Though our fully evolved vamps don't show up right off the bat, we still needed to get them designed early on for some of promotional images. Here's another great example of the careful thought and detail artist Mike Huddleston put into the look of our bloodsucking beasties. Taking cues and clues from the novel, here's Mike's interpretation and early thoughts on how the big nasty stingers and internal anatomy of our vampires works.
Huddleston explains the stinger design: "As described, the stinger (in red) is a mutated version of the throat, lungs, etc. When recoiled in the body (in case we see it autopsied) the stinger's 'stinger' is within a sack of the ancient lungs. When the organ strikes, it turns itself inside out with the stinger traveling through the throat and the pulling the throat and lungs with it outside of the body."
Huddleston explains the vampire's circulatory system: "As the throat and lungs have closed off the digestive tract, there is now a new digestive system that is for blood only... the veins (in green) are now all artery-sized. So, the veins we see roping all over the surface of these creatures are all huge. It's an idea that may sound better than it looks..."
Once again, it's interesting, intriguing, and extremely reassuring to see how much care, detail, and thought Mike's put into these creatures. He's clearly taking a cue from monster master Guillermo del Toro and upping his game to new and gruesome heights.
Did I mention I can't wait for you guys to get your hands on The Strain? I mean, seriously, look at this sketch and tell me you're not getting crazily excited! You can't!
Jim Gibbons
Assistant Editor
