Van Helsing Vs. The League of Monsters #1: Go Introduce Chaos

Liesel Van Helsing is back! After a truly dramatic conclusion in Van Helsing vs. Dracula’s Daughter, we pick right up on the story with Dracula gearing up for absolute chaos and Helsing in a particularly tumultuous time.

Amidst the horror icons, bloody action and overall sleek aesthetic, there is something crucially important happening in the first issue of this new series, and that is emotional development. Zenescope isn’t getting lost in the wild possibilities of their connected universe when exploring the real emotional impact on these characters. There is a core heart that shows care for the story and helps to give the issue both urgency and depth.

While most of the issue is devoted to Dracula and his daughter Charlotte wreaking havoc with their vampires and building their ranks with the likes of a werwolf and even Hellchild, there is also some great connections to the larger universe. We have appearances from of course Julie Jekyll following her fall in the previous series and also an exciting appearance from Robyn Hood! It may sound like a lot of different moving pieces but the story handles them all remarkably well.

While there is a lot of ground to cover as the Legion of Monsters begins to take shape and Van Helsing positions herself with limited help and resources for yet another conflict, the issue doesn’t feel like it drags on at all. There is a quick pace that carries readers through each moment with ease, thanks in large part to Taylor Espositor’s strong letters.

Is this going to be the absolute best issue of the year? Probably not, but it isn’t trying to be. It’s an awesome continuation in a story that is both multilayered and a lot of fun, setting up an action-horror that this creative team has proven to be more than capable of pulling off well. As the fight against the Legion of Monsters ramps up, I sure hope Julie Jekyll can find herself again, but Van Helsing is sure going to need her!