REVIEW: Union Jack – The Ripper: Blood Hunt #1

Marvel’s Vampire apocalypse makes a stop in jolly ‘ol England in Union Jack – The Ripper: Blood Hunt #1. Can one of Marvel’s darker heroes help quell this endless night?

There’s a saying that it takes a monster to fight a monster. And if that’s the case, then a hero with the moniker of Jack the Ripper may just be the savior the good people Manchester, UK need. The story follows a young officer trying to lead a group of survivors to safety when they run into our “hero”. Jack’s salty disposition is on full display and the way it is woven into some intense action scenes is excellently done by writer Cavan Scott. The use of the survivors and the young cop Mara, in particular, helps to make Jack a character you can root for…kinda.

Artistically, there is plenty of stylized horror and action to go around in this issue. The action is visceral and bloody and the settings are properly dark and foreboding. Jack’s lair is even more spooky than Manchester’s vampire infested streets. But there is also some fun and comic booky-ness for lack of a better term to the art. The characters are stylized which brings a different dimension to the story. It’s a little bit of everything for fans of different kinds of visual storytelling in comics. There are a couple of really cool splash panels that really show what the art team can do. Kev Walker, Craig Yeung, and Belardino Brabo (ink and pencils) and Java Tartaglia and Dee Cunniffe (colors) have created a great looking issue.

It’s easy to see that the writing and art team had a lot of fun creating Union Jack – The Ripper: Blood Hunt #1. Well as much fun as a team can have writing an ultra-violent story about a foul-mouthed hero and the end of the world. FYI this issue is not for the kids as stated on the cover. But adults and fans of vampires and this, sometimes obscure, Marvel hero will have a great time roaming the dark streets of Manchester and discovering Jack’s own secrets.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Coloring – 4 Stars

Overall
4 Stars

Written by; Cavan Scott
Art by; Kev Walker, Craig Yeung, and Belardino Brabo
Colors by; Java Tartaglia and Dee Cunniffe
Letters by; Clayton Cowles
Published by; Marvel Comics

Author Profile

Christopher R. Ford

Writer, author, and blogger. Published author of three children's books and also writes for the boy Creators For The Culture. Part-time sneaker head, full time nerd.