Advance Review — Tynion And Simmonds Sink Their Teeth Into ‘Universal Monsters: Dracula’ #1

It wouldn’t be Spooky Season without a great vampire story. And James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds retell the father of all vampire tales in their gorgeous new comic Universal Monsters: Dracula #1.

Technically, they are adapting the 1931 film, but with Tynion’s script and Simmonds’ luscious illustrations, this all-too-familiar story becomes fresh again. Sure, there’s the crazy Renfield who has an appetite for flies; and John Seward, the administrator of the asylum where Renfield is locked up; and, of course, the eventual objects of Dracula’s attention, Mina and Lucy. But each of them are unaware of the evil they are about to face.

Tynion’s script picks up with doctors examining the mad, pale-as-a-ghost Renfield. He’s eating flies for the little sustenance they can provide. He can’t have human blood, he says, because that belongs to his master. It’s that kind of psychological horror and dread that pervades the book. Aside from one riveting scene where Dracula goes on a feeding frenzy, the book is very talky with little action. But the script and visuals are so gripping, that you don’t notice and, more importantly, don’t care.

And strong as Tynion’s script is, it’s Simmonds who steals the show in this first of four issues. He begins by focusing on Renfield’s prey, a single fly. Yes, there are words in the background, but you cannot help but to get sucked into the nine panels: the fly crawling, Renfield’s pursuit, grabbing it by the wing with his bony fingers, and then studying his meal before devouring it. And that’s just the first page.

The scenes with Renfield and later with Dracula himself are masterpieces of illustration. Simmonds evokes Dave McKean’s work in the Batman book Arkham Asylum. Neither Renfield nor Dracula seem to be anchored to reality. They both practically float on the page. With one exception, you never even see Drac’s legs. And in a fitting touch, Simmonds portrays Renfield as having small black dots – flies – coming off of his head. It’s a subtle, magnificent touch for the undead character.

Some other scenes with the human characters are not quite as dramatic, but gorgeous, nonetheless. When Mina and Lucy are discussing Renfield, Simmonds paints horrific images behind them to illustrate what they are discussing and to foreshadow the dread that is coming to both women.

In yet another highlight, Dracula goes on his killing spree, which lasts for several pages. Tynion wisely eschews any needless dialogue and allows Simmonds to focus on the hunter and his prey. The pages are equally terrifyingly repulsive and scintillating.

Tynion and Simmonds could not have gotten off to a better start with this limited series. While we know where things are headed, the journey to that eventual end is going to be fantastic.

Universal Monsters: Dracula #1 will be available for purchase on October 25, 2023.