VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS #5 – The Honest Review

In VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS #5, available from Dynamite Comics on April 14th, 2021, Black Terror’s Earth is under an Apocalypse-level attack from supernatural forces, and there can only be one person responsible — Vampirella.

The Details

• Written By: Dan Abnett
• Art By: Vincenzo Federici
• Colors By: Ellie Wright
• Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
• Cover Art By: Jae Lee, June Chung
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: April 14, 2021

Was It Good?

Yes, it was very good in a frustrating way.

This is one of those chapters in a story where mistrust and doubt lead characters to jump to conclusions. It’s all a big, frustrating misunderstanding… or is it? That’s good writing when a reader can feel the frustration and anxiety over a situation spiraling out of control.

The art is, likewise, excellent in this issue. Interesting perspectives on the panels stand out and make even simple conversations look dynamic.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

We begin with a garbled and static-filled transmission from Kid Terror calling the Project for help. His Earth is under attack from giant creatures that look like flying dragons. The transmission is suddenly cut off.

Back on Vampirella’s Earth circa 1971, Black Terror attacks Vampirella as the one responsible for the planet-wide destruction happening back on his home Earth (read our VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS #4 review to get up to speed). The attack comes as a surprise since readers are just as in the dark about what’s happening as Vampirella.

Vampirella tries to talk him down, and succeeds in avoiding Bob’s (aka Black Terror’s) blows just long enough to get him to talk instead of fight. Bob manages to blurt out the attack is supernatural in nature, which can only mean Vampirella is in on the attack.

She does her best to explain she’s not a “real” vampire in the supernatural sense and she has nothing to do with the attack. Bob is still enraged, and all the fear and doubt over Vampirella’s origin bubbles to the surface. Bob attacks again with more ferocity.

Admittedly, not a lot happens in this issue as the story progresses. However, what this issue does is build escalating tension between Vampirella and members of the Project who aren’t convinced of her suitability as a team member. It would be fair to describe this as a character-building issue because it packs in tons of emotion and motivation for whatever comes next.

Realizing she’s in a fight for her life, Vampirella unleashes with everything she’s got and manages to knock Bob out enough to briefly daze him.

What’s interesting about the art during the fight is it looks like a manga comic in terms of the angles and depiction of speed in the way the characters move. If the art isn’t influenced by manga, it’s a heck of a coincidence. One that should be repeated more often.

Vampirella tries to take the opportunity to flee and regroup, but before she can fly away, she’s surrounded by a circle of flames. A large group of Project heroes has arrived to take Vampirella into custody. What follows is a verbal sparring session wherein Vampirella takes the group to task for assuming she’s involved in whatever is happening instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt.

Seeing the conversation is going nowhere, Vampirella demands the Project take Black Terror and leave her Earth. The issue concludes with the Project steadfastly NOT cooperating with Vampirella’s demand.

How Does It End?

Preston aka The Flame hasn’t learned his lesson from previous issues. The Woman In Red gets as well as she gives and then some. A certain redhead arrives to join the fight.

Final Thoughts

VAMPIRELLA: THE DARK POWERS #5, available from Dynamite Comics on April 14th, 2021, is almost entirely a single scene that manages to pack in volumes of drama, emotion, exciting action, and top-notch dialog. Despite the lack of forward progress on the plot, the net effect is a mountain of setup and motivation into the conflicts to come.

Score: 8.5/10