Dracula: The Company of Monsters (Review)

Writers: Daryl Gregory (story by Kurt Busiek)

Artists: Scott Godlewski and Damian Couceiro

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Collects: Dracula: The Company of Monsters #1-4

Did you know that Dracula owned shares in the East India Trading Company? 'Cause I didn't.

This and other interesting facts about Prince Vlad III of Wallachia make up part of Dracula: The Company of Monsters as it cleverly weaves together history and myth in a story about a present day corporation that revives the Impaler Prince to serve as their... business consultant.

And if, like me, you're thinking that such an insane concept must be the stuff of comedy, you'd be sadly mistaken. Instead we get a strange mix of horror, corporate thriller and drama both historical and modern.

After an intense and hard-hitting opening flashback, we are introduced to our main character Evan, a typical "middle of the road" kinda guy who doesn't really know what he wants out of life. Evan has been working on a secret project at his mother's company, under his greedy uncle.

I honestly cannot recall if the company's purpose is ever stated, but either way, this project turns out to be the resurrection of Vlad the Impaler, AKA Dracula, because they need his guidance or something.

I found myself a bit lost in amongst the business jargon, and don't see a reason why they need Dracula of all people, but that hardly matters. As I said, this is not a comedy, but it does not skimp on the horror elements.

From a truly terrifying ressurection scene to the gory flashbacks of Vlad's reign, this is worthy of an old Hammer Horror classic. Unfortunately this, coupled with an underdeveloped subplot about vampire hunters, is lost amid the relatively uninteresting wheeling and dealing, and long drawn-out discussions about business strategy with a 600-year-old vampire prince.

I gather that this is just the opening arc of a longer series, but I just was not engaged enough to care for reading further. The character of Dracula is brilliantly suave and cunning, and Evan isn't anywhere near as boring as he could have been in comparison. The central driving force of the story is all that seems off, with too many good ideas unrealised.

Rating: 3/5