Icy grip of the Himalayas or an army of undead … which one is more unforgiving?
Creative Staff:
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artwork: Allan Otero
Colors: Robby Bevard
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Stranded at the top of the world, Liesel Van Helsing works to uncover the source of centuries old vampire clan high in the frozen heights of the Himalayas. Newly allied with Chinese agent Wu Shen Hao, the greatest vampire hunter of them all faces a horde of the undead while a bestial lycanthrope stalks the mountain passes. Chuck Dixon (BANE: Conquest) brings all the blood, bullets and brutality you’re looking for as this horror epic builds toward its violent climax.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
The isolated village of Nayakot, it was once a peaceful village located within the shadow of Llasa Rama, but now all that is left are the bloody remains of a vampire infestation. With the help of her once adversary Shen Hao, the duo of amazing women was able to lay the horde to rest, as guide Tshering sniped stragglers in an attempt to keep up with the domineering pair. Now left with little choice but to return to the temple, the trio brave arctic temperatures on their long trek back up the mountain as Liesel and Agent Wu become preoccupied ridiculing each other. With their young escort falling further behind the longer strides of his female companions, none are concerned in monitoring the environment, before it is too late.
The beauty of freshly fallen snow within a steep ravine only makes the events which follow all the more frightening as the acolyte becomes ever more panicked, the further he falls behind. A piercing scream alerts the bickering duo as to the danger, even before they hear the inhuman sounds of their gruesome prey. While Tshering tries his best to stand ground against the advancing thirst of these beasts, his unsure shots cannot fell enough before they are upon him. It is only via the strength of Liesel and Shen Hao does the tide finally turn, allowing the frightened boy to take a well needed break; however, that respite does not last long as this scouting party was nothing compared to the ferocity of the pack which now follows, their hunger enraged by the thrill of battle. As bodies begin to fall and crimson splatters what was once pristine powder against the rugged mountainside, an avalanche of abominations tumbles downward – their target the steadfast group who show determined resistance to this approaching tide. But as the two forces grimly close ranks, a new player enters the fray, leaping headlong into the conflict, twin kukris raised in defiance as he lays siege against the monstrous army. This man clearly has a grudge against these bloodthirsty creatures, but who is to say if this rage will subside once the slaughter is over … and will he turn on the heroes afterwards – only time can tell.
In Summary:
With the narrative now reaching the exciting midpoint, writer Chuck Dixon is free to expand upon his interpretation of a classic Van Helsing story. However, with three issues down, it is getting worrisome to have not seen one major sighting of a lycanthrope, but instead being constantly inundated by hordes of vampires; though he was shown in the beginning, all that tease did was make the waiting much more painful since the title creature is notably absent for the first half of the series. While I can appreciate the need to create suitable dramatic tension to introduce the lupine predator, there is such a thing as taking too much time on the setup – until we finally have a glimpse at the end of this issue. Although I do have my suspicions as to why Dixon is going through this roundabout path, there are times when you can push the audience only so far before they lose interest. This fight over territory between two enemies may have at first seemed like an interesting premise, but to continue with the same repetitive battles without any straight forward explanation is tiresome. And even with secretive and feisty Agent Wu being introduced as a foil to Liesel’s biting wit, her addition does not help the story much since she is essentially a Chinese Van Helsing. Readers can only put up with so much superfluity, but the cliffhanger does offer some hope for the next issue, even if it may be fleeting.
Even within all of these sanguine conflicts, it is the spectacular artwork of Allan Otero which brings everything into monumental focus, especially within this panoramic issue. To start the issue with a breathtaking display of the Himalayan majesty is awe inspiring, but once Robby Bevard completes the image with his restricted palette of midnight blue gradations, greys, blacks and a surprisingly oppressive white, the story is complete. You cannot but help to feel frigid once the setting settles into your field of vision, every chilling step of crunching snow makes the scene all the more real, making you shiver in sympathy. But once the blood starts to splatter amongst the battlefield, dynamic action starts the adrenaline flowing, giving us a sense of euphoria, almost giddy as to the excitement. Otero dots the conflict with the beauty of our heroines, the semi-comical antics of Tshering and the horrific ferocity of the vampires, all so elegantly presented against Bevard’s amazing selection of grim and yet, inspiring selection of colors. The barren starkness of the snowy field is brilliantly accented by the pronounced usage of crimson, in both the gruesome wounds and effective punctuation of sound effects. And while the events may present a feeling of déjà vu, it does not matter as long as we can marvel at this synergistic combination of striking illustrations and awe encompassing colors.
The story is only half over, but the action has finally come full circle to present the foul title monster in question. Although the tale may have partially languished as the plot slowly developed, it is the artwork and colors which keep our interest peaked within this frozen narrative. Liesel, Shen Hao and Tshering may appear to be an odd pairing with the contrasting personalities, but in the end their abrasive strengths and perseverance make this issue worth the read. But now that the dog has been let lose … hopefully it won’t too be long until we get to see who will win this new battle.
Grade: A
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: September 13, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
