"Vampirella #0" Comic Review

After a recent reboot that saw a redesign of the character, ditching the iconic yet impractical string bikini for a more useful monster-fighting outfit, Vampirella literally went to ground.  She stayed that way for a thousand years.  I know Dynamite Entertainment took some shit about the new costume, but this seems drastic.  Anyway, this latest relaunch picks up in the distant future as three desperate people trek through a snow-covered wasteland in search of the legendary Vampirella.  What kind of world will our heroine find upon her waking?  That's what we're about to find out.

Jimmy Broxton's artwork is immediately striking.  He has some great line work with fantastic details.  The character designs for our doomed travelers are unusual and dystopian.  It's like their outfits are thrown together based on whatever odds and ends they were able to grab before making their escape.  The girl is wearing a puffy pink jacket, boy’s underwear, and big astronaut-style boots.  It's unlike anything you'd see outside of Brooklyn, which works well with the futuristic setting.  

Click images to enlarge

Broxton also handled the colors on Vampirella and really drives home the feeling of desperation and complete hopelessness that comes from the surroundings.  This is a barren wasteland with no buildings or any other life for as far as the eye can see.  Despite this, there's a strange sense of beauty in the stillness of this world.  

We don't know the full circumstances of these travelers or why they're setting out to find Vampirella.  They're filled with despair and this is a last ditch effort to save if not themselves, then any other survivors out there.  You really start to feel for them as they make their way across the tundra.  We get one shadowed glimpse of their pursuers and it's epic and terrifying.  I'm filled with questions, but only the best kind.  

Of course, Vampirella shows up by the end of the book.  It's not much of a spoiler given that the comic is named after her.  Every page of the issue has a small blurb shown in a trippy font telling what the title character is dreaming of at that moment.  It's a nice touch that often adds a bit of comic relief, as her dreams are juxtaposed against the harsh landscape of reality.  

Click image to enlarge

Broxton's style changes slightly when Vampirella makes her appearance.  It looks a little more old school, like something out of the classic Warren comics where Vampirella debuted.  This could be because she's in the dark and covered in cobwebs.  Overall, it's a nice segment that throws the character into this post-apocalyptic world.  

This is a great introduction to the new status quo for Vampirella.  It requires no previous knowledge, allowing you to jump right in and enjoy a cool story with some terrific artwork.  This is pleasing to new and old fans alike.  Plus, this costs $0.25!  It's an absolute steal at this price.  Alternatively, it's free on Kindle and ComiXology.  Even if you've never heard of Vampirella, it's worth trying out.  Worst case scenario, you're out a quarter instead of the usual four bucks, but I assure you, you won't be disappointed.