The moody adaptation of the 1931 Dracula comes to final conclusion with Universal Monsters: Dracula #4 by James Tynion and Martin Simmonds. Re:cap - Universal Monsters: Dracula #3 - Professor Van Helsing has overheard the conversation of Martin, the psychiatric worker, at a pub. Greyish vertical panels show Van Helsing walking out seeing a bat against the moon lit night and kisses a crucifix. The bat flies over to the sanitarium. Renfield looks out of the bars of his cel. We see the blood-rimmed eyes of Dracula in a closup. He pleads for his master’s help with the treatment by Dr. Seward. Renfield realizes that Dracula intends to take Mina and then begs him to spare her.
We see Dracula fade into bloody red mist. The bat flies into the night and Renfield collapses saying she was kind to him. Van Helsing meets with Dr. Seward who had previously rejected him. At his fireplace, a masterful blend of wam yellows and oranges to the cold greens. Then, we see a two page spread of Dracula raising his arms and then Mina reflected in his dark eyes while there are insert panels of Van Helsing saying th creature that they are hunting in London. The blood red mist slips into a window while they are talking! Van Helsing says there is hope and holds up his crucifix while at the final panel Dracula’s fanged motuh is above Mina’s bleeding neck! The main cover by has a red light falling on Dracula upside down resting with his clawed hands to the side, there are splotches of white falling like raindrops and almost like bats flying around, at the sides is the eerie green with clawed hands and branches.
It begins on a page of a black and white twelve panel grid. Renfield confesses that he was a man as we see a closeup of the light above his cell door. He opens his cell door almost like a host of a horror comic book. Renfield talks about going to Castle Dracula like the adventures he dreamed about since he was a boy. He wanted respect of others braving the dark. Renfield has a fly on his pale palm. We get six vertical panels over two pages following Renfield mentioning the ship journey, his seduction by Dracula’s brides, and the promise of power. He makes his way up stairs, speaking about Dracula taking London, then reaches the rooftop looking out to the city. Renfield says that “men are wicked” and should fall to his master. Except Mina.
He is afraid what he has to do to help her and that he could not stand against Dracula. Renfield’s pale arm is surrounded by the blood mist. He is hesitant and tries to say he is loyal when Dracula has a gift for him. This is all Renfield’s dialogue, Dracula doesn’t speak, but we see his bloody eyes! We see blood float from his eyes, splattred on his mouth and also a rat on his shoulder smoking blood from its eyes! Dracula faces Renfield with rats around him. Renfield is overjoyed that his master has brought him rats. He crushes the fly in his fingers in a closeup and then brings up the rat to bit it with his red teeth! Renfield thanks his master. We get the two page splash showing Dracula’s blood soaked castle in the dark woods at the title page.
Simmonds is going all out on bringing his artistry to the pages. Likewise, Tynion IV is bringing the depth of character of Renfield, taking him from repulsive and simpering to sympathetic and capable of redemption from Dracula’s influence. This issue is a perfect encapulation of Tynion IV and Simmond’s adaptation. In contrast, the next pages has the sunlight washing the color in tans and greys. Dr. Seward is concerned over Mina who doesn’t want to be locked in her room by Van Helsing. Also the wolfsbane like Renfield’s spiders. Mina glows like a ghost. She admits that she talked to Count Dracula the other night. We see Mina smile, almost ghastly, and then a closeup of hr yes, rimmed red like Dracula. Then, it shifts into blurry blacks as Mina says the city belongs to Dracula.
Next, we see the blood red eyes of Mina and her smile like Renfield with his blank face. In Dr. Seward’s office, Van Helsing says Mina is lost to the vampire as his bride, sh will die and her soul will be lost. Seward mentions that he is a man of science, Van Helsing mentions, and we see the shadowy scene of Dracula repulsed by Van Helsing’s mirror box. Also, that a wolf was running to Carfax Abbey where they will find Dracula. Van Helsing drinks during his scenes, getting drunk, or readying for the final battle. He takes another drink in shadow while saying that have kill his daughter if they can’t save her. Van Helsing contemplates what Dracula thinks of them. How he may be their dark reflection. John Harker finally reenters the story and interrupts them to say that Mina is gone.
Next, we get a splash page that looks like a cover of the abbey, the image of Mina’s face, her walk to Dracula, and reaching out to him in her white dress. The larger image is of Dracula and Mina, darkness and light walking to an altar like a wedding with the blood red covered pews. Rnfield walks in the night with a lantern heading to Carfax Abbey. John wonders where he is going, Van Helsing knows he is headed to see Dracula, next to Dr. Seward. Renfield announces his arrival. Then, sees Dracula and Mina at the top of some stairs, and says it is “wonderful.” He starts to walk up the stairs and then the others call out for Mina. Dracula snarls. Renfield tries to say he didn’t betray his master.
Dracula’s claws close around Renfield’s throat. An interesting layout of Dracula taking Renfield as he says he thought he would be saved by his master. He thrown down with his blood splattering and says, “Now I know.” Mina has dark eyes, sees Renfield with blood by his head, and then comes to her senses and screams! The sun is about to dawn over the abbey. John remarks that he heard Mina’s screams. Dr. Seward sees Renfield and asks Van Helsing to save his daughter. Renfield weakily tries to apologize to Dr. Seward who wants to save him. He says he was “too small” and Dracula promised him that he would be “a little bigger.” Van Helsing has found that Mina’s coffin is empty. Renfield says that he only needs some compassion from Dr. Seward like Mina has done.
Van Helsing finds the coffin of Dracula, his glasses flare, Dracula’s eyes blaze and his bloody influence goes to Van Helsing. He drives it off with his crucifix and stake. Dracula says one of his few words, “Van Helsing.” Then, Van Helsing raises the stake and grits his teeth. Dracla reaches out with his clawed hand, we get a shift of Dracula into his wolf and bat forms, and then Dracula brings down the stake! We see the shriveled form of Dracula like bone is falling from his skull and bloody mouth. Renfield says that little men will go searching for power. He says Dracula is immortal and “will have the world” and Dr. Seward will have his daughter. John reunites with Mina. A greater scene is Dr. Seward saying he forgives Renfield before he dies. A splash page has Dr. Seward holdign the body of Renfield as the orange sunlight falls on them with a bat at the top of the window. Universal Monsters: Dracula #4 brings an artistic end to the story of Dracula and the redemption of Renfield!
Five Blood Samples out of Five!
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