Writer: Dan Abnett
Art: Alessandro Ranaldi and Pasquale Qualano
Colors: Ellie Wright
Letters: Jeff Eckleberry
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 8th, 2023
The war to save the Dynamite multiverse concludes in Vampirella Versus Red Sonja #5, where we finally have a good knockdown drag-out fight between Vampirella and Red Sonja. It’s a good conclusion to the mini-series, wrapping up all the loose ends, but it’s a conclusion that’s more tepid than explosive.
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The Story
Vampirella Versus Red Sonja #5 begins in the middle of the action, as Vampirella and Red Sonja fight. As with most stories where the title characters battle each other, it’s all over a misunderstanding… sort of. This mini-series has been a fun “Crisis on Infinite Earths”-style story, with the Dynamite multiverse coming under attack by the seemingly infinite hordes of the “big bad” The Netherborn. The most enjoyable part of the mini-series (and this issue especially) is how the superheroes of The Project (Dynamite’s version of The Justice League or Avengers) are all either biased against magic or don’t believe in magic at all, making it hilarious when they deal with Vampirella and Red Sonja, who both are magic-based. Red Sonja has practically seized control of The Project, because The Project members are totally clueless on how to fight The Netherborn. Vampirella, who is pretty much a demon herself, has had to fight some of The Project, who refused to see her as an ally until last issue. She delights in mocking or teasing the staunchest anti-magic members of The Project, reducing them to blubbering idiots. It’s something I’ve wanted Constantine to do to Batman or Superman for ages.
The Netherborn is a menace straight out of H.P. Lovecraft, a behemoth that’s 20 feet tall with armor-like scaled skin, several eyes dotting its body, thick tentacles and teeth like stalagmites. It needs a body to possess to communicate through, though, and takes control of young Project member Tim Terror (who’s the sidekick of the hero Black Terror). The last half of the issue is the showdown between Vampirella, Red Sonja, members of The Project and The Netherborn. It starts off great, with some great action as one of The Project betrays the others, throwing things into disarray. Ultimately though, the resolution happens way too neatly and quickly after 4 and half issues of buildup. The aftermath was a little too “huggy” and good-natured for me, especially after The Project members had shown so much disdain towards Red Sonja and Vampirella all this time. I wish there’d been a bit more dissension in the epilogue and less kumbaya, especially since Red Sonja and Vampirella aren’t about catering to the hurt feelings of others. Of course, like most Dynamite books, there’s a “next chapter” to the story which will continue in a future mini-series.
The Art
Alessandro Ranaldi and Pasquale Qualano’s, the artists on Vampirella Versus Red Sonja #5, do a great job of injecting personality into all their characters. Vampirella’s playful smarmy personality shines through and is a great contrast to Red Sonja’s permanently scowling and grim features. Their depiction of Vampirella is one of my all-time favorite ways Vampirella has been drawn through the years. Interesting angles are used for various scenes. A splash page where all the heroes are looking up at the towering Netherborn captures the scale of the moment, with the heroes looking diminutive in front of the Netherborn’s mammoth frame.
Final Thoughts
Vampirella Versus Red Sonja #5 delivers a not so memorable finale to the story. After the prior issues set up an epic crisis across multiple Earths, with a wide variety of heroes and the subplot of a long-buried secret among The Project, this issue wraps up everything way too quickly and neatly.