Dracula is on a high-speed Nazi train during World War II to stop a vampire plague from turning humanity into vampires, but hundreds of soldiers, some even augmented, and far more dangerous monsters stand in his way. Tell me that one-sentence pitch wouldn’t get a Hollywood producer excited! Operation: Iron Coffin has more than lived up to the hype of its premise thanks to incredible action, art, and ideas that make your jaw drop. The second of the three-issue series drops into comic book shops on August 26th, and it finds new gears to rattle your adrenaline and emotions.
Operation: Iron Coffin #2 keeps doing what made the first issue great, but goes even deeper with Dracula’s struggle to make amends and be a better monster. As in the last issue, flashbacks reveal how he tries to seek forgiveness from some while he roams the world, killing all the vampires he created.
Artist Tyrell Cannon does an excellent job of making Dracula feel genuine and truly repentant, with one scene using purple leaves fluttering to create a sense of calm and wonder. There’s also a great montaged page of him fighting vampires all around the world, which could easily be its own series.
These scenes smoothly intercut with Dracula in the present in Poland, 1945, where he strong-arms his way through train cars. While the flashbacks show a kinder, more human monster, the present-day scenes don’t hold back on his ferocity and monstrosity. It’s pulse-pounding action that never lets up. A showstopper full-page spread of Dracula feeding is spectacular, for instance. He also takes a lot of battle damage throughout the issue, further cementing this version of Dracula as a kind of superhero.
On the villain’s side, this issue opens in the present with Dracula fighting his foe from the last issue, who is armed with a holy spear. There’s clever, fast-thinking stuff in this battle to show that Dracula isn’t just a fast-killing machine. As the story progresses, he fights even more foes with unique abilities not to be missed.
The use of shadow and light is also great, with Cannon doing everything. A quieter scene leans into the darkness, adding a jump scare and an unnerving element to an otherwise hyper-violent horror/action story.
Cannon also gets to do some great design work for new threats for Dracula to fight, even if one of their powers feels totally random. It looks cool, I’ll give it that, and while I won’t spoil their approach to fighting, it seems like the ability could have been more tuned to fighting Dracula or other monsters.
If you’re wondering about Dracula’s kids, both revealed last issue, writer Kenny Porter doesn’t drag this out. Instead, you get a full backstory. They also continue to kill and act evil for pleasure, which acts as a good foil to Dracula’s more heroic and valiant nature.
Operation: Iron Coffin #2 builds confidently on its explosive debut, balancing over-the-top monster action with a heartfelt exploration of Dracula’s search for redemption. Kenny Porter continues to flesh out his unlikely hero without slowing the pace, while Tyrell Cannon delivers inventive action sequences, memorable creature designs, and striking visual storytelling. By the final page, the mission feels even more dangerous, and Dracula’s personal journey has become just as compelling as the supernatural war around him.
