All throughout April and May, we’re crowdsourcing a coronavirus quarantine comics reading list. Each weekday for a month, we’ll post a new recommendation from someone in the comics industry to help folks get through the isolation. This includes writers, artists, letterers, editors, comics journalists, publicists, and more…all paired with a local shop that’s currently selling the books via mail order.

Today’s pick comes from writer Erica Schultz…enjoy!

I’m not a big horror fan. I’ll just put that out there. I understand the thrill of a scare, and I don’t begrudge anyone for their love of the genre, but when I wanted to expand my comics repertoire a few years ago, I reached out to the incomparable Nancy Collins for some Vampirella recommendations. Knowing Nancy was one of the premiere Vampi writers, I asked for her thoughts on an arc she really put her stamp on, and I was NOT disappointed with God Save the Queen.

This arc picks up with Vampi being the newly-minted heir to The Throne of Skulls, but there’s no time to celebrate and never any rest for the weary. She is quickly summoned by Madame Evily, the Director of The Kabal (a BPRD-type organization), to get to work and save humanity from the evils lurk on Earth. Why would The Kabal…a group that was founded by all manner of beastly creatures care about humanity? Well… ‘cause we’re a good source of protein, and it’s just good business.

God Save the Queen combines the occult, Greek myth, German literature, some Shakespearean back-stabbing, and a dash of Batman, complete with Vampi’s own Alfred, but here he’s called Coleridge. A nod to STC? Perhaps… I know, I know, my English Major is showing. Anywho, Coleridge has his own tricks up his sleeve and is no mere mortal with contacts in the accursed community and a dry sense of humor.

As the story rolls on, we see the daughter of Lilith work her magic as detective, Hell-Girl, and compassionate protector of humanity. God Save the Queen is a seven-issue arc that has it all: Mystery, intrigue, camp, family drama, and even a deadly virus ravaging the world!

This is ALSO the arc that introduces us to my favorite werewolf…Tristan Caillet. Le sigh…Nancy has incessantly teased me on social media for my heavy crush (often from my own prompting), but it’s entirely worth it considering how Patrick Berkenkotter renders him. The best parts of Remy LeBeau and Dick Grayson, Tristan is a loyal lycanthrope with a heart of gold. Throw in Nancy’s ever-pithy dialogue, and Vampirella: God Save the Queen is a good pick for even those who aren’t fans of horror.

If you’ve ever been curious of Vampirella’s long and retconned history, this is a good place to start as it takes you through the most recent (as of…say…2013?) iteration. – Erica Schultz

Erica Schultz is a comic book creator best known for 2018’s Daredevil annual starring Misty Knight. She's currently writing the fantasy series Forgotten Home available from comiXology Originals. Schultz is also a writing instructor at The Kubert School in New Jersey, and a lettering instructor online for ComicsExperience.com.

Vampirella: God Save the Queen
Writer: Nancy Collins
Artist: Patrick Berkenkotter
Publisher: Dynamite
When Vampirella assumes her new role as Queen of the Nosferatu, she inherits a membership into The Kabal, a clandestine organization of witches, werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural creatures. Sworn to protect the status quo of their shadow world, The Kabal hunts down and neutralizes renegade monsters and fanatical cultists before they can trigger the Apocalypse. As a strange rabies-like plague spreads through the slums of Sao Paolo, infecting its victims with homicidal fury, Vampirella races off in pursuit of Dr. Faustus, the creator of the disease. But the mad scientist is only one part in a global plot of destruction, and his fellow conspirators are perhaps too long-lived and powerful to defeat!
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