| "Return to Barrow" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow | |
| Title: | "Return to Barrow" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 4 |
| Cover price: | $3.99 |
| Cover date: | June, 2004 |
| Publisher: | IDW Publishing |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jeff Mariotte |
| Writers: | Steve Niles |
| Pencilers: | Ben Templesmith |
| Inkers: | Ben Templesmith |
| Cover artists: | Ben Templesmith |
| Cover inker: | Ben Templesmith |
| Cover colorist: | Ben Templesmith |
| Colorists: | Ben Templesmith |
| Letterers: | Robbie Robbins |
| Assistants: | Brian Berling; Chance Boren |
| Editors: | Jeff Mariotte |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Return to Barrow #3 |
| Next: | Return to Barrow #5 |
"Return to Barrow" is the fourth issue of the 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow comic book limited series published by IDW Publishing. The story was written by Steve Niles with interior artwork and painted cover art by Ben Templesmith. It was lettered by Robbie Robbins and edited by Chance Boren and Jeff Mariotte. This issue shipped with a June, 2004 cover date and carries a cover price of $3.99 per copy (US).
"Return to Barrow"[]
Werner and his vampire horde remain just outside the perimeter of Barrow along the tree-line. They coordinate their strategy to take out the human settlement. Werner meets Agent Norris, who reveals a supply of firearms in the back of a pick-up truck. This gives the vampires even more of an edge, in addition to their enhanced sense and fangs.
A child vampire named Greta takes Werner aside and shows him the dismembered remains of two vampires. No one seems to know how the enemy could have gotten past them. The only to survive this particular assault is Dane, who tells Werner that the two deceased vampires traveled up with him from Kansas City. Norris takes an instant distrust to Dane and tells him that he cane smell the Olemaun woman's scent upon him.
Meanwhile, the human residents of Barrow, shore up their defenses. They man the towers, and keep in tight communication. However, now that the vampires are armed, they are able to systematically take down each of the watchtower stations. Once the towers are down, they ambush the barb wire fencing and attack the citizens. While John Ikos coordinates with the others to protect the back-up generators, Brian Kitka secures his son, Marcus, in the basement of the old Olemaun place.
Chaos continues to rage outside, and the odds are definitely in the vampires' favor. John Ikos cries out for someone to man the "big gun". Brian races out, and takes up the mounted machine gun and takes down an entire line of vampires. Those who aren't instantly killed retreat to regroup.
A short time later, and not far away, Agent Norris consults with another vampire who reveals that Stella Olemaun had taken up with a vampire, who served as her accomplice in destroying the vampire queen, Lilith. This gives Norris both the literal and figurative ammunition he needs to take down Dane. He draws his handgun and shoots Dane point-blank in the face, killing him. He turns and warns Werner that "something weird is going on around here".
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Dane (Final appearance; dies)
- Marcus Kitka
Villains
Minor characters
- Darcy (As a corpse only)
- Eben Olemaun (Behind the scenes only)
- George
- Liam (As a corpse only)
- Stan (Dies)
- Stella Olemaun (Behind the scenes only)
Organizations
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (Referenced only)
Races
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Miscellaneous
- Decapitation (In flashback only)
- Dismemberment (In flashback only)
- Enhanced senses
- Flashbacks
- Gunshot victims
- Mild profanity
- Shot in the head
- Smoking
Notes & Trivia[]
- The tagline to this issue is "Easy Come, Easy Go".
- This issue is UPC barcode number 8 27714 18520 00411.
- This issue is reprinted in the 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow hardcover collection, the 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow trade paperback collection, the 30 Days of Night Trilogy hardcover collection, and the 30 Days of Night Omnibus, Volume 1 trade paperback collection.
- The identity of the vampire on the cover to this issue is unclear.
- Werner makes reference to Vicente in this issue, who was the main antagonist from the original 30 Days of Night limited series. Werner is looking to fill the vacuum left behind by Vicente's death.
- Brian Kitka tells his son that the cold dulls a vampire's sense of smell. However, earlier in the issue, Agent Norris told Dane that he could smell the "Olemaun woman" on him, even though it would have been quite some time since Dane interacted with Stella.
- One of the vampires makes reference to when Stella Olemaun killed the vampire queen, Lilith. This took place in Dark Days #6.
Body Count[]
- Dane - Shot in the face and killed by Agent Norris.
- Darcy - Beheaded and dismembered by persons unknown.
- Liam - Beheaded and dismembered by persons unknown.
- Numerous humans - Taken out by vampire guerilla tactics.
- Numerous vampires - Taken out by Brian Kitka and the "big gun"