Vampirella, Volume 4: Inquisition

Vampirella 2010 #4

by Brandon Jerwa, Heubert Khan Michael (Illustrator)

Vampirella, a lethal beauty waging a war against the undead and demonic, must defend her recent actions to a tribunal deep within Vatican City. Accused of falling to the corrupting influence of Chaos, she struggles to prove her innocence while simultaneously fighting a psychic battle with her most powerful enemy. Meanwhile, the vampire lord Dracula prepares his dark army for a march against humanity, empowering a terrifying new lieutenant to lead the charge. Hell is coming to Earth, and only Vampirella and her trusted allies can stop it!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Fantasy, Vampires

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Marcelo Soares · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gibi da Vampirella é sempre um desafio, mas esse é particularmente doloroso.
Nada faz sentido.
Ele não é exatamente uma continuação do anterior, porque, claramente, houve uma mudança nos rumos da história - tanto é que temos outro autor. Num resumo muito resumido, a Vampirella tava trampando com um pedaço secreto da Igreja pra caçar monstros, as coisas começaram a dar errado, a Igreja resolveu tentar matar a amiga possuída da Vampi e acharam por bem caçar a Vampi também, afinal tamos aí pra isso, né?
Claro, aí aparecem disco voadores e a Vampirella é capturada por uma outra mina de biquíni para ser julgada por crimes contra a Balança do Caos e da Ordem.
Na boa, de onde surgiu isso?
Enquanto isso, o Drácula, num duelo em frente ao Parlamento dos Demônios - Sério, que porra é essa? -, mata a amiga possuída da Vampi e coloco o demônio num corpo de um golem ou coisa assim - também não tem explicação nenhuma sobre isso.
De volta ao julgamento, só dois tipos de pessoas podem falar; gurias de biquíni ou marmanjos de roupas pretas. No final, fica decidido que a Vampirella é a única esperança de recuperar o balanço detendo o exército demônio, então é formada a Liga Vingadora das Meninas de Biquíni e dos Marmanjos de Preto para enfrentar os demônios.
Claro, eles levam um couro, até que conseguem exorcizar o Drácula e... honestamente, eu não sei o que aconteceu. Talvez no próximo volume.
Algo que eu finalmente entendi foi o porquê da Vampirella estar sempre de biquíni; como ela deve lutar pelo balanço entre a Ordem e o Caos; se ela fizesse isso com muita roupa, daria preferência à Ordem; se, peladona, ao Caos.
A virtude está no biquíni.
Espalhem a palavra.

[Helene Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 4 is a lot better than 2 and 3, but I cannot ignore the obvious flaws. Volume 4 was written by a different author and the changes are noticeable. Familiar characters have disappeared and new ones have been introduced.

So what exactly are my issues?

1. The costume. The first volume made a point in differentiating Vampirella as a person from her costume. Now she wears the costume in every panel and I don’t really know why. What was the point of introducing this new Vampirella when she was just abandoned. Somebody explain this to me please.

2. Random characters. At least two characters were introduced who seemingly had a connection to Vampirella. They didn’t appear in previous volumes and if they did, their design changed so drastically that I was severely confused. Who is this new love interest? What is his connection to Vampirella? I haven’t read any other Vampirella series and I shouldn’t be expected to just randomly become enlightened.

3. The plot. Fighting against Dracula, the Inquisition. It’s been a slow ride and I’m getting bored. The action from the first volume is missing and instead this series has evolved into a mystery tale with detective elements. What happened to the Book in Volume 3 and why is it not a bigger influence on the story?

There are other questions I have, but my rant has reached its end. I’m just glad I got this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Mackenzie Melo · Rating 3 out of 5]

They we not liking the previous writing team and, apparently, chose one that could not change the story enough to make it better... The art is also not as good as in the previous volumes. This volume four is harder to follow than because we we kind of hanging for explanations that really never came. Well, this is Vampirella, who really struggles to understand herself and her place in the world, so, I guess that this is a good way for us to feel a little bit lost as she is.

I liked the winter/Christmas tale at the end of the volume. It shows Vampirella's heart and what she is made of.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75
Wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. The time skip made everything feel jarring and there was no real explanation as to why Vee was suddenly in front of the Order/Chaos tribunal or why Van Helsing was alive. Found out the writing team was changed between volumes (after I had read it) it showed.

[Timo · Rating 1 out of 5]

So the creative team changed. Off went the one I liked and it was replaced with one that compared to previous one is not-so-good.
Gone is fun stuff and good art, replaced with stiffy art and clumsy story. I will give one more chance to this team before I cry.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

An abrupt creative team change makes this good arc stumble a bit; it's Vampirella (and Dracula) being questioned by their respective superiors (i.e. The Vatican and Lords of Order)

[Russ Spence · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this, not good use of the main character, and masked warrior nuns

[Mike Marlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampirella stands trial for allowing one of her mortal enemies to live, and then faces down the forces of chaos. This book contains some glimpses of how Vee's world works, and of course how it sometimes doesn't. Her loyalties may be questioned, but they never falter. A fun read.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volumes 21-26, continuing the story of Vampirella, Sophia and Dracula.
Vampirellas loyalty to the cause is questioned.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampirella at Vatican City. Another interesting tale by Brandon Jerwa. Well written and illustrated. Highly recommended.