Nosferatu, the classic black-and-white vampire film, is fertile ground for a modern interpretation. Christopher Wayne had the notion to recast the story in modern times, with the lead characters who are menaced by the horrifying Count Orlock reimagined as a young lesbian couple.

Unfortunately, Wayne spent so much time building the couple's "cute" factor that he rushed through the important "Nosferatu" parts of the story. Also unfortunately, artist Justin Wayne -- and, to an even greater extent, cover artist Tim Seeley -- spoiled Wayne's new perspective by drawing the two girls as cheesecake fantasies for adolescent male readers. (Seeley in particular gives both girls beachball-sized boobs and dresses one in tantalizingly sheer lingerie.)

The book is supposed to be "edgy," I suppose, because the ladies are both pierced and, you know, gay. Me, I'd have preferred a story that focused on the plot, rather than the characters' sexual preferences. It seems to me, however, that Wolf was so proud of himself for spotlighting a lesbian couple, he felt it necessary to thrust that aspect to the foreground of the tale.

Poor Orlock suffers. And it's a shame, because he's written and illustrated well. Maybe someday he'll get his own book, so he won't have to play second fiddle to the supporting characters and their relationship drama.