Crimson Embrace Paperback – May 25, 2003

Wow...hard to believe that the Crimson Embrace series is now into its 6th volume collecting the art of female vampires from some of the top fantasy artists in the world. I enjoy all of the Gallery Girls collections since they provide such a wide diversity of talent with very different artistic styles. My favorites, though, have always been the ones that celebrate the dark female such as the witches of the Coven series and the vampires of Crimson Embrace. As with the other Gallery Girls books the art here is presented in black & white pencil, pen & ink illustrations. Joe Jusko gets things started with a great, full-color cover. Other artists featured in Volume 6 include: Arantza, Pedro Cuevas, Tomas Giorello, Brian Le Blanc, and Jim Fern.Anyone who has read my previous reviews knows that I am a big fan of Spanish artist Arantza so it should come as no surprise that one of her drawings is among my most favorites in this latest volume. Her depiction of a Victorian era blonde vampire bursting forth from her tomb, dressed in a sexy negligee is simply breath-taking, as is most of her work. Another Arantza example is of a bat-winged, blonde vampire resting atop a tomb in an ancient grave yard. Enric presents a horrific vision of a brutish, demon like vampire tormenting a near-naked blonde woman who is chained and at its mercy. Marcelo Fleitas contributes a truly dark and gothic illustration of a vampire shepherdess walking through a cemetery while a subservient male kneels at her side.A pair of erotic vamps, frolicking in a pool of blood is Federico Ossio's contribution to this volume and it's a gem. Lorenzo Lorente provides the most gruesome illustration this time out with a modern day vamp that has just taken her latest victim in a men's room and holds a ghastly trophy in her hand...the man's severed head! Beheading is also the theme of a piece by Javier Lara as a short-haired vamp returns to her tomb clutching another poor victim's head, as blood flows down her faced and chin. Another favorite of mine, Paleaz shows a vampire creeping up on her next victim who is sleeping and wearing only panties. Will the crucifix around her neck save her? Lorente, yet another rising star, has a second outstanding, and darkly sensuous piece in this book, this time showing a nude vampire, a trail of blood flowing the length of her body, clasping her breasts in front of a mountain of skulls.This is one of the best volumes I've yet to see in the Gallery Girls collections. The art is uniformly fantastic throughout. Darkly atmospheric and moody, all of these artists set a great tone. A Goth fan's dream!