Dracula vs. King Arthur
Dracula vs. King Arthur is a four issue indie comic book mini series by Adam and Christian Beranek with art by Chris Moreno
Dracula, having made a pact with Lucifer to turn himself into a vampire, is in the final days of the Turkish war. Knowing he can't win, he waits at his castle for his enemies to slay him. But Lucifer changes his mind with a plan to send him back in time to the days of Camelot where vampirism is unknown and he can easily take over the land and soon the world along with it. Indeed once Dracula arrive in the medieval times he begins turning the subjects of the land. King Arthur and his knights soon become aware of this and prepare to defend the kingdom, but against such an unknown enemy that can subjugate their forces. Do they even have a chance of stopping him?
- Anti-Hero: Merlin, he's loyal to Arthur and the kingdom but his methods are rather questionable.
- Anyone Can Die: Yes even though it features many notable characters, the book's not shy about offing people.
- Better to Die Than Be Killed: Before the final battle, Arthur speaks with Merlin, who ask him if Camelot is worth dying for.
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Arthur: Pray it doesn't come to that |
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- Bittersweet Ending: Dracula is killed and his forces defeated. But Arthur dies in the process as do many of his knights either having been turned, killed beforehand or killed in the final battle. The era of Camelot is ended but at the least, a hopeful new future is on the horizon for its surviving subjects.
- Bond Villain Stupidity: What ultimatly defeats Dracula as he doesn't kill Arthur after he's captured him. Just draining his blood then throwing him into the ocean. Arthur recovers thanks to Percival, gains new weapons from the Lady of the Lake, and regroups his remaining forces for a final stand with more then enough knowledge on how to beat him now. Dracula's subjects even lampshade why they don't just finish him with Drac responding he finds it better to break Arthur's will then outright death. Nice one, lord of the darkness.
- Driven to Suicide: Percival after inadvertently killing his turned sister, Amide, by having her drink from the Holy Grail hoping it would cure her.
- Fate Worse Than Death: Lancelot is the only one who survives the final battle and is found by Merlin. Who, upon seeing the vampirism still holds even though Dracula is dead, goes to use Lancelot for experiments on the effects of vampires.
- The Hero Dies
- It Got Worse: The moment Dracula arrives in Camelot, it pretty much goes on a downhill slope ending in a disastrous battle where Excalibur is stolen and Arthur is captured.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Being set in the era of swords and shields, this is a given.
- Mad Scientist: Merlin to an extent.
- Public Domain Characters
- Off with His Head: How Guinevere and Dracula meet their ends.
- The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: How Mordred feels to Arthur.
- Our Vampires Are Different: Some look like typical vampires while other bear the likeness of Nosferatu.
- Ravens and Crows: Merlin's motif, he even has a pet ravem by his side.
- Rousing Speech: Arthur gives one before the final battle.
- Shout-Out: The story takes a few cues from Bram Stoker's Dracula considering Dracula's origins
- Storming the Castle: Lancelot does this when Guinvere is captured Doesn't end well.
- Taught By Experience: Initially most of the Knights have trouble against the vampires as this is their first time dealing with such creatures. The surviving ones however quickly learn what can kill them (Merlin's experiments also helping). Come the final battle, they're on an equal playing field with Dracula's forces.
- Transhuman Treachery / Face Heel Turn: Many of those turned including Bors, Galahad, Guinevere, and especially Lancelot
- You Have Failed Me...: Drac does this to one of his mook both for this reason and to demonstrate what can harm a vampire.
- Vampires Are Sex Gods: Dracula comes off this way when he turns Guinevere. Likewise Guinevere to Lancelot
- Versus Title: Uh, duh?