Baltimore, or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire
Encyclopedia
Baltimore, or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire is a 2007 illustrated novel created by Mike Mignola
and Christopher Golden
.
's, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier
", which has frequent references within the tale to Lord Baltimore. The novel consists of several tales all interlinked around Baltimore and the men who know him.
Captain Lord Henry Baltimore leads a night attack on a battlefield during World War I
; after his entire squad is killed by enemy fire and Baltimore himself is wounded in the leg and left for dead, he awakes some hours later to see giant bat creatures feeding on his dead men. When one attempts to feed off him, he slashes at it with his bayonet and scars its face hideously - the giant creature in return wounds him and infests his leg with such terrible gangrene
that when he is later brought to hospital, it is amputated - hence his famous jointed wooden leg. Unknowingly, Lord Baltimore struck a powerful vampire
who is so angered by Baltimore's actions (he is forevered scarred and blinded in his right eye) that he strikes down a "plague" upon warring Europe. People think this to be a sickness which spreads quickly across countries, but in truth it is vampirism.
Baltimore returns home from war haunted by his encounter on the field, yet happy to be home early on account of his leg. But upon arrival, he discovers his parents and sister have succumbed to the plague - only his wife Elowen survived.
And so the plot turns to three of Baltimores' companions who have helped in the past - battlefield surgeon Doctor Lemuel Rose, gentlemen trader Thomas Childress Jr., and sea captain Demetrius Aischros. They have all been called to meet at an inn with Baltimore, and while they wait for him, each tells two tales - how they met Baltimore and why they believe his tale of the vampire encounter to be true. The Doctor treated his leg, Childress grew up on his island home and Aischros shipped him home after the war... From their tales of Baltimore and the supernatural it becomes apparent that Baltimore has become a man bent on a mission to kill the 'Red King' vampire, who infested his family and then murdered his beloved wife. He travels to kill the lesser vampires in hope of reaching the Red King, and has called his three friends forth in hope of their aid.
came up with the concept for Baltimore, or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and conceived much of the plot, though Christopher Golden
penned the novel based on their joint efforts.
A new Baltimore comic story, Baltimore: A Passing Stranger, appeared as half of Dark Horse Comic's 2011 Free Comic Book Day
offering.
A second miniseries also drawn by Stenbeck, Baltimore: The Curse Bells, will start in August.
was set to direct. After a leadership change at New Regency, the studio abandoned the project, and the rights have reverted to the authors.
Mike Mignola
Michael Joseph "Mike" Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer who created the comic book series Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics. He has worked for animation projects such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the adaptation of his one shot comic book, The Amazing Screw-On Head.-Career:Mignola...
and Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden is an American author of horror, fantasy, and suspense novels for adults, teens, and young readers.Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. He is a graduate of Tufts University...
.
Plot
Each chapter begins with a quote from Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
's, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a tin soldier's love for a paper ballerina. After several adventures, the tin soldier perishes in a fire with the ballerina. The tale was first published in Copenhagen by C.A...
", which has frequent references within the tale to Lord Baltimore. The novel consists of several tales all interlinked around Baltimore and the men who know him.
Captain Lord Henry Baltimore leads a night attack on a battlefield during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; after his entire squad is killed by enemy fire and Baltimore himself is wounded in the leg and left for dead, he awakes some hours later to see giant bat creatures feeding on his dead men. When one attempts to feed off him, he slashes at it with his bayonet and scars its face hideously - the giant creature in return wounds him and infests his leg with such terrible gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
that when he is later brought to hospital, it is amputated - hence his famous jointed wooden leg. Unknowingly, Lord Baltimore struck a powerful 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...
who is so angered by Baltimore's actions (he is forevered scarred and blinded in his right eye) that he strikes down a "plague" upon warring Europe. People think this to be a sickness which spreads quickly across countries, but in truth it is vampirism.
Baltimore returns home from war haunted by his encounter on the field, yet happy to be home early on account of his leg. But upon arrival, he discovers his parents and sister have succumbed to the plague - only his wife Elowen survived.
And so the plot turns to three of Baltimores' companions who have helped in the past - battlefield surgeon Doctor Lemuel Rose, gentlemen trader Thomas Childress Jr., and sea captain Demetrius Aischros. They have all been called to meet at an inn with Baltimore, and while they wait for him, each tells two tales - how they met Baltimore and why they believe his tale of the vampire encounter to be true. The Doctor treated his leg, Childress grew up on his island home and Aischros shipped him home after the war... From their tales of Baltimore and the supernatural it becomes apparent that Baltimore has become a man bent on a mission to kill the 'Red King' vampire, who infested his family and then murdered his beloved wife. He travels to kill the lesser vampires in hope of reaching the Red King, and has called his three friends forth in hope of their aid.
Publication
Mike MignolaMike Mignola
Michael Joseph "Mike" Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer who created the comic book series Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics. He has worked for animation projects such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the adaptation of his one shot comic book, The Amazing Screw-On Head.-Career:Mignola...
came up with the concept for Baltimore, or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and conceived much of the plot, though Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden is an American author of horror, fantasy, and suspense novels for adults, teens, and young readers.Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. He is a graduate of Tufts University...
penned the novel based on their joint efforts.
Comics
A five issue mini-series, Baltimore: The Plague Ships was published by Dark Horse in 2010, with Ben Stenbeck as illustrator. It will be collected in hardback in June 2011.A new Baltimore comic story, Baltimore: A Passing Stranger, appeared as half of Dark Horse Comic's 2011 Free Comic Book Day
Free Comic Book Day
Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional effort by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores. Retailer Joe Field of in Concord, CA brainstormed the event in his "Big Picture" column in the August 2001 issue of Comics & Games Retailer...
offering.
A second miniseries also drawn by Stenbeck, Baltimore: The Curse Bells, will start in August.
Film adaptation
New Regency optioned the rights to adapt Baltimore as a film in September 2007. The novel's authors wrote a screenplay, while David S. GoyerDavid S. Goyer
David Samuel Goyer is an American screenwriter, film director and comic book writer.-Early life:Goyer was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He attended Hebrew school and has described himself as "half Jewish"...
was set to direct. After a leadership change at New Regency, the studio abandoned the project, and the rights have reverted to the authors.
External links
- Official website
- Baltimore website at Christopher GoldenChristopher GoldenChristopher Golden is an American author of horror, fantasy, and suspense novels for adults, teens, and young readers.Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. He is a graduate of Tufts University...