Thursday, November 10, 2022

Comics Review: "VAMPIRELLA Mindwarp #2" is an Excellent Second Issue

VAMPIRELLA MINDWARP VOLUME 1 #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Jeff Parker
ART: Benjamin Dewey
COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Joseph Michael Linsner
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2022)

Rated Teen+

“1969!”


Vampirella is a vampire and female superhero created by the late author and science fiction and horror expert, Forrest J Ackerman, and designed by comic book artist, Trina Robbins.  Vampirella first appeared in Vampirella #1 (Sept. 1969), the debut issue of a black and white horror comics magazine from Warren Publishing.  Writer-editor Archie Goodwin changed the character from a hostess of horror comics to a leading character in her own stories.

In 2010, Dynamite Entertainment obtained the character and has been publishing new Vampirella material since then.  The latest is Vampirella Mindwarp Volume 1.  This new series is written by Jeff Parker; drawn by Benjamin Dewey; colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The series follows a mad chase across time and space, as an aged sorceress tries to steal and inhabit Vampirella's body.

Vampirella Mindwarp Volume 1 #2 (1969!) opens in the wake of the Baroness Gruzal's attempt to possess Vampirella's body.  With the help of Ren Darton, who once worked for the baroness, Vampirella makes a bid to stop the transference, and that does two things.  First, in the present, it breaks “the Crown of Karu-Hardas of Sumeria,” the relic that the baroness was using to initiate the rite that would put her mind inside Vampirella's body.

Secondly, Vampirella's ploy transports her mind to into the body of Vampirella of 1969!  And Ren's mind is now in the body of an older Pendragon the Great, a popular magician of the 1930s and Vampirella's friend.  This particular year also marks the first meeting of Vampirella and Baroness Gruzal.  It is a deadlier time, and Baron Gruzal is still alive, as are demons with an obsessive taste for a particular vampire.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Vampirella Mindwarp Volume 1 #2, which is one of many Dynamite Vampirella comic books I have read.

Vampirella Mindwarp #1 surprised me.  I was really crazy about it, and I wondered if writer Jeff Parker (a writer whose work I like) could deliver a really good second issue.  He does, as he makes the most of Vampirella's sidekick, Ren Darton.  Ren adds some depth of character to the series and allows for Vampirella to be more free-wheeling.  Parker also offers an intriguing collection of occult villains and wackos and some spicy demons.

Benjamin Dewey's art is still pretty and his storytelling is clean, straight-forward and conveys the story in a dynamic manner.  Dearbhla Kelly's colors continue to make the art pop, and Jeff Eckleberry's letters capture the crazy rhythm of this story.

Vampirella: Mindwarp #2 is a good second issue, and it has an ending that will make me return for more.  You should, also, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Vampirella comics will want to read Vampirella Mindwarp Volume 1.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-------------------------

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Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Comics Review: VAMPIRELLA VERSUS RED SONJA Volume 2 #1

VAMPIRELLA VERSUS RED SONJA VOLUME 2 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Dan Abnett
ART: Alessandro Ranaldi
COLORS: Ellie Wright
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Lucio Parrillo
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2022)

Rated Teen+

Vampirella is a vampire and female superhero created by the late author and science fiction and horror expert, Forrest J Ackerman, and designed by comic book artist, Trina Robbins.  Vampirella first appeared in Vampirella #1 (Sept. 1969), the debut issue of a black and white horror comics magazine from Warren Publishing.  Writer-editor Archie Goodwin changed the character from a hostess of horror comics to a leading character in her own stories.

Red Sonja is a fantasy (sword and sorcery) comic book character that debuted in Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated: February 1973).  Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith, Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), the creator of the character, Conan the Cimmerian.

Now, once again, American comics' two most Dynamite ho's are in a team-up comic book, Vampirella Versus Red Sonja Volume 2.  It is written by Dan Abnett; drawn by Alessandro Ranaldi; colored by Ellie Wright; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The new series finds Vampirella and Red Sonja involved with a cosmic collection of superheroes sworn to protect all known universes.

Vampirella Versus Red Sonja Volume 2 #1 opens in “Project HQ.”  These are the headquarters of the “The Project,”a cosmic collection of superheroes sworn to protect all known universes.  And Taja Iridessa Henson a.k.a. “Dyna Might” is the newest member.

Dyna Might discovers that her first day is perhaps the worst day ever for The Project.  Earth Plural World 6337 has been shut off from the other Plural Worlds.  Something terrible has attacked it, and that attack has stumped The Project's greatest minds.  But there is one quasi-member who may have the answers.  It's Vampirella of Plural World 2709, whom none of the other superheroes trust because they consider her to be a “daemon.”  Can Red Sonja of Plural World 0666 get something out of Vampirella?  And where does Dyna Might fit in this?

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Vampirella Versus Red Sonja Volume 2 #1, one of many, many Vampirella or Red Sonja comic books I have read.

