VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #3, from Dynamite Comics on November 16th, 2022, pits Vampirella and her time-displaced friends against a demon running amok. Meanwhile, Baroness Gruzel enjoys a chance to start life over.
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: November 16, 2022
Is It Good?
VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #3 is a decided step up from the previous issues with a story that follows a cleaner narrative, characters that act with believability, and a clear direction heading into the finale next issue. While not perfect, this is the best issue in the arc so far.
The highlight of Jeff Parker’s script is the wild, mildly wacky shenanigans Vampirella and her friends go through to stop the Baron’s ill-conceived ritual, eventually turning their sights on the old Baronness in her young body. The comings and goings of magical characters in a short period of time give the story a quaint sitcom feel that suits the time period in which the story takes place. You get a Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie vibe that infuses the story with a light charm.
That said, the minor down point is the too-convenient cavalcade of introductions and appearances of characters that just so happen to have what Vampirella needs at just the right moment to keep the story moving along. The contrivances don’t feel forced, but folks show up on cue as if this were a by-the-numbers stage play.
Dewey’s art matches the mod vibe of the psychedelic time romp to a tee. The character’s costumes, body postures, and acting feel like scenes ripped from a 60s/70s supernatural sitcom ala The Munsters. And Kelly’s coloring work is next-level groovy.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #2 review to find out how a demon crashed the magic orgy party.
We begin with a demon crashing the magic orgy party after the demon influences the Baron’s mind to perform an ill-advised ritual to become the demon’s host. Now loose in the physical realm, the demon, Gul-Karuth, begins to lay waste or consume everyone within reach. Ren/Pendragon figures out the mystical dagger Adam Van Helsing stole from one of the upper rooms has the power to harm the demon, so he leaps to attack.
Ren/Pendragon is knocked aside, but Vampirella takes the dagger to finish what Ren/Pendragon started after she drinks the blood of a nearby corpse to power up. The demon is defeated, and in the chaos, Baroness Gruzal regains the full faculties of her future self to set the mansion ablaze and escape.
Afterward, several magicians gather around Vampirella outside to lend their support and assistance. One magician casts a spell to make Ren visible a his true self. Another offers to use an article of the Baroness’s clothing to track her whereabouts. We conclude the issue with a snowy retreat, a dark dungeon, and a deadly train.
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Final Thoughts
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VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #3 is a wacky, wild, gonzo romp as Vampirella and her friends battle demons and chase witches in an effort to get back home. The art and story snuggly fit in a mid-Century supernatural vibe ala The Munsters, and the art is boldly amusing.
Related Information
Where do I start with Vampirella comics?
The best place to start with Vampirella comics is with the original Warren Magazine series of the same name, published in 1969. In the modern era, start with the first issues of Vampirella after the license was acquired by Dynamite Comics in 2010.
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