Vampire Survivors #1 Review
Writer: David Hazan
Artist: Jimmy Kucaj
Colorist: Jão Canola
Cover Artists: Jimmy Kucaj, David Hartman & Federico Sabbatini
Publisher: Titan Comics
Price: $4.99 US
Release Date: September 9, 2026
When lightning electrifies the night, and the rain pours down in sheets, Gennaro and Antonio seek shelter in an isolated chapel. As they wait for their sister to join them, Antonio worries about Imelda. In frustration, he unleashes his anger on Gennaro. Their sister's disappearance must be his fault! Has Gennaro endangered his family by consorting with monsters? And what has happened to their sister? Let’s leap into Vampire Survivors #1 and see!
Story
Gennaro and Imelda were searching for Bisconte Draculó when they got separated. Still, their mother trained them well. Gennaro believes that Imelda can handle whatever danger she faces. And this church has been their rendezvous point since they began hunting vampires. Gennaro urges his brother to calm down and be patient. He’s sure that their sister will arrive soon.
In Vampire Survivors #1, Antonio plays by the rules. And despite how well their mother trained them, he worries that Gennaro is trying to run before he can walk. The Bisconte Draculó isn’t just any vampire. He’s the most dangerous one they could tackle. So, now, while Gennaro is safe, their sister could suffer from Gennaro’s ambitions.
David Hazan’s family drama zips along at a breakneck pace. When Imelda stumbles into the church, trouble follows. Yet other members of the vampire-hunting community sense the trouble Gennaro and Imelda have aroused. As they come to the siblings’ aid, they also blame Gennaro for the attack on their community. Yet as the forces of evil invade this Italian church, no one blames herself more for the trouble she has unleashed than Imelda in Vampire Survivors #1.
Art
As lightning arcs across the dark sky, a figure in a shredded cloak stumbles past the barren trees and heaves open the wrought iron gates. Inside the church, Antonio confronts Gennaro in the central aisle. Light streams through the windows behind the altar, while candelabra flare like Roman candles. After Imelda pushes open the two-story wooden doors, she sprawls across the stone floor. As Imelda gazes up at her frightened brothers, a cloaked figure regards her from a bay between two pillars.
While Jimmy Kucaj introduces the characters like Gandalf introduced Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves to Beorn, Jão Canola lavishes a loaded palette on Vampire Survivors #1. As Imelda shares her experiences, she envisions broken churches, monuments, and statues beneath a red/orange sea. Past silhouettes of fish and sharks, yellow surrounds a red orb. Yet as Imelda remembers what the red orb is, she once again glimpses the skeletal figure with glowing yellow eyes, similarly dressed in a violet/indigo cloak.
While the actors burst onto the set, arrayed in their eye-catching outfits and wielding weapons, monsters invade their sanctum. Black uppercase words fill white dialogue balloons. Words grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices, while color edges white boxes and surrounds balloons. Sound effects echo through the night, filling panels with louder thunder than the lightning, and threatening to transform the church into the ruins Imelda glimpsed in her vision. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
They come from different families. Antonio, Gennaro, and Imelda approach problems differently from their rivals. They may not want to work with Arca and Lama Ladonna. But when Imelda awakens the danger that threatens their Italian community, the two vampire-hunting families must join forces to combat the greater threat in Vampire Survivors #1.
Rating 9.8/10
