortal Remains by Steve Niles and Jeff Mariotte
- 30 Days of Night: Eternal Damnation by Steve Niles and Jeff Mariotte
- 30 Days of Night: Light of Day by Jeff Mariotte and Steve Niles
- 30 Days of Night: Fear the Dark by Tim Lebbon
External links
- 30 Days section on Steve Niles' site
- Steve Niles Interview for 30 Days of Night at UGOUGOUGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
- Epstein, Daniel Robert (2007). "Ben Templesmith Speaks!". UGOUGOUGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
. Retrieved July 31, 2007. - Weiland, Jonah (2003). "Niles Talks Horror Comics and Film". Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
. Retrieved January 1, 2006.