VANITY #1, from Scout Comics on April 13th, 2022, begins the fictional retelling of the world’s most prolific “vampire” Countess Bathory. When a girl is born into a noble family, her strictly planned upbringing can’t counteract her natural desire for power.
The Details
- Written By: Jurii Kirnev
- Art By: Natalia Tsarevnikova
- Colors By: Natalia Tsarevnikova
- Letters By: Joel Rodriguez
- Cover Art By: Joseph Schmalke
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Release Date: April 13, 2022
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Was It Good?
VANITY #1 is an interesting take on the Countess Elizabeth Bathory legend and a departure (for now) from the typical horror fare we’ve come to expect from Scout’s Black Caravan label. That’s not a bad thing. It just means this is something a little different.
From the start, Kirnexv goes to great lengths to ground the story with an air of accuracy. The spelling of the locations and character names are localized (which can be difficult to read or pronounce for Western readers). The customs of upbringing, crime, punishment, birth, and death are all presented with a clear intent of authenticity. And, the few scenes of violence are treated as normal and accepted by the society of that time. In short, this looks and reads more like a historical account with a looming sense of evil.
In terms of pacing and plot, this could accurately be described as a slow burn story. The pace holds steady but the plot moves in small increments. There are no big moments here to wow you, but each little event stacks on the previous to develop momentum, like a steam train building speed one chug at a time.
That said, it’s still a slow burn which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re looking for big vampire antics, reset your expectations. But if you’re okay with slowly being drawn into the life of a woman developing a malicious hunger for power, this may just be the one you’re looking for.
The art is generally good. Tsarevnikova shrouds the entire issue in gloom and shadow to match the time period, but it can be a dark-looking book. Also, the linework is not particularly polished, giving the visuals a low-fidelity, indie appearance. However, you could argue the roughness of the art fits the roughness of the setting, so it doesn’t come off badly.
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]
We begin on a late night in Hungaria in 1614. Two workers are sent to dig up the body of the Tiger of Csejte, known today as the Countess Bathory. One of the workers has never heard the name or her reputation, so we conclude the prologue with the Countess’s life story.
Readers are introduced to Erzsebet Batori at the moment of birth. Every moment of every day is planned and staged for her education to become a Lady. With each rule and lesson presented, Erzsebet questions every assumption, sometimes with blasphemous conclusions. As she approaches her 10th birthday, her parents make plans to arrange a marriage that will ensure the security of the Batori family for years to come.
Soon after, both of Erzsebet’s parents die, and she becomes the head of the Batori family, holding off wedding plans until she reaches puberty. We conclude the issue with visions of the first woman, a transition into adulthood, and the first look at the new Countess.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
VANITY #1 is an interesting take on one of the world’s most infamous characters. The writing infuses the subject with authenticity and an air of accuracy while maintaining plenty of drama and creepiness to hold your attention. The art supplies plenty of dramatic shadows and gloom to match the setting, but the indie style may look too rough for some tastes. This is a solid recommendation.
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