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Vampirella (2019) #1
Vampirella Vol.1: Seduction of the Innocent
Celebrating the Daughter of Drakulon's historic 50th anniversary, Dynamite has assembled an all-star crew to put together the most captivating take on Vampirella ever! Join legendary writer Christopher Priest (Black Panther, Deathstroke) and Turkish talent Ergun Gunduz on this Netflix-inspired tale, both serving as a perfect jumping-on point and subtly incorporating characters and Easter eggs from throughout Vampirella's five glorious decades. Nuns with guns, scandalous love triangles, psychotherapy and every classic villain teaming up against our heroine, and it all centers around a mysterious, tragic plane crash!
Collecting Vampirella (2019) #1-6 and the Free Comic Book Day #0, plus an expansive cover gallery featuring the likes of Artgerm, Alex Ross, Adam Hughes, J. Scott Campbell, Frank Cho, Joe Jusko, Lucio Parrillo, Derrick Chew, Joshua Middleton, Terry Dodson and countless more!
Collecting Vampirella (2019) #1-6 and the Free Comic Book Day #0, plus an expansive cover gallery featuring the likes of Artgerm, Alex Ross, Adam Hughes, J. Scott Campbell, Frank Cho, Joe Jusko, Lucio Parrillo, Derrick Chew, Joshua Middleton, Terry Dodson and countless more!
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2021
About the author
Christopher J. Priest
1,038 books192 followersFormerly (before 1993) known as James or Jim Owsley.
Christopher James Priest is a critically acclaimed novelist and comic book writer. Priest is the first African-American writer and editor for Marvel and DC Comics. His groundbreaking Black Panther series was lauded by Entertainment Weekly and The Village Voice and will serve as the basis for the 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe adaption.
Besides Black Panther, Priest has written comics for Conan, Steel, Green Lantern, The Crew and edited The Amazing Spider-Man. He also co-created Quantum & Woody along with Mark Bright and co-founded Milestone Media.
After a decade long hiatus he is currently writing comic books again and recently concluded a stint writing the comic book Deathstroke (2016-2019).
In addition to being a writer, Christopher J. Priest is also a baptist minister.
Christopher James Priest is a critically acclaimed novelist and comic book writer. Priest is the first African-American writer and editor for Marvel and DC Comics. His groundbreaking Black Panther series was lauded by Entertainment Weekly and The Village Voice and will serve as the basis for the 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe adaption.
Besides Black Panther, Priest has written comics for Conan, Steel, Green Lantern, The Crew and edited The Amazing Spider-Man. He also co-created Quantum & Woody along with Mark Bright and co-founded Milestone Media.
After a decade long hiatus he is currently writing comic books again and recently concluded a stint writing the comic book Deathstroke (2016-2019).
In addition to being a writer, Christopher J. Priest is also a baptist minister.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 4, 2022
Seduction of the Innocent has a fucknuts plot that leans heavily on her alien side while embracing all of the campiness that a Vampirella comic contains.
If that doesn't sound like something you'd be interested in, just back slowly out of the room right now.
We open with Vampirella (Ella) getting a bit of therapy from a dude who doesn't believe she is a scantily clad alien from the planet Drakulon who sprouts giant bat wings and fights evil in her spare time.
Fair.
Why is she in therapy? <--you ask
Well, it turns out that she's the sole survivor of a plane crash and everyone assumes that she's just had her brain rattled. Because bi-sexual vampire aliens who make out with Vatican ninja-nuns aren't a thing.
Right?
This is a strangely readable comic.
I don't know if I like it and I don't know who I'd recommend it to, but I want to read more.
If that doesn't sound like something you'd be interested in, just back slowly out of the room right now.
We open with Vampirella (Ella) getting a bit of therapy from a dude who doesn't believe she is a scantily clad alien from the planet Drakulon who sprouts giant bat wings and fights evil in her spare time.
Fair.
Why is she in therapy? <--you ask
Well, it turns out that she's the sole survivor of a plane crash and everyone assumes that she's just had her brain rattled. Because bi-sexual vampire aliens who make out with Vatican ninja-nuns aren't a thing.
Right?
This is a strangely readable comic.
I don't know if I like it and I don't know who I'd recommend it to, but I want to read more.
October 6, 2025
6.8/10
I was looking for something Vampirella to read, since i had never read any of her solo series. There are a lot of runs with the character, so it was hard to choose one. This looked like a good jumping point for readers that are not that familiar with the character. And it was.
The story is.. a lot. There are many key characters surrounding Vampirella, so there is a lot of explaining and introduction to be done. Good thing is it is done in a way that makes sense, as we see Vampi talking to a therapist, who like any other normal person would, doesn't believe the insane stories she shares.
