Dracula: The Company of Monsters #10 – Review
Dracula: The Company of
Monsters #10 decides to dance through several time periods within the comic's universe, and most of them are pretty
dull, matching the mostly flat artwork.
After a promising ninth issue
(and I can feel the hate mail coming my way for saying this), Kurt Busiek’s
latest issue may have some pretty cool moments – but not enough to measure up to
my expectations, instead managing to irritate me.
The story picks up from the
beginning of the last issue with Evan and Dracula torturing Conrad. There’s a flashback explaining more
about Dracula’s dark past and events revolving around Evan, and how he devised
the plan to trick not only Conrad but Dracula, leading up to the final
confrontations between two groups of bloodthirsty vampires and a group of
slayers.
This modern spin on Dracula
comes from the mind of Kurt Busiek, was written by Daryl Gregory, and has
many flaws. My major problem with
this issue is its fluidity with time.
We start with “Today” and by the end of the issue have gone back and
forth through time, exploring origins and the actual storyline, about eight
times. EIGHT times! It made the story feel too packed with so
many other side stories: Evan’s father and Dracula, which are both relevant
to the story, and then a little background from Marta’s past which was
interesting, but not as relevant. When
it stopped flipping back and forth through time the story began
picking up its pace and started to interest me. Then it ended as quickly as it started.
This issue has made me
realize it could have replaced the last, and still half of the events in this
issue could have been omitted completely.
The last issue was enjoyable.
It flashed back from the same event that started this issue and talked about
Evan’s travels. This issue follows
the same exact formula, starting with a similar scene and flashbacks not only again, but a lot. The end of the issue seems
to want to build suspense, but by starting with an ending that still has not
been shown for two issues despite various continuity jumps, we will not be surprised, when that event finally
comes up, to find it was already shown to us.
There was also only one major fight scene between Evan and the vampire
Torrence. It was very well put
together, but brazenly flaunted the amount of exposition there was in this issue versus
the fighting I had expected. After
so many issues giving us exposition on Dracula and Evan’s father, we did not
need any more and are ready to see the major fight between Conrad and
Dracula. This issue just drags the
conflict out even longer.
The art from Damian Couceiro
also drags on in this issue. The
imagery is mostly flat with only two scenes that were done very well and neither
was too breathtaking. The subtle
uses of color done by Stephen Downer were, however, a nice touch, always adding something
to the artwork. Sometimes the
vampires are shown with blood red eyes which are shrouded by shadows and this
makes them look rather threatening.
Dracula’s entire design is also great. His blood red tie really stands out from his black suit and
it was a nice subtle touch that the rest of the issue could have used.
The newest issue of Dracula:
The Company of Monsters annoyed me to no end. It followed the same formula from the last issue and could
have replaced it completely with some alterations. After several issues spent hearing about the final battle
between Conrad and Dracula, we are all ready to see it and this issue feels like
it is just dragging it out. The actual
writing (when not flipping between different times) is solid, and the story was
getting better towards the end – but it could have ended with the beginning of
the issue, so there is no excuse to have any more moments leading up to Evan’s inevitable betrayal of Conrad.
The art was also pretty flat and only had the benefit of being
sometimes, but not often enough, accented well by the colors. But this issue was still an irritating
mess that will unfortunately still be necessary for serious fans of the series, if only for
them see what they missed in time for the next issue – which, hopefully, will be
a lot better than this one.
Overall - 5.5/10
*It's a comic, it has colors, art and pages; it's
not good but it's not really bad. About 85% books out there.*
For other reviews of the Dracula: The Company of Monsters
series, check out the links below!
Dracula:
The Company of Monsters #1
Dracula:
The Company of Monsters #7
Dracula:
The Company of Monster #8
And if your look for more vampire titles to sink your teeth into, check out our reviews of
Shinku #1
and
Undying
Love #2.
