“No time for introductions, child, I’ve got a civilization of vampires to save.”
Creative Staff:
Story: Jordie Bellaire
Art: Drew Moss
Colors: Rebecca Nalty
Letterer: Becca Carey
What They Say:
THE PLANET DRAKULON…is royally screwed. The only (and I mean the ONLY) way to save it? Is for Red Sonja to become a vampire…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Strange things are afoot on Drakulon and I’m not trusting anything that Jordie Bellaire is putting in front of us. I’ve really enjoyed this series overall as the pairing of these two characters has been exceptionally strong and the serious approach Bellaire has taken has worked well, interspersing the right kind of humor along the way. This installment leaves us on uncertain ground and I’ve certainly experienced enough in my life to question everything. Thankfully, Drew Moss continues to put together an absolutely gorgeous book and the addition of Valeria here just expands on that. I love all the details, costuming, and backgrounds that we get here and how wonderfully that Rebecca Nalty applies them.
When it comes to the story, Bellaire definitely wants us off-guard now that Sonja has been reunited with Vampirella. While she’s currently asleep, Valeria fills her in on a few things but mostly you’re given the sense that they may have arrived at the same time but different things have gone on, hence Valeria calling Vampirella her mother and not in the royal sense. There’s plenty to draw between the two in how similar they appear so that’s easy enough to understand and, well, Drakulon be Drakulon. It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s some weird truth to it. But I like Sonja’s caution in just accepting things so clearly and even when Vampirella does awaken there’s not an instant dump of information going on here but rather a calm caution while trying to get one’s bearings.
With the reveal that Sonja almost didn’t survive the jump and that Vampirella has protected her, that’s now given Sonja what she craves as a warrior, something to do. The flashback sequence is brief but beautifully illustrated and colored as Sonja learns that Vampirella had turned her into a vampire in order for her to survive, the last thing that Vampirella would ever want to do to someone without their consent. But for Sonja, it has given her an additional edge in the thrill of the fight in being possibly immortal and we see her exercising that with a fight toward the end where she has such a gleam in her eye, a grin to her face, that it’s utterly infectious. Though there’s likely to be a real twist with all of this, seeing her thrill to having vampire strength on top of her strength is just plain exciting.
In Summary:
This series continues to give me some of the best things about both characters and I’m loving every page and panel of it. Bellaire’s captured a great voice for both of them that’s familiar yet distinct from them as a writer while Moss has put together some positively striking pages throughout that with Nalty’s colors are some of the most exciting to be seen month to month. I’m thrilled to have this series back and hope it has more than just a few more issues in its life left as the possibilities are quite endless. Definitely a solid installment with just enough to unnerve you here.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 15+
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 29th, 2020
MSRP: $3.99
