Never get in the way of a hunter with a vendetta … unless you want to end on the wrong side of a crossbolt.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Pat Shand
Artwork: Marc Rosete & Roberta Ingranata
Colors: Walter Pereyra & J.C. Ruiz
Letters: Jim Campbell
What They Say:
Liesel Van Helsing on the run! After being framed for attempted murder, Van Helsing finds herself on the wrong side of the law. Now, as the Mummy of Amun-Ra unites the crime families of New York, Van Helsing has to make a choice.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Rizzuto’s Family Restaurant used to be a nice family owned place where you could pick up a filling plate of spaghetti … but then they got involved with the wrong people. Edgar Albertini, local crime boss now finds his dinner being disturbed by new business partner, who calls herself God-Queen and her hirsute associate; as they were having a civilized meeting, a certain British monster killer interrupts and the imposing woman had no choice but to release her bodyguard upon this cheeky intruder. His true identity now revealed, the man posing as a manticore releases his bestial rage, turning the calm atmosphere into a massacre in which only one shall prevail. However, this is not the first time Liesel has met the person proclaiming herself as such divine being – and it shall not be the last.
That fateful adventure to fulfill her father’s final expedition – she has lost friends before but never those so close as if they were family, like Kostas and Gertrude. At least they can rest in peace, but her last companion Valencia is still haunted by what they released from that cursed tomb, and it keeps her mind embraced within an endless nightmare. Even as Van Helsing tries to find any evidence leading to the vile creature, a trip to the local market unexpectedly reveals a trail to a new mystery; the once vibrant bazaar is now barren of all life, children and shoppers no longer fill the streets with the usual dissonance of morning crowds. Instead, as she wanders the alleyways, mesmerized forms of those with glazed over eyes are all who greet the curious woman, leading her to an ancient temple. As the blazing sun is eclipsed by cooling shadows, the source of this trance is revealed – a captivating vision, who was once the mummy of Amun-Ra. Her transformation is miraculous, once withered form now replaced by a woman who is as striking as the pharaohs of old; her presence is as ominous as the goddess she proclaims herself to be, who commands by enthralling the weak minded to grant what she was once denied. But will her dedication to the old ways be enough to survive in the modern world or does it matter since all men are the same?
In Summary:
Don’t know why I never noticed the pensive mood of this series, but it is within this issue by which we begin to see insight into how Liesel’s past has effected her present. Introduction of Amun-Ra, or the God-Queen, the creature which caused the death of her companions as they tried to complete Abraham’s last expedition, a cyclic pattern which haunts her today. I love how Pat Shand shows how Van Helsing is trying to move on after the death of Hades, and yet now the cause of past torments once again shows its ugly head. When she thought had put behind those memories, now they surface again, causing the wound in her heart to fester; it is almost as if Fate (aka Shand) doesn’t want Liesel to forget those thoughts of friends long dead, and to keep them fresh so that she may not know peace or contentment of happiness from fond memories.
How many people has she watched pass in her monumental existence, from complete strangers to those who held a special place, either way she empathizes with that loss, knowing that all life is precious. And with that knowledge she attempts to protect all by her duty as a hunter, even trying to clean up the mess from over a century ago. It is this persistence for justice which molds her into such a caring woman, but at the same time, sympathy for others makes her vulnerable to the pain of unfinished business due to negligence. I cannot but love that element in her character: while she may present an exterior as brave and bold, it is her tenderness which makes her all too human. She is someone we can admire and also wish to help bear that burden … ever knowing that she must exist with so much loss.
However what motivates this issue is the incredible battle between Liesel and the manticore by Marc Rosete with Walter Pereyra’s dynamic display of amazing colors. The frenetic spectacle of action makes it seem as if you are watching a Hollywood blockbuster: opening panel of the beast rushing forward as Van Helsing prepares the Equalizer – these two pages portray combatants and the rest unfolds a battle in all of its wonderfully reactive momentum. The usage of action lines are magnified by Pereyra’s bursts of vivid tones, Liesel’s base costume of red and black versus the creature’s subdued sandy color, almost as if to dull its ferocity. I also love how Rosete intensifies the exchange, switching between the duelists to increase the tension; then as they close the distance, the change to focused panels, escalating the drama as the audience is drawn into the frenzy, watching as our heroine fights to stay alive.
But of course, we cannot forget Roberta Ingranata’s fabulously stirring depictions of Liesel’s memories, this time enhanced by J.C. Ruiz’s soothing canvas of serene colors. Even if this insert may seem subdued compared to the action we just witnessed thanks to a pallid palette assortment, Ingranata’s effect on the story is just as striking. Her attention to detail is wondrous, almost tranquilizing in the calmness of the scenery. But as we draw to the conclusion, it is Ruiz who steals the show as he breaks the stillness with those splashes of color, shattering the somberness of a monotone environment – setting up for Ingranata’s issue stealing page. I was stunned by her usage of individual panels, drawing our attention to aspects which would might seem mundane alone, but as a whole they amplify each previous picture. You can almost hear footfalls echo within that temple, feel the stunned aura from Liesel’s face as she sees Amun-Ra for the first time, dressed in white and bathing in a pool of blood. This singular page was the center of the issue, presenting the God-Queen in all her regal glory, and yet showing her self-implied sense of self-worth for all to see. Magnificent in its simplicity, but truly chilling in its importance.
The melancholia of the series comes full circle, with the God-Queen in the forefront, finally revealing her true deviousness in which everything has been molded according to her vile designs. While this issue’s narrative seemed too concerned in manipulating the plot to drive Liesel towards the final confrontation, the artwork suited the story in guiding us through this non-stop thrill ride. I would have liked a bit more self-reflection, but with the end coming too soon, the audience needs to be prepared for what surely will become a bloody mess for one of these frightening women.
Grade: A
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: April 26, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
