[SPOILERS!!]
Review: After a long, unnerving hiatus Zombie Tramp vs. Vampblade #3 finally hit. I’ve been totally digging this crossover with these two characters. Not only are they smokin’ hot, kickass women reluctantly working together but it’s been hella fun just to see what hijinks they could get into together.
In the previous issues the girls came across vampiric, parasitic creatures that make mindless zombies out of their hosts. Trying to stay alive both accidentally ended up switching bodies with the other. Now as this issue picks up the girls are still switched and are battling a giant Vampire that’s come for them.
The two get swept up by the Vampire and propelled into space where they come across a human who has essentially become the “Suck Lord” of the Vampires. It’s here that the issue really picks up, and had me laughing out loud when the “Suck Lord” was revealed and immediately I knew that this guy, Shasta Leboo, was a parody of Shia LeBeouf.
He was an interesting villain, allowing himself to be truly absorbed into the vampiric life. He attempts to make the girls in his image but Janey comes up with a great plan to defeat him and it allows the two girls to switch their bodies back in the process. However, with Leboo, this story gets even more risque than is usual for even the main Zombie Tramp series as he reveals his massive parasitic vampire penis in which he attempts to rape their minds. As well the girls being tied up by the bigger Vampire that captured them this issue comes the closest we’ve come to tentacle porn, which I’m more surprised Mendoza and Martin kept as subdued as they did.
My only complaint with this issue is in the ending. How they defeat Leboo is a bit anti-climactic but it fits with how Zombie Tramp generally does things and how Vampblade probably will as well when her series starts up. But the ending is where I become the most sad.
It is totally within the character of both these girls that at the end of all of this they immediately part ways and don’t end up becoming friends or at least allies. Now, it’s probably the first time I have ever seen this with ANY character meet-up making very unique, but it is in character. What makes me sad is that I wish Mendoza and Martin had just bit the bullet and at least allowed the girls to become acquaintances. Maybe even hinting at a possible future friendship.
As we know with Zombie Tramp that’s now how Janey’s life goes but I really just want her to have a supporting cast and this would’ve been a step in that direction. But the conclusion is satisfying if you look at it in the sense of “what would the girls do,” and keeping to their personalities is more important in the long run.
I’m also sad that neither writer found a way to sneak in a “Just do it” for Leboo, it would have just been the cherry on top.
Winston’s art is gorgeous. As always, and I’m really looking forward to seeing him as the regular artist on Vampblade. I just hope he’s well equipped to handle more monthly issues than what this mini-series allowed.
These 3 issues were really fun and great additions to the lore of both of these characters. If you’re a fan of either character, then definitely check out this mini-series. Recommended.
Final Score: 4 Famous Actor Parodies out of 5
Zombie Tramp vs. Vampblade #3 (of 3)
Action Lab: Danger Zone
Writers: Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin
Pencilers: Winston Young
Reviewer: Derrick T. Crow
Summary: From the pages of ZOMBIE TRAMP comes a clash of titans, as the Queen of the dead takes on the stalker of the night, Vampblade, in a match that will stand the test of time. Or at least the dead of night. Who will come out on top when these two hot headed ladies get together for some fearsome all-night action? Find out in this steamy, action paced mini-series!!
