Millions of vampires invade Vatican City in an epic new 3-issue series from legendary comics writer Mark Millar.
As a lover of all things post-apocalyptic — especially vampires — I was particularly overjoyed when I heard that none other than Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Supercrooks) and artist Per Berg were working on a new comics series at Dark Horse, all about vampires invading the sacred land of Vatican City. Funnily enough, the story started as a subplot in Millar’s Magic Order, before being developed into what it is now. Needless to say, after reading the first issue, I was absolutely not disappointed.
Vatican City sets up a simple premise. A sudden vampire uprising ushers the world into chaos within a matter of hours. The entire United States is plunged into darkness in one evening. So too is Rome. However, there’s one location that the vampires simply cannot step foot inside; sacred land. And so, our protagonist, Guido Cavelti (who originally entered the Vatican in a bid to join the Swiss Guard) joins two thousand tourists and staffers in relatively safety behind the walls and ancient, holy relics of Vatican City. All the while, millions of bloodthirsty vampires surround them, prepared to wait for as long as it takes to strike. It’s David and Goliath, if you’d pardon the pun. Well, the comic has more than a few biblical-related puns.
With the entire story being told over the course of 3 issues, Millar sets the scene incredibly quickly. Within just a few pages, the world is flipped upside down, and we see our main characters huddled inside and around Saint Peter’s Basilica. From then on, it becomes a struggle for survival. It’s violent, brutal, suspenseful, and all wrapped up in some glorious (and bloody) work from artist Per Berg.
But also, there’s a layer of mystery to the story. Why did the vampires uprise in the first place? What motivations did they have? And why is surrounding the Vatican in droves of millions necessary? These are all valid questions, and without delving into spoiler territory, Millar cleverly sets out interesting motivations, adding a whole other level of intrigue to the tale.
Of course, it’s difficult to portray raw emotional impact in such a short comic; especially when it focuses on exposition. And as a result, over the course of issue #1, I never felt truly connected to the characters, not least our protagonist Guido. But I suspect that’ll change as the narrative continues.
Verdict
Vatican City, a terrific debut issue, presents a brutal, high-octane, and chaotic narrative set in a unique environment that tells an apocalyptic story unlike any other we’ve encountered before. I can’t wait to see where the story takes us next!
Vatican City #1 goes on sale April 9, 2025. You can pre-order the issue on Amazon here.
