Vampirella #6: The Lord’s Judgement is Nigh

In the official excerpt for Vampirella #6, there is a line that mentions, “anything that can happen…does!”, and I couldn’t think of a more apt description for this issue. Everything is pretty much thrown at the wall and while most of it sticks, some of it just gets lost in the chaos.

There are a lot of moving pieces in this grand twelve issue story from Priest, Gunduz and company. Now that we have reached the halfway point, it seems all the major players have been introduced and their motives are starting to become clear. We have Vampirella dealing with Mother Mary and the other assassins as well as her mother and love life, then the Blood Red Queen of Hearts literally takes Nyx’s heart. All of this before Benny the Witch makes his appearance.

Does all of this narrative development land successfully? Not really, but that’s okay. Priest is notorious for playing the long game with his storytelling and this feels right on brand. The various pieces currently in play are lining up, creating a rather intimate story that revolves around Vampirella’s emotional connections both with humanity as a whole and those closest to her.

Although all of the aspects help to create an interesting and dynamic story, I can’t help but want a more cohesive script that makes each issue more focused. As we bounce around from one plot to another it can become difficult to keep track of what exactly is going on. This is a problem that is occurring with increasing consistency for the series, so hopefully now that we are on the backside of the twelve issue story things will begin to all mesh more enjoyably.

The artwork from Gunduz remains simply delectable though. The character work is strong and full of emotion, and the gore is just right. While the script didn’t allow for a lot of chances to shine, this creative team certainly makes the most of every issue.

Ultimately, Vampirella #6 is an important issue in the series, but it can be easy to mistake it for a filler. Pay close attention to the many moving pieces and it’s significance in the story will be evident. There is plenty of violence and drama to keep you engaged, but there is also a unique sense of representation in the story that keeps making itself known in the best way. For those wanting a complex Vampirella story that takes these characters seriously, look no further.