PROFESSOR DARIO BAVA IS HERE TO STICK IT TO EVIL (AND THE MAN)
Murder Vibes from the Monster Dimension cover by Mike Dubisch, purchase here
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AYING HOMAGE TO THE WORKS WE LOVE AND FLAT OUT RIPPING THEM OFF IS A TOUGH TIGHTROPE TO WALK. AS WE’VE SEEN WITH THE POPULARITY OF STRANGER THINGS OR TARANTINO & RODRIGUEZ’S DOUBLE-BILL HOMAGE TO THE GRINDHOUSE, SOMETIMES YOU HIT A HOME RUN AND OTHERS, YOU FIND OUT YOU’VE JUMPED INTO YOUR NEIGHBOR’S POOL WITHOUT ASKING.
Renowned filmmaker Phil Mucci and artist Mike Dubisch have found that sweet spot of wearing your influences on your sleeve without going full simulacrum in their recently released graphic novel Murder Vibes from the Monster Dimension. Broken into three narrative installments that are both prequels and sequels to the yet-to-be-seen Orgy of the Blood Freaks (set to be the first season of an ongoing Professor Dario Bava series), Murder Vibes brings us into the swinging sixties world of Professor Dario Bava (named after famous Italian horror filmmakers Dario Argento and Mario Bava), a self-proclaimed paranormal playboy and monster-hunting priest who’s as goofy as he is suave, and his team of tough women, Ginseng Jones, Future Chick, Sister Sadie and Major Bitch.
The graphic novel opens with a prologue where a young Dario learns he can communicate with the dead. Following the death of his parents at the hands of the Blackshirts, Dario is raised by the Vatican, who use his powers for their own gain. From here, we’re brought into present day, 1967, and introduced to Sister Sadie and Ginseng Jones, who’re discussing Dario’s history. Sadie says, “I’m hip to all that. Tell me about the exorcism,” allowing Ginseng to segue into the first segment of the comic, “Blood Puppets of the Fiendish Manitou.” This story finds an adult Dario working with another priest to rescue actress Miranda Korday, who has been possessed by, you guessed it, the titular Manitou. It’s a fun, bloody tale about Dario losing an assistant but gaining a time traveler who goes by the name of Future Chick and sets up what seems to be Dario’s arch nemesis.
In the second story, “The Future Blows, Dude,” Future Chick recounts what life was like on earth in 2020 A.D., a hellscape ruined by pollution, climate crises and monsters. This unfortunate global nosedive results in Future Chick witnessing a traumatic event that triggers her time traveling abilities—of the three, it’s the most interesting and could definitely work as its own longer comic.
The final story, “The Bastard Birthright of Major Bitch,” is where we learn why the lethal, leather-clad soldier set out on her own and how she lost the eye. Major Bitch’s journey finds her weaving a path of righteous vengeance from Belgium to the Paris catacombs, where she runs into Professor Dario Bava. The two, with the help of Future Chick, get out of dodge from an unexpected foe thus ending our brief glimpse into the lives of a few of these characters pre-Dario and setting up future tales.
However, Murder Vibes from the Monster Dimension is more than just a few one-shots fleshing out character backstories. Full of supplemental material like an artist spotlight on Italian horror artist, Emanuelle Taglietti and fantastic pinup art by an exceptionally talented roster of artists (Suspiria Land and Nick Gucker to name a few), it’s apparent that this book was a labor of love. And, speaking of artists, the cover and interior art is done by none other than Forbidden Futures’ own, Mike Dubisch. Yes, it’s just as amazing as you’ve all come to expect from the Doobs. Need I say more? Crack open any page and gawk in tremendous awe. Every damn panel could stand alone as its own painting.
Hopefully, there are more Dario Bava adventures on the horizon, be it an animated series, coloring book, or even another graphic novel, but with that, El Critico wants to see some growth in the writing. A lot of the characters have their own look and backstory, but the dialogue feels the same across the board. When everyone speaks in the same hip, sixties lingo, the characters lose their own unique voice. Not to mention, Sister Sadie and Ginseng Jones don’t get their own stories this go-round, which is a shame that can hopefully be rectified in the future.
Overall, Murder Vibes from the Monster Dimension is a familiar but outrageously entertaining run through monsterdom. Some might shy away from picking up a book that serves as both prequel and sequel, but don’t let that scare you off. Mucci’s vision is clear and this one can stand on its own, considering there’s enough backstory, blood and sex on these pages to satisfy those hunting for good character development and those that just want a gory good time.
