The Shrouded College gets the mission team it wants and in return, gives them a sample of the youth and strength that will be theirs if they succeed. Can they trust each other enough to work together? Find out in The Bloody Dozen #2 from Image Comics.

THE BLOODY DOZEN #2

Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Alberto Jiménez Albuquerque
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: Chris Crank
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 17, 2024

Previously in The Bloody Dozen: Greta Hill is an astronaut who has not yet been in space. Her husband Gary did but died on his mission. She is estranged from her daughter, Glory, who is a drug addict, but also a sniper. Greta is contacted by a woman from the Shrouded College. They need both women and can offer Greta a second chance with her daughter. This means also involving Glory’s grandfather George, a retired ex-astronaut. These three relations do not get along, but the Shrouded College needs their expertise. Their mission is a prison break of a containment center near the sun to release some vampires.

A DEAL TOO GOOD TO REFUSE

There is yet more back story to get to in The Bloody Dozen #2, so it opens with a little more history referencing the Vampire Wars and the Artisans responsible for keeping the captured survivors. In the 1930’s they finally implemented their plan to keep them imprisoned near the sun. A mix of skill and magic let them send a batch of Automen (humanoid robots) into space where they construct the prison to hold the Vampires also sent with them. The Automen all wore out, but the prison was completed.

Greta asks the obvious question – why keep Vampires at all if they are that dangerous? These were very powerful Vampires, and the Shrouded College thought they might be useful someday. Then the deal is presented – youth, health, money, and the opportunity to go into space. All they need to do is sign the contract. They do.

Next, they head for Scotland for training where they meet Adriano Cortasio, a very old man who almost became a Vampire himself, back in the day. A daily dose of holy water keeps him from becoming a drone, although he has immortality. But they must agree to drink a special potion, which they all do. Immediately, they all become healthier, and George also becomes younger. These changes will become permanent if they succeed in their mission.

The plan is that Greta will be the pilot, George will be the mission specialist, and Glory will become the Vampire specialist. After a brief training montage, they are ready to go. They do have a little time before the launch window, so Glory speaks to the elephant in the room. They all hate each other. They each blame the others for Gary’s death. Will they be able to trust each other? George tells her they’re going into space – they will have to.

They launch. As good as the magic is, it cannot help their speed much. They are stuck with each other for the duration of the trip.

THE SHROUDED SPACE PROGRAM

The art of The Bloody Dozen #2 adds a distinct flavor to the Shrouded College and their take on technology. While the effectiveness of their 1930s space program seems a little questionable, although I do like the steampunk vibes it gives off, having magic involved helps with the suspension of disbelief. The prison is interesting. It is cross-shaped like a cathedral and covered in glass walls to let as much sunshine in as possible. Inside, the Vampires’ coffins are suspended from chains in a look that is a cross between medieval and industrial.

Interestingly, the Shrouded College’s current space program has not changed in style that much. The ship for this mission owes its general shape to the space shuttle program. But not only does it have more window surface, the outer hull resembles a 1930s imagining of space travel. Instead of being sleek, there are pipes and portholes, and other interesting design elements. When the ship is launched, the boosters also resemble those of the shuttle, although these use fuel with magical elements, and the exhaust plumes are tinged with green.

BOTTOM LINE: AN UNCOMFORTABLE MISSION

The Bloody Dozen #2 takes more care setting up the prison break than it does paying attention to the interpersonal conflicts. I like that it establishes Vampires who are particularly tough and am interested in how these people are going to deal with them.

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