FIRST LOOK: OPERATION: IRON COFFIN #1 (IDW DARK)

Ever wonder what would happen if you dropped Dracula onto a train full of Nazi’s during World War II? A gory, ass kicking, action-packed thrill ride is exactly what would happen. Operation: Iron Coffin takes us on that exact journey, and the hype surrounding this book is real and warranted. The first issue of this series from IDW DARK drops on July 8th, 2026, at the comic shops. Ahead of the Final Order Cutoff date of Monday June 1st, 2026, IDW PUBLISHING gave us a copy for a SPOILER FREE first look review.

Operation: Iron Coffin #1 - Written By Kenny Porter – Art & Colors By Tyrell Cannon – Letters By Shawn Lee – Edited By Dave Wielgosz - Published By IDW Publishing

Credit: IDW Dark

STORY OVERVIEW:

The Nazi’s are working on a biological weapon under so much secrecy that they are developing it in a portable lab on a heavily fortified train. The train is filled with SS soldiers and even Hitler’s experimental occult unit, The Wunderwaffe. For the allies to stop this train and the biological weapon known as the Bloodletter Virus, they must deploy their own secret weapon, Dracula! After dropping Dracula’s coffin on to the train, the Prince of Darkness emerges to take out any and all that stands in his way. Saying things get brutal, bloody, gory, and disturbing is an understatement. Can the legendary monster dispatch of the evil devils known as the Nazi’s, and save the world from the Bloodletter Virus?

WRITING:

This first issue sets the table for this series perfectly and makes you want more instantly. Kenny Porter takes the King of the Vampires and sends him on a glorious and bloody mission to kill Nazi’s, and business is booming. The issue starts hot and never slows down or lets up. As Dracula makes his way through the train, the brutality and gore build up, as do the awesome snarky comments. Porter doesn’t just make the book purely brutal, he brings a sense of humor to the violence as well, which makes this story even more fun.

On top of the action, gore, and humor, Porter also gives a great backstory of how Dracula went from being a true monster to a hero of sorts. This revelation really helps the reader relate to Dracula and what he is going through and what motivates him. It’s truly a clever way to turn a historically evil villain into a hero we can cheer and root for. Not only does Porter bring you all of this, but he also hits you with a twist at the end that is sure to hook even the most jaded reader.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this first issue perfectly depicts the setting, characters, and vibe of this story. Tyrell Cannon shows off some breathtaking scenes, well not skimping on the action and gore. Due to the events taking place on a train, the artwork captures the claustrophobic nature of the setting. There is nowhere for anyone to run and hide, which brings some suspense and terror of what is possible. The character design of Dracula is fantastic and captures the iconic image of Dracula, well also adding some originality to the character.

Then you have the violence and gore. The ways Dracula dispatches of the evil Nazi’s are as creative as it is gory and brutal. Cannon appears to take great pleasure in coming up with different ways to dismember and kill Nazi’s and I for one love every minute of it. Couple the brutality with a great color pallet that makes the gore really stand out, and you have the recipe for some incredible art. If the story doesn’t keep you entranced, the artwork surely will.

Final Thoughts:

Operation: Iron Coffin #1 not only lives up to the hype, it surpasses the hype and then some! The premise should be enough to peak anyone’s interest, but the story and artwork will make you hunger for more. This book hits on every level and sets up what promises to be an amazing series. I will be adding this to my Pull List ASAP and you should too! So, make sure to get down to your Local Comic Shop before Monday June 1st and order your copy, to make sure you don’t miss this awesome book when it drops on July 8th!

FINAL GRADE: 10/10

Let me know your thoughts on Operation: Iron Coffin #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!