"The Pack" Part II
Writer: Jay Faerber
Artists: Matthew Clark(p), Ron Randall(i)
Publisher: Harris
The howlingly unoriginal story continues with a character assault to boot. Vampirella discovers that yes, she was wrong. The bikers were not--repeat not--the werewolves. Zut alors! Yes, I too am as shocked as a depleted electric eel. To emphasize how wrong Vampirella's simply incredible deductions were, the werewolves slice and dice the bikers and attack our favorite vampire.
You can I suppose argue that Vampirella was busy fighting for her life, but she is supposed to be a super-hero. She is supposed to save lives or at least express regret for those lives she cannot save. These scenes are missing from the book, and as a result, she comes off looking rather shallow and later smug when she quips lasciviously. The characterization is ill fitting to that shown in her past excursions.
The second act is written with a little more intelligence and creativity than the disappointing first act which does at least feature one good scene where we discover quite by surprise another traditional vampire bane does not in the least affect our sun-loving creature of the night. We also discover her costume is likely enchanted since it steadfastly refuses to behave like cloth.
Matthew Clark's artwork is a saving grace for this dull, dull story. His werewolves are threatening. His Vampirella is stunning and powerful. I like how he makes Vamp's breasts look like pecs rather than silicone balloons of fun, and you often ignore the rest of her body when studying the exquisite distinction swept through her face. There is however a nastier butt-shot than that on display last issue. It has no place in any fiction of a serious or semi-serious nature.
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