The art is good but inconsistent. There are parts that everything looks great but sometimes the faces look very weird.
I was looking for something Vampirella to read, since i had never read any of her solo series. There are a lot of runs with the character, so it was hard to choose one. This looked like a good jumping point for readers that are not that familiar with the character. And it was.
The story is.. a lot. There are many key characters surrounding Vampirella, so there is a lot of explaining and introduction to be done. Good thing is it is done in a way that makes sense, as we see Vampi talking to a therapist, who like any other normal person would, doesn't believe the insane stories she shares.
The art is good but inconsistent. There are parts that everything looks great but sometimes the faces look very weird.
August 10, 2022
The esteemed Anne recently described this comic as "fucknuts" and that's about as bang on a descriptor as I can imagine.
I learned many things from Seduction of the Innocent, primarily that while death, dismemberment, necromancy, drinking blood and ritual child sacrifice are OK showing naked ladies' nipples is a step too far for Dynamite Publishing, I guess?
Blood = Nipple Erasure. Don't overthink it.
Still, I like how Priest is basically entering his zero-fucks-given stage of his career with his writing and characterizations now so I am definitely going to carry on to the next trade.
I learned many things from Seduction of the Innocent, primarily that while death, dismemberment, necromancy, drinking blood and ritual child sacrifice are OK showing naked ladies' nipples is a step too far for Dynamite Publishing, I guess?
Blood = Nipple Erasure. Don't overthink it.
Still, I like how Priest is basically entering his zero-fucks-given stage of his career with his writing and characterizations now so I am definitely going to carry on to the next trade.
April 30, 2020
Okay! So umm... kinda funny thing. So I read this via single issues so completed this around December (I think) of last year and apparently am just now doing my full story arc review. Better a few months after reading than never?
What’s it about?
Vampi is having issues. What kinda issues you ask? Well she’s seeing a therapist that is completely confused by her and why she thinks she’s an alien vampire. The therapist tries explaining to her that she’s not a real vampire and that all these monsters and such are not real... though maybe there’s just things that HE can’t understand.
Pros:
The story is pretty good. Quite unique for the character too. While most Vampirella comics are a fun supernatural superhero adventure, this is a superhero story that mixes that with a serious take on a not usually as serious character that is very reminiscent of much of Tom King’s recent work. It really is quite interesting.
The artwork is pretty impressive throughout!
The characters are pretty cool. Vampirella is one of my favorite superheroes for a reason! The way she’s a thrilling mix of bad-ass and interesting, as well as beautiful yet intimidating doesn’t change in this.
Don’t think a more serious than usual story stops the action, it’s still here and it’s great! The finale especially is a very intense bloodbath.
This book has a bit of comic relief that works pretty well.
This one ain’t too predictable.
Those horror elements we usually get from Vampirella are still here and they are awesome in this!
So Priest is pretty open about his beliefs in God, he’s even a Baptist minister and I noticed some subtle things where I think he used Vampirella, a kinda unexpected character to outreach with, to use some metaphors on his real life religious beliefs but without being preachy. It’s also pretty interesting and well written the way he does it.
Why not 5 stars?
The dialogue is often poorly written. There definitely are some cringeworthy lines throughout as well as a Bendis-like repetition at times.
Overall:
So while the dialogue is a bit iffy this is a very good comic.
I originally bought the single issues for the sweet Artgerm covers on #2, #4 and #6, glad I bought and read all 6 issues though because this is a great read.
(Artgerm’s cover for #4, 2 and 6 are unfortunately probably too sexy and bloody for Goodreads unfortunately but seriously, search them up, they are beautiful covers!)
The story is very good and different in a way that would make me recommend it to both fans of the character and those who may not be but are open to seeing a very different spin. Mix that with great art, a great main character, intense scenes of action and some bad-ass horror elements, you get a very good addition to this supernatural superhero’s adventures!
Definitely recommend this one.
4/5
What’s it about?
Vampi is having issues. What kinda issues you ask? Well she’s seeing a therapist that is completely confused by her and why she thinks she’s an alien vampire. The therapist tries explaining to her that she’s not a real vampire and that all these monsters and such are not real... though maybe there’s just things that HE can’t understand.
Pros:
The story is pretty good. Quite unique for the character too. While most Vampirella comics are a fun supernatural superhero adventure, this is a superhero story that mixes that with a serious take on a not usually as serious character that is very reminiscent of much of Tom King’s recent work. It really is quite interesting.
The artwork is pretty impressive throughout!
