Dracula Comics Not in the Tomb

One reader suggested I do a post on Dracula comics not by Marvel. (Thanks, Tim.) Like the word “nonfiction”, we are defining this by what it is not, instead of what it is. Marvel Comics, of course, had a long-running and popular comic called Tomb of Dracula. This comic spawned the character of Blade, Drac’s top enemy after Van Helsing. Written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by Gene Colan, the comic has its fans.

But Dracula was created by Bram Stoker in 1897. He is a public domain dude and so any comic company can do a Dracula comic. The Marvel association kept many away for a long time but there are other Dracula stories out there. So pull up a chaise lounge, fill that glass of absinthe, and let’s take a look at Dracula the comic book star.

The Golden Age does have Dracula references, usually in a Marvel comic like Spellbound or Strange Tales (where at the end of the story the girl realizes she is marrying Count Dracula) but the only full adaptation was Eerie #12 from Avon. The Silver Age began to use the character in new ways, mostly thanks to Warren Publications, which could tell Horror tales outside the Comics’ Code. The real bonanza is the Bronze Age where multiple black & white magazines used the character (this is ignoring the fact that Marvel had the same in Vampire Tales, The Tomb of Dracula, Dracula Lives and Legion of Monsters.) Vampirella, Eerie and the Skywald magazines had continuing storylines from multiple writers and artists.

Golden Age

“Dracula” (Eerie #12, August 1953) was adapted by an unknown writer. This was the adaptation of the 1950s. Gilberton’s Classics Illustrated never got around to it. Too scary, perhaps? Though they did adapt Dr. Jeykll & Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights. Gilberton did these three early on then moved away from Horror.

Silver Age

“The Vampire’s Curse” (Dracula #1, October-November 1962) was written by Bernhardt J. Hurwood.  This is an original story, not an adaptation from an author who is associated with vampires and other monsters. (In 1969, he would write Dracutwig, and in 1979 By Blood Alone not to mention a ton of Scholastic Books anthologies. Remember those?) Dell did something strange after this first issue. They turned Drac into a superhero!

“The Horror of Dracula” (Famous Monsters #32, March 1965) was written by Russ Jones. Based on the film, this comic recaps the best parts of the movie. This began a tradition of doing movie adaptations that went on to other magazines outside the Famous Monsters family. More of those later…

“Dracula” (Ballantine Books, 1966) was adapted by Otto Binder and Craig Tennis. This is another odd entry as it was published as a paperback graphic novel. You had to turn the paperback sideways for many of the panels. The book had an introduction by Christopher Lee.

“The Coffin of Dracula” (Creepy #8-9, April-June 1966) was a two-parter written by Archie Goodwin. The story continues after the end of the novel. Dracula’s spirit takes over Lord Varney. Van Helsing and friends have to hunt down another vampire! That’s a wonderful bit of vampire fun with Goodwin pulling Varney the Vampire into the story.

“Dracula’s Guest” (Eerie #16, July 1968) was adapted by E. Nelson Bridwell. This one is based on the excised first chapter of Dracula. It has survived as a short story. For more on famous Horror story adaptations, go here.

Bronze Age

(Vampirella #15, April 1972-Vampirella #41, April 1975) was written by Archie Goodwin, T. Casey Brennan, Steve Englehart, Gerry Boudreau and Bill DuBay. Art by Jose Gonzalez, Bill Dubay, Tom Sutton, and Esteban Maroto. This story thread ran for twenty-six issues, following Drac’s adventures with Vampirella and Pendragon. This may be the longest running series outside of Marvel.

(Psycho Annual #1, August 1972, Nightmare #9, October 1972-Nightmare #15, October 1973, 1974 Nightmare Yearbook, 1974, Psycho #19, Scream #10, October 1974, Psycho #24) were all written by Al Hewetson. Art by Ramon de la Fuente, Pablo Marcos, Antonio Borrell, Martín Saurí, Emilio Bernadó  and José María Cardona. Skywald ran its own Dracula theme through many different magazines but they were all written by Al Hewetson.

Continuing from Vampirella the story went on for a couple issues then transitioned into Satanna, Daughter of Satan with #50.  (Eerie #46, March-Eerie #48, June 1973) was written by Fred Ott and Bill Dubay.  Art by Auraleon, Tom Sutton, Bill Dubay and Rich Buckler. This shorter series featured Dracula’s son.

“Valley in the Shadow of Death” (Beowulf, Dragonslayer #4, October-November 1975) was written by Michael Uslan. Beowulf and his companions face off against the minions of Hell in each issue. In #4, Satan sends Dracula to finish off the King of the Geats. Doesn’t work out well for the vampire. Probably my favorite DC Sword & Sorcery series. For the full run, go here.

Dracula (Marvel Classics Comics #9, 1976) was adapted by Naunerle Farr. Now you’re probably wondering what this Marvel product is doing here. The contents of the Marvel Classics Comics series were reprints from Pendulum Press (1973). As such, this adaptation has nothing to do with the Wolfman/Colan Drac. Nestor Redondo is great as always. He gives Drac grey sideburns, making him look a little different than that Tomb guy.

“Intro” (The Witching Hour #63, April-May 1976) was written by an unknown author. One page intro with a bad joke.

“Dracula: A Hammer Film Production” (The House of Hammer #1, May 1976) was adapted by Dez Skinn. Here we see that Famous Monsters film thing at another publisher. The look is the same. This is for the 1958 film, Dracula.

“Dracula Prince of Darkness” (The House of Hammer #6, December 1976) was written by Donne Avenell. Another film. This one is drawn by John Bolton, who would draw several films for British fan magazines.

“The Singular Case of the Anemic Heir” (The Rook #10, August 1981) was written by Bill DuBay and Kevin Duane. (That title is so Solar Pons.) Sherlock Holmes versus Count Dracula. We even get some Hound of the Baskervilles action in that last page, with Dracula in wolf form. DuBay and Duane can’t claim doing this idea first (though perhaps in comics, they can?). Loren D. Estleman wrote Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula in 1978, the same year as Fred Saberhagen’s far superior, The Holmes-Dracula File. Of course, Arthur Conan Doyle was a friend of Bram Stoker and wrote “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire” in The Strand Magazine (January 1924). So, really, ACD made the connection first. For more fun, try “Supernatural Sherlock Holmes”.

“Brides of Dracula” (Halls of Horror #28, 1983) was written by Steve Moore. Another film adaptation.

“The Dracula File” (Scream #1-15, March 24-June 30 1984, Scream Holiday Specials 1985-1989) was written by Gerry Finley-Day, Ken Noble and Simon Furman. IPC, publisher of 2000 AD, tried this Horror-themed comic in 1984. Its centerpiece was “The Dracula File” with great Eric Bradbury artwork. Set in modern times, Dracula comes to London as a defector from the East. The Department of Immigration should have done a better job!

Conclusion

The Bram Stoker version of Dracula has co-mingled with the actual history of Vlad Tepes slowly over time. We saw that with Beowulf but “Dracula” (Skorpio #v15#22-#v19#37, June 6 -September 21, 1991) by Robin Wood abandons all supernatural elements and tells Vlad’s story as history. Bloody and gruesome, but history. On film Luke Evans would do something similar in Dracula Untold (2014) though the film becomes supernatural before the end. Books like In Search of Dracula (1973) and Dracula: A Biography of Vlad Impaler (1973) by Radu Florescu did much to bring Vlad’s real story to the attention of Horror fans.

Well, I hope this satisfies your hunger for blood for awhile. Next time, in the spirit of Arthur Conan Doyle…Phantom Hounds.