VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #11, from Dynamite Comics on March 22nd, 2023, tracks a serial killer who makes the fatal mistake of murdering someone close to Vampirella. What is the killer after, and can Vampirella find him before he strikes again?
The Details
- Written by: Thomas Sniegoski
- Art by: Jonathan Lau
- Colors by: Omi Remalante Jr.
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 22, 2023
Is It Good?
As the saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a really pissed-off alien vampire. Okay, maybe that’s not an exact quote, but m’boy, you love to see Dynamite’s favorite character gear up to take out the trash, and Thomas Sniegoski is all too happy to rev that throttle and step on the gas.
Yes, that’s a lot of mixed metaphors, but we liked this comic a lot, so thank you in advance for your indulgence.
When last we left Vampir4ella, she discovered her “juicebox” lover, Dante, had been savagely ripped apart in an alley on the way to their date. Now, Vampirella learns similar murders have happened in the seedy part of town known as the Menagerie, and the killer may not be human.
The strength of Sniegoki’s script is the raw emotional punch it delivers. Vampirella has developed a genuine, loving connection with Dante. When she finds his body and also learns that several more people were killed in the same manner, you get a clear projection of grief and anger over Dante’s death, mixed with guilt over the Danse’s failure to act on the killings sooner. Sniegoski nails one emotion after the other until you can practically see Vampirella is ready to act before she explodes from the pain.
In terms of writing execution, Sniegoski ticks all the right boxes. The pacing is excellent, the dialog is snappy, and the emotion-packed scenes are heartbreaking when they contrast what could have been with what will be.
Jonathan Lau, once again, demonstrates why he’s the master of dramatic shadows. There are entire panels in this issue where the background is nothing but blackness, yet it works to give the scenes an unsettling atmosphere. Lau’s thick, bold lines give the characters weight, and the panel compositions, especially Vampirella’s flying scenes, are mesmerizing.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #10 review to find out how Vampirella and Dante first met.
We begin with a love story in the making. Vampirella recalls her first meeting with Dante and how the transactional nature of their relationship grew into something much more. The strength of her growing love for Dante turns to searing pain when Danse officials come to collect Dante’s mutilated body in a Menagerie alley.
Vampirella demands a full investigation from Danse officials, and her anger intensifies when she finds out 15 more murders have occurred in the same way over the last few months, but the Danse haven’t had time to investigate.
Elsewhere, a single man ventures into the tunnels under the city to pay respect to an altar made of bones shaped into a contemplative statue. The statue calls the man to continue his dark work. We conclude the issue with confusing results, mutual goals with unsavory characters, and the boogeyman.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #11 assaults the reader with raw, painful emotion through Vampirella’s grief over her murdered lover. The emotional moments hit you right between the eyes, and Lau’s art is powerfully moody.
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