The characters are pretty cool. Vampirella is one of my favorite superheroes for a reason! The way she’s a thrilling mix of bad-ass and interesting, as well as beautiful yet intimidating doesn’t change in this.
Don’t think a more serious than usual story stops the action, it’s still here and it’s great! The finale especially is a very intense bloodbath.
This book has a bit of comic relief that works pretty well.
This one ain’t too predictable.
Those horror elements we usually get from Vampirella are still here and they are awesome in this!
So Priest is pretty open about his beliefs in God, he’s even a Baptist minister and I noticed some subtle things where I think he used Vampirella, a kinda unexpected character to outreach with, to use some metaphors on his real life religious beliefs but without being preachy. It’s also pretty interesting and well written the way he does it.
Why not 5 stars?
The dialogue is often poorly written. There definitely are some cringeworthy lines throughout as well as a Bendis-like repetition at times.
Overall:
So while the dialogue is a bit iffy this is a very good comic.
I originally bought the single issues for the sweet Artgerm covers on #2, #4 and #6, glad I bought and read all 6 issues though because this is a great read.
(Artgerm’s cover for #4, 2 and 6 are unfortunately probably too sexy and bloody for Goodreads unfortunately but seriously, search them up, they are beautiful covers!)
The story is very good and different in a way that would make me recommend it to both fans of the character and those who may not be but are open to seeing a very different spin. Mix that with great art, a great main character, intense scenes of action and some bad-ass horror elements, you get a very good addition to this supernatural superhero’s adventures!
Definitely recommend this one.
4/5
April 15, 2022
VAMPIRELLA: SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT is an attempt to once more reboot the controversial seventies character by Christopher Priest. The introduction by the famous Black Panther author is arguably the best part of the book where he discusses that a lot of the controversies about the character are nothing and even the infamous costume isn't that strange compared to a lot of rap videos. Priest also rather tactfully attacks the retconning of the "alien from Drakulon origin" as missing the point that the character is wonderfully silly and there's nothing particularly better about her being a demon vs. an alien.
This version of Vampirella is bisexual, sardonic, and rather over fighting evil due to the amount of crap she gets over it. I'm a big fan of both her (temporary) girlfriend and Benny the Witch. The standout character is her psychotherapist, though. The guy who doesn't believe in Hell, the Devil, but does believe in God is trying to help the alien demon deal with her issues.
This version of Vampirella is bisexual, sardonic, and rather over fighting evil due to the amount of crap she gets over it. I'm a big fan of both her (temporary) girlfriend and Benny the Witch. The standout character is her psychotherapist, though. The guy who doesn't believe in Hell, the Devil, but does believe in God is trying to help the alien demon deal with her issues.
May 13, 2020
I would like to get into Vampirella but this issue is not for me. Uninteresting plot, mixed with flat and unrealistic dialogue provide a lacklustre reading experience. Artwork is sharp and could be better used in a more interesting Vampirella story.
April 9, 2021
A reboot of a classic character with a 21st century spin. Christopher Priest builds on decades of past stories to give a new take on Vampirella that is quickly becoming the most compelling read in comics.
August 31, 2021
I read the 2021 FCBD book
September 23, 2022
The art is good, sometimes very good, and the story is something out of supernatural.
I hadn't read any Vampirella going in, I'd just checked out the following on Wikipedia:
If the synopsis above doesn't get you to want to read the comic, I don't know what will.
So was it any good?
Well unfortunately, since this is something that's been going since the 70's there wasn't much by way of an introduction to anyone/thing so it took me a few issues to figure out what the deal was with this lady.
The uniqueness with this particular rendition is that she is seeing a psychologist as part of some court-mandated therapy following a plane crash. Why she goes along with it is unclear. The therapist is awful: constantly berating her, taunting her, making weird race comments all the time (that's what black characters do in comics right? Talk about race? Lazy writing).
Her sessions are also sporadically interrupted by her mother Lillith and a demon-spider.
As for the obvious sexiness of the character, it comes up surprisingly little.
Her aversion to clothes is odd but she's not overly sexualized in the actual story despite the gratuitous angles. She seems to be a lesbian with very poor taste in partners - one of which is a literal warrior-nun who regards her as an abomination - but the relationships are only barely touched upon.
Overall - this is fine. It's probably fun if you really love this character already but i found it all a bit melodramatic (especially all the family drama) and the therapy angle felt too obnoxious to work. The same character, with better writing, could be good. As it is, I won't be picking up volume 2.
