“Vampirella #12” – Wild Excitement In The Wild West

Previously On…

In the last issue of Priest’s run on “Vampirella”, we saw the gang starting to deal with a group of vampires wanting to take over a town in the Old West. On top of this, said vamps had a train of a hundred corpses to turn into an army. It’s now up to Vampi and crew to either stop this train or find a way home!

Writer: Christopher Priest
Art & Colors: Ergün Gündüz
Letters: Willie Schubert

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Alluring & Powerful

When talking about the writing and story, where do I even begin? Do I start by mentioning the fantastic dialogue between the characters that opens this issue? Or do I begin with talking about the insane plot twists and action that keep things exciting? I find that, here, it’s best to start with the former.

The comic opens with our crew driving through the Old West in an awesome-looking car. Vampi and Aris are having an important discussion about immigration, but it’s told through the lens of vampires taking over a town. Every time Aris says something insensitive, Vampirella and the Marshal, two that’re experienced in this aspect of life, are quick to correct her. Priest also seems to bring up that while people can be in the same community, that doesn’t mean they agree on how to tackle issues, and that this is a very human thing.

This message ties beautifully into the expertly placed plot twists scattered throughout the book. While I won’t completely spoil what they are, two of them directly involve Aris. One said twist made my gay little heart very happy to see. Overall, Priest crafted something genuinely beautiful here, and while it’s the end of this particular arc, I’m excited to see where things go.

Delightfully Dreadful

Continuing the trend from previous issues, the art from Gündüz is simply mystifying. If anyone reading is a fan of his work, you know exactly what you’re in for. First, the use of lighting and how it’s done here is absolutely incredible in setting the scary vibes. Second, the line work and use of color are simply great. The art has a distinct style, one that I’m completely infatuated with.

As for a particular panel, the main one that stands out to me involves the aforementioned train. It’s so beautifully lit, complete with perfect shading and utterly bone-chilling undead peeking through the shadows. When I first saw this page, my jaw was nearly on the floor, chills going down my spine.

Overall – 9.5/10

From Priest’s fantastic, important messaging and story to the gorgeous artwork of Ergün Gündüz, this is a stellar book from start to finish! It’s most certainly one that I can see myself re-reading multiple times over without hesitation.

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Comments

Have you been reading Priest’s “Vampirella” run? What do you think? Let me know in the comments!