VAMPIRELLA VS. THE SUPERPOWERS #3, from Dynamite Comics on 7/26/23, serves up an undercover tale of deception and guile when Vampirella uncovers the drug lord behind the American Lix epidemic.
The Details
- Written by: Dan Abnett
- Art by: Pasquale Qualano, Gerardo Gambone
- Colors by: Ellie Wright
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Jae Lee, June Chung (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 26, 2023
Is It Good?
VAMPIRELLA VS. THE SUPERPOWERS #3 is an oddly mixed issue in the otherwise fascinating detective noir series from Dan Abnett. There’s a lot to like in terms of style, mood, and thematic homages to quintessential noir stories ala China Town, but the jarring shift to standard Vampirella action in the last third throws a wrench in Dan Abnett’s atmospheric writing.
When last we left Vampirella, she and Tyro Towers came face-to-face with the enigmatic Mr. Fix, who turns out to be the super-hypnotist, Photofit. Now, Vampirella is hypnotized into using her club as a drug front, but Mr. Fix has bigger plans for Vampirella’s naturally superpowered blood.
What’s great about this issue? Except for the oddly jarring tonal shift in the last action, Dan Abnett’s script reads like a classic Hollywood crime noir thriller, complete with gangsters, jealous molls, femme fatales, and crooked politicians. All the makings of a proper noir story are present with a sultry attitude to spare. And yes, the tonal shift in the third act is jarring, but in isolation, the third act is a lot of fun.
What’s not so great about this issue? The crime noir story Abnett is telling through the first two acts of the issue is well-crafted, but a bit low on pacing due to the lack of tension throughout the story. You get a few twists and turns, but at no point do you feel Vampirella and Dyna-Might are in any true danger. Plus, that third-act shift into a full-action story is jarring as heck.
How’s the art? Generally, the art is very good. You can see in the credits where Pasquale Qualano and Gerardo Gambone share pencil/ink duties, and it’s not as jarring as the third-act writing shift, but you plainly see where styles change in certain panels. The differences aren’t big enough to look like completely different styles, but the differences are noticeable. As a plus, Ellie Wright’s coloring has a little more pop in this issue.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our VAMPIRELLA VS. THE SUPERPOWERS #2 review to find out how Vampirella came into contact with the mysterious Mr. Fix.
We begin with Vampirella and Tyro Towers waking up in a car in the middle of a deserted road. Vampirella has the mental suggestion to turn over control of her club to Mr. Fix, and she advises Towers to leave town for a long time. Later, Vampirella freshens up at home and lets Dyna-Might know the hypnosis didn’t work on her due to her Drakulonian powers.
Dyna is ready to call the mission complete, but Vampirella shuts down her partner’s enthusiasm because she knows Mr. Fix is getting help from somebody higher up, possibly from another Plural world. The mission isn’t over until they get to the head of the organization, and Vampirella knows just how to find them out.
We conclude the issue with a callback, a jealous rage, and a super-brawl.
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Final Thoughts
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VAMPIRELLA VS. THE SUPERPOWERS #3 continues the sultry crime noir story with shady gang lords, undercover stings, and generally great art. However, the simmering noir atmosphere takes a hard left into typical superpowered action in the last act for a jarring reading experience.
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