VAN HELSING: BLACK ANNIS, available from Zenescope Entertainment on March 31st, 2021, puts Liezel Van Helsing against a dark creature that feeds off the souls of children. When Rosebud Middle School becomes the monster’s latest feeding ground, Van Helsing has to step in to lay down some corporal punishment.
The Details
- Written By: Brian Hawkins
- Art By: Vicente Cifuentes
- Colors By: Robby Bevard
- Letters By: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Art By: Edgar Salazar, Ivan Nunes
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Release Date: March 31, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes. It’s a perfect creature-feature one-shot that ends with an open door for exploration down the road. Hawkins puts together a straight-forward setup with emotional urgency due to the family connection.
The art is typical excellence from Zenescope. However, the coloring is a standout in this issue with detailed shading and great use of light effects. Hats off to Bevard on this issue.
Check out our VAN HELSING: BLACK ANNIS preview to see for yourself.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Schoolboy Max is scolded by his substitute teacher for doodling in class when he should be taking a timed quiz. The disturbing figure Max draws is enough for the teacher to call for a parent conference.
Later that evening, a group of students cut through a city alleyway and are attacked by the Black Annis, a blue-skinned hag with fangs and claws. The students barely escape, but not before getting a close enough look at the monster to tell the tale to their fellow students the next day.
Hats off again to the art team for Black Annis’ design. She’s projects predatory violence that would scare the pants off anyone.
Later still, Liezel Van Helsing returns from a nightly patrol, partly to stay loos and partly to make sure the city is safe. Her inner monologue informs the reader of her responsibility to monster hunting and her need to have a “normal” home life. Hawkins hits you on the nose with the monologue, but not in an over-the-top way.
Back at home, Liezel crawls into bed late with her sleeping boyfriend, Rick.
The next morning, Rick is preparing breakfast for his nephew, Max. Yes, the same Max drawing the picture in class. Max’s mother works the late shift, and so Rick is tasked with standing in for the parent conference. When Liezel hears about the picture and the stories Max’s schoolmates are telling, she comes along.
Admittedly, the confluence of events that pits Van Helsing against Black Annis is mildly contrived, but not so much that it takes you out of the story.
Rick and Liezel arrive at the school and are met by the Vice Principal, Aggy Forrester. Liezel immediately senses something’s off but goes along for the meeting. When Liezel sees the drawing and hears the stories the students are telling, she realizes it is the Black Annis, a creature she was warned against back in her own time.
Later that night, Max walks back to his own apartment but finds nobody is home. ON the way back to Rick’s place, he’s attacked by the Black Annis. Before it can consume his energy, Van Helsing arrives to interrupt feeding time. Liezel suspected Max might be in danger and followed him home.
Max is rescued but the Black Annis escapes. The few hissing words it utters remind Liezel of something Max’s teacher said, so Liezel confronts the teacher at home. The teacher, however, is not Black Annis in disguise but the teacher explains the Vice Principal was the one who wanted Max to stay late for detention.
Without giving away the ending, bronze swords are useful, a school’s basement is cave-like, and Liezel learns it’s always better to finish the job.
Final Thoughts
VAN HELSING: BLACK ANNIS, available from Zenescope Entertainment on March 31st, 2021, is straightforward monster movie fun. The plot makes sense all the way through and the art is on point with impressive coloring.
Score: 8/10
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