I hadn't read any Vampirella going in, I'd just checked out the following on Wikipedia:
Vampirella originally hailed from the planet Drakulon, a world where blood flowed like water and where the natives, called the Vampiri, shared traditionally vampiric characteristics. Drakulon orbited a binary star which caused continuous droughts throughout the year. Unfortunately for the Vampiri, these droughts have gradually dried up their blood supply; threatening them with extinction. Vampirella's journey begins when an American space shuttle crashes on Drakulon. Hoping to save her people, she travels to Earth where she begins hunting dark remnants of her own race. Earth's vampires originate from Dracula, a forgotten member of the Vampiri race who left his homeworld centuries ago only to be corrupted by the demonic entity known as Chaos.
If the synopsis above doesn't get you to want to read the comic, I don't know what will.
So was it any good?
Well unfortunately, since this is something that's been going since the 70's there wasn't much by way of an introduction to anyone/thing so it took me a few issues to figure out what the deal was with this lady.
The uniqueness with this particular rendition is that she is seeing a psychologist as part of some court-mandated therapy following a plane crash. Why she goes along with it is unclear. The therapist is awful: constantly berating her, taunting her, making weird race comments all the time (that's what black characters do in comics right? Talk about race? Lazy writing).
Her sessions are also sporadically interrupted by her mother Lillith and a demon-spider.
As for the obvious sexiness of the character, it comes up surprisingly little.
Her aversion to clothes is odd but she's not overly sexualized in the actual story despite the gratuitous angles. She seems to be a lesbian with very poor taste in partners - one of which is a literal warrior-nun who regards her as an abomination - but the relationships are only barely touched upon.
Overall - this is fine. It's probably fun if you really love this character already but i found it all a bit melodramatic (especially all the family drama) and the therapy angle felt too obnoxious to work. The same character, with better writing, could be good. As it is, I won't be picking up volume 2.
October 29, 2025
paper waste
April 17, 2021
Celebrating Vampirella's 50th anniversary, this volume involves Vampi being psychoanalyzed after being the sole survivor of a major plane crash. The psychiatrist delves into her beginnings and incidences throughout her years on Earth. Engaging plot line and illustrations. Highly recommended
September 19, 2022
I really struggled to finish this; the writing and the plot weren't very engaging.
April 25, 2024
Worst Vampirella series
Wow this was bad. So much hype and this was absolutely awful. Was really hard to get through. Priest failed here
Wow this was bad. So much hype and this was absolutely awful. Was really hard to get through. Priest failed here
May 3, 2022
Tio Priest é o responsável pela mais nova versão da vampira mais famosa da Dynamite, o cara responsável pelo silicone à prova de balas no gibizinho urbano noventeiro do Pantera Negra, não tem como dar errado.
Vampi está fazendo terapia, uma dos problema é que o terapeuta não aceita muito a história de que ela é uma vampira alienígena, filha de uma caramunhona, que enfrenta lobisomens, demônios, bruxos e o escambau a quatro. Vampi está de namorada nova, Victoria, e o relacionamento está se aproximando da data de validade. Vampi está trabalhando com freiras armadas e, talvez, tenha tido atos pecaminosos com pelo menos uma delas. Vampi foi capa de jornal, em toda sua glória vampiresca e conquistou o apelido de "Bat-Girl" nas mídias sociais. Vampi também está envolvida num acidente aéreo e tudo parece apontar para uma união de vários inimigos da nossa vampirinha.
Eu achei interessante; o Priest é um bom autor, já fez coisas legais; o Gunduz é um bom artista com estilo próprio. Porém, sempre tem um porém, os diálogos são um pouco chatos com alguns Bendismos e muita pregação religiosa; a arte é muito boa nos cenários fantásticos e terríveis e tremendamente sem graça ao mostrar o cotidiano da vida moderna.
Acho que vale a pena insistir nos próximos capítulos.
Vampi está fazendo terapia, uma dos problema é que o terapeuta não aceita muito a história de que ela é uma vampira alienígena, filha de uma caramunhona, que enfrenta lobisomens, demônios, bruxos e o escambau a quatro. Vampi está de namorada nova, Victoria, e o relacionamento está se aproximando da data de validade. Vampi está trabalhando com freiras armadas e, talvez, tenha tido atos pecaminosos com pelo menos uma delas. Vampi foi capa de jornal, em toda sua glória vampiresca e conquistou o apelido de "Bat-Girl" nas mídias sociais. Vampi também está envolvida num acidente aéreo e tudo parece apontar para uma união de vários inimigos da nossa vampirinha.
Eu achei interessante; o Priest é um bom autor, já fez coisas legais; o Gunduz é um bom artista com estilo próprio. Porém, sempre tem um porém, os diálogos são um pouco chatos com alguns Bendismos e muita pregação religiosa; a arte é muito boa nos cenários fantásticos e terríveis e tremendamente sem graça ao mostrar o cotidiano da vida moderna.
