The Origin Of The Unwanted In Ruins Of Ravencroft: Dracula #1
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
Mister Fantastic, Man-Wolf, and Misty Knight recruit the help of Falcon, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist to help clear out the vampire mutates in the catacombs of Ravencroft. They are joined by the Winter Soldier as they discover that these “Unwanted” are no longer in Ravencroft. Bucky informs the others about his first run-in with the Unwanted and we return to 1945. Jonas Ravencroft is appalled by what has happened at his hospital in recent years. Now, Professor Thorton works with Dracula and Baron Blood on the project of curing vampires of their weaknesses in the Institute. Captain America and Bucky arrive looking for a war buddy who was committed to the Ravencroft Institute. Upon finding Dracula and Baron Blood, a fight ensues.
Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula #1 finds more questions than answers for Misty Knight, Mister Fantastic, and John Jameson. The vampires they found in the previously unknown sub basement have disappeared and the Winter Soldier explains his experience with Ravencroft.
As the cover promises, we do get a brief battle between Captain America and Dracula and it is pretty damn cool. Steve does still have the original shield for some reason, but that’s only a problem for continuity nuts like myself.
Some true horrors emerge from Ravencroft in this issue and we get to learn the origin of the Unwanted.
The dialogue is a little spotty in this issue, with the final line of the comic being particularly subpar. The dialogue between Cap and Dracula is also a little strained.
I do also find myself wondering why the U.S. government would be interested in helping to cure vampires of their weaknesses. That seems like a questionable goal.
Stefano Landini joins Angel Unzueta in this issue. The duo provide top-notch work in this comic and their styles line up pretty damn well. Rachelle Rosenberg once again proves an expert colorist, making sure this comic has a well-balanced and lively color palette.
Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula #1 has its flaws, but the final product is weird, wild, and a bit creepy. I found myself enjoying it far more than I didn’t and it earns a recommendation as a result. Feel free to check this one out.
Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula #1 comes to us from writer Frank Tieri, artists Angel Unzueta and Stefano Landini, color artist Rachelle Rosenberg, letterer VC’s Travis Lanham, cover artist Gerardo Sandoval with Romulo Fajardo Jr., and variant cover artist Greg Land with Jay Leisten and Frank D’Armata.
Final Score: 7.5/10