The 1970s were a rough time. The pain of Vietnam and the shock of Watergate were both fresh in peoples’ minds, while a debilitating recession and a crisis in the Middle East resulted in stagnant wages, lost jobs and long lines at the gas pump. Trust in government was low while racial tensions were at an all-time high. Americans were disillusioned, and for many, it didn’t seem like there was much to live for.

And if that’s the case, you might as well go out with a bang.

Skinner Sweet, the original American vampire, has both witnessed and played a unique part of human history at its best and its worst. He’s ridden across the plains of the West, seen the horrors of war and saved humanity from evil against the backdrop of an all-or-nothing space race. It’s left him angry, disillusioned…and mortal. So, with America’s future looking grim and no apparent cure for his condition, Skinner decides to put his death to good use and go out as spectacularly as possible to the roaring approval of a rabid crowd. Branding himself as a motorcycle daredevil, he flirts with death regularly, knowing one day he’ll miss the jump and that will be that in the tale of America’s first vampire.

Only, the tide of history seems to have one last surprise in store. Pearl Jones shows up with shocking news. An old threat has returned, and suddenly Skinner has a new reason to live. Or at least a more surefire way to die. American Vampire 1976 #1 kicks off the nine-issue culmination of Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque’s mature-readers series and marks their return to the world of horror comics. You can catch up with Skinner and his on-again, off-again allies—or meet them for the first time—when the debut issue drops next Tuesday. But if you’re hungry for a bite, enjoy this exclusive sneak peek.

American Vampire 1976 #1 by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque and Dave McCaig is in stores and available digitally on Tuesday, October 6.