Vampirella #4 Review

Is this a monthly title that really deserves attention and investment? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

In a desperate attempt to fight Lady Umbra’s growing control over her mind and body, Vampirella and her unlikely new ally, Lord Drago, take a jaunt to the Mediterranean. There, on the Greek island of Lamos, famous for its unspoiled beaches and friendly natives, they search for the most ancient species of vampire in the world: the dreaded lamia of legend. But can Vampirella locate and slay the seductive half-serpent before her heart falls into shadow?

There’s a lot of interesting elements within this comic book, as the creative team charts a course that brings in more monstrous lore with a beleaguered protagonist that’s tipping toward the darkness. What we’ve gotten thus far has certainly set things off on the right note, and this latest release is no different as our heroine comes face to face with yet another terrifying iteration of her kind.

Nancy A. Collins delivers another promising entry featuring the storied Vampirella in a slightly fresh era. The author uses deliberate narrative and dialogue techniques to ground this outlandish property in some semblance of reality while still yielding a compelling tale. It’s within that carefully formulated concoction that we find forces beyond normal understanding wrapped in all too human series of fears for both our hunters and their potential victims.

The illustrations handed in by Patrick Berkenkotter pulsate with an absolutely enticing display. Through this arc I’ve quickly become a fan, as this talent offered up panels full of intricate pencil strokes while maintaining a soft touch that suits the written word. Add in the colors by Jorge Sutil and there’s literally nothing to moan or groan about because this is exactly the high caliber work this project deserves.

Vampirella #4 continues to trek a path that may not be what the average enthusiast expects but the creative team is successfully building something that’s worth following. With each passing page this yarn showed a certain level of quality that allows praise as it easily comes highly recommended.