Not Vampi’s usual reaction to a blood shower.
Welcome back to Strange Times & Places, where time once more got away from me. We’re checking out another one-shot in Dynamite’s Altered States line this week, Altered States: Vampirella #1.
How’s It Different?
This is an imaginary story, flipping the traditional Vampirella origin tale on its head and tossing in some elements of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars for good measure.
If you’re not familiar with Vampirella’s classic origin, her recommended 1-out-of-5 feature from 1996 is a good primer. This also happens to be the third AU version of Vampi featured here, something of an oddity for a non-big two character.
What’s The Story?
In the not-too-distant future, the first manned mission to Jupiter is finally arriving at its destination. However, they discover and run afoul of an ancient alien stargate in the gas giant’s orbit. It sends them untold light years across the universe to the planet Drakulon, resulting in a crash that kills all but the ship’s chief engineer Ella. She has quickly taken in and showed hospitality by some locals, but will soon find that she may just be a monster on the planet Drakulon…
How Ella gets in good with the natives.
Best of Differences
- Like the traditional version of Drakulonians, thesealiens drink from and bath in rivers that resemble human blood in color and composition. Unlike the classic versions, their veins run clear with pure H2O. While this is a blatant crime against science, it means that our completely normal human astronaut becomes a monster who must feed on the Blood of Drakulonians to survive.
- While Ella lacks a traditional vampire powerset, she makes up for it with by owning a jetpack and having John Carter-style strength on Drakulon.
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The people of Drakulon wear variations on Vampirella’s classic skimpy outfit. Ella, being a normal human astronaut, wears a space suit. It actually provides a similar level of fashion contrast as there is between classic Vampirella and Earthlings, just in the opposite direction.
- The name of the ship that takes the astronauts to Jupiter is the Arthur Clarke.
If sci-fi has taught me anything, it’s that you don’t just leave Stargates lying around where younger races can find them.
Come Back Next Week for a Pop Culture Blog of Some Kind. I Promise Nothing More.
