Review: Vampiverse #1

I have been in a bit of a privileged position over the last couple of months. You see, I got to interview Vampiverse writers Tom Sniegoski and Jeannine Acheson on the Outside The Panels podcast, which you cane find here. Now what this means is that I have been sitting on this book for ages! To make matters worse, I also had the book on my pull list from the moment it was announced! Now it is finally here, and wow, it’s definitely worth the wait!

It’s multiverse time once again. This time the focus is on Vampirella, creation that is weaved through time and space acting as some sort of cosmic fulcrum. Now something, or someone is walking through the Vampiverse knocking off our favourite vampiric/alien/supernatural from the various timelines. What is a Vampi going to do??

Tom Sniegoski and Jeannine Acheson are possibly, and I mean this as a compliment, comic-doms, first genuine odd couple. Sniegoski, tearing it up on a regular Vampi book, is true industry vet having worked across the aisles, from both of the Big Two and the indie market. Acheson is the relative “new kid on the block”, adding a sense of newness to an industry that is in dire need of fresh perspectives. True, the timing could be better, (who isn’t doing a multiverse book right now; Dynamite even have another multiverse book in Project Super/Dark Powers which is going to lead into a Vampirella versus Red Sonja book; but the pair who are following up from their huge Valentine special hit, are clearly a team to be reckoned with. This first issue sets the table with a running sort of exposition that feels tight and on point, feeling in key details that walks the line for new readers and old alike. This is no mean feat and may be a by-product of the Sniegoski/Acheson team.

I am going to be honest, when I first saw this book I wasn’t originally impressed with the art from Daniel Maine. However, looking over the book again, Maine’s work is growing on me. Maine seems to come from the less is more school of facial elements. This is a current trend across any number of books. Still the big pieces that are a prerequisite for a first issue are all in there. Faces may be a problem, but body lines aren’t and neither are pacing and backgrounds; I hope to see more versatility when we start exploring this multiverse. Maine is helped out by a color scheme from Francesca Cittarelli who gets to treat each new environ as a chance to get super creative. Letterer Taylor Esposito is on hand to once again demonstrate the under appreciated skill and importance of a quality letterer. As its Dynamite, and the current comic book model, there are number of covers to choose from; you would be hard pressed to do better than cover A from Adam Hughes or cover B from Stephen Segovia.

So, another Vampi book, another multiverse idea. Thing is, timing aside, Sniegoski and Acheson bring their storytelling passion to the fore delivering a newish take on and older idea.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 4 stars
Colors – 4 Stars

Overall – 4.5 Stars

Written by; Tom Sniegoski & Jeannine Acheson
Art by; Daniel Maine
Colors by; Francesca Cittarelli
Letters by; Taylor Esposito
Published by; Dynamite Entertainment

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network