Vampirella/Reanimator #1 is written by Cullen Bunn, based off a story by Bunn and Blacky Shepard, with art and colors by Shepard and letters by Taylor Esposito. It is published by Dynamite Comics. The book is a crossover which can be a double-edged sword. If they’re done right, you’ll get a great story that also manages to satisfy fan cravings. Done wrong, they’re a squandered opportunity. Vampirella/Reanimator #1, from Cullen Bunn and Blacky Shepard, falls somewhere in the middle. It has a great hook, but for a debut issue not much happens.
Vampirella/Reanimator #1, scripted by Bunn, though he and Shepard share a story credit, finds Doctor Herbert West, the mad scientist known as the Reanimator, in Mexico, looking to perfect his reagent serum. In the process, he awakens an ancient evil. Meanwhile, Vampirella engages in battle with a group of werewolves but soon learns of West’s meddling when a pair of spirits pay her a visit.
The biggest problem with this issue is that the two lead characters remain separate and never meet. The first rule of a crossover is to have your characters have to meet as soon as possible. Part of the fun of crossovers is seeing the interactions between characters and how they relate to each other. Here, that doesn’t happen and as a result, readers may question why they want to pick up the book.
The plus side is that Bunn and Shepard actually turn in some great work, particularly with the Vampirella portions of the issue. Shepard’s art evokes the horror comics of old, being mainly presented in black in white. Only Vampirella’s signature blood red outfit and West’s sickly yellow reanimation serum are in color. This adds an eerie vibe to Vampirella/Reanimator #1. Bunn also gives us a deep insight into both characters; you see the dark depths West is willing to sink to in order to test his serum and although she is a heroine, Vampirella still has immense bloodlust. When they finally do meet, it will be interesting to see what they think of each other.
Vampirella/Reanimator #1 is not a bad comic; not by any means. But it lacks the spark of engagement between its title characters, and in this day and age, you have to give your readers a reason to come back and I just don’t see it here.
Vampirella/Reanimator #1 is available wherever comics are sold.
Vampirella/Reanimator #1
TL;DR
Vampirella/Reanimator #1 is not a bad comic; not by any means. But it lacks the spark of engagement between its title characters, and in this day and age, you have to give your readers a reason to come back and I just don’t see it here.
