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• Price: $11.99 Digital / $15.99 Print
• Rated: 15+
• Pages: 96
• On Sale: April 7th, 2021
• Writer: Roy Thomas
• Artist: Esteban Maroto
• Publisher: IDW

From the Publisher – Dracula is one of the most well-known characters in the world. Now, read the story of the man who inspired the legend in this graphic novel available again for the first time in almost 30 years. A prince of Wallachia and son of Vlad Dracul (The Dragon), Vlad Dracul the Younger (Vlad Dracula) is taken hostage as a young man by Sultan Mehmed I to ensure his father’s loyalty. When his father is killed at the hands of traitorous nobles in his own land, he assumes the crown and wages a cruel war to regain his lands and avenge his father. Throughout his life, he continued the fight to retain his kingdom, committing acts that would later lead to the formation of the famous character created by Bram Stoker. Originally published in the 1990s, it is now presented for the first time in black and white to showcase the beautiful art of Esteban Maroto.

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A book full of  political intrigue, bloodshed, religious zealotry, and betrayal, the true life story of Vlad the Impaler as told by Roy Thomas and Esteban Maroto is a Grand adventure. Originally published by Topps comics in 1993, the series has now been collected together as a trade paperback by IDW to be rediscovered.

The big change in this volume is that the art is now in black and white. The question of course is does it look better in color or in this new version? Well I can’t speak too much to the original, but I can say that the art looks fantastic. Esteban Maroto successfully gets the details and the gore just right to set a Gothic mood. It looks stunning.

The story by Roy Thomas has clearly been meticulously researched. It’s no easy task to fit a near 50-year life into a mere 96 pages, especially a life with as many events of that of Vlad Dracula. Yet the story manages to show all the major events without being confusing, and it feels perfectly paced. Occasionally, with a writer from the generation of Roy Thomas, I can find the books to be somewhat over written. This is not the case here, as the story contains plenty of meat but is never bogged down. This allows that wonderful art to take center stage.

This origin story of count Dracula is a fascinating read, even if the fantasy elements at the end seem a little out of place. You do know and understand why they are there though. You simply can’t tell the story of Dracula without some supernatural element involved or you will disappoint the fans. 

All in all this is a terrific read, and comes recommended.

Rating –  Very Fine (VFN)) or 8.0/10

Review by Morten Styrishave Kristiansen

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