Violent Flowers #2 has a wonderfully modern yet classic feel, with story, art, and lettering by Maria Llovet. Reading this issue (and the previous one as well), I kept feeling like this book reminded me of something. Elegant art and an overwhelming atmosphere of fear, with the terrifying vampire Erzsébet always lurking in the background, obsessed with revenge on his eternal companion. The sensuality between the characters is almost operatic at times – especially on the last page of the last issue.
That’s when Jean Rollin came to mind. Violent Flowers is very similar to the literary version of the Jean Rolland film. Anyone who’s enjoyed the director’s work, including the epic “Vampire Horror,” with its misty gothic locations, eccentric bloodthirsty vampires, heavy atmosphere, and smoldering sexuality, will appreciate this mini. You will find a lot of charm in the series.
In this issue, vampire and protagonist Carnelia continues her quest to find Erzsébet and dispatch her before he attacks again. At her side is Anna, a human attached to her by the Vampire Queen. Anna wants to be turned into a vampire, but before she can join the vampires, she must first work as an assistant/slave/food source for other vampires. The last thing Carnelia wants is Anna around, but she doesn’t hide her feelings about it.
I love carnelia. She and Erzsébet are both beautiful and tragic figures, but while Erzsébet channeled her tragedy into murder and destruction, Carnelia just wants to restore order so she can return to a peaceful, lonely life. She is very independent and at odds with the Vampire Queen. I suspect that once Erzsébet is dealt with, she will not strike back against the Queen.
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As for Anna, on the surface she seems like a typical goth/emo girl. In any other book, she would be the comic relief, stumbling around and having to be constantly rescued. But thankfully, she writes about something much more complex than that. Although she does not fully understand the supernatural world where vampires, witches, and various other creatures exist, she strongly desires to be a part of it. In this issue we get more insight into her character, her background full of loss and heartache, and we begin to understand why she wants to join the ranks. She just wants to be a part of something, and it doesn’t hurt that one of the other vampires, Setka, is a famous fashion designer. Throughout this issue, Anna proudly wears a leather jacket with “SETKA” dazzlingly emblazoned on the back, further proof that Countryman owns her heart, mind, and soul.
Visually, this issue is a feast. I’ve always loved Maria Lovetto’s unique art style, but this book feels transcendent, especially when Carnelia and Anna attend a supernatural party in Barcelona, Spain. You haven’t lived without seeing the Triplets, a trio of always excitable occult sisters with dark elf-like features and tentacles. They wear knockout dresses and look like they were routinely dancing to “Disco Inferno” at Studio 54 in 1977. There are also nightmarish creatures with giant gelatinous tongues that look like something out of a forbidden ancient book of black magic.
One panel is particularly stark and disturbing: an Erzsébet flashback. Her hands and mouth are stained with blood, an inverted cross adorns her forehead, and she stands with her palms spread outward, in a pose that is both Christ-like and demonic. This panel really drives home how terrifying she is.
This issue also includes pages with information about Minoan art, Ithaca, and other information referenced throughout the book, which is enlightening and entertaining in its own right.
Violent Flowers is one of the best vampire-themed books to come out in the last few years, and I’m really enjoying it so far. It looks like more will be made once this miniseries ends, so we hope to see more of these characters in the years to come.
“Violent Flowers” #2 Review
violent flower #2
Violent Flowers #2 continues one of the best vampire stories in years with stunning art, a heavy atmosphere of horror, and a European flair.
The art is great and this entire issue feels like watching a classic European vampire movie from the early 1970s.
Carnelia and Elizabeth are both fascinating, beautiful and tragic characters.
This issue expands on Anna’s backstory, adding complexity to her character.
