The thing that everyone knows to be true and yet secretly hopes is a lie... Peace is fleeting. 
I, Vampire #3 is an issue of the series I, Vampire (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 2012. It was published on November 23, 2011.
Synopsis for "Numb"
The Cult of the Blood Red Moon has spread, and there have been major vampire attacks on the cities of Boston, Star City, Coast City, and Los Angeles, prompting the media to ask where the Justice League has been.
Prof. John Troughton remembers that just five years ago there had been relative peace between humans and vampires, but peace is ever fleeting. However, the world doesn't know that the cause of all the carnage is also the only man who can save them: Andrew Bennett.
Thirty-five years ago, Troughton had been cornered by a group of vampires who routinely promised young humans sex and drugs, only to drain them afterwards in order to get a contact high. Moments away from being drained himself, Troughton was saved by Andrew. Having already slain all of the other vampires in the gang, Andrew frightened off Troughton's attacker, and they have been working together ever since. Andrew taught the professor that many of the myths about vampires are largely false.
Now, Troughton cares for an injured Andrew, who was weakened by the horde that attacked him in Boston. When he recovers, Andrew spares little time in planning to stop the cult. He is surprised to learn that there are more than just those he saw in Boston - that four other cities have been massacred. Mary, the Queen of Blood and Andrew's one true love has played them. She built an army right under his nose without him being aware of it. Even so, he plans to track them down.
Wandering the street, Andrew senses something in an abandoned subway station, and they break inside. In the dark, Andrew narrowly escapes being staked by an arrow, as someone calls for his death. It appears to be a teenage girl armed with a crossbow, and Andrew attempts to convince her that he is not a threat to little avail. Finally, Troughton restrains her, allowing Andrew to use his abilities to calm her, and show her that he is not a typical vampire.
The girl introduces herself as Tig, while Andrew discovers that Mary has left him a message on the wall in blood. She has left a drawing of the bat-symbol, indicating that she has headed for Gotham City. Andrew and John decide to take a road trip, and Tig invites herself along.
Despite his friendship with Andrew, Troughton knows a secret about him. When a vampire grows to more than 300 years old, the only thing that can destroy it is for it to willingly choose to die - or for its maker to willingly die first. All this could be, and could have been, avoided if Andrew would only turn the stake on himself. If worst comes to worst, John Troughton is prepared to kill his best friend in order to destroy the vampires.
Appearing in "Numb"
Featured Characters:
- Andrew Bennett (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
- Prof. John Troughton (First appearance) (Flashback and main story) (Narrator)
- Tig Rafelson (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Vampires
- Mary, Queen of Blood
- Vampire Hippies (Single appearance) (Unnamed) (All die in flashback)
Other Characters:
- Steve Rafelson (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Tig Rafelson's mother (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Werewolves (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Prime Earth
- 1979
- United States of America
- San Francisco
- Buchanan Arms Apartments (Single appearance) (Flashback only)
- San Francisco
- United States of America
- 21st Century
- United States of America
- Boston
- Crossing Train Station
- John Traughton's House (First appearance)
- Coast City
- Taste of Heaven Donut Shop (Single appearance) (Cameo)
- Gotham City (Cameo)
- Los Angeles
- Apollo's Landing Nightclub (Cameo)
- Star City (See Notes)
- Ply, Smith, and Cohen Stock Brokers (Single appearance) (Cameo)
- Boston
- United States of America
- 1979
Items:
- Holy Water (First appearance)
Vehicles:
- John Troughton's Truck (First appearance) (Cameo)
Concepts:
Notes
- There's a major continuity error in this issue as Star City is briefly featured during the Vampires' attacks: however, Star City doesn't exist in the New 52 timeline and Seattle, which is the current city of Green Arrow, will only be briefly renamed as "Star City" after the Rebirth; the real Star City will not exist on Prime Earth until the rebirth of the Multiverse.
Trivia
- Joshua Hale Fialkov stated on his Twitter that the title for each issue was based on a song title. The title of this issue, "Numb" is a reference to a Pet Shop Boys song of the same name which was released in 2006.
See Also