Operation Coffin #1 is written by Kenny Porter and published by IDW Publishing. Artwork and colours by Tyrell Cannon and letters by Shawn Lee. Main cover art (left) is also by Cannon.
Operation Coffin #1 is due for release on July 8, 2026, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet.
Synopsis
The recently resurrected Dracula, one of the world’s greatest monsters and most infamous vampires, is hell-bent on redemption. The mission he takes to make that redemption possible? Teaming up with British Allied forces during World War II. They’ll air-drop him onto a Nazi train containing a horde of soldiers, augmented villains, and a vampire plague that, if released, will create a new generation of vampire terrors. Dracula will have to battle his way through the train, confronting his past sins and facing off against the wicked Hazel and Ivy, who are calling the shots for the Nazis…and who have a vested interest in Dracula’s failures.
Review
Dracula. World War II. Nazi scientists conducting creepy experiments on an armoured train. Might as well end the review there and call it five stars right? That’s the concept behind new IDW series Operation Coffin which hails from celebrated writer Kenny Porter and artist Tyrell Cannon, debuting in comic book stores on July 8, 2026.
For context, I had a tradition whereby I read Bram Stoker’s Dracula every year around Halloween. It’s a story I know well and a genre I adore. So when a book like this plans to use old Vlad then I’m always hesitant to see how it approaches his origins. Operation Coffin isn’t simply cherry picking from Stoker’s work. It’s honouring it and re-contextualising it in a way that aligns tonally with Hellboy. It never shies away from the horror, instead fusing it with action and gore with the most “delightful” results.
Porter is wasting absolutely no time in getting down to business either. A strong selling point, particularly for a debut issue, is its ability to cut through the necessary world building in order to prioritise action. Operation Coffin #1 is easily defined as wall-to-wall action. Literally the opening panels depict the iron coffin being dropped into the Nazi train and from there Dracula is slicing and dicing his way through soldiers until the dying moments of the issue.
Now I know what you’re thinking: so this is an action book not a character book. Well you’re wrong. Porter has landed on a delicious format where, after seeing Dracula laying waste to plenty of Nazis we dive back into his history to learn how he came to this point. There’s an impressive amount of lore squeezed into these pages. It builds on the mechanic of what Stoker created, spinning the character in a very unexpected and effective direction. In the moment it works perfectly to set Dracula up to be the hero of the book. But stealthily it also cements Operation Coffin’s potential for longevity by giving him a purpose and a mission.
These character moments are the biggest surprise in Operation Coffin #1. They are strong character beats easily able to cut through some truly outrageous action which is brilliantly brought to life by Tyrell Cannon. Cannon’s artwork is hugely detailed, particularly when it comes to blood and guts. The artwork encapsulates all of the energy in Porter’s story, consistently driving the book forwards as an effective page turner. Cannon’s colour choices are also integral to making this first issue so successful. Obviously blood spatter is bright and dynamic. But Cannon also makes tough choices going from the dark lighting of the train interior to panels which really highlight Dracula’s pallor against the human soldiers.
Verdict
Operation Coffin #1 is a stylish debut for Porter and Cannon’s new take on Dracula. A truly unique premise, backed by engaging lore and a curious mission have already laid the groundwork for a wild ride ahead.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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