Re:cap Universal Monsters: Dracula #2 - Dracula has entered the room of Lucy and bares his fangs! Dr. Seward is tired from his research and after checking on him, Mina goes to check on Lucy, and screams! Mina says something is wrong with Lucy and then Mina’s blood curdling cry is heard throughout the house! They see pale, lifeless corpse of Lucy on the bed pools of blood around it! There is a closeup of her red lips in a rictus of a smile! Issue #3 features a painted cover by interior artist, Martin Simmonds with the wolf form of Dracula. He is snarling with red eyes cover a red-haired victim whose hair turns to splatters of blood! Dracula’s tale continues written by James Tynion IV.
It opens with a small panorama of mourners dressed in black with umbrellas with trees. This grey scene, the color is somber, and the light color touches on the 1931 horror movie. We see the gravestone of Lucy Weston. Then, the sad face of Mina and Jonathan who suggests that they return home. Mina says she feels being watched at home by something dark! Jonathan suggests Mina sent to one of her cousins, a great suggestion since everything is happening in London. There is the blue gravestone while Mina wonders about her father. Then, a scene of Mina holding Jonathan in the rain, soaked in blue, the bleeding of colors is brilliant. Jonathan tells Mina that her father is trying to save another girl found the same way as they tried with Lucy, transfusions.
She continues saying he hasn’t found any answers over the weeks. Jonathan points out the count at the outside of the cemetary. In a page designed like stained glass window, Dracula lined in red, is seen at the gate. Mina remarks that he isn’t coming any closer, holy ground. Then, Dracula turns away. The bottom panel like a globe containing Jonathan and Mina, it is like an umbrella protecting the duo together, she says she feels colder every day. Then, we get a two page spread, the eyes of the wolf, a blue moon between them, and this merges with Dracula in wolf form as his eyes bleed the title! The following page has a large panel of the victim on an examination bed with the area soaked in blood.
The doctors are around the bed, Dr. Seward checking the woman, as well as the attendants in the auditorium. In his office, Dr. Seward says that he has met Van Helsing. Dr. Seward is doubtful about the professor talking about monsters. His colleague says his transfusions may be thought to be crazy and that there is talk of Dr. Seward put in his own sanitorium. Dr. Seward told that he must meet Van Helsing again. He still has doubts, but is asked if the girl survived. A closeup of Dr. Seward saying no. His stubborness is costing the lives of the people of London! Outside of the office is the sanatorium worker, Martin, who watches over Renfield. He is off to have a pint and wonders about his daughter around the horror.
We move to the halls of the sanatorium, Mina has the keys, seen in closeup, and she opens the door to Renfield’s cell. We see this with Mina in shadow with the countless critters on the floor. Renfield is in shadow. Mina says that she saw Renfield when he first arrived to the sanatorium. He raises his hand to the light, his arm covered with flies, he says he saw her in his mind. She asks if he will come into the light, Mina is illuminated, and only Renfield’s hand is seen. Renfield looks at his hand and says she would not like to see him. Mina says she took the key from her father’s jacket. He warns her about the things in the shadows and Mina wants to know what are the things. Renfield, a closeup of his black-rimmed eyes, refuses. He says her father tainted his blood, the transfusions, and weakened him. Renfield pities the patients brought into the sanatorium and that is why his master doesn’t take him.
He goes on a rant that he loves his master. I don’t understand why she doesn’t ask Renfield about his master. Mina says he is dirty and gives him a towel to get clean. Dr. Seward opens the door and Renfield stands up to warn the good doctor! He escorts his daughter back past the ruins of Carfax Abbey. Mina says Renfield wouldn’t harm her. Again, Mina says she feels like she is being watched. Red eyes loom from one of the tunnels! At a pub, Martin tells his mates about the blood in the sanitorium. He mentions Lucy being filled with blood, but ending up dead. This has continued and Martin looks at his hands, sticky with blood. I’m not certain why Dracula would not be drawn to the used blood. Behind them, is the white-haired, mustached, Professor Van Helsing listening to their conversation. I love the focusing on Mina and Renfield. Universal Monsters: Dracula #3 uses the setting of a few places like the stage ad film production expanding it by the interior horror!
Five Blood Samples out of Five!
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