Reading this book, I couldn’t help but get a serious sense of deja vu. I know I have been around the comic book block a few times, so I guess familiarity is going to breed something, at least down the line. That said, it wasn’t that long ago that Paul Cornell wrote a Vampirella series, before being replaced with Jeremy Whitley about a sort of pan sexual world in which Vampirella is awoken to save.
This series is written by Thomas Sniegoski, who presents a similar plot device as Cornell’s previous run, but with the difference of keeping the “new” world vaguely familiar to Vampi fans. By doing so, he kinds of re-dresses the character for the her next encounters with evil. Sniegoski does well to build on this world, filling it with a raft of characters including an interesting sidekick of sorts. Seven issues in and it feels like Sniegoski is still building for his big story moments; there are plenty of little moments to enjoy such as the interaction between Pen and Vampia for one. These though are marred by the over elaborate exposition that is disguised as dialogue for Mistress Nix which makes up a good chunk of the book.
The art is provided by Michael Sta. Maria who delivers an impressive style, which although may not be classed as “Big 2” manages to walk the tightrope of curvy women dressed in swimsuits and bondage outfits whilst avoiding over-sexualisation. His success in these arenas delivers a book that is mainly pleasing to the eye yet also meets the requirements for most of Vampi’s legion of fans. On the flip-side, the amount of exposition that occurs later in the book kind of slows down the pacing somewhat as Sta. Maria has to panel it out. There is also a convenience of what I assume is digital art, as the same Vampi face is used three times in one page which kind of detracts once you notice it. I am looking forward to seeing how Sta. Maria manages what appears to be a more action based issue next time around. Colors are provided by Omi Remalante Jr. who does a solid, if a little too bright for a horror book, job. I suppose the brighter than expected colors could be being used to highlight that this is a different world for Vampi. There are darker elements which adds contrast to the art. Letters are supplied by Troy Peteri who does well being the slave of two masters with the amount of dialogue and the art to consider. Finally, being a Dynamite book, there are a few covers to choose from. For my buck, you can’t go wrong with any of them, though covers A, B or the cosplay one would be my choice,
I am a Vampi fan; I do feel that she suffers the same sort of problem as her stable mate, Red Sonja. Both characters can be victims of extremes; they are either placed in worlds that are too far for fans to travel, or they are stuck in the same old same old. The trick for them both is to meet the middle ground. For me then, the current Vampi / Red Sonja team up book works as it not only delivers best of both worlds, it does also challenge both characters in different ways. However, there is a sense of fun and energy in Vengeance of Vampirella that delivers on the more traditional aspects of this much loved character.
Writing – 3.5 Stars
Art – 3.5
Colors – 3.5 Stars
Overall – 3.5 Stars
Written by; Thomas Sniegoski
Art by; Michael Sta. Maria
Colors by; Omi Remalante Jr.
Letters by; Troy Peteri
Covers by; (A) Lucio Parrillo; (B) Ben Oliver; (C) Stephen Segovia
Published by; Dynamite Entertainment
Author Profile
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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
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