VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #2, from Dynamite Comics on June 8th, 2022, brings the pain times ten to the mean streets of Sepulcher City. Contraband weapons from the depths of Hell have been placed in the hands of the disillusioned with the promise that death will ease their pain. Can Vampirella stop them without killing them?
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)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: June 8, 2022
Was It Good?
Sniegoski takes the Blade Runner-esque feel of the first issue and takes a refreshing left turn by converting the story into an emotionally complex crime drama… with monsters. We had doubts about how much further the story could go after the earth-shattering ending to the Vengeance series, but Sniegoski has proven us wrong.
The highlight of this issue is the surprising amount of emotional conflict Sniegoski infuses into the disillusioned and wounded humans of Sepulcher City as they take a misguided chance at feeling better. The Hell weapons do terrible things to both their victims and the people who wield them, and you feel the desperation in the humans who want nothing more to feel their pain go away, even if it means inflicting more pain on others to do it. This issue is all about pain, and you can’t help but sympathize with everyone involved, especially since there are no easy answers.
The issue ratchets up the tension with every page turn as the latest humans to wield the Hell weapons kick off a mass shooting in a church attended by humans and demons. The carnage is horrific, and the toll on shooters and victims is heartbreaking. Again, the big highlight is the emotional punch of what’s happening, and Sniegoski lathers it on.
Every bit of the drama and emotional punch is elevated by Lau’s moody, expressive art. Lau has a keen eye for dynamic panel angles, and those angles make every moment heavier and more meaningful. Lau’s thick bold lines play up the drama, and his skill at portraying movement and action is stellar.
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 want a recap on the history of the Hell weapons, first read our VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #1 review.
We begin mid-battle with Vampirella receiving a first-hand taste of what the Hell weapon can do. The “bullets” are like beetles that dive in and out of flesh, consuming as they go. Balthazar bites the “bullet” out, taking off most of Vampirella’s arm. He charges the killer and gets gunned down, too. The killer wanders off for help, not realizing the weapon is slowly merging with her body and can’t be removed.
Later, Vampirella and Balthazar slowly recover in a Danse Macabre medical facility. When she comes around, Vampirella and Jeannine/Passion discuss what happened and the urgency needed to get the weapons off the streets. They chat until they receive word that a new shooting is in progress by a pair of armed humans who’ve entered a human/demon church service.
We conclude the issue with improvised wings, second thoughts, and more pain.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #2 is a surprisingly weighty issue in this series with anger, pain, and grief expressed by all the characters. But for the mystery villain, there are no true bad guys in this issue, only hurt people desperate to be free of their pain, and the last page cliffhanger puts Vampirella in the middle of it all.
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