Advance Review — ‘Universal Monsters: Dracula’ #2 Sustains A Bloody Good Track Record
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
The creative team again delivers an Eisner Award-worthy installment of the classic vampire story. Martin Simmonds’ visuals will be studied and copied for years to come.
Overall
10/10It really isn’t fair that a comic book is this consistently good.
Yes, readers have only been treated to two of four issues of the Universal Monsters: Dracula limited series, but the stellar creative team of James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds continue to produce Eisner Award-winning work. The pair follow up their perfect premiere issue with a second chapter of the story that is just as stunning, chilling, and horrifically entertaining.
Perhaps what is most amazing about Tynion’s and Simmonds’ work is that they have taken characters that are so familiar to us and made them feel fresh – even with changing anything about them. Mina and Lucy start off as two naïve girls. Renfield is still as batty as ever – literally. And, of course, Count Dracula is charming to all he meets.
Tynion’s script it as strong as fans would expect, yet it’s Simmonds luscious artwork that bring these characters to life – or undead life in some cases. When we first meet Dracula in this issue, he stands out from the crowd thanks to Simmonds’ colors. The crowd is painted with drab browns and yellows, setting off the count who is centered in the panel, in a black-and-white tuxedo. He seems to be staring through the reader, piercing your soul. But as you study that panel you realize you can’t even see his eyes. That is effective visual storytelling, and Simmonds repeats it throughout the book.
The story of Dracula has always been more about sexuality and religion than vampires. And we see firsthand in this installment the count’s seductiveness. The count’s confrontation with Lucy is more like a seduction than an attack. We won’t get into the significant of blood in this seduction, but Lucy emerges from the encounter a woman, not a girl. Meanwhile Simmonds brilliantly intercuts scenes of the mad Renfield clawing at his own face.
It’s after all of this happens that you realize that halfway through the story, and Dracula hasn’t uttered a word. He hasn’t had to and yet he still dominated the tale. It’s breathtaking storytelling – and we want more of it!
Universal Monsters: Dracula #2 will be available for purchase on November 22, 2023.
