Dynamite Entertainment 2018
Written by Kristina Deak-Linsner
Illustrated by Joseph Michael Linsner
Coloured by Ceci De La Cruz
Lettered by Jeff Eckleberry
Vampirella hunts down a sexual predator in order to feed her insatiable thirst for blood. While tracking him down to a Philadelphia nightclub, Evily the Witch bars her path. They clash and the plan is thwarted. Do they both decide to team up against him, or remain at odds? Whatever the means, Vampi vows to get revenge!
I am not really sure when I became a fan of Vampirella but I believe it solidified thanks to Desjardins interior artwork I can tell you that. Since then I haven’t missed a Vampirella story and yes Joseph is an iconic artist and to see his work here is pure joy for the eyes. Also next year its time to celebrate Vampirella’s 50th Anniversary so be prepared to have a few amazing stories told by some amazing people!
I like the way that this issue is structured. There is a nice ebb & flow to how we see events unfold and learn what is kind of going on. The opening here does exactly what it’s supposed to it captures the attention beautifully and draws you so that you want to know what’s happening and see how things unfold, oh and wait because the new character Evily means a misunderstanding fight. Always the best kind too since we can really gage some power levels that way. So yeah the way that Kristina is taking us on this journey is extremely well done.
The intrigue I get off the story and how it begins is so intense it surprised me. Right off the bat you see Evily, who names themselves that I mean it sounds automatically like a villain?, in this outrageous outfit and following a magical butterfly. Who is this woman? And why is she so concerned about the woman in the hospital? Then we see Vampi and I gotta tell ya I was so utterly impressed with just the whole confident vibe I got off the pages. This work by all of them is amazing I mean you feel the mood of the character during their spotlight and that’s a mighty rare thing.
I have to talk about the interior artwork now. I am blown away the style, the attention to detail and the little things like seeing Vampi add a skirt to her outfit these all are things that we see which tend to be taken for granted. Then there’s the page layouts, I mean I love that the pages are full some have little background stuff that kind frames the page others just have something to keep the mood up all of it really keeps the eye moving. This is what someone who’s eye for storytelling is exceptional and then of course the angles and perspective that we see along with the facial expressions throwing shade like Drag Queens is so much fun to see.
Blake, okay so there is more to this man than meets the eye and that we don’t know for sure what that is means I have that earworm telling me we can’t miss next issue. I am truly astonished that I am so taken with this one by the Linsners work here and how in sync everything seems to be. From the writing and the interior artwork that by the way let’s not forget Ceci’s colours which add a vibrancy and impact to the book, see the magic in action for perfect example. Even Jeff’s lettering has an impact and the way he can highlight words is something we take for granted.
If this is the beginning of the celebration for her 50th Anniversary then I cannot wait to see what is going to come after this. I mean this this is what makes fans, of the character and the creators involved.