The end of the Warren magazine run was ushered in by Bill DuBay as editor. Bill started with Warren in 1973 as editor and writer. He held the office three times between 1973-1976, greatly improving stories and art. He was replaced by Louise Jones but came back in 1980 to shepherd in the last two years of the company to its end. During the eight years he was involved, he wrote a dozen stories that would qualify as Sword & Sorcery or heroic fantasy.
“The Other Side of Hell” (Creepy # 60, Februry 1974) has a man go to Hell, win a queen then betray her. Mayo’s artwork is the star here. DuBay was lucky in that his work appeared at the same time as the Spanish artists who made Warren great.
“El Cid: The Seven Trials” had dialogue by Budd Lewis (Eerie #66, August 1975). Other parts of the El Cid saga were written by Budd Lewis, Jeff Rovin and Gerry Boudreau. Dubay’s segment has the hero of Spain lost at sea. The ship is attacked by a beautiful woman warrior and her men then by a sea serpent.
“Wings of Vengeance” (Creepy #81, July 1976) was written by Bill DuBay and Esteban Maroto. Often when these two worked together Maroto was involved in writing the story. Esteban wrote his own comics before and during his Warren years (more on those another time.) A prince’s girl is killed by his father’s command. The ghastly prince sends the birds to wreak revenge.
“Jackie & The Leprechaun King” (Vampirella #53, August 1976) has the boy, Jackie Paper, rescues the leprechaun king, Bubba O’Reilly then lives with them. A fierce band of pirates attack and kill the little people and their dragon (not Puff). The head of the pirates claims he has rescued the boy from their evil. The names are obvious references to current music (Mommas and the Papas and The Who.)
“The Sleeping Beauty” (Vampirella #58, March 1977) is a lovely rendition of the traditional fairy tale with the typical Warren ending. The sideways orientation allows Maroto to expand his vision.
“Iron Man” (Creepy #88, May 1977) has King Gallen and the wizard, Ambrosius, fall out over the magician’s illusions. The king challenges the mage to a joust, where the rival knight stands without his head before the king. Gallen surrenders and the mage dispels the illusionary warrior. For a moment, Ambrosius questioned his own skills.
“Fallen Angels” (Vampirella #60, May 1977) is part of a series Bill DuBay did not create. Dubay does his version of “The Littlest Mermaid” with the mermaid going to live on land with a prince. He cheats on her and she tries to go back to the sea, drowning. Almost as depressing as Hans Christian Andersen.
“The Tale of Thistlewhite the Bold” (Vampirella #61, July 1977) has the bored Myra send her husband, Thistlewhite off to seek fame. Gayleaves the knight takes her away. Thistlewhite heads out on a quest to gain fame. He and horse and his friend, Chip, invade a goblin castle, fight monsters and win the keep. The knight there says he can have his wife. Thistlewhite, wisely declines, and goes off to tell of his bravery in taverns filled with willing wenches. Misogynistic but wonderful Russ Heath art.
“The Munificent: Ali Adden & Son!” (Vampirella #68, April 1978) again written by Bill DuBay & Esteban Maroto. Ali Adden finds a beautiful woman trapped on an island and goes into a magical cave to free her. Of course, she turns out to be lying and he dies. Warren ending!
“Dragon Lady” (Creepy #97, May 1978) is set in China. A woman is transformed into a dragon by a demon. A warrior comes to her, makes love to her and provides lunch. Maroto’s art style was changed for this one giving it a softer look.
“Heart of a Warrior” (Creepy #111, September 1979) has Gorrax the warrior on a quest to rescue a barmaid from the wizard Krothar. He fights monsters in the swamp to reach the castle. He finds Shira chained up, battles a Frankenstein-like monster then faces the wizard. Krothar freezes him, then admits the whole thing was to lure him there. The wizard needed an ingredient for a spell… well, you can read the title… This one has a little of that Larry Niven distain feel to it.
“The Queen of Souls” (Vampirella #110, December 1982) has Tristan and Isolde run off to the kingdom of Queen Inanna. The queen kills Isolde because she wants her good-looking man. She stabs him too, demanding her wizard bring him back. In the end she must go into the underworld to retrieve him. The spirits of Hell, rallied by Tristan, capture her, making her the Queen of the damned.
I haven’t included Bill’s writing on “One Night Down on the Funny Farm” (August 1978) because it was a mash-up of Wally Wood’s work. Read all about that broken friendship here.
