Review - Vampirella #1 (Vol.2)Review by Paul Fiander
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Writer: Nancy A. Collins
Art: Patrick Berkenkotter Main Cover: Terry Dodson Genre: Horror, Fantasy |
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The lady in Red is back with a new creator at the helm, Nancy A Collins is best known for her work on Swamp Thing, Wild Blood and of course her work with the Vampire Sonja Blue among others. Now though she is taking on another vampire and one of Dynamite’s premium franchises to boot, Vampirella. We have looked at Vampirella before in her Southern Gothic run (which you can read at the link below) however this is a new beginning and so we will look at the issue and it’s suitability as a jumping on point.
The opening of the book shows a Mother and her Daughter in a mundane going to sleep ritual, the twist is that the girl is having a birthday party the next day. Of course this situation suddenly turns as the girl is kidnapped and a rather sinister message is scrawled onto the wall of her room. This in the usual chain of unseen events alerts Cestus Dei and at the end of the chain we find Vampirella. Her introduction is quite understated as she is woken from sleep however within the next few pages we do to find out her past with the sinister Ethan Shroud. The news that Shroud is involved brings Vampirella to the case like a moth to a flame and from there all bets are off. What Collins brings to the table is a narrative that can shock at points and take the reader on a journey. Of course this is the first issue of a new series so some nods to convention are needed like the aforementioned tale of the Shroud relationship. Despite this I have high hopes for the future of the run. The art feels a little mixed, at times it feels a little weak especially when looking at some of the profiles of the subsidiary characters. The art of Vampirella herself though is great in places as is the art of the demons especially. The art team have shown strengths in their work but I do hope they can raise the art standard of the book. It is never at a point that is off putting but there may be a drop off from readers who casually flip through the book while at the comic shop. It looks like Vampirella is in safe hands with Collins and this opening issue shows more than a few twists and turns. If you like your Vampire stories dark then this may be the series for you. |
To find out more you can visit the dedicated page on the Dynamite website here
More vampire fun & a little something from Nancy A Collins
Images courtesy of Dynamite Comics
Comic - Provided by Publisher
Comic - Provided by Publisher
