VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #5, from Dynamite Comics on January 11th, 2023, ends the arc with kind words, free love, and all the grooviness your heart desires.
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: January 11, 2023
Is It Good?
VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #5 brings the time-traveling trip to an end with dancing, smiling, lovemaking, and the occasional monster battle to help the Baronness learn the most important lesson of all – nothing last forever.
If that description sounds like a lot of hippy-dippy shenanigans that went out of style with The Monkees and Laugh-In, you’d be correct. However, that doesn’t mean this issue isn’t without a certain nostalgic charm.
When last we left Vampirella, she had the Baronness on the run after their confrontation ended with a strange admission that the Baroness was enamored/envious of Vampirella in more ways than one. Now, Vampirella and her friends race through a globe-trotting succession of locales to catch the Baroness, only to be frustrated, time and again, by the Baroness’s weird monsters.
Parker succeeds in developing an emotional conflict over her desire to catch the Baroness while secretly wanting to stay and relive her younger years. Getting the chance to do it all over again is a relatable topic for anyone old enough to have experienced the joys and the heartaches of this world. While that theme dominates every scene (perhaps, overbearingly so), it’s a powerful idea, so at least you’ll come away with this issue with something to think about.
Conversely, the powerful idea of getting a second chance dominates the story to the exclusion of every dramatic factor. The stakes are barely mentioned, the plot doesn’t contain a ticking clock that’s recognizable, so there’s no sense of urgency, and the monsters Vampirella encounters are dealt with so quickly and easily, they present little more than an annoying nuisance. In other words, the listless, low-energy atmosphere noted in the previous reviews persists right through to the last page. The story is technically fine, but there’s nothing to get you excited.
How’s the art? Again, it’s equally fine. Dewey’s lines are clean, Kelly’s coloring execution is on-point, and Eckleberry’s lettering is excellent. In the last review, we mentioned the lack of energy or drama in the panel compositions, and while that’s generally a down point, it matches the atmosphere of Parker’s script. The one nitpick in the art that seems more prevalent in this issue is the static facial expressions from the characters throughout most of the issue. The characters’ facial expressions change infrequently, and when they do change, the difference is slight. That restricted changes in facial expression give off a mannequin-ish vibe that contributes to the lack of energy.
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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 #4 review to find out how the Baroness and Vampirella ended their fast battle in a stalemate.
We begin with Ren reminiscing about the early days of his life with Vampirella. Suddenly, Ren realizes his memories are beginning to merge with Pendragon’s, and he works to keep his mind untangled. The longer Ren remains in the past, the harder it will be to untangle from Pendragon, but he’s not sure Vampirella is so eager to return to her time.
What follows is a montage of globe-trotting stops where Vampirella catches up to the Baroness, only to be stymied by one exotic monster after another, conjured by the Baroness as a distraction to escape.
Eventually, Vampirella makes an appeal to the Baroness – give herself over to the Baroness in exchange for the ritual to return everyone home.
We conclude the issue with the completion of the “rite” in a sauna, a final goodbye, and an invitation.
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Final Thoughts
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VAMPIRELLA: MINDWARP #5 ends the arc with peace, love, and hugs. The technical execution in the writing is fine, but the only idea that’s worth remembering is what it would feel like to have the chance to relive your past. Everything else about this issue is forgettable.
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