Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter

After embarrassing herself on camera as a reporter because of her drinking, the only job Jerri can get at the family TV station is as midnight movie host. The position is open because the previous Count Crowley has gone missing, and a desperate man wants the host’s help with his lycanthropy in Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter.

Her sarcastic vamping is a hit, which illustrates one of the comic’s strengths. As written by David Dastmalchian, the dialogue is punchy and tells the story in its own distinct fashion. It’s reminiscent, in good ways, of the classic Fright Night movie. I enjoyed the show-within-a-show more than the monster chases, but there are plenty of both elements to keep the story moving.

The art by Lukas Ketner wonderfully establishes the settings and characters. It’s particularly expressive when it comes to the gamut of Jerri’s reactions and the down-at-heels TV studio. I’m happy that for her on-screen costume, they went with tough-girl instead of something more Elvira-inspired. It looks scruffy, pulled together at the last moment but trying, much like the character herself.

This collection of the four-issue miniseries will be published in April 2020. It can be ordered now from your local comic shop with Diamond code DEC19 0311 and will be priced at $19.99. (The publisher provided digital review copies of issues #1 and 2.)