Review: Vampirella, Vol. 3 #5
Here we are! the final chapter to this little masterpiece of a story. Slades plans are either going to come to fruition or Vampirella will stop her in her tracks. Slade has led Vampirella to believe that she wanted to feature her in some kind of a television series. Perhaps hosting her own horror feature program like Vampira or Elvira, or maybe a reality type of show.But now her evil deeds have been exposed and Vampirella is ready to defeat this monster or die trying.
The Creative Team
Kate Leth knows how to mix horror and humor to gain exceptional results. Slades full power has only been hinted at until now. In this issue all the stops are pulled and she seems to be more powerful than our protagonist. Slade can not die! How do you defeat a creature that can not die? The apprehension grows as Slade one by one seems to take out our heroes, including Vampi’s werewolf boyfriend! Now Vampirella is alone as she faces her greatest challenge.
Eman Casallos is in fine form once again as he is growing into his role as the main Vampirella artist. Even the Jose Gonzalez crowd seems to be coming around. His work on this issue has improved from his first issue to his current issue. He has managed to take Vampirella and put her in a contemporary setting and make it work. That was not an easy task. I’m also sure that he knew he would face the ultimate criticism from the Gonzalez fans. Purists get real angry if people re-doing their franchises don’t do it right (Ghostbusters, Star Trek etc.) in their view.
The Cover:
This cover is clever! I always like a cover that makes the reader guess and here Chrissie Zullo treats us to Vampirella standing back to back with her arch-nemesis Slade. Vampi is smiling but Slade has a slight mistrusting but nonchalant look in her eye. They’re obviously at a party. But what does it mean? has Vampi decided to join forces with this monster? Are they now partners? Did Slade go straight at Vampi’s urging. Gotta open the book to find out.
In Conclusion:
A very satisfying final chapter. We see that Vampirella’s crew will do anything for their friend. The full extent of Slade’s power is revealed and she’s more powerful than anyone would have guessed. One of the more humorous scenes comes when Slade is shot with a cross bow by one of Vampirella’s team and she’s more worried about ruining the dress than how much harm she will face. After all the dress was made in 1943. Slade binds and gags her lackey’s because she allowed Vampi’s friends to get in and we get a knock down drag out battle royale leading to a conclusion that I think will satisfy most readers.
Vampirella, Vol. 3 #5
Writer: Kate Leth
Art: Eman Casallos
Colors: Valentina Pinto
Letters: Erica Schultz
Cover: Chrissie Zullo
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Publication Date: June 29, 2016