REVIEW: ‘Dracula: Blood Hunt’ Issue #1

Dracula: Blood Hunt #1 is published by Marvel Comics. This debut issue was written by Danny Lore, with art by Vincenzo Carratú, colors by David Curiel, and letters by Joe Sabino. This is part of the Blood Hunt event. The King of Vampires searches for Blade’s daughter but with surprising intentions.

For half of the comic, Dracula: Blood Hunt #1 is split between two perspectives. It has to tell the story in entirely different worlds. Dracula resides in the Vampire Nation, fawned on by subjects and servants. Meanwhile, Brielle Brooks is trying to be an ordinary high school student in Atlanta.

The alternate ends of the spectrum help with exposition, but Lore is determined for them to meet in the middle. Cue the vampire’s first assaults on the human world, and it provides ample opportunity. There is a blending of old and new within this first chapter, with Dracula seeming to be sliding backward into obscurity.

Explosions of blood and gore around the Lord of Vampires should not be surprising. Yet, it is alarming whenever these violent outbursts happen. The ruthless nature of the beginning fits within the hardcore tone of the whole event. The rest of this first chapter may seem predictable, but that is anything but the case. An excellent fight scene for Brielle leads to a meeting with an entirely unexpected outcome.

Dracula: Blood Hunt #1 contains two very different figureheads that share this opening issue. Dracula is the most famous vampire in history. It was only a matter of time before his involvement in this event was explored. But it is evident early on that he is not the mastermind behind the uprising.

This generates a feeling of insecurity for the immortal. When Dracula enters the mortal world, surrounded by vampires that aren’t under his control, he suddenly faces obsolescence and insolence. Those in America are nasty towards him. The King of vampires goes from being an imposing, fearsome horror stalwart to old and unsettled.

As for Brielle, she brings energy and inexperience to Dracula: Blood Hunt #1. She takes the lead in the first fight of the tie-in. While the young vampire hunter has been trained by the best, she is still learning, and that inexperience shows.

The contrast between the comic’s two main characters is fascinating and refreshing in Dracula: Blood Hunt #1. Lore’s dialogue and captions change depending on the voice, which takes phenomenal effort. Where Dracula speaks with an ancient, learned vocabulary, Brielle is more hectic and exuberant. Her excitement radiates from her narration, whereas the vampire’s is restrained and quiet.

The art is sensational. There are two types of vampires in this new world, representing that generational gap that has been made clear. Dracula is in his fantastic, imposing armor, wielding a huge sword with a cloak on his back. And other bloodsuckers are in hoodies and jeans. It’s a subtle suggestion that there is already division within the units.

The fight scenes are frenetic and phenomenal. Brielle somersaults out of harm’s way and launches herself into battle. The comic gets up close and personal, with swinging fists and blades instead of guns or superpowers. The violence happens suddenly and explosively, with fountains of blood spewing out.

The vampires look monstrous and human at the same time, with some excellent facial expressions being illustrated. The locations look nefarious and unfriendly, with nowhere to turn for safety. Whilst Brielle holds her own, the numbers against her are immense.

The colors are exciting. Much of the comic is gloomy and murky, with the vampiric world threatening to overthrow humanity. The whole globe is thrown into nighttime, with dark blues and greens showcasing that darkness. But Brielle’s pink hair stands out amongst that, becoming a bright spark.

There are also moments during the fight scenes with solid, vibrant tones behind the main character. Pink and red are used to remove distractions and focus on the moves Brielle is pulling off. The caption boxes have distinct colors for each character. Grey is for Dracula, and hot pink is for Brielle. Those two shades are perfect representatives of their personalities.

Dracula: Blood Hunt #1 is the Generation Game with fangs and stakes. It packs mystery and gothic horror with youthful energy. Instead of placing Dracula in a book with Blade, Lore chooses the vampire hunter’s daughter. With that comes a new personality that reacts entirely differently to her father.

The story is fascinating and unpredictable, completely derailing any expectations of how Dracula would fit into an event where he should have front-row seats. The art is a glorious gore fest that is still accessible to teen readers instead of repulsing them beyond reconciliation.

Dracula: Blood Hunt #1 is available where comics are sold.