Vampirella Strikes (Vol 2)

VAMPIRELLA STRIKES

Vampirella Strikes 1 [January 2013]

Standard cover A - Michael Turner
Standard cover B - David Finch
Standard cover C - Milo Manara
Standard cover D - Johnny Desjardins
Cute cover - Chris Eliopolos
Subscription cover - Kitana Baker
Black and White cover A - Mike Mayhew
Black and White cover B - David Finch
Virgin cover - Michael Turner
Only 400 cover - Michael Turner
Only 100 cover - Michael Turner
Only 69 cover - Milo Manara
Only 50 cover - Mike Mayhew
Only 25 cover - Kitana Baker

On the Side of Angels [Writer - Tom Sniegoski : Art - Johnny Desjardins]
Vampirella enters a Boston tavern overrun by demons and slays them all, musing on the darker side of her nature afterwards. Elsewhere we observe a deal between a fallen angel, Janus, and some demons - exchanging angelic body organs in exchange for weapons. Janus turns on the demons and kills them.

Returning home, Vampirella finds that she has three visitors - angels from Heaven.

There are fourteen variant covers for this issue, including five which have a limited print run ranging from a Michael Turner variant with only 400 copies printed to a Kitana Baker virgin photo cover with only 25 copies printed. Each limited edition comes with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Dynamite and a holographic DE seal.

The Kitana Baker photo cover is an exclusive subscription variant only available to those who put in advance orders via their comic book dealer.

To get one copy of each cover would cost the avid Vampirella fan (e.g. me) several hundred dollars.

The Chris Eliopolos "cute" cover is an interesting deviation from the normal style of cover art and a deviation that I quite like.

The story has biblical overtones reminiscent of the Harris' Mystery Walk series and the detail of the slaughter of the demons in the bar is quite graphic. Definitely not a series for younger readers or those of a nervous disposition.

I also came across a series of five covers from Skint Inc. Gallery which had been signed by Johnny Desjardins. Though these are not "official" publications from Dynamite they are of interest to autograph collectors so I have include them purely from an educational point of view.

Vampirella Strikes 2 [February 2013]

Standard cover A - Fabiano Neves
Standard cover B - Johnny Desjardins
Subscription cover - Kitana Baker
Black and White cover - Fabiano Neves
Blood Red cover - Johnny Desjardins
Only 100 cover - Fabiano Neves
Only 50 cover - Johnny Desjardins
Only 25 cover - Kitana Baker

On the Side of Angels [Writer - Tom Sniegoski : Art - Johnny Desjardins]
The angels explain that the celestial war between heaven and hell had ended in an uneasy truce, a truce that was being disturbed by demons. They needed someone who could enter the "dark places" without causing too much disruption and enlist Vampirella to find Evanuel, a missing General of the angelic army.

Janus returns the missing angelic organs to the followers of a slain angel so his body can be "complete" and return to heaven. In exchange he receives the Celestine Pistols, a pair of ornate hand guns. His musings explain that he was an angel who refused to kill the enemy in the war and was cast out of heaven for refusing to fight.

Vampirella is sent to recruit Janus but they are attacked by a new type of demon. Normal people are being converted to part demon, part divine being by a new drug which is made from a mix of angel and demon blood. The source of the angel blood is the missing angelic General.

There are eight variant covers for this issue, including three which have a limited print run ranging from a Fabiano Neves variant with only 100 copies printed to a Kitana Baker virgin photo cover with only 25 copies printed.

I get the feeling that the acquisition of the special guns will have a significant part to play later in the story arc.

Vampirella Strikes 3 [March 2013]

On the Side of Angels [Writer - Tom Sniegoski : Art - Johnny Desjardins]
Vampirella and Janus visit Switzerland, a "neutral" bar in the celestial war, and make enquiries about the new drug but with no luck. On leaving they are attacked by powerful Golems and are overpowered.

So far Vampirella has been dressed in street clothes but the the final panel of this issue shows her in her traditional costume - which makes the next issue anticipated even more.

There are eight variant covers for this issue, including three which have a limited print run ranging from a Fabiano Neves variant with only 100 copies printed to a Kitana Baker virgin photo cover with only 25 copies printed.

Vampirella Strikes 4 [April 2013]

On the Side of Angels [Writer - Tom Sniegoski : Art - Johnny Desjardins]
Vampirella and Janus wake up in an arena where they fight demonic dogs until the venue is rained by Constables - celestial police. They are captured and taken to a facility to be tortured for the truth.

In one panel Vampirella is zapped by the Constables' heavenly fire and her costume is damaged/burned, yet on the next page it is intact. Now that's a clever trick.

There are eight variant covers for this issue, including three which have a limited print run ranging from a Fabiano Neves variant with only 100 copies printed to a Kitana Baker virgin photo cover with only 25 copies printed.

Vampirella Strikes 5 [May 2013]

On the Side of Angels [Writer - Tom Sniegoski : Art - Johnny Desjardins]

Just before the inquisitor starts to torture Vampirella they are released by a more senior angel who served with Evanuel. The abominations they had been sent to kill were children - a new type of angel - and they could not bring themselves to destroy innocents.

They return to the Switzerland bar only to find the owner transformed by the drug. They fight but are losing when a hell hound that Vampirella had spared in issue 4 comes to their aid and turns the tide. The hell hound transports Vampirella and Janus to the lair of the villains.

It is getting a little confusing as to who are the good guys and who are the baddies. We have angels killing other angels, new forms of angel who look demonic and a possible difference of philosophy between God and his enforcers. Who knew Heaven and Hell could be so complex?

There are eight variant covers for this issue, including three which have a limited print run ranging from a Fabiano Neves variant with only 100 copies printed to a Kitana Baker virgin photo cover with only 25 copies printed.

Vampirella Strikes 6 [June 2013]

On the Side of Angels [Writer - Tom Sniegoski : Art - Johnny Desjardins]

Vampirella destroys the demonic part of the drug factory and move on to Evanuel's location. They learn that Evanuel made a deal with Balthazar to supply angelic blood in exchange for protection of the new race of angels whom they meet.

The Archangels arrive to ensure the death of Evanuel and the children but Evanuel tells Vampirella to drink his blood which turns her into a part vampire, part archangel. Evanuel is killed but the transformed Vampirella defeats the archangels.

Janus and the hell hound leave with the children taking the role of their protectors. Vampirella returns home and the effects of the angelic blood fades.

A thought provoking if slightly confusing series. Janus has the potential to be a recurring character who could be friend or foe depending on circumstance and the new breed of angel is a concept with plenty of potential.

There are eight variant covers for this issue, including three which have a limited print run ranging from a Fabiano Neves variant with only 100 copies printed to a Kitana Baker virgin photo cover with only 25 copies printed.