Vampirella/Dracula: Unholy chronicled the complex and literally cursed relationship between the alien vampiress and her late lover Matt Ecsed, believed to be a carrier of the fabled Dracula virus. It turned out the true Dracula was around all along, but that didn't stop the ill-fated marriage of Vampi and Matt. Readers then followed a pregnant Vampirella through Year One, flashing back to key early memories as Priest delved into her origins like never before. Unfortunately things have taken a dark turn...
A practically faceless thrall of cultists have stolen Vampirella's baby. Absolutely wracked by inconsolable grief and unquenchable rage, Vampirella is tracking each and every one of them down across the world and withholding no mercy as she brutally exacts her maternal revenge. Along the way she's unsettling political and economic alliances, and unraveling the global network of the baby's true father, Dracula himself.
"At the great risk of indulging in a truly time-worn trope, this will be a Vampirella we have never seen before," said writer Christopher Priest. "Created to atone for her mother’s heinous acts, Vampirella’s nature is to destroy evil and protect innocence. This series will find her utterly consumed by grief. Rather than tell the story from her point of view, in Rage, Vampirella is the shark, the terrifying menace hiding in darkness waiting to strike, while, in the unlikeliest turn of all, it is Dracula trying to stop her from becoming so lost in darkness that she ends up as eternally cursed as he is. This will be a very different take on Vampirella’s character and a real challenge for me."
The roles are flipped this time, as the Lord of Vampires now hunts Vampirella in an effort to save her... from herself. She must not become like him, consumed by the rage and darkness. This series presents a macabre twist of conventions, presenting the 50-plus year old beloved vigilante as a vicious villain stalking her prey and completely lifting the restraints of her powers. Dracula is also taking on Victory as a sort of new-age Renfield, once Vampirella's closest friend and now in possession of a ring granting her Vampi-like abilities. This duo will be tracking the blood-soaked trail of the Vampiri before she consumes all in her path, including herself.
Priest, one of the masters of the medium, is approaching this series like no other in his Vampirella tapestry to date. Select issues will be presented as a sort of anthology, turning the spotlight to a new member of the mysterious cult responsible for the disappearance and presumed death of Vampi's child. Readers will get to know these diverse people in their day to day lives, thrilling or mundane, yet relatable, until they cross paths again with an out of control Drakulonian on a mission of vengeance.
The first issue features a range of jaw-dropping covers, as fans have come to suspect in the half century of Vampirella classics. Dynamite powerhouse Lucio Parrillo leads the way. He's joined by Celina, Mike Krome, Jay Anacleto, cosplayer Rachel Hollon, and one by Priest's frequent Vampi accomplice Ergün Gündüz.
Vampirella/Dracula: Rage is a bold new event series, serving as the bookend to Vampirella/Dracula: Unholy and the intervening Vampirella: Year One to complete the saga with the Prince of Darkness... for now. This essential series will set up a dramatic change in direction for the Daughter of Drakulon!
The trade paperback collected edition of the entire Vampirella: Year One series will also be releasing in August, with fans able to preorder it alongside the new series.
VAMPIRELLA/DRACULA: RAGE #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ June 2023 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in August 2023. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!
First introduced in the mythos-shattering Vampirella #0 on Free Comic Book Day 2019, fans were introduced to Victoria Harris by Christopher Priest and Ergün Gündüz. The gorgeous African American woman came into Vampirella's life and alongside other newcomers, set her on quite the roller coaster ride. The two were briefly lovers, and Victoria found herself enamored by Vampi's remarkable abilities - and even her iconic costume. Along the way she's since been bestowed with a cursed, demonic ring and turned against her friend by Lilith, the mother of Drakulon.
This summer Eisner-winning writer David F. Walker, of such critically acclaimed hit series as Bitter Root, Naomi, Planet of the Apes, Shaft, and more, is joined by artist Brett Weldele (The Surrogates, The Beauty) are leveling up Victory from a pawn in the grand game, to a major player. With a stunning white variation on the classic Vampirella costume, and her newly granted powers, how will she leave her own mark on the world, good or bad? Fans will also get to see which old foe (or friend..?) is about to show up to cheer her on.
