“The Machiavelli Conundrum” features Vampire: the Masquerade’s Clan Giovanni in a tale that focuses on that clan’s lead assassin, Madeleine Giovanni. Madeleine is sent by her grandfather to investigate a painting’s reappearance in the Kindred world. Said to reveal the secrets of the vampires, Pietro Giovanni wants the painting’s authenticity checked and, if authentic, the painting purchased. Madeleine travels to America in search of the painting and runs afoul with other members of her family, upstarts hoping to cut their ties with the Old World.
The tale is easy to follow, needing no prior information about Vampire or the World of Darkness—as there’s a summary of both in the front cover. Overall, the tale is a solid comic read that happens to cover the Giovanni clan and their inner workings. Vampire and some horror comic fans would more than likely enjoy the comic best, while those seeking a passing knowledge of the World of Darkness and its vampire clans may wish to give the comic a once-over.
