Only a true friend would do anything for you … including going into the sewers.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Ralph Tedesco
Artwork: Allan Otero
Colors: Leonardo Paciarotti
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
It’s a race against time as Van Helsing and Igor hunt for Robyn before she drinks human blood thus turning her into a vampire forever.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
The hunger continues to gnaw within Robyn … and the thirst is insatiable. But as the hours pass, the once steadfast vigilante finds herself more prone to hunting down helpless victims instead of cleansing the streets of evil. And now she can no longer hold back the cravings, even venturing late into the evening, only to be chased away once the sun rises. A once loyal friend is now forced to hide in the sewers to shield herself from the searing light, only to wait for the next night and a time to feed. But Liesel not given up, ever hoping she and Doctor Igor can discover a way to administer his experimental cure in time. However as each minute passes and her needs become ever more unquenchable, the human once known as Locksley drifts farther away, only waiting to be consumed by a primal desire.
However even as this uneasy alliance seeks to make amends for a past mistake, an overly ambitious drug lord who stands to gain the most ventures to expand his empire. While Von’s men try to find his wayward dog, he is too concerned with appeasing his fellow crime lords, but they do not trust this upstart. Although they all agree to have an unarmed summit, they are still allowed bodyguards, just as any prominent entrepreneur would want to protect themselves. Though as they begin the meeting, it is clear the assembled do not like the steps this lowlife is taking to expand his empire, and they are sure to make it known in no uncertain terms. Despite the fact they wish to keep it civil, Von makes his terms well known by declaring an all-out war against the others sitting at the table. With this insult, the other bosses draw their weapons, assured they can neutralize this bother without any unnecessary blood. This was their first and last mistake with a brief acknowledgment, Tess unleashes her fangs – putting an end to this crisis and declaring who is now in control.
In Summary:
We knew this was coming, but as we near the end, writer Ralph Tedesco is not holding anything back. Robyn is feeling more of the pull toward succumbing to her thirst and Liesel has no choice than to hunt down her friend. With a title like Van Helsing vs. Robyn Hood, how else could this end, but of course nothing is ever that straightforward for Zenescope. I appreciate how Tedesco is trying to keep the characters intact, with Locksley supposedly fighting her urges and Van Helsing still trying to help her compatriot, even as she nears the beast which she must hunt. But you cannot but be amused as he injects his own twist upon the classic gangland fight, and while it may seem cliché to see this type of brawl within the story, the twist of using vampiric enforcers makes the narrative all the more enticing to see how it will conclude. If this is how Von is planning to use his new army and Robyn has some hint of either becoming an aid or hindrance to his plans, then this penultimate issue is only leading up toward something special.
You cannot but feel for Robyn within the opening scenes of this issue, the ferocity and sense of painful confusion, all due to the wonder which Allan Otero presents to us within his opening salvo of emotional fervor. We know she is in pain, both from the thirst and exposure to the sun, but the intensity of those expressions are made all the more overpowering once Leonardo Paciarotti lends to the page his forceful command of the spectrum, both from the dazzling warmth of the sun to the cruelty of Locksley’s blood red eyes. And while the colors may at times seem a bit off due to the natural skin tones of the normal humans, this contrast puts everything into perspective once we are exposed to the savagery of the vampires. It is their primal strength which Otero so magnificently projects within those transitional panels, a simple change in pupils paired with the crimson shift of their eyes, but it’s the claws and fangs which make the page so enticing. But if I had a favorite of this issue, it would be the final depiction of a fully realized Robyn – her stunning body paired the nightmare which is vampirism … it makes for such a frightening scene, making us look forward to what happens next and if she can be saved.
As we conclude this penultimate issue, you begin to wonder if we can truly have a satisfactory conclusion. Robyn has been exposed to the temptations of the night, Liesel is scared for her friend and the impossibility of a cure and Von begins to see his dream of a vampire army now realized, but which ones will come true? Of course, we want to see Locksley return to her snarky self, but is she too far gone for even Van Helsing to bring back? I cannot but think something will change within the Zenescope universe, but at the same time, will it be for better or worse … and do we want to know the results? Next month will be the key – and it will unlock undeniable possibilities.
Grade: A
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: March 7, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
