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Published by: Dynamite Entertainment
Released on: Oct. 8, 2014
Writer: Nancy A. Collins, Devin Grayson, John Shirley
Artist: Jack Jadson, Ronilson Freire, Elmo Dillon
Cover artist: Jay Anacleto
Purchase at Amazon
A new Vampirella title has emerged for a five-issue run celebrating the 45th anniversary of the character. The series is one continuous story written and illustrated by a host of talents and takes place after the events that occur in issue six, which isn't due out until nearly a month after this book hits the shelves. It totally spoils the end, and if you are reading the current ongoing series, that tidbit of fact might piss you off a tad.
Vampirella inherits a mansion and everything that it contains through certain acts in the mentioned issue six of the regular series, and one of the items she finds interesting is a book titled “Feary Tales†and literally gets swept up in the book. It drags her in and challenges her to get through the tales within.
One tale is of the wife-murdering Blue Beard, who dresses her up like Vampress Luxura (90s comic) and tells her not to open a locked door with a key he gives her. After exploring Blue Beard's castle a bit, she does what she shouldn't and has to get out of her newest predicament.
Then she finds herself in the same situation as Cinderella, complete with rags and evil step-sisters, and her sexy-ass leather boot replaces the glass slipper. But she isn't on her own; someone is pulling the strings and she meets someone or something from her home planet of Drakulon who gives her a little info about alternate worlds and such. First she needs to get through the Cinderella story before moving onto whatever comes next.
Although nowhere near the level of quality as the Nancy A. Collins monthly Vampi title, there's still some entertainment to be had. The story itself is kind of hokey at this point, and the concept of getting sucked into fiction tales in a book isn't anything new, but it's executed pretty well overall. The artwork doesn't shine, although it's certainly handled by capable artists; it's just average stuff. This issue boasts a great cover by Jay Anacleto, the one provided above being the main cover and one of a dozen different covers. Seems like overkill, but it's her 45th birthday so it's ok. Recommended? If you're a fan, then of course. If you're looking to read new Vampirella for the first time, check out the monthly series first.
