The Bloody Dozen #1 is a slow-burn supernatural horror-adventure written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque. This space heist thriller continues the tales of the Shrouded College with a twist of Apollo 13 meets Blade.

The Bloody Dozen features down-and-out astronauts tasked with an impossible mission – breaking a group of deadly vampires out of a space prison orbiting the Sun. From the get-go, the stage is set for a high-concept tale with a supernatural twist. The opening scene, with its cinematic feel, instantly draws you into the story.

As the story progresses, you get to know the astronauts and their motivations, even those with their fair share of secrets. The pacing is slow, but it lends to the feeling of unease, knowing that things are going to go downhill fast. Soule takes his time building tension, allowing for the characters’ development to breathe.

One of the significant strengths of The Bloody Dozen is the artwork. Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque’s phenomenal art style is well-suited for this series. The panels are detailed, and the coloring by Rachelle Rosenberg is spot-on for the tone of the story. The combination of beautifully rendered illustrations and the color palette makes for a visually stunning read.

Towards the end of the comic book, the story sets up for what could be an exciting story. While the slow-burn approach can create some frustration for some readers, this few pages assures you that it was worth it.

The Bloody Dozen #1 introduces a supernatural twist to the space heist genre, with a slow-burn approach. Charles Soule’s writing is superb. The phenomenal artwork by Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque makes up for the slower pacing. We are excited to see where this series goes as we were big fans of Hell to Pay.

Bloody Dozen #1 hit local comic shops on December 13, 2023 from Image Comics.