VAMPIRELLA/DRACULA: UNHOLY #2, from Dynamite Comics on January 26th, 2022, continues the most bizarre honeymoon in Human or Vampiri history when Matt is kidnapped by the essence of Dracula and Vampirella is confronted by her younger self with a devilish bargain.
The Details
- Written By: Christopher Priest
- Art By: Donny Hadiwidjaja
- Colors By: Mohan
- Letters By: Willie Schubert
- Cover Art By: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: January 26, 2022
Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.
It’s 100% FREE. Sign up NOW!
Was It Good?
Well, okay. VAMPIRELLA/DRACULA: UNHOLY #2 is weird, goes to a few places some may not be comfortable going, but tells a complete story, and is probably the most linear and clear issue Priest has put out in ages. Sure, that sounds like a back-handed compliment, but it’s an honest one.
There’s a lot to like in issue #2. Again, it’s a clear and linear story, which is like giving a cool drink of water to a thirsty man in the desert for Priest’s writing style. Credit where credit is due, this issue is a very strong improvement in terms of readability.
Next, we learned in the last issue that Matt’s salvation involves a ritual with multiple steps. One of those steps involves consummating his relationship. This issue tackles the ritual, a very uncomfortable complication (more on that in the next section below), and does so with tact and an interesting bit of supernatural flair. This part of the critique is deliberately obtuse for a good reason. Just know it takes a challenging situation and handles it tastefully.
The plot before the cliffhanger-ish finale bends your mind a bit until you realize what’s going on. Once the truth of what’s happening is revealed, you gain an appreciation for how serious a threat Dracula and his followers have become. The pacing isn’t particularly smooth, but the story comes together in the end. The down point is the softness or weakness of the ending. It’s not a cliffhanger so much as it’s a “what’s going to happen now?” It would have served the series better if there were more uncertainty around the final moments or some kind of tease on the last page.
Finally, Hadiwidjaja’s art is better in this issue than the previous one. The rough, sketchy style is used more sparingly and in scenes where it makes sense, avoiding the sense of sketchy sloppiness that crept into the last issue. Hadiwidjaja’s character designs are strong, Mohan’s coloring work elevates Hadiwidjaja’s inks, and Schubert’s unique lettering for the supernatural characters enhances the creepy vibe of the issue.
Overall, this issue is a pleasant improvement in every way over issue #1.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you’re not sure what Matt and Vampirella are doing in Romania, first read our VAMPIRELLA/DRACULA: UNHOLY #1 review.
We begin with Matt Eccsed and Vampirella getting separated during an ill-advised sightseeing trip to Dracula’s castle while on their honeymoon. Vampirella is heading down an underground tunnel after hearing someone calling her by her Vampiri name, and Matt wakes up on a sidewalk in Brooklyn, NY(?).
Vampirella catches up to the source of the voice, and it’s herself in little girl form chastising her over her choice to marry and save a human instead of prioritizing her mother and her homeworld. The girl informs Vampirella her mother, Lilith, is still alive and she’ll remain so if Vampirella abandons Matt.
Meanwhile, Matt tries to clear his head after waking up when he’s suddenly accosted by a vampire who claims to be the spirit of Dracula. He urges Matt to accept his role as a new host body in exchange for an eternity of paradise. Suddenly, Vampirella realizes the little girl is an illusion, and when she breaks the spell, she finds Matt nearby and clears from Dracula’s illusion as well.
Later, Matt and Vampirella get cleaned up in their hotel room and prepare for the next part of the ritual to cure Matt, the consummation. It’s then that Matt dares to explain he can’t consummate with his wife because he’s gay. The conversation is uncomfortable but handled the best way it could under the circumstances. We conclude the issue with a debate about stakes, a choice, and an open question about what happens next.
Final Thoughts
VAMPIRELLA/DRACULA: UNHOLY #2 is a clear, weird, sometimes uncomfortable, and yet, interesting next chapter in the strangest honeymoon story you’re likely to ever read. The readability factor is significantly better over the last issue. The art is cleaner, the coloring is great, and the lettering is noticeable in a good way for enhancing the creepiness. In all, this is a solid issue in the series.
Score: 8/10
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com