If you missed the 1960s…
Sword & Sorcery at Warren was picking up steam. James Warren now had three magazines with the premiere of Vampirella. This makes it necessary to go to yearly (at least for now) sections. Bill Parente is still editor. He brought in more writers instead of doing it all himself. Famous names today: Gardner F. Fox, Nicola Cuti, and Buddy Saunders. He also welcomed artist/writers like Rich Buckler, Richard Corben and Dan Adkins. This attitude was unusual in the assembly line world of comics. Culling talent from the independent and underground comics, this mind-set would be important in the founding of the creator’s rights movement of the 1980s.
“The Caliegia!” (Vampirella #3, January 1970) written by Nick Cuti
“Journey Into Wonder” (Eerie #27, May 1970) written by Bill Parente
“Amazonia” (Eerie #27, May 1970) written by Gardner F. Fox
“Avenged by Aurora” (Vampirella #5, June 1970) written by Bill Parente
“The Beast in the Swamp” (Eerie #28, July 1970) written by Bill Warren
“Vampi’s Feary Tales” (Vampirella #6, July 1970)Â art and story by Dan Adkins
“The Death Brothers” (Vampirella #6, July 1970) written by Nick Cuti
“Minanker’s Demons” (Creepy #34, August 1970) written by Buddy Saunders
“Godslayer” (Creepy #35, September 1970) art and story by Bill Stillwell
“The Druid’s Curse” (Creepy #35, September 1970) written by Buddy Saunders
“The Bloodstaff” (Eerie #29, September 1970) art and story by Rich Buckler
“The Vorpal Sword” (Eerie #29, September 1970) written by Nick Cuti
“Frozen Beauty” (Creepy #36, November 1970) art and story by Richard Corben
“Amazonia: The Demon in the Crypt” (Vampirella #8, November 1970) written by Gardner F. Fox
Conclusion
The trends continue into 1970. Parente has Gardner Fox create a continuing character in Amazonia. This is three years before Red Sonja appears at Marvel. Again, Fox proves the innovator in S&S comics. (As much can not be said for Kothar.) The Richard Corben piece “Frozen Beauty” feels like it owes a nod to Clark Ashton Smith, who Corben was definitely a fan of. He adapted several of his stories elsewhere. I remember an old Weird Tales story by Seabury Quinn with that title. No relation.
Not all the art is of the caliber of the 1960s stuff (no Frazetta or Steve Ditko here.) but it was important to develop new talent. Billy Graham was one of these. The two stories he drew here were the first he did. Tom Sutton was another. he appeared back in 1967 but his work grows in the 1970s. We also get to see Jeff Jones (with Vaughn Bode) painting covers as well as early Ken Kelly. The 1970 Warren is a less impressive beast but one with much potential for the years ahead.
