In this review of Vampirella #671, three seemingly unrelated stories may have some connection to each other after all.
Title: Vampirella #671
Writer: Christopher Priest
Artist: Ivan F. Silva
Color Artist: Vermeer Sanchez
Release Date: August 14, 2024
This review contains spoilers
Vampirella #671 — The Story
It is 55 years ago in Huntington Park. Three kids are taking in a corner of a prep school. The boy, Jim, is upset because the youngest, Katie, is doing it all wrong. She is supported by the third, Amanda. Jim is a game master for a tabletop RPG and Katie is designing a new monster. Jim does not lake it but Amanda does. Katie tells that the monster’s name is Bud, a werewolf creature.
The second story is told in Black and White: Draculina Dark World Book 1: Monster. This story involves a slaughter in a bus. Officer Adam Wende comes across a wounded and seemingly pregnant woman who caller herself Katherine. Wendel says help is not the way, the woman tells him that everyone is dead.Just then a monster emerges. Wendel tries shooting it but is knocked through the bus’s windshield. Wendel tries to rescue Katherine but soon Draculina shows up and fights the monster. Who wings are ripped out but she is effective in fighting the creature. Wendel recognized this woman as the woman, Katherine. Together the two beat the monster down but Wendel is lying unconscious on the pavement.
Wendel awakens on a bed. Draculina is taking a shower. She tells him her wings will grow back but Wendel wants to report the incident. Draculina tells them that nothing here is real, they are in the Dark World.
The third story takes place on Rodeo Drive, California. Thieves are making their getaway and a woman calls out to them, they forgot something, a scepter. The woman hands it to one of the thieves and she erupts into flames. The woman reveals that she is Nyx and she eliminates the rest of the thieves. In human form Nyx goes to a park where Dracula in disguise is playing a base. He tells Nyx that he needs her help to save his daughter, she is trapped in the Dark World.
Vampirella #671 Covers
Analysis
One thing is certain about Vampirella stories, there is no such thing as a regular Vampirella story. Vampirella #671 shows three distinct stories, all the stories have various art forms but one artist is credited for this story. I think this is great storytelling. The theme throughout is this Dark World. Dracula in the Nyx story mentions in and Draculina in the black and white story says that she is in the Dark World. The first story I think of is the creation of this Dark World in an RPG game.
How did Draculina get trapped in the Dark World and is the girl Kaitie actually Draculina as a child? Vampirella is blatantly absent in this story, Is she the girl Amanda really Vampirella in the creation of this world. How will Nyx get to the Dark World and will this mean a reunion of Dracula and Vampirella, after all the two were married at one time.
The three art styles used throughout effectively separates the stories. In my recap, I felt it was easier to take each story individually, the book is not presented as this. In each vignette a visual cliff hanger leads to the next style jarring the reader and keeping them on their toes. This being one artist is masterful. The most difference is the Black and White format for the Dark World. It sets it apart as an unreal world, even Draculina is drawn only in black and white. A great choice to separate these stories but awesome that they are brought together.
Final Thoughts
Vampirella #671 is a great jumping on point for new readers. Do not let the confusing narrative turn you away, this is the art of Vampirella comics, a piece that is more art than real narrative but a joy in both visual and cognitive reading.
Dynamite Entertainment provided The Comic Book Spot with an advance copy of this comic for review purposes. Find more reviews here. If you would like to buy a copy of this title, and help support the Comic Book Spot at the same time, consider purchasing this book at Amazon or from My Comic Shop, or Things From Another World.
