Helsing: The Darkness and the Light

Van Helsing

by Pat Shand

Liesel Van Helsing's life of hunting down vampires is shaken up when a mysterious package shows up at her door. Inside it is an old journal written by her father, the famed vampire hunter, Abraham Van Helsing. Desperate to find out who sent her the book, Liesel discovers a clue which leads her on a voyage to Europe. What she doesn't know is that her journey is being manipulated by her father's greatest nemesis.
This 152 page trade paperback collects together Zenescope's hit comic book series, Grimm Fairy Tales Helsing issues 1 through 4.
"Inspiration for the Van Helsing TV series on Syfy."

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

156 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

PAT SHAND writes comic books (Robyn Hood, Family Pets, Charmed, Angel) and pop culture journalism (Sad Girls Guide, Blastoff Comics). He lives in San Diego with his girlfriend and their veritable zoo of cats.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd never heard of this until my daughter got me into the Van Helsing tv show.



We've been binging it together for a few weeks now, and when I learned it was based on a graphic novel, I decided to check it out because...
Well, because why not?



Just an FYI to anyone expecting a post-apocalyptic tale with vampires running the show and a ragtag group of survivors trying to bring humanity back?
No. Just put that notion in a jar and twist the lid on it.
This is like a steampunk Vampirella comic but with a tad less tits and ass.



The art inside ranges somewhere between passable and sorta ugly, so it wasn't very exciting to look at for me. And it felt like there was a lot of history that I must not be aware of for this character because so much of what happened seemed like it was aimed at readers who already knew this world. I mean, yes the story made sense, but I felt like I was missing a bunch of background information.



The gist is that her father is the original Van Helsing from Dracula, she's somehow in modern times, her boyfriend is a god (Hades), and she wears normal clothes and switches into fishnets and a top hat when she goes out to fight vampires. No explanation for that last one. Sorry.



In the end, I didn't hate it but I don't know that I would recommend it to just anyone. But if this looks like your jam, you may want to check it out.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like vampire stories. I like comics. I like metafiction. I like female-centric stories. This comic has all of it, so why don't I enjoy it more?? Maybe because, while Helsing has all these great qualities, it's buried under 10 pounds of tits stuffed into one ounce of cloth, and the super-strong hero character is a literal god, having to save the female because she's just *not quite* strong enough to beat the male antagonist. I should have known that GFTP is aimed at...um...13 year old boys who don't read? I don't know who they're aimed at, but it's certainly not this feminist who's more interested in Princess Peach saving her own damned skin than waiting around for some dude to do it for her.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book on the surface. The artwork was good, the main character was memorable and the writing and story were excellent. I also enjoyed the steampunk flavor of the book with the top hats, old style weapons reimagined for modern times and the use of literary figures. However, the book was too short, lasting only four volumes. It all felt too rushed and fractured for me. There is even a totally different book tacked onto the end to beef up the page count. The book packs a lot in though and it was a Servicable introduction to the Character of Helsing and her world I just wish there was more to grab onto.

[CJ - It's only a Paper Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minus that outfit, she's pretty bad ass (I say this because she is not protected at all, but that has long been my problem with Zenescope and their depiction of women, which is to say a lot of T&A over the top cheesecake with no practicality) and funny. Need to see more of Hades.

The story was intriguing, I like the characters and I really wish Liesel kicks Dracula's ass next time.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting modern take on the classic Dracula story with a strong female protagonist - marred by Zenescope’s typical T&A approach to female characters. Skimpy over-sexed costumes and at the end she’s “saved” by a male god no less. If Zenescope would get away from teasing young males they could do some really cool updates to classic stories.

[Trae Stratton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book four stars but it just felt like nothing new here. Another Van Helsing vs Dracula story. I think the way to go is to completely reimagine the whole Dracula formula (if that’s even possible) or just create a completely new mythology alla Underworld and Interview With the Vampire.

[Emmanuel Nevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying all of her series of minis. Liesel Van Helsing is awesome!! Vampire Hunting, Monster Hunting, great character development!! What more could you want? This first in her ongoing mini-series does a great job of introducing the character and packing an awesome story!

[Bill Blume · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it’s a tad cliché in places, leaning on a lot of the familiar vampire/Dracula tropes, I enjoyed this graphic novel a lot. The resolution isn’t as complete as I’d like, but for a comic book series, that’s to be expected. The best praise I can give this is that it left me wanting more.

[Iris Nevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I know Zenoscope gets a lot of crap for how sexy their characters are but Van Helsing is a great character. She loves books, she fights vampires, what's not to love?

[Robert Bussie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has potential with interesting characters Liesel Van Helsing, Mina, and Hades, but falls short in story. The plot is rushed and the art work is average.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story! Glad the Dracula is finally a villain and not some romaticized fella.

[Phil Bova · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a big fan of the Grimm Fairy Tales comics distributed by Zenescope, although the over-sexualizing nature notwithstanding, there are some really interesting story lines explored throughout the books. This one, Helsing, follows the exploits of Liesel Van Helsing, daughter to original vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing.
The book, written by Pat Shand, lacked the initial drama of the storied book version of Helsing. The character looked really great in the costume, which mirrored more of a steampunk adaptation than anything else.
Not a bad reading....

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story of Liesel Van Helsing, vampire hunter. Love the art work. She's so steampunk with her top hat with goggles and her imaginative weaponry. Highly recommended.

[Nicole Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Steampunk costuming. Thoughtful character development. Respectful tip of the top hat to Stoker.