VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #1, from Dynamite Comics on September 14th, 2022, finds Vampirella hunted by an old foe who seeks a different kind of revenge. Will Vampirella’s mind and body remain intact?
The Details
- Written by: Jeff Parker
- Art by: Benjamin Dewey
- Colors by: Dearbhla Kelly
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Joseph Michael Linsner (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 14, 2022
Is It Good?
VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #1 is a pleasing start to a new adventure with monster fights, magic, and an unexpected surprise at the end that will grab your attention. Is it a perfect start? No, there are some technical flaws, but on the whole, it’s a good start.
The plot centers on an old foe who goes to great lengths to lure Vampirella into a personal visit. When the fateful meeting begins, we learn the foe has something more sinister in mind than simple revenge.
The setup is solid. The approach feels like an old-school Warren Publishing story. Parker kicks the story off with a fun monster-on-monster battle, and Vampirella’s worldly knowledge of magic gets a little time to shine, showing she’s no fool.
Where the story stumbles is in the choreography of the first act and some of the minor plot elements. For example, Vampirella’s fight with a werewolf culminates in a crushed car that coincidentally happens to be driven by a drunk driver – killing two birds with one… werewolf. However, there’s nothing to indicate to Ren (the new protagonist) or Vampirella that the driver was drunk. They just magically know somehow.
Ren goes through a series of awkward maneuvers to get a magical amulet around Vampirella, but the juxtaposition of his approach feels awkward and doesn’t make sense in several panels. In fairness, the choreography lies with the artist and the writer, so it’s not clear where the misstep lies, but the net result is a clunky first act.
Dewey’s art is generally good. The character designs feel fleshed out, the fight choreography is excellent, and the mystical elements are rendered beautifully. Again, the clunkiness of Ren’s “mission” in the first act partly lies with the art, and the new Vampirella costume design is underwhelming, but on the whole, Dewey turns in commendable work here.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a full moon scene in the streets of New Orleans. Vampirella battles a werewolf on the rooftops while being watched by a man named Ren from the shadows. Ren is in radio communication with an interested party who wants Ren to place a magical amulet around Vampirella’s neck as soon as he gets a chance.
When the fight is done, Vampirella returns the werewolf to his family with a modest tip on how to break the curse. Ren tries to sneak up on Vampirella to fulfill his orders, but she effortlessly catches Ren in the act. Rather than kill Ren, Vampirella befriends him to find out who’s giving him orders to capture her and why.
With a little playacting, Vampirella is brought to the home of Baroness Gruzel, a withered and decrepit sorceress with a story to tell. We conclude the issue with a special crown, a spell, and a flashback that isn’t a flashback.
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Final Thoughts
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VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #1 is a solid start to a new adventure with plenty of magic, monsters, and a trippy cliffhanger that evokes the spirit of the classic Warren stories. The writing and art are generally good, despite a little clunky execution in both areas in the first act.
Related Information
What color are Vampirella’s eyes?
Vampirella’s eyes are typically drawn as black. Depending on the series and artist, Vampirella’s eyes are highlighted with red to express rage or bloodlust, but her natural eye state is black.
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