The end is here … but who will meet the tip first?
Creative Staff:
Writer: Pat Shand
Artwork: Michele Bandini
What They Say:
Last year, Liesel Van Helsing was attacked by an evil from her father’s past … but she survived, and moved on with her life. Besides becoming the name that vampires fear, she’s also found love … in the strangest place. However, when old friends come calling on her for help, Van Helsing finds herself pulled into a final conflict with the deadliest vampire of all time!
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
As blood flows in the streets of London, Liesel and her friends must now confront Dracula and his army of minions. Chaos has overrun the once civilised city and the companions must also consider the fact that if they kill the leader, his followers may also follow suit. Jonathan knew that this choice might come to pass, but it doesn’t make things any easier; though Marian may still hold hope for breaking the curse, those who are in the conflict cannot consider this luxury. Their only hope is to fight on two fronts: Liesel will face the king of vampires and Jonathan will try to convince Mina that there is another way than to blindly serve her master. But can they survive by dividing their strength or do they have any other choice?
The arrogance of Vlad is justified in his overwhelming strength and the euphoria that his sleepers feel as they succumb to this manipulator. His control is absolute and there is nothing that anyone can do free those under his thrall, or so he thought. But, where there is a will, there will always be a way and Liesel will find it to release the innocents he now controls. However, can her allies endure the long journey to this liberation before his slaves threaten to destroy them? Dracula’s servants have been subdued, but their fervor is real, the passion to serve in his unholy crusade is their only ambition. They will not hesitate to kill any who stand in their way, unlike Hades and the Steward. How long can they hope to keep the pack at bay before they are forced to defend themselves? One side will suffer and the unwilling victims may the one who must pay the ultimate price.
In Summary:
We always knew that the story could only end one way, but writer Pat Shand has been able to manipulate the events and situations as such so that we have become so involved with the characters that we cannot but suffer with them when everything comes to fruition. The struggle of Dracula and the Van Helsing family has been a generational affair, and thus, Vlad cannot but help to bring the sins of Abraham into the picture when he confronts Liesel in their final battle. The capture of Jonathan’s fiancée Mina, the constant taunting of his superiority, being just out of her reach when Liesel thinks she has him – they all seem like something out of a perverted version of the Art of War. You cannot but admire him when attacks the weakest link in his true torturer’s chain – Hades; if he cannot defeat the once Ruler of the Underworld, then go after the one he cares for the most. Classic strategy.
And yet, Shand is able to turn this harrowing tale on its ear when he injects his unique method of narration into what should be a serious life and death struggle. Liesel’s monologue brings more depth into this by giving us her motivation and the urging of her emotions; if a normal person was in the same situation, they would probably be scared out of their mind, but her thoughts are about Hades and her father. She knows that everything is about to come to an end, but she still thinks of how this will end the last vestiges of her father and how she will be alone after this is done. You cannot but help to be touched from those simple words from such a strong woman. However, within the next pages, the drama of Jonathan & Mina unfolds as Marian and Sam try to free her from the thrall. Another genuine moment, but then Robyn has to spoil the tension with complaints about being bored? Humour and sincerity in one issue, how can you not love his storytelling?
None of this would have been possible if not for the masterful artwork of Michele Bandini. Anyone could have illustrated the ferocity of the battle, but the poignant moments of the issue and series are reflected in the true emotions etched on the faces of the characters. All of that bloody goodness scatters and falls by the wayside by a simple look of concern, tear-filled faces of suffering, Dracula’s gleeful enjoyment or the murderous intent trying to bring an end to the centuries-long blood feud. Those sincere images of resolution can bring forth such powerful chances of sympathy, it breaks the tension and makes the reader take a break and ponder the actions which brought them forth. The empathy which we feel brings the story to the forefront and lets the action take a back seat for what is most important: the motivation and resolution which drive the antagonists and protagonists.
So many of the current titles are littered by overwhelming violence, that the simple opening of emotions is glanced over in favour for satisfying the primal need for excitement. Bandini’s work is a marriage of Shand’s story and his art whereby neither could materialise the truest essence of the tale on their own, but together they are able to grow into something which surpasses the summary of a single part. This synergy is what makes Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: Van Helsing vs. Dracula something which stands out as a singular achievement which supplements the Zenescope mythology and brings it into a realm of its own.
And yet the closure of this saga brings a sadness to the loyal readers’ tenure to the title. Although the end is satisfying of seeing Liesel finally being able to come out from behind her father’s shadow and stand on her own, we will miss having her endeavours in the Zenescope universe. It is true that her journey may have made her an admirable heroine, but you have to wonder what will be in store for her next? Now that she has finished Abraham’s greatest hunt, what does she have to look forward to aside from lovingly insulting Hades? Shand has always kept us wanting more with her exploits, but now that they are over, what can top Dracula? Let us just hope that Hellchild will be able to live up as a sequel to this visceral excellence.
Grade: A++
Series Grade: A++
Rating: 16+
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: March 9th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
