CULT OF DRACULA #5 – Review

In CULT OF DRACULA #5, available from Source Point Press on July 28th, 2021, Arthur reminisces with Lucy about their life together before the cult, resulting in a lovers’ moment that’s as sweet as it is terrifying.

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The Details

• Written By: Rich Davis
• Art By: Puis Calzada
• Colors By: Alex Zief
• Letters By: Dave Lentz
• Cover Art By: Puis Calzada
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: July 28, 2021

Was It Good?

It was okay but I’m sensing some seeds of concern with this series.

The central strength of this series is its refreshing, modernized, arguably grindhouse takes on the Dracula mythos with gobs of emotional gravitas and atmosphere.

Yes, that’s a mouthful but it’s a fair summary.

Cult of Dracula is a pristine example of taking a classic story and flipping some elements on their head while maintaining the spirit of what makes the original work so popular. Tying the demonic head of the cult to Biblical originals completely works. Making the Dracula character a pseudo-mantle passed down through history completely works. Taking the core character elements of Stoker’s book and recasting in a new light that still feels familiar… completely works.

That said, this issue slightly steps off track by trying to flesh out too many scenes all at once. It’s an admirable attempt to juggle so many timelines simultaneously, but the net result of where we are and where we’re going gets a little lost. If a new reader picked up this issue, they would be completely confused as to what’s happening.

On the other hand, the saving grace of this issue is a bizarrely sweet walk down memory lane between Arthur and (vampire) Lucy. The remembrance of their time together before the cult, the struggles that drew them to the cult (moreso Lucy than Arthur), and the state of things as they are with Lucy a member of the undead feels more like ex-lovers catching up than a nightmare-fueled scene of horror. It’s a weird scene that takes up the majority of the book but weird in a fascinating way.

Calzada’s art style continues to work well in this title in a unique way. The art doesn’t enhance the story so much as it adds a layer of dimension to it. The vampire battles are viciously brutal, the deaths of humans (including children) are on full display in all their gory detail, and every face is drawn with large, expressive eyes to maximize the amount of emotion. That extra bit of emotion is what elevates this title above simple shock and gore horror to something more meaningful.

Overall, the art is great and fits the material to a tee. The dialog and pacing are all on point. However, the story is becoming a bit clumsy trying to keep all the narrative plates spinning.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

The lion’s share of the story is a conversation between Arthur and (vampire) Lucy about their life together. They remember the good times and the bad, however, the strongest emotional elements belong to Arthur’s regrets over his lack of appreciation for their relationship. Lucy was always so bright and positive, while Arthur couldn’t choose to be happy at the moment.

Ultimately, Arthur blames his lack of appreciation for driving Lucy into the arms of the cult. Although Lucy is no longer human, Arthur still loves her and accepts her as she is, belying a love that transcends anything superficial.

Lucy promises not to kill Arthur, but not every vampire in the area feels obliged to keep that promise. But before Arthur can be turned into bat food, Lucy’s love for him forces her to intervene and save his life, with dreadful consequences.

Meanwhile, Mina continues to reconnect with her “mother” in her bid to assume the mantle of Dracula like so many before her.

Final Thoughts

CULT OF DRACULA #5 continues building the emotional consequences of the cult’s massacre as Mina’s bond with her “mother” promises to lead to something monstrous. Although the story is starting to get in its own way with too many threads, there’s still a lot to like about this series.

Score: 8/10