What Nightmares Are Made Of — Reviewing ‘Dracula: Blood Hunt’ #3

Family bonds have the power to help or hinder, depending on the situation and what is being asked of someone. In the case of Brielle Brooks, each of her parents holds the key to her ultimate decision and her fate in saving the world from eternal darkness.

It all comes down to this as Danny Lore, Vincenzo Carratù, David Curiel, and Joe Sabino bring the sidestory of Brielle and Dracula to a defining conclusion with Dracula: Blood Hunt #3.

One of the joys of this tie-in is how very personal and human level it has been, despite the big event set piece it’s connected to. We started off with Brielle in her everyday life and the struggles of her supernatural life, and we end with her taking control of that portion of her life.

Lore is masterful at character stuff, allowing us to really get to know Brielle more and what makes her tick. Already it feels like I’ve been following this character for many years rather than just through a couple series. Dracula’s name is plastered in the title — a character that sells since he’s been around long before Marvel or superheroes — but this is Brielle’s book.

Everything to do with the dream sequence and how she navigated that moment, as well as the emotionally heavy moments with her mother, hit. I felt every bit of that, because Lore gave it all the right pushes to pull those heartstrings for character and audience alike. I want to see them get to do more with this character, be it more minis or hell even an ongoing. Give us all the adventures of Brielle/Bloodline.

It’s time for more well-formed new blood in the Marvel sphere.

Dracula is very much here as a sort of foil, but also to handle many of the action scenes in this issue. Carratù gives those scenes such depth and fluid energy. Letting the action bounce around and feel authentic in many regards, showing the ancient vampire doing what he does best and proving why he’s stayed as the vampire lord for so long.

At the same time, the dream sequence pages are the real triumph here. Letting the panels actually drift around the page, with jagged and slashed borders, and spaces between that are flowy. It spread around and has a lightness mixed with a heaviness, very much feeling dreamy and nightmarish at the same time. Curiel’s coloring choices make everything in the book feel ominous, until the end where (despite the oppressive shadows) the more vibrant colors speak a bit more to hope and growth. Each of these opposing color styles work together so easily, creating a perfect contrast that conveys a realistic world tone.

It’s not enough for us to just see and feel the emotions through the characters, hearing them makes it all complete. Sabino is one of those letterers that really helps that become a reality with the way each word is placed on the page. Allowing personality and emotions to sing, often through little quirks brought to each space from bubble to font changes.

Dracula: Blood Hunt #3 is now available from Marvel Comics.