Acho que vale a pena insistir nos próximos capítulos.
January 18, 2025
Meant to serve as an easy enough jumping on point for Vampirella, veteran comics writer Christopher Priest re-introduces the character as she regales some of her past stories in the form of psychotherapy. Seated on a couch and unpackaging her past trauma, we follow the bizarreness that has been the story of a scantily clad alien who has giant bat wings and fights bad guys. Priest is clearly having fun with it since the story in Seduction of the Innocent is campy and at times batshit, but reads well for newcomers overall. It's not something that'll necessarily make me want to keep reading more Vampirella tales, but I'm sure some other readers will find this as a suitable hook for them. The artwork by Ergün Gündüz is pleasing and even self-aware, poking fun at the concept of drawing unrealistic proportions on women but also not negating what I imagine must be a critical point of interest for many long time fans of the character.
April 2, 2022
Excellent
Having never read Vampirella, I found myself very pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed her when I ended up coming across her with my comic colony subscription and devoured everything of hers I could. Such an interesting story behind the scenes, as well as her mythology. Maybe not for everyone, but if you are a fan, this is a great new take on a classic (ill never say old) beauty.
Having never read Vampirella, I found myself very pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed her when I ended up coming across her with my comic colony subscription and devoured everything of hers I could. Such an interesting story behind the scenes, as well as her mythology. Maybe not for everyone, but if you are a fan, this is a great new take on a classic (ill never say old) beauty.
September 3, 2022
Vampirella is seeing a court appointed therapist after being the only survivor of a plane crash. I love how he thinks she's absolutely nuts as she talks about being an alien with vampire like powers fighting actual vampires and werewolves with paramilitary nuns. This book is freaking awesome. Priest has done wonders for Vampirella by making her interesting.
The art by Ergun Gunduz is excellent as well. His colors give the book a classic look and he's got a nice clean style to his work.
The art by Ergun Gunduz is excellent as well. His colors give the book a classic look and he's got a nice clean style to his work.
January 23, 2026
This book surprised me! It’s my first Vampirella and though there was a lot of crazy I had to digest in this one, it made me a fan. I loved the girl gang murder of nuns the best but also came to appreciate the humanization of the extraterrestrial known as Vampirella. The girl is just overheated and overstimulated in clothing, okay?! The cover gallery may have made me weary to try other renditions of this comic, but I’m glad to have checked out Priest’s!
July 19, 2021
A reprint collection of Vampirella Vol. V, issues 1-6, and another title.
Some really good art on covers and for a few pages/issue, alternating with adequate art on most other pages. Somewhat incoherent with yet another reboot of her origin story. Characters from her past randomly stop by to confuse things. Ho hum.
Some really good art on covers and for a few pages/issue, alternating with adequate art on most other pages. Somewhat incoherent with yet another reboot of her origin story. Characters from her past randomly stop by to confuse things. Ho hum.
November 17, 2022
This was an interesting story. The whole premise is based on Vampirella being analyzed by a psychologist and talking about her past stories. It was a refreshing take on storytelling , but overall there wasn't as much excitement reading through it.
May 24, 2025
one of the better books I've read, this brings together a lot of the themes from earlier stories, but then.. doesn't do a lot with them, could have been better. The artwork is better than most of the other stories I've read.
March 31, 2026
The story and plot had so many plot holes! And the ending was very ambiguous and confusing. I also think we could have done without the slutty red outfit. Most of her other outfits were cute! I like a strong female character and this one was a mix between Elvira and Xena Warrior Princess.
May 6, 2021
More nonsense from C.J. Priest. I know this guy is lauded but the several things I've read by him do not constitute good storytelling. Oh well.
DPL hoopla
DPL hoopla
March 19, 2022
The art is cool but the story is just kind of dumb and horrible? DNF
December 31, 2022
3/5 - Graphic Novels
2/5 - Vampires
2/5 - Characters
1/5 - Story
2/5 - Rating
2/5 - Vampires
2/5 - Characters
1/5 - Story
2/5 - Rating
January 16, 2023
I have never read any of the Vampirella comic series but this one really was a pointless storyline and read. I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with this series.
February 18, 2023
*3.5/5 stars.
December 29, 2024
I’d never heard of Vampirella before so I felt a little lost at times with the vampire/alien mythology, but the story was captivating and the sapphic side plots were an unexpected delight.
December 31, 2024
This is my first Vampirella comic. Might be my last. It was okay, but I could not get into the story or the world-building. It wasn't bad, just not at all what I thought it might be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews