Michael Palena Comic Reviews

Zenescope's Van Helsing vs. Dracula #1 is a fine start to the miniseries. The titular hero is capable, relatable, and avoids the pitfalls of over-sexualized heroines that tend to pop up in comics. Her conflict with Dracula is well motivated, and a mystery about her boyfriend Hades' motivations should make readers want to pick up issue #2. The artwork is stellar, and the narration -- while wordy at times -- helps sell Liesel as a three-dimensional character. Future issues in the series should benefit from a decreased reliance on exposition.