Vermillion (Helix)

Supercbbox| title = Vermillion
comic_color = background:#8080ff


caption = Cover to "Vermillion No. 1: Starlight Drive". Art by Al Davison
schedule = Monthly
format = Ongoing series
publisher = Helix (DC Comics imprint)
date = 1996 - 1997
issues = 12
main_char_team = Jonathan Cave
past_current_color = background:#ff9275
writers = Lucius Shepard
artists = Al Davison, John Totleben, Gary Erskine
pencillers =
inkers = Angus McKie
colorists = Kim DeMulder
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators = Lucius Shepard
editor = Stuart Moore

"Vermillion" is a dark science fantasy comic book series set in an eponymous city located in an imagined far future or alternate reality. The series was conceived and written by multi-award winning author Lucius Shepard as part of the short-lived DC Comics imprint, Helix. The title was cancelled after a one year publication run shortly before the Helix imprint was itself cancelled by DC and its remaining titles shifted across to the Vertigo line.

Plot

The series narrates the tale told by the major protagonist, Jonathan Cave, to a man named Brother Fry. It describes the last days of a previous universe whose destruction in turn spawned the never-ending dystopian city-universe of Vermillion.

The series included two notable story arcs during its brief print run: "Starlight Drive" (issues 1-7) and "Lord Iron & Lady Maganese" (issues 9 -11).

Critical reception

The popularity of Vermillion suffered along with many of the early Helix titles for failing to identify with the a clearly defined readership. One notable criticism was that it trod an ambivalent line between the SF and fantasy genres. [cite web
last = Rawdon
first = Michael
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Vermillion - Review
work =
publisher = Leftfield
date = 1997-05-23
url = http://www.leftfield.org/~rawdon/comics/reviews/vermillion.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-23] In this context, it was never made clear to the reader what the "rules" of the Vermillion universe actually entailed or whether it was just in fact a random place setting. Other crtics were more uncomplimentary. [cite web
last = Bacardi
first = Johnny
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Top Twelve Comics Everyone Should Read (Gemini Blood Review)
work =
publisher = The Johnny Bacardi Show
date = 2003-08-01
url = http://johnnybacardi.blogspot.com/2003/08/dirty-dozen-time-has-come-my-friends.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-23]

References