Published May 10, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT
Shaun Corley is a Staff Writer for ScreenRant, a position he has held for five years. While he enjoys many types of comics and graphic novels, he has a particular interest in the licensed Star Trek titles.
Dracula meets John Wick in the explosive, hype-worthy new series Operation: Iron Coffin from IDW Publishing. The company recently launched IDW Dark, an imprint devoted to bringing fans top-flight horror comics by some of the best names in the business. The imprint, which also includes titles based on movies such as Smile and Event Horizon, has been a major success for IDW.
The popularity of vampires' waxes and wanes in pop culture. While not wielding the power and influence they had in the 2010s, at the peak of the Twilight phenomenon, vampires nevertheless still exert a hold over the imaginations of writers and artists. While vampires may be in a lull at the moment, good stories involving them will never go out of fashion. All it takes is a clever hook and a fresh approach to the genre, and that is where Operation: Iron Coffin comes into play. The book is one of the freshest and most entertaining takes on the Dracula mythos in recent memory.
IDW Dark boasts some of the best creators working in the industry, and Operation: Iron Coffin is no different. The book is written by Kenny Porter, whose previous credits include DC Mech and Superboy: Man of Tomorrow at DC. He will also pen the upcoming Superman: Father of Tomorrow book. Porter has racked up credits in the indie business, including The Schlub at Image Comics, which was drawn by Tyrell Cannon. Operation: Iron Coffin reunites Porter with Cannon, and the results are magic.
Operation: Iron Coffin Asks: "What If Dracula Fought the Nazis?"
Operation: Iron Coffin Pulls No Punches
Operation: Iron Coffin drops Dracula right into the midst of the Second World War. The first issue opens a few months before the defeat of Nazi Germany, at a time when victory was in sight. However, Hitler and his cronies are still not to be underestimated. It turns out the Nazis have a secret weapon, one that could turn the tide and ensure victory over the Allied Forces.
What led Dracula to throw his lot in with the side of angels is detailed in Operation: Iron Coffin’s first issue, and it is one of the highlights of the book.
However, Dracula is not on the side of the Nazis. As a matter of fact, Dracula is the Allied Forces’ secret weapon. What led Dracula to throw his lot in with the side of angels is detailed in Operation: Iron Coffin’s first issue, and it is one of the highlights of the book. After getting behind enemy lines, Dracula embarks on a killing spree, doling out brutal and violent ends to the Nazis. Porter and Cannon pull no punches in depicting the savagery Dracula visits upon them.
The Operation: Iron Coffin preview pages above, provided by IDW to ScreenRant, show Porter and Cannon firing on all cylinders, right out of the gate. The first issue wastes no time getting down to business, and Dracula is slaughtering Nazis within the first few pages. Porter and Cannon keep the exposition to a minimum, instead unleashing a comic experience unlike any other this year.
Operation: Iron Coffin Is Grounded in Comic Book Tradition
The Dracula story has been a favorite of fans the world over since its publication in the late 1890s. There have been numerous homages, pastiches and parodies over the years, each offering their own take on the Count. Comic books have embraced vampires as well. Marvel incorporated them into its universe in the late 1970s with Tomb of Dracula. Vampires have been integral to the Marvel Universe since, even receiving their own crossover.
Tomb of Dracula depicted the Lord of Vampires as a ruthless and unrepentant monster, as is the case in most portrayals. Yet Operation: Iron Coffin flips this notion on its head, by introducing a Dracula who is confronted by his past sins, and wishes to atone for them. Dracula seeks redemption by killing Nazis and helping the Allies win the war.
Check Out Operation Iron Coffin by IDW Publishing This July
Operation: Iron Coffin is unlike any other vampire comic fans are likely to read this year. It combines the timeless Dracula story with over-the-top, John Wick-style action. Porter and Cannon cut loose, letting the blood flow thick and free. Heads roll throughout Operation: Iron Coffin, literally. The book is not for the faint of heart, but adventurous readers will find it one of 2026’s best reads.
Operation: Iron Coffin #1 is on sale July 8 from IDW Publishing. Final Order Cutoff (FOC) is June 1.
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