Vampirella #100 (2014) cover a

When a comic reaches the ripe old age of 100, it is a reason to celebrate. Even more so if it is an independent book. However, Dynamite's Vampirella #100 suffers from the current state of the world of comics. But let's not be totally negative. Artist Jim Terry's black and white art work is really quite good. Mark Rahner's Kolchak/X-Files/Vampirella crossover is wonderfully charming. But after those brief moments what I am paying eight dollars for isn't really a 100th issue. Modern comic society has warped the rules allowing an issue to be claimed as a 100th issue if the company has collectively published 100 individual comics featuring the character. I call Shananigans! Where is issue #98, huh? Ain't one! Sure, I get 48 pages with a hardback cover but I still paid eight bucks for it! But the worst part of it is the current characterization of Vampirella herself. Back in the good old days, the charm of Vampirella was her quiet mystery and erotic overtones. the Vampi of old still kicked butt but you hardly noticed it. She was still a strong female character but she was subtle as well. She didn't have wooden stakes strapped to her thigh and a whip! We can still capture that image on multiple covers but we can't work it into the story. Real shame.