Read our review of Universal Monsters: Dracula #3 from Image Comics and Skybound, written by James Tynion IV with art by Martin Simmonds.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
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Universal Monsters: Dracula #3 Review:
James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ take on the classic monster movie continues in this issue, as Dracula’s attack worsens, and Renfield gets worried.
On the positive side of things, host Alex Zalben started off saying that while he loves James Tynion IV’s writing, “Martin Simmonds is the real draw here… The art is gorgeous, particularly his Renfield is iconic… It’s one of the creepiest things in comics in a really long time.” However, he added, “I wish there was a little more something else than Dracula here. We were promised a new, fresh story of Dracula, but it feels like I’m reading Dracula, which I know.”
“I agree with you,” said Justin Tyler. “I’m finding it surprisingly over the plate.” He called out a section in this issue where the characters notice two holes in a victim’s neck. “I’m like, ‘Yes, I know how vampires work.’ I get that that these people don’t in the story, but it feels like it’s just moving as if this is the first ever vampire story when in fact it is the one millionth. So that’s making it a little bit strange. I like the atmosphere and the vibe is really cool. It feels like there’s organ music playing constantly in this… I want a little bit more juice to it when it’s in a world we already know and understand.”
Pete LePage called the comic “creepy as f**k.” He was particularly drawn to the “bloody” red panels, as well as Renfield’s design. “I could just look at the panels for hours,” LePage added.
Finishing up, Zalben noted that this makes him “a little apprehensive of the other Universal Monster” titles… “If this was a Renfield title, I think that’d be interesting. That would show us the story in a different way. Here adding in all of the traditional Dracula characters,” just makes it Dracula.
Universal Monsters: Dracula #3 Official Synopsis:
Dr. John Seward struggles against the mounting evidence that his Lucy is under the thrall of a blood-sucking supernatural being!
