Dynamite Entertainment 2017
Written by Christopher Sebella
Illustrated by Annapaola Martello
Coloured by Valentina Pinto
Lettered by Troy Peteri
IT’S 1974. VAMPIRELLA HAS BEEN ON EARTH FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, HAVING LANDED HERE FROM HER HOME PLANET OF DRAKULON IN SEARCH OF EVIL THINGS TO KILL AND TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF HER NEW WORLD. VAMPI’S MISSION HAS TAKEN HER AROUND THE WORLD, DESTROYING ALL SORTS OF DEMONS AND MONSTERS, BRINGING HER TO LOS ANGELES, WHERE HER DANCE CARD IS PACKED. KISS, ON THE HEELS OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM AND A NON-STOP TOURING SCHEDULE, ARE TAKING A BREAK FROM THE ROAD TO RECORD THEIR SECOND ALBUM. SHAKING THINGS UP A BIT, THEY’RE LEAVING THEIR HOME TURF AND FLYING TO LOS ANGELES. WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?
I think this is something that falls under the category of didn’t know I needed in my life. Who would have thought that these two franchises would’ve not only been able to meet, potentially team-up and make one heck of a kick-butt story. Because Vampirella is so versatile in nature it’s easy to see her taking the direction that Christopher decided upon.
The opening here is really the hook that gets us interested in the story itself. It brings this premise to life and then we have that desire to know how Kiss and Vampirella get drawn into it. That and the fact that Annapaola has this such a great eye for detail and that it’s what draws the eye in and makes you read the opening which then grabs you. So this one of those cases where the two work in concert in such a way that it really does enhance what’s there.
The story is interesting as we are initially only really getting a chance to see how the various characters fit into this. At first glance it appears that Kiss will be be involved only as so much as their music, they’ve only put out one album so they’ve yet to be built up to a the whole intergalactic crime fighting status, though that’s not to say that we won’t see that happen here. I mean from all their various incarnations they’ve always had a special way of being in the thick of things while managing to make themselves heroes.
Dynamite has been thrilling us for a while with their unusual team-ups both within and outside the company. It’s nice to see that they are continuing to push boundaries and envelopes and put together some incredibly unexpected and interesting stories essentially creating those things we never knew we wanted until they found their way into our hands.
The pacing, the story development and concept here are well shown, thought out and executed. There’s enough to pique the curiosity and interest while still remaining a little obtuse it really is extremely well done. With some incredible line work and interiors the whole thing is both a throwback and a look into the future.