Judging by this first issue, Vampirella Versus Red Sonja Volume 2 has potential.  First, it is written by Dan Abnett, a writer of inventive and imaginative comic books.  As expected, he has filled Vampirella Versus Red Sonja Volume 2 #1, interesting concepts if not equally interesting superheroes.  Outside of Vampirella, Red Sonja, and Dyna Might, the rest of these heroes are strictly Dullsville.  Honestly, I don't give a crap about them, but I hope that changes.

The art by Alessandro Ranaldi is stylistically uninspiring, but the storytelling is good.  Ellie Wright's coloring is muddy, and Jeff Eckleberry's lettering is over-the-top.  Comics are a graphical storytelling medium, and here, the graphics lack a spark.  I hope that changes because I think Vampirella Versus Red Sonja Volume 2 has the potential to explode.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Vampirella and/or Red Sonja will want to read Vampirella Versus Red Sonja Volume 2.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).


Monday, November 7, 2022

BOOM! Studios Shipping from Diamond Distributors for November 9, 2022

BOOM! STUDIOS

SEP220415 FIREFLY KEEP FLYING #1 CVR A FRANY $7.99
SEP220416 FIREFLY KEEP FLYING #1 CVR B MERCADO $7.99
SEP220417 FIREFLY KEEP FLYING #1 CVR C FRANY PREM VAR $8.99
JUL220329 FIREFLY RETURN TO EARTH THAT WAS DLX ED HC $75.00
JUL220319 MIGHTY MORPHIN TP VOL 05 $16.99
JUL220364 SEVEN SECRETS TP VOL 03 $16.99

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Dark Horse Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for November 9, 2022

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUL220389 BERSERK DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 12 $49.99
JUL220400 HELLBOY & BPRD RETURN OF EFFIE KOLB & OTHERS $19.99
JUN220473 HELLBOY WEIRD TALES TP $24.99
JUN220567 KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF EIZOUKEN TP VOL 04 $14.99
AUG220423 MINOR THREATS #3 (OF 4) CVR A HEPBURN $4.99
AUG220424 MINOR THREATS #3 (OF 4) CVR B MAGUIRE $4.99
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JUL220444 SALAMANDRE TP $24.99
SEP220519 SHOCK SHOP #3 (OF 4) CVR A LUCKERT & LEIZ $3.99
SEP220520 SHOCK SHOP #3 (OF 4) CVR B HARREN & YARSKY $3.99
JUL220465 STEPHEN MCCRANIES SPACE BOY TP VOL 14 $12.99

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Dynamite Entertainment Shipping from Diamond Distributors for November 9, 2022

DYNAMITE

SEP220675 CHERISH #1 CVR L SILVESTRI & EBAS LTD VIRGIN $50.00
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AUG228494 LORD OF THE JUNGLE #1 CVR U 10 COPY FOC GALLEGO VIRGIN INCV $3.99
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SEP220690 VAMPIRELLA VS RED SONJA #1 CVR O PARRILLO LTD VIRGIN $50.00
APR220511 VAMPIVERSE TP $19.99
AUG200930 WARLORD OF MARS ATTACKS TP $19.99

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IDW Publishing Shipping from Diamond Distributors for November 9, 2022

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL221609 FARM SYSTEM GN $19.99
JUL221610 FEVER IN URBICANDE GN $19.99
SEP221685 GODZILLA MONSTERS & PROTECTORS ALL HAIL KING #2 CVR A SCHOEN $3.99
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JUL221649 TMNT ARMAGEDDON GAME ALLIANCE #1 CVR A  MERCADO $3.99
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SEP221726 TMNT ONGOING #134 CVR B EASTMAN $3.99
SEP221746 TRANSFORMERS BEST OF SHOCKWAVE $6.99

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Image Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for November 9, 2022

IMAGE COMICS

SEP220238 3KEYS #2 (OF 5) CVR A MESSINA (MR) $3.99
SEP220239 3KEYS #2 (OF 5) CVR B GIANDOMENICO (MR) $3.99
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AUG220212 RADIANT BLACK #19 CVR A COSTA MV $3.99
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SEP220310 SEVEN SONS #6 (OF 7) CVR A LEE (MR) $3.99
SEP220069 SKULLKICKERS SUPER SPECIAL #1 (ONE-SHOT ANNV SPECIAL) $3.99
JUL220243 SKYBOUND PRESENTS AFTERSCHOOL #4 (OF 4) (MR) $4.99
SEP220076 SOLDIER STORIES CVR A TUCCI (ONE-SHOT) (MR) $5.99
SEP220077 SOLDIER STORIES CVR B SILVESTRI (ONE-SHOT) (MR) $5.99
AUG220231 SPAWN #335 CVR A TOLEDANO $2.99
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SEP220018 TWO GRAVES #1 CVR A WU (MR) $3.99
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JUN220339 UNNATURAL BLUE BLOOD #4 (OF 10) CVR A ANDOLFO (MR) $3.99
JUN220340 UNNATURAL BLUE BLOOD #4 (OF 10) CVR B BIGARELLA (MR) $3.99

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