Bleed Them Dry #1 Advanced Review

Created By: Hiroshi Koizumi
Writer: Eliot Rahal
Artist: Dike Ruan
Colorist: Miquel Muerto

Futurist ninja vampires. That’s it. That’s all you need to know. Stick it on your pull list already. Bleed Them Dry is the newest series from Vault comics, set to debut in July. It’s the year 3333, and Asylum is a thriving mega city among a devastated Earth. The twist, Vampires very much exist and for years have been cohabiting with humans despite their dwindling race. There is law and order between vampires and humans, that is until a string of grisly murders specifically targeting vampires threatens any peace within Asylum.

Bleed Them Dry’s first issue kicks off with a jaw-dropping splash page of Asylum’s megacity skyline. In a fruitful effort between artist Dike Ruan and colorist Miquel Muerto that first page alone breathes so much life into the Japanese engineered city (giving off some serious Akira vibes), setting the stage for the rest to come. From there we’re introduced to our main character, a young detective named Harper with what is later suggested to be a harbored past, along with her vampire partner. It’s in Bleed Them Dry’s opening subtle action that it’s established just how vulnerable Vampires have become while simultaneously sucking you deeper into its story.

In a first issue that could have easily been trapped by the standard crime drama formula, Bleed Them Dry keeps readers engaged with effective world-building. and enjoyable characters that are both fascinating and entertaining. The creative team has done a fantastic job of consistently leaving you wanting more with the turn of each page. And if that’s not enough for you the debut issue’s twist revealed in its final pages will immediately make you want the next issue.

Everything about this book is a welcome change of pace. Whereas most media in which vampires exist are more often domineering compared to their human counterparts, instead Bleed Them Dry depicts them as almost an endangered species projecting a new take on what we’re used to from these gothic creatures. On top of that despite being based in a future city inspired by Japanese technology and culture, Bleed Them Dry also features a WOC as it’s female lead.

It has been a few days since I read the debut issue of Bleed Them Dry and I still can’t stop thinking about it. Even in the year 2020, there seems to be no shortage of vampire based media, (which I’ll admit I’m pretty thankful for) what with Netflix’s Castlevania and even the resurfacing of the Twilight series just to name a few, but once again Vault comics and it’s creators manage to take what should be an oversaturated genre and instead masterfully utilize those foundations we’re so familiar with and rethink everything we previously knew about Vampires. It feels like a cosmic blend of both western and eastern culminating itself into a story that leaves you constantly wanting to know what lies just beneath the surface. I can’t stress enough how ridiculously excited I am for its physical release along with its upcoming issues. I know I praise the series from Vault Comics a lot (and with good reason) but Bleed Them Dry is just one of those books you’re just not gonna want to miss. Bleed Them Dry #1 is currently available for preorder at your local comic shop and hits shelves on June 24th.