In the first two parts of this three part series, we have looked at Creepy Magazine and it’s “cousin” Eerie Magazine. Finally we will look at the third member of this trifecta, and the one that is still being produced today, although not by Warren Publishing. That would be Vampirella.
If you read the first part about Creepy Magazine, I mentioned that I was introduced to the books by my neighbor. I also mentioned that he also had more risqué material besides Comic Books and Magazines. He would not let me look at those magazines, let alone borrow them. And when it came to Vampirella, he was reluctant to let me borrow those as well. He eventually succumbed to my puppy dog eyes and possibly the fear that I would not leave unless he relented. So Vampirella followed me home…Can I keep her?
Vampirella is Born
Vampirella was created by Forrest J Ackerman and comic book artist Trina Robbins. Her first appearance was in Warren Publishing’s black-and-white horror comics magazine Vampirella #1 in September of 1969. It was the third publication following Creepy and Eerie. At first, Vampirella was an anthology host just like Uncle Creepy, and Cousin Eerie. But writer-editor Archie Goodwin had other ideas. He evolved the character from horror-story hostess, in which capacity she remained through issue #8 (Nov. 1970), to a horror-drama leading character. That was a change from the Creepy/Eerie formula where the hosts were just that…hosts. Vampirella got involved in the action.
Origin Tales
Since Vampirella was now a headlining action star, she needed an origin tale. So Vampirella originally hailed from the planet Drakulon, a world where blood flowed like water. Convenient since the natives, called the Vampiri, shared traditionally vampiric characteristics. The only problem for Drakulon, was it orbited a binary star. This caused continuous droughts throughout the year. Unfortunately for the Vampiri, these droughts have gradually dried up their precious blood supply. The lack of blood threatened them with extinction. Hey, you can’t do that to Vampi! Somebody better fix that.
Leave it is Americans to solve the problem. In this case, fate supplies a way when an American space shuttle crashes on Drakulon. Because she is a hero, and wants to save her people, she travels to Earth. Once there, she begins hunting dark remnants of her own race. That would include the man known as Dracula. As it happens, he was a forgotten member of the Vampiri race who left his homeworld centuries ago. Unfortunately only to be corrupted by the demonic entity known as Chaos. That was the initial origin. But as Vampirella moved on from Warren and onto other publishers, her origin was retro-fitted as needed. But for now, Vampirella was ruling the Warren Roost. At least until she ran into a foe that she couldn’t defeat. The same one that took down Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie. Warren’s Bankruptcy.
Changing hands
The comic was published continuously until 1983, when Warren Publishing folded. It came as no surprise however that other publishers were ready to claim her. And so it happened when its assets were bought by Harris Publications. Later, Dynamite picked up the title and still puts out Vampirella Comics. Which just proves that you can’t keep a good Vampiri down. But she got her start with the iconic Warren Publishing.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
