VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #8, from Dynamite Comics on December 21st, 2022, witnesses the ascension of the Bloody Red Queen of Hearts into an unstoppable cyborg body, ready to unleash a Chaos God on Earth.
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: December 21, 2022
Is It Good?
Bazinga! Now we’re cooking with demon blood! At the end of issue #7, Thomas Sniegoski gifted readers with the gasp-worthy reveal that the Bloody Red Queen of Hearts, Jezebel, was making a comeback. In VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #8, Jezebel doesn’t walk out onto the stage. She dominates the stage, chews up the audience, and spits them out for lack of taste. Sniegoski pulls no punches with the re-emergence of one of Vampirella’s greatest enemies, and this series just got a shot of joy juice in return.
If readers are unfamiliar with the Bloody Red Queen of Hearts, this issue is a perfect introduction point for the character. Sniegoski intermixes an efficient-yet-thorough flashback into the main plot to tell you precisely who and what Jezebel is all about. The flashback could be a one-shot unto itself because it’s written so well.
To be clear, the flashback only takes up a few pages. The rest of the issue centers on Jezebel’s rebirth into the world, the prowess of the cybernetic body built for her by the Chaos Cult, and the havoc she unleashes once she’s set free. If you’ve found this series lacking in big stakes since Mistress Nyx died, those stakes have returned in a big way.
Therein lies the key to this issue’s success. Sniegoski’s take on Jezebel clearly and immediately puts the entire world in danger with just a few short panels. Once the threat is made known, Vampirella is suddenly in the fight of her life to stop Jezebel or escape long enough to make a plan. You can feel the urgency and the gravity of the situation almost instantly, and it’s riveting stuff.
The action, tension, and excitement are also due to Jonathan Lau’s stellar artwork. The action choreography sprints through the pages. Lau’s selection of dramatic camera angles is captivating, and Lau’s use of darkness and shadows elevates the dramatic punch of each scene significantly.
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]
Check out our VAMPIRELLA STRIKES #7 review to learn what awful things the Chaos Cult is planning.
We begin with a flashback to ancient times. Jezebel was a powerful sorceress in need of a husband and king who could survive her appetites. No human male could withstand Jezebel’s desire, so she selected an exiled, imprisoned Chaos God. Jezebel’s only challenge was finding the right sacrifice ritual that would free him.
Over the millennia, Jezebel’s disembodied spirit possessed one human after another, hunting for the right sacrifice to free her beloved. Now, the Chaos Cult has created a cybernetic body strong enough to hold Jezebel’s spirit and give her the strength (and weapons) she needs to carry out her quest.
We conclude the issue with a betrayal, an unwelcoming greeting, and a flight for survival.
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 #8 kicks the world-ending stakes up by a factor of 10 with an all-out cyber-demonic slugfest. Sniegoski’s (re)introduction of Jezebel is a perfect jumping-on point for new readers, the world-ending stakes haven’t reached this level since the Mistress Nyx arc, and the art is phenomenal.
Related Information
What race is Vampirella?
Vampirella is technically an alien from the planet Drakulon. Although she has powers and strengths similar to the legendary vampires of Earth, she shares none of their weaknesses.
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