VAMPIRELLA: DARK REFLECTIONS #5, by Dynamite Comics on 10/5/24, brings the multiverse-hopping adventure to a close when Lilith teams up with rebels, Vampirella, and Pendragon’s head to stop a monster.
Credits:
- Writer: Tom Sniegoski, Jeannine Acheson
- Artist: Daniel Maine
- Colorist: Francesca Cittarelli
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: October 2, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of VAMPIRELLA: DARK REFLECTIONS #5:
First Impressions:
Yep. The description above may sound weird, but it’s about as accurate as you can get in a sentence or two. Writers Tom Sniegoski and Jennine Acheson close the miniseries in the best way possible, as all miniseries should, with big action, consequences, and a new status quo. If the ending is the same as the beginning, a story has no point, so Sniegoski and Acheson get it.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Lilith in Vampirella: Dark Reflections #4, the memory of losing her family sent Vampirella into a rage against the Tenebrae Monstrum. Vampirella is strong but not that strong, so the Monstrum eventually overpowered her. When it seemed Vampirella would be put down for good, Lilith arrived with the rebels and Pendragon’s head to balance the scales.
In Vampirella: Dark Reflections #5, the battle begins anew. Monstrum lashes out with waves of dark energy, knocking the newcomers down like bowling pins. Lilith loses her hold on Pendragon’s head, but Adam converts his body to energy and lifts Pendragon up for a brief reunion of doppelgangers. Vampirella takes Pendragon’s head as a gift from Adam and points Pendragon in Monstrum’s direction to give Pendragon a clean shot of magical energy, fired like a cannon shot of nuclear proportions.
Here we go, boys and girls. Sniegoski and Acheson start the issue with heart and action to get the reader in the right frame of mind that every hero is going for broke. There is no holding back. It’s do-or-die time, literally.
The blast burns out Pendragon’s head and scorches Vampirella to a crisp. The blast doesn’t kill Monstrum, but it weakens her enough to weaken her shield over Earth, allowing the Chaos Lords a window to invade and claim their wayward child for punishment.
Just when you think things might be getting better, they get worse. Yes, it’s a good thing that Sniegoski and Acheson find a way to “beat” Monstrum, but the stakes go up exponentially when you realize Monstrum was the only thing keeping the Chaos Lords at bay. This issue is an impressive lesson on how to escalate stakes.
The Chaos Lords descend on Earth, claim Monstrum and her “children,” and prepare to claim this Earth as their domain. However, the Chaos Lords decide that resistance makes life more interesting than compliance. The issue ends with a sad goodbye and a call to step up and step in.
Overall, Vampirella: Dark Reflections #5 ends on a somber yet hopeful note. The action and emotional beats all land well, and Lilith adopts a new status quo, which makes for interesting storytelling potential in the future. That said, the Chaos Lords’ decision to leave will come across to some readers as a copout, so the full resolution isn’t as satisfying as it could be.
Artwork and Presentation:
Daniel Maine’s artwork is decent enough, but it’s not great. It’s unclear if the art fails to pass the so-so bar due to the smudginess of the coloring from Francesca Cittarelli or from some other factor that’s not as obvious. In fairness, the art is good enough to tell the story being told, but there’s a muddy quality that makes the finished product look unpolished.
Art Samples:
Final Thoughts:
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VAMPIRELLA: DARK REFLECTIONS #5 brings the miniseries to a close with escalating stakes, big action, and a new status quo for the hero to set the groundwork for new stories. Except for one creative choice that feels like a cheat, the finale pays off the buildup on all major fronts.
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