"The Killing Floor"
Writer/Artist: Steve Lieber
"Vampirella Must Die!": Part One
Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Artists: Gabriel Rearte(p), Meth(i), Raymond Lee(c)
Publisher: Harris
The comic book industry is dying many say, but I do not believe one word that the Chicken Littles scream. No form of entertainment has truly died. People still watch plays. People still listen to the radio. Comic books are not dying. Comic books are changing. There is no doubt. Comic book buyers are being used somewhat as beta testers to determine which books should be collected in trade paperback format. The less patient are also being turned off by bad writing and bad artwork such as that exemplified in this week's Avengers, but those with less sense of will gladly be hooked.
Harris smelled the wind of change, and change with those winds they have. However they did not forget the audience that gave them their original success, and with this new format for Vampirella they just may garnish even more readers and prosperity outside the comic book shop.
Vampirella is now a bona fide magazine. It features an interesting interview with Alan Moore, as well as miniature interviews with various comic creators. The magazine reviews horror related books and comic books. It offers even a few CD reviews. Thanks for the tip on the new Buffy CD. For the lads, it offers glamour shots of models in Vampirella costume that wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the usual cheesecake men's magazines.
Vampirella actually rebuilt quite an impressive audience when she returned. The folks at Harris did notice because she's still here in the comic book magazine, and they're not asking you to pay that much more to partake in her adventures.
Even in this context, Harris has been paying attention. For those who prefer single, entire stories, they have tapped the veins of Steve Lieber. Mr. Lieber known for his work on Whiteout seems relaxed and natural on Vampirella. His black and white artwork fluidly conveys the action as well as the personalities. He also reveals a mastery of thick, rich dialogue that characterizes the cast and intelligent plotting. Oh, and thanks to the choice in paper-stock, his artwork does not bleed. The debut looks spectacular.
For those bent more to a continuing story and for those with a sense of humor, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray use Vampirella's staying power to parody the mutating industry. Vampirella has not changed, but Matt Murdock sure has and not for the better. The Micronauts are back, and Vampirella could not care less. Vee stays the same. She's still the kickass vampire--the very first benevolent vampire in any media form--from the planet Drakulon who believes humans are worth protecting.
Courtesy of Raymond Lee, this full-color strip is drawn Imagely by Gabriel Rearte. I'm not exactly certain, but I think the choice in artist or the artist's over the top Image aping represents further commentary on the industry. The J.Scott Campbell knock-offs matches the choice of daring narration: "Now I could stare at those perfect porn star breasts of yours till I go blind...."
The title character has thankfully not changed. The Vampirella comic book has changed. However, Harris cannily will not lose any of their fans and through a quality product likely gain more of an audience.
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