SWORDS OF SORROW: VAMPIRELLA AND JENNIFER BLOOD
The epic fantasy tale Swords of Sorrow continues with this mini-series introducing two of its most deadly heroes, Vampirella and Jennifer Blood. Writer Nancy Collins puts a crack in Dynamite’s universe to bring together two kick-ass femmes who both have dark pasts and perilous futures. These characters were made for the male gaze, but with a female writer behind them they definitely have more of a voice. For those who may not be familiar with the vixen vampire and vengeful vigilante, do not fret as Nancy writes a rather affective introduction for the two. We especially get to delve into the history of Jennifer Blood, giving an account of who she is and why.
Taking place shortly after Swords of Sorrow #1 and Vampirella #13, when Vampirella is sucked into a vortex and… well, we won’t spoil it for those who have yet to read it. Vampirella is after a Devil Shaman, A.K.A the Pacifica Slasher. Meanwhile, in another dimension (much like our own), Jennifer blood is after the Anaheim Ripper. In her pursuit of the Shaman, Vampirella is taken through yet another portal and is soon greeted by the mysterious courier introduced in Swords of Sorrow #1. When Jennifer Blood comes into contact with the Anaheim Ripper during a stakeout, she finds herself out of her depth with this monstrous murderer. Our formidable protagonists soon clash when Vampirella butts in on Blood’s fight, having the supernatural advantage over the killer.
As rifts are beginning to open, worlds are starting to collide; one which is Vampirella’s and one which is Jennifer Blood’s. Artist Dave Acosta sets the scene very well, showing the difference of their worlds and joining them together, however, for a story like this the art just wasn’t as vibrant or exciting enough. For a pulp story we expect there to be lots of camp and cheese, but the delivery just isn’t there with the art and dialogue. On the other hand, Collins and Acosta do capture the temperament of the characters perfectly. They show that Vampirella obviously has more experience in these mystical situations, as Blood has a harder time wrapping her head around the situation, having lived in a violent but much more grounded world. This should be a compelling and lively dynamic, and though it’s merely scratching the surface, there is great potential, and hopefully they get straight to the action in the next issue.
INFO: SWORDS OF SORROW: VAMPIRELLA AND JENNIFER BLOOD / AUTHOR: NANCY A. COLLINS / ARTIST: DAVE ACOSTA / PUBLISHER: DYNAMITE / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
