Dracula: Blood Hunt #2 seems to have a singular thesis statement, and it’s that Brielle Brooks is not having a very good day. Rocked by the revelations of Blood Hunt #3 and the possibility that she might have to kill her own father, Brielle runs from Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum…headfirst into a horde of vampires. Luckily for her, she has help in the form of Daredevil, who might also help with her family dilemma.
What I appreciate about Dracula: Blood Hunt #2 is that it’s taking time to explore Brielle’s state of mind. A large part of this is due to Danny Lore, who helped co-create the character, writing this miniseries. They manage to depict Brielle’s confusion, anger and fear within the space of a few pages. Dracula literally whisked her away from her home in Atlanta to New York, a city she’s unfamiliar with; her father is literally raining down a vampire apocalypse upon the Earth; she might have to kill him, and it’s depicted as…well, as a lot.
That’s where Daredevil comes in. The Man Without Fear serves as a sounding board of sorts, listening to Brielle’s plight and offering his own take on the situation. What’s refreshing is that Daredevil doesn’t force one answer on her, unlike Dracula. He gives her enough space to come to terms with her feelings, and also brings up that the hero buisness will often see you going up against loved ones, especially in a world where vampires and mind control exist. This layered, human conversation is just another way that Dracula: Blood Hunt #2 sets itself apart from the pack of Blood Hunt tie-ins.
Vincenzo Carratu helps by delivering some artwork that manages to match main Blood Hunt artist Pepe Larraz in terms of action and emotion. Whole panels push in on Brielle’s face, which is streaked with tears or narrowed in a fierce glare; and even when upset she manages to dispatch a number of vampires with balletic grace in a single page. Daredevil’s no slouch either, as Carratu draws a sequence that mixes his fighting skills with his superhuman senses for a pure visual ballet. Finally, David Curiel’s color work makes red the most prominent shade, from Daredevil’s suit to Dracula’s armor. The sole exception seems to be Joe Sabino’s captions, which are a bright pink, but that’s fitting as it’s Brielle’s inner voice and that color fits her.
Dracula: Blood Hunt #2 elevates itself among other tie-ins with its character work and sharp artwork. The finale hints at a long brewing confrontation between father and daughter; hopefully it ends on just as much of a high note as this issue.
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