All things are not beyond man’s grasp … if you know where to look.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Dave Franchini
Artwork: Julius Abrera
Colors: Robby Bevard
Letters: Taylor Esposito
Lettering Artist: Mariano Benitez Chapo
What They Say:
After suffering a horrible defeat at the hand of the villains, Helsing and our heroes must regroup as Dracula prepares to unleash his plan, which could bring all hell on earth.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Long ago an empress named Xin Zhui ruled over a magnificent kingdom, but she lacked one thing to make herself truly happy, and this ambitious lady would go to any lengths to secure its rapid return, including having her guards kidnap a certain deity named Thoth. However as this defiant god balked at aiding her in a pointless request, the celestial being panicked when the domineering woman pronounced she needed no help, only his life and power. Even as obedient soldiers bound this avian judge to a ceremonial table in preparation for what was to come, he plead upon deaf ears that what has passed into the great beyond cannot be restored, even with his abilities, and yet this driven ruler would not listen to reason. Chanting a forbidden spell and weaving eldritch energies, this beautiful but callous woman viciously took what she wanted and swiftly opened a portal to the afterlife, however as she saw her beloved son Riyu adrift within the vast void, with both mother and child tearfully greeting each other, it was soon apparent even these new powers would not be enough to grant her most fervent wish.
Returning to the present day, the newly resurrected Chinese mummy found she had another chance to take back what was lost, but this time with a new source of power, embodied within the spirited form of a demigoddess named Angelica Blackstone. But as this belligerent prisoner woke to find herself restrained before a mildly amused Xin Zhui, she attempts to put up a false face of bravado to show no fear before this pompous woman, only to find her cold iron chains have been specially enchanted to deny any attempts in breaking their bonds. It is only then does this former empress divulge the grim reality of her captivity, within an impassioned desire to bring back her child, and it is within Hellchild’s forced help that she will succeed in this unfathomable charade. Since she cannot bring back Riyu without a material shell, all normal methods of reincarnation are not possible, however due to Angelica’s special connection to the Underworld, this unfeeling woman now has a new way of locating and bringing back her son. But as Blackstone spitefully mocks these ludicrous plans, it is only now does she ask what benefit Dracula gains with his sickening cooperation, only to be shocked at the unmitigated audacity of his own monstrous yearning.
In Summary:
While writer Dave Franchini continues to shock us with a myriad of revelations within this fantastic series, the one which is most puzzling are the true objectives behind this League of Monsters, and more importantly, the reason why Xin Zhui chose to join this cadre of abominations – to resurrect her son Riyu. Although Dracula’s intentions to use Angelica for his own purposes are understandable, what are the chance this Chinese empress’ goals would coincide with this Transylvanian beast, plus have the skills to carry out his goals? While she may have written her wishes within a diary, the opening scenes happened over two thousand years ago and as such, those historical documents must have been lost within the sands of time, but if they weren’t, it seems rather shaky to hinge all of this hopes upon one person which he may have not been able to recover. But if you conveniently ignore those impractical possibilities, we now have a villainess who has such motherly motivations, it casts a new light upon this callous ruler, driven to pursue her selfish desire with such strict determination that she will sacrifice anything or anyone to gain the advantage. And yet in hindsight, after so many other antagonists have done the same vile acts to bring back someone they have cared about, one has to consider the moral uncertainty which the protagonist has asked before: will your loved one wished for you to corrupt yourself to bring them back? Unless her child was as vile as she is now, which appears contradictory to how he was shown within the brief glimpse through the portal, it sincerely seems highly unlike Riyu will agree to this behavior from the parent who he adores so much as to wish to be reunited as any cost. But at the same time, the Master of Darkness’ rationale are not out of his character, and yet it still raises the same question if his goal will willingly accept the nobility of this cause, even though she deceived so many to gain her new position. While we ponder such weighty possibilities, it makes the upcoming conclusion all the more wanting or disastrous, with Dracula having two powerful women such as Liesel and Hellchild already wishing for painful vengeance, and now these current actions only add more highly combustible fuel and stoke an ever-increasingly heated bonfire.
With such an enlightening issue, the repercussive impact would not be as effective without the amazing illustrations of Julius Abrera, creating a fascinating atmosphere within the court of Xin Zhui thanks to his intricate attention to detail, compelling the reader to become immediately enthralled within his exquisite line work which hides many secrets within the backgrounds: from unnoticed desiccated bodies, elaborately delineated royal artwork and the contrast between a horrified Thoth with his emotive yet feathered face to the commanding allure of this obsessed ruler, revealing her to be the true monster hiding behind a facade of deceptive beauty. Yet what truly heightens the desperation of this opening scene is the wondrous palette of Robby Bevard, and while the lighting may be a bit deceptive due to overcompensation to allow for visual clarity of the actors instead of period-correct braziers and torches, one can ignore this oversight due to the captivating effect which he has managed with limited lighting, allowing for darker colors and shadows to magnify the stress of the moment. By allowing the skillful usage of transitional panels to compound prior emotional emphasis, both talented artists are able to build upon each other’s efforts, creating a foreboding tension which is reflected within avian eyes, until Xin Zhui is revealed within her calm presence which erupts with explosive anger that can felt emanating from the page. It is the initial scene which elegantly projects the disarming necessity to sacrifice whatever morals she had, not willing to let go of her child’s memory and descend into the madness which now grips her sanity, willing to cross forbidden lines for the welcomed touch of a young hand within her now polluted embrace.
Van Helsing vs. The League of Monsters continues to surprise us with a gripping story which teeters on a touch of familiarity, and yet differentiates itself thanks to the questionable morality of its supposedly noble antagonists. While anyone would wish to see beloved family members for one last chance to voice their adoration, could we sacrifice everything including societal norms for that fleeting chance? But thanks to fantastic artwork and engrossing colors that pull us deeper into this memorable tale, this title gives us the opportunity to answer that nagging question, all while we are captivated by a struggle to survive from our dynamic heroines. And yet as the series approaches its inevitable end, can everything be answered, or will we be left with more queries as to what will happen next … the wait is almost too painful.
Grade: A-
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: September 23, 2020
MSRP: $3.99
