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“Adrenaline addicts”Vengeance blooms in their veins” – Violent Flowers Issue #3 by Maria llovet from Image Comics
Violent Encounter
There was a lot of drama at the end of issue #2. Carnelia and Anna attended a monster party in Barcelona. Carnelia’s suspicions were correct, Erzsébet did showed up to the festivities and she also had the Toxikon. Unfortunately, their anticipated meeting did not go as planned.
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Erzsébet took Anna as hostage. That was when Carnelia confessed, she had no interest in preserving Anna’s life. All Carnelia wanted was to kill Erzsébet. The monster ladies exchanged blows. With Erzsébet getting the better of Carnelia. Erzsébet managed to escape.
*Spoilers ahead for issue #3*
Licking their wounds
Anna woke up in pain. Carnelia had moved her to a safehouse to stitched her up. However, once she felt better, Anna was more concerned about Carnelia’s stab wound. The Toxikon’s poison was going to slowly kill her now. Just like it killed Nikodemos, the late sentinel.
Anna was genuinely concerned for Carnelia’s survival. It was at this point where the two ladies finally had a heart to heart.
Anna’s inquiries
As we have seen before, Anna has a curios nature. We saw her inquire Setkos about the history of the clan. Now, there in that safehouse while they lick their wounds, Carnelia was subjected to Anna’s curiosity as well.
Carnelia opened to Anna, and therefore to us the readers. Turns out, these vampires are sort of immortal. They can regenerate or cure themselves. If they stay drinking blood.
Carnelia the rebel
Additional details were revealed to Anna about Carnelia’s renounce of the clan’s way of life. Unlike the other vampires, Carnelia can’t fly. Bion intended to teach Carnelia, but her heart wasn’t in it. So, she never learned. Also, she doesn’t drink blood. Well, not as much as the other clan members do. Drinking blood helps when they’ve been hurt or when they want to stay young. Therefore, Carnelia only drinks blood when necessary. Carnelia left Anna stunned when she went as far as to expose a big secret.
Hooked
None of them NEED to drink blood, they are just addicted. Addicted to what? Blood or anything that raises their pulse. In other words, the ritual of blood intake is not just for survival, they also get stimulated by it.
In layman’s terms the clan is just a bunch of thrill seekers, including Carnelia. Her thrill is to defy her vampire nature. That’s why she doesn’t keep up her blood intake, so she can age. Carnelia enjoys traveling in daylight, to feel the burn in her skin. For Carnelia, the thrill is to rebel.
No Celibate here
Although Carnelia rebels against her vampire nature, she doesn’t believe in complete abstinence. When Anna offered her blood to help Carnelia’s recovery, she accepted the offering and then some. The blood drinking sexually stimulated both ladies. That’s when the erotic essence of this story flourishes. In a hot and heavy moment, Anna and Carnelia became one in the flesh.
The Nikodemos Bond
Maria Llovet managed to sneak a detail on the last issue that went over my head. Specifically, when Carnelia and Erzsébet exchanged blows at the party in Barcelona, Carnelia stole a pendant from Erzsébet. This wasn’t just a petty act by Carnelia. In fact, the pendant belonged to Nikodemos. The late Sentinel is responsible for turning Erzsébet, so they share a special together. Carnelia’s plan was to use the pendant to find Erzsébet.
How about the art?
The art might lean on sexual content on this issue, but it’s not gratuitous in nature. There is a build up to the climax of the scene based on the characters and the story. Maria Llovet uses symbols to illustrate the sexual act, in addition to the explicit. Allowing the reader to read into the scene and what it means for Anna when she gives herself up to Carnelia. You can interpret this act of submission is the thrill Anna seeks.
I give this issue a 9 out of 10
This story is an unraveling exercise by Maria Llovet. Through 3 issues we have been exploring a world of mythical creatures that dwell not in tormenting or terrorizing but in self-indulgence.
Many of the pieces laid out previously have come together already. I feel some sort of twist coming, but I can’t tell from when nor how. That makes it even more exciting! If you’re into fantasy erotica thrillers, Violent Flowers is the way to go.
