Written by: Paul Cornell
Art by: Jimmy Broxton
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
This week I can say I’m feeling a bit daring. Vampirella is one of those classic characters with a long history, so this is one that is easy to intimidate a reader who wants to simply jump into her story. Until recently it may have also been hard when trying to overlook her (or the artist’s) choice of costume. But as of recently books like Vampirella have not only become more accessible, they have become more appealing if you were waiting for her to finally cover up a bit.
As far as new stories go,Vampirella #1 is shockingly new reader friendly. Of course I was expecting something of an origin story, though this was more than that. This was a new story altogether, or might I say a story of its own. Nonetheless, it was easy to get into without knowing anything that Vampirella has gone through in the past. Just like her we are all thrown for a loop after Vampirella finds herself back among the land of the living sleeping for over a thousand years.
There are a number of ways in which you would imagine a vampire waking up after a long sleep, but this defies expectations. Thinking outside the box is an understatement, seeing that this is a world far different from the one she remembers or one that is familiar to us. I mean, we all envision the future having some class, but what we witness here was a drastic difference in views. Personally, I found it shocking that above I speak of the way this Vampirella would dress more casual, and that was before really getting into the story. The realization of what kind of world she really stepped into knocks you off your feet. The words twisted, barbaric, and indecent come to mind and it is difficult to say for sure if that is a good or bad thing. All you know is that there are questions to ask about how this world works and Vampirella has an exciting way of getting those answers.
I must admit this was one of the weirdest first issues I have read in a long while. I’m still trying to figure out what kind of world we just stepped into, though sure enough it is one which sees everyone out of their comfort zone, for better or for worse.
The artwork was very good a well. This is my first time being exposed to Jimmy Broxton’s work and it wasn’t anything like what I had in mind at first. There was this initial assumption that being Vampirella, they would go for something closer to a house style, or pulp style as they are pretty much the same. Of course, I do enjoy seeing a Vampirella who willingly chooses an appropriate outfit for the era, and that only pulls us deeper into the insanity that is what this world turned into over time. Broxton’s vision here seemed like something straight out of a porno which is the best way I can deconstruct what I have read. I mean regardless it is creative as he does this while making the world and the people look futuristic. Something is very wrong and it is through his artwork that this is painfully right in your face. Vampirella definitely thrives in this kind of environment and I’m glad that Broxton take advantage of the things that she can get away with considering how backwards things work here.
Vampirella #1 is the first book I have read of this character and it has left me speechless. I definitely do want to see where this goes, though god damn did they take it to a dark place. It feels weird to say that she is not the biggest oddity I ran into.
