Dampyr #054 (2004) 'The Theatre of Lost Footsteps’

For most issues of this series, Harlan Draka roams the world learning about different cultures and historical events which all manage to involve vampires or other monsters. This time, the supernatural comes home, as Harlan organizes security for an event at his base. The titular theater hosts a performance of Jacques Offenbach's lost opera "Tales of Hoffmann," a story of magic and devilry. Will this show make a killing? Series creator Mauro Boselli has included this opera at least one other story as well, so it must be one of his favorites.

Compared to other Dampyr stories I own, this one delves more heavily into the series' mythology of the "Light Team" (the amesha, angels who serve good) and "Dark Team" (varied demons who serve chaos and/or themselves) of supernatural beings from the "Other Side" who make our Earth their battleground. Many characters from previous books show up for cameos here without much explanation, and a few new ones debut here too, so think of it as a teaser to encourage your exploration of Dampyr.

The basic concept for this issue is that the Light and Dark Teams have declared a single night of truce so they can all enjoy a night at the opera, but somebody is trying to spoil it for everyone. The human performers are totally clueless, so naturally they freak out more and more as the night becomes progressively surreal. Here's a run-down of the large cast in this issue:

Light Team
Harlan Draka the Dampyr. Half vampire, half human. Series protagonist.
Emil Kurjak, former Bosnian soldier and Harlan's best friend. It's pronounced "Kur-yak."
Tesla Dubček, a German lady vampire whom Harlan and Kurjak freed from servitude to evil.
Caleb Lost, human avatar of the amesha Camael. Lives on Earth but may not leave the Theatre of Lost Footsteps on Kampa Island in Prague. He has short platinum blond hair and looks somewhat like David Bowie.
Anyel Zant, a dark-haired amesha based in Boston
Rahtiel, an amesha with collar-length blond hair

Dark Team
Samael, the estranged brother of Caleb Lost. A brooding hunk with flowing black hair, similar to Harlan's father Draka. Has his eye on Tesla.
Nikolaus appears as an old peddler. A trickster who often sides with the Light Team.
Melkiresh, a master of mirrors who looks like a rotting corpse.
Sir Savnok, a mischief-maker who appears as a suit of armor with worms dripping out.
Duke Nergal, a vampire lord (Master of the Night) and chief of the Secret Police of Hell
Lady Druj, a nude beauty with prehensile hair, Nergal's top agent

The opera cast
Greta Wundermann, Bavarian prima donna soprano, fading from her prime. Seduces Kurjak.
Berthe, Greta's young assistant, aspires to the stage herself
Vicente Araiza, Moldavian tenor and charismatic leading man
Fjodor Repin, aging Russian baritone, accustomed to playing villains
Georges Morin, young French tenor specializing in light opera. Disdained by Greta and Fjodor
Valentina Ricci, up-and-coming Italian mezzo-soprano