REVIEW: 'Victory' #1 by David F. Walker and Brett Weldele

 

VICTORY #1

writer: David F. Walker

artist: Brett Weldele

letterer: Taylor Esposito

covers: Dave Johnson (A), Bryan Hitch (B), Ariel Diaz (C), Carla Cohen (D), Cosplay / Alicia Marie and Rachel Hollon (E)

FC | 32 pages | Horror | $3.99 | Teen+

Victory is a pawn of greater forces no more! From Vampirella’s fiftieth anniversary to her very own series! She started as Vampirella’s lover and ended up a very powerful pawn of Vampi’s mother, Lilith. Along the way, Victory’s made new friends, seen countless horrors, been saddled with a demon’s ring that she can’t get rid of, encountered the ghost of an old friend, and opened too many dimensional gateways to count. Despite that, there’s so much that we don’t know about Victory, like what her childhood was like. Or what she’s been doing with her demon ring and the crazy powers it has granted. Or which old — well, foe wouldn’t exactly be the right word — is about to show up to cheer her on. From writer David F. Walker (Compass, Young Justice, Naomi) and artist Brett Weldele (The Beauty, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?).

Score: 

★★★★☆ (4/5)

QUICK REVIEW: 'Victory' by David F. Walker and Brett Weldele is a sort of departure from Dynamite's Vampirella-universe titles in that it has a lighter fun tone in both plot and art which makes it all the more charming. Walker has written a breezy introductory issue that sets up Victory's current predicament, being chased by demons, while also referencing her past, her love affair with Vampi, and the manipulations of Lilith. It's a quick 20-page read but it's entertaining with characters that have wit, humor, and purpose. You know what everyone's intentions are and so the stakes are laid bare thus giving the chase sequence some weight as well as some whimsy. Weldele's line work and colors give the book a lighthearted approach reminiscent of Cliff Chiang and veer away from the usual gritty and realistic art in Dynamite books. 

'Victory' is a surprisingly charming and fun new series that is accessible to new and established readers of Vampirella books. It's a great starting point for Victory's first solo series that will prove irresistible to all kinds of comic book readers.