In VAMPIRELLA VERSUS PURGATORI #3, available from Dynamite Comics on May 12th, 2021, Vampirella desperately tries to stop Lilith’s corruption of the Tzadikim while Purgatori goes on a mission to stop Undine for good.
The Details
- Written By: Ray Fawkes
- Art By: Álvaro Sarraseca
- Colors By: Salvatore Aiala
- Letters By: Tom Napolitano
- Cover Art By: Derrick Chew (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: May 12, 2021
Was It Good?
For once, expectations were subverted… in a good way. So yes, this issue was good because we make some forward progress on the story, the stakes are raised with a “what’s going to happen next?” cliffhanger, and there are more reveals coming regarding who’s pulling all the strings.
In short, this issue does a phenomenal job progressing the story and building anticipation for the next issue.
The art is adequate. What’s hard to grasp, visually, is the strong contrast in this issue between the fine detail of the textures (particularly the backgrounds) and the lack of texture on the characters. It’s the difference between super-detailed and comic-strip fidelity. The art isn’t necessarily bad but it doesn’t quite mesh; almost as if you had two different artists working on the same panels.
See for yourself in our VAMPIRELLA VERSUS PURGATORI #3 preview.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Enter Lady Hel into this race to end the world. Right from her opening monologue, we learn she’s the one feeding Undine information in an effort to manipulate Lilith into ending the world.
Where expectations get subverted is in our (incorrect) assumption that Lady Hel was working with Purgatori. She is not. Read our VAMPIRELLA VERSUS PURGATORI #2 review to see how we arrived at that conclusion.
Close but no cigar, as they say. Lady Hel is feeding Undine intel to get Lilith to end the world so Lady Hel will have control over every soul and rule the world… or what’s left of it. However, somebody is likewise feeding Purgatori information, and Lady Hel isn’t too happy about it.
In the mortal world, Vampirella and Purgatori make a plan to split up. Vampirella will save the three Tzadikim Lilith is trying to corrupt, and Purgatori will kill Undine to prevent Lilith from learning the location of the remaining Tzadikim. It’s a good plan, so of course, it doesn’t work out.
Vampirella breaks into the abandoned church where the three Tzadikim are held. She saves the first from temptation by an orgy of lust demons. She saves the second from horrific pain and mutilation. The third is in Lilith’s hands.
Purgatori finds Undine in an abandoned mansion and attacks with claws, fangs, and magic. Before she can deliver the killing bite, Purgatori is magically transported into Lady Hel’s realm for a little chat. Lady Hel is going to kill Purgatori for interfering but she first wants to know who has been giving her information.
Vampirella confronts Lilith about releasing the third Tzadikim. Lilith gloats over her cleverness as she knew tempting the first two with pleasure and pain would likely not work. We conclude the issue with Lilith taking a more elegant approach with Tzadikim number three.
How Does It End?
Lady Hel is lining them up before she knocks them down. Vampirella succeeded… or did she? “Welcome To The Family.”
Final Thoughts
VAMPIRELLA VERSUS PURGATORI #3, available from Dynamite Comics on May 12th, 2021, successfully merges a chase story with a double-cross mystery. The art is adequate and the writing is becoming surprisingly intricate with surprises yet to come.
Score: 8/10
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