Graphic Novel Review - 'Lilith, Vol. 1' by Corin Howell (Writer/Artist), Warnia Sahadewa (Colourist), Jim Campbell (Letterer), Adrian F. Wassel (Editor), Der-shing Helmer (Editor)

Corin Howell's 'Lilith' is a supposedly sexy, sexual, pulpy horror comic. And in a way it is. But there is more to it than that.

FYI, it is not porn.

What it is is very violent, bloody and gory. Several (severed!) panels are truly horrific and horrifying, it cannot be stressed enough.

But apart from that, 'Lilith' is surprisingly funny, and even, dare I say it, cute. And it works! Its beautiful red, black, white and grey artwork is positively manga-esque at times. It doesn't really care for tone, and I mean that not as a detriment. Far from it. 'Lilith' is messy in all the right ways.

It is a pulpy horror comedy throwback comic, about a sexy demoness/vampiress/murderess/royal/super-model named, well, Lilith. She's a hell maiden and an antiheroine who eats people, basically; she's like Elvira, Vampirella, Lust from 'Full Metal Alchemist', Jennifer from 'Jennifer's Body', and an adult-rated version of Marceline from 'Adventure Time'.

Most importantly, she is a lost immortal soul living and surviving in our mortal realm (she lives as a mortal model, and survives by eating mortal flesh).

In her search for clues to return home to her Babylon hell dimension, Lilith reluctantly befriends two queer siblings - one of whom, the absolutely adorable and chatty Penelope Pleasance, is a potential love interest for her - and another demon from Babylon, Michael, who is Byronic, flirty, mysterious, and a match for Lilith in killing. There is a lot of mystery going on, and gross, gloopy demon monster slaying and banishing from the mortal realm.

Indeed, there is more to every character than meets the eye.

Also Lilith has a pet three-eyed cat named Gordy, who gobbles up her human leftovers.

I admit to a shallow reasoning for wanting to read 'Lilith, Vol. 1' - it was all because of the title. I am a fan of the Lilith of legend, not of horror and gore. I sort of expected a better, more sympathetic and feminist interpretation of the Lilith figure - as the first woman, the first rebel against inequality, authority, fascism, and a higher power, and the first woman to demand bodily autonomy and the right to choose. So subsequently she is the first woman ever to be demonised by the patriarchy at the dawn of its manmade conception. She is not a fearful, murderous, literally dick-chomping demon and monster.

However, 'Lilith' the comic is a fun, enjoyable, campy, feminist, occult horror mystery story in its own right. Lilith mostly kills and eats bad men who deserve it, anyway.

It could have been more diverse in its POC rep, and its characters less incredibly stupid for the sake of plot contrivance, but again, it's fun, regardless.

If you like 'Exorsisters', 'Lady Killer', 'Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter', 'The Sandman''s Death character, 'Angela: Queen of Hel', 'Elvira', 'Vampirella', 

'Carmilla', 'Interview with the Vampire', 'When I Arrived at the Castle', 'Ginger Snaps', and 'Jennifer's Body', then go ahead and sink your teeth into the grisly, bloody, yet oddball-y elegant 'Lilith, Vol. 1'.

Horror and humour. Occult and cult. A flight of fancy flesh.

Final Score: 4/5