Review: VAMPIRELLA VOL 1: CROWN OF WORMS by Eric Trautmann

Publisher Dynamite Entertainment
Format trade
Published 2011
Series Vampirella (2011) (#1-7)
My Copy I bought it

Length 144 pages

I've had limited exposure to Vampirella aside from the odd single issue comic here and there, as a result, I wasn't sure what to expect from the 2011 series iteration by Dynamite. Volume 1 of the series, Crown of Worm, comprises the first 7 issues and is chock full of fight scenes and reads more like an action based story rather than the pulp-horror story the character lends herself to. 

The story picks up Vampirella as a hero well entrenched in her quest for vengeance following the presumed death of her partner Van Helsing as she hunts down her fellow vampires and proceeds to steadily eradicate them. 

There are some interesting and well written characters introduced in this volume as well as Dracula himself but the one who I most enjoyed reading (Vampirella aside) was Sofia, a human in the wrong place at the right time who is quickly established as a faithful sidekick. Issue 7 provides the reader with a greater inside into her character and is a highlight of the story arc. 

The artwork is great and fits the tone of the book very well. The characters are sharp and the backgrounds are detailed. The coloring captures the night-time feel and Vampirella's costume really pops and is an eye catcher, as intended.  

My rating: 3.5/5. I think this iteration of Vampirella is still trying to decide what kind of series it wants to be. There are some horror, action, paranormal, superhero and sci-fi elements all floating around without any taking hold of the story at this stage. I picked this up as part of the recent Humble Bundle offer and wasn't disappointed.