Vampirella #2 Review

Can this daughter of Lilith stand against a storm she doesn’t fully understand? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

Continuing Dynamite’s celebration of Vampirella’s 45th anniversary! Upon learning of Vampirella being marked as a vessel for Lady Umbra, Demon-Queen of the Shadows, her contacts in Cestus Dei label her a threat and send an elite hit-squad of monster-killers–the Mallus Maleficarum, aka the Witch-Hammer–lead by the implacable Father Nicodemus, to dispose of her. With her world abruptly turned upside down, Vampirella finds herself unexpectedly allied with the strangest bedfellow imaginable.

It only took one issue to completely turn the accepted world of our scarlet clad heroine upside down. And as we dive into this team’s second outing it’s clear, like the recent revival of Red Sonja, that the dynamic people behind it have something worthwhile to share. I know we still have a protagonist that’s dressed in skimpy garb but ignore that fact and you’ll find worth.

Nancy A. Collins pens the script as our recently marked Vampirella is on the run from those she trusted in her quest against the creatures of the night. Action and dialogue easily whisk followers away as the battle against Umbra generates a few different strategies that might stop the apocalypse. It’s through the written word that this entire comic finds its footing, and the results make for a compelling yarn which never sacrifices the quirks of our lasting icon.

The illustrations handed in by Patrick Berkenkotter are detailed with just enough line-work to never overwhelm any given page. The talent easily crafts the right visual language in order to continue the legacy of this property while cementing the beginnings of a brand new volume. Jorge Sutil delivers some wonderful colors that offer vibrancy with a palette that speaks to the body within the confines of this text.

Vampirella #2 is exactly the right entry for fans of the supernatural or horror genres. Two issues in and it’s apparent that this is a winning concept that will only get more exciting as Chaos, Cestus Dei and Mallus Maleficarum come into play. Recommended.