"Victory is an interesting supporting character, but the thing to keep in mind is that she’s been a supporting character, and for me those characters are always more fun to write," said writer David F. Walker. "When you take a successful supporting character and elevate them to leading character status, it is important to remember that what you’re doing is adding to someone that already exists – it’s like adding spices, or even ingredients, to a meal that’s already been cooked. The key is to enhance what is already there, and in my mind the best way to do that is to explore previously unknown aspects of who they are, and then take them to places that challenge what they think of themselves."
Now with each page dedicated to the character's individual story, readers will get a much deeper look at Victory in and out of the costume. The series will dive into nuggets of both her past and present, including her largely unrevealed traumatic childhood. Artist Brett Weldele is a perfect fit in expanding this lore, with his unique painted style and experience.
Weldele added, "It’s natural to want to make the definitive version of a character, especially one who has a lot of story left to be told. As a painter, I gravitate towards other painters - Frazetta, Sanjulian. I admire the linework and atmosphere of Jose Gonzalez. Big shoes for sure, but I think with my two decades in this industry I’m bringing something unique to the table. I want to explore that sense of atmosphere, but with a modern flair. It’s also fun to world-build around Victory and what her solo adventures entail. We’re imbuing Victory with the flavor of exploitation films that David and I love. It’s the secret sauce and a common theme in our collaborations."
A talented crew of contributors round out the covers available on the first issue and series. Dave Johnson, Bryan Hitch, Ariel Diaz, Carla Cohen, and Geebo Vigonte all do covers. Cosplayer Alicia Marie also portrays Victory for the character's first dedicated cosplay cover, with fan-favorite Rachel Hollon guest starring too for double the fun!
VICTORY #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ April 2023 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in June 2023. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!
This May, Dynamite is proud to roll out a new chapter in the Powers Saga by superstar writer Dan Abnett, as he brings Vampirella to the forefront once more for a thrilling new title that fully questions whether the Daughter of Drakulon can fill a traditional superhero role, in Vampirella vs. The Superpowers!
It's full-throttle throwback action, as fan-favorite artist Pasquale Qualano (DC vs. Vampires) joins Abnett for an adventure that finds Vampirella and her new trusty sidekick Dyna Might investigating a mysterious world. This planet appears strangely similar to our own Earth of the 1940s. That includes the crime, corruption, but also in the Superpowers mythos, a legion of Golden Age superheroes. They won't be taking too kindly to meddling from an interdimensional vampire alien either!
“Vampirella’s last two outings as a superhero were very much at the supernatural and cosmic end of the scale,” said writer Dan Abnett. "So for this story, I wanted to capture more of the street-level action of classic urban vigilante heroes, and throw in a retro dash of glamour, style, intrigue and noir. This is a hard-boiled world of crime, hoodlums, mystery identities and dirty secrets. The elevator pitch this time around might be ‘L.A. Confidential with superpowers’. It’s an era that perfectly suits Vampirella as the femme fatale, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Following the smash hit success of Dan Abnett's trilogy of connective comic series in Vampirella: The Dark Powers, Red Sonja: The Superpowers, and then the epic Vampirella vs. Red Sonja, the threads of those ideas continue here. Abnett is one of the most acclaimed and prolific writers in fiction today, with diverse work across huge franchises like Warhammer 40K, Guardians of the Galaxy, Aquaman, Titans, and much more. Many of today's interconnected stories, especially in comics, are influenced in part by his innovative approach to Marvel's "cosmic" characters over several years. Dynamite is continuing that tradition of interlocking stories that can be read perfectly satisfyingly on their own, but have added rewards for those who have followed along. Abnett's previous Powers titles are also available now in collected graphic novels for those who do opt to catch up.
Being a superhero is bloodthirsty work, and this will be one of Vampirella's biggest battles in her fifty-plus years. Can she survive the hard-boiled menace posed by both villains and heroes alike? Can she keep her precocious sidekick alive to tell the tale? And at the heart of it all, will she be able to solve the mystery and save a world in danger?
The series is fronted by a jaw-dropping gorgeous cover featuring Vampirella by the sensational Sozomaika. Other artists contributing covers for the series include Lesley "Leirix" Li, Junggeun Yoon, Joseph Michael Linsner, and Rebeca Puebla.
VAMPIRELLA VS THE SUPERPOWERS #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ March 2023 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in May 2023. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more!
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