Vampirella issue 1 Might Not Be What You Think! Total Surprise!

[@alejandrocaracciolo5975]

It's not too long after that she becomes the star of the stories. Archie Goodwin starts writing the mag in issue 8, and José Gonzales becomes the penciller starting issue 12, and they become the legendary creative team that defined Vampirella for the Warren Era.

[@russworks2882]

Last story was by Ernie Colon, who illustrated everything from Richie Rich to "the Sexorcist". My understanding is that Warren was in deep trouble by the end of the 60's and Vampirella was a bit of a Hail Mary play, just trashy exploitation that was pretty weak, in my opinion for the first issues. Archie Goodwin came in fairly soon and wrote the Vampirella character's adventures as a kind of occult melodrama without the stupid Ackerman puns. Lots of cool Lovecraft references. The salvation of the book was, in my view, the arrival of agent Josep Toutain's stable of artists, "the Spanish Invasion", who produced beautiful covers and interiors at a cut rate that was still more than they made at home.

[@bozodeathgod]

The faces on the last page sold me, I was leaning towards Janson.

[@bloodydrake]

Fantastic! the Vampirella's from the mid 70's have some truly amazing artists. However the real first issue(by Warren's opinion himself) was issue 12. Quote: Jim: Vampirella. I learned that one from my father: He said, "When you're down and out, and really at your lowest, that's the time to go for the moon. Go for the home run, not a single." Which is what the company did. It was the worst time to do it. We had no money, no credit line, nothing, no anything... except an idea for a woman character in my head, sketches in my notebook, Frank Frazetta, Forrey Ackerman, and Trina Robbins (who was in my office at the right time [see sidebar])-and enough energy left for a game-winning home-run. Of all the writers to pick from to do "Vampirella," I chose Forrey. Forrey didn't particularly care for comics-science-fiction is his first love. He had never done anything for comics and doesn't even read them. (The only strips I think he ever read were Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers because they were S-F.) I said, "Forrey, I know you can do this." We both had seen the movie Barbarella together and had loved it. I carefully outlined exactly what I wanted: A modern day setting but something with a mystique of vampires, Transylvania; something legendary-and Vampirella was born. I said, "Forrey, I know exactly how she'll look; don't worry about that. Her colors will be bright red for excitement and pitch black for mystery. Just give me something I can build on." And he did-but it wasn't what I wanted; it was too frothy, too light, too satirical-and the only artist I could get at the time was Tom Sutton. In retrospect, Tom's drawing style was not right for Vampi, just as Forrey's writing style was not hitting the mark I wanted. The first issue was awful-and the second issue was just as bad; it just wasn't what I wanted. I struggled with various writers and artists for many issues. Suddenly she came alive in the 12th issue with Archie writing an entirely new origin. The minute I took one look at Pepe Gonzales' artwork, I knew we had it! We survived 12 issues but there it was. This is what I wanted for the first issue but couldn't put it together. Now if only there was a way I could wipe out the first 11 issues and erase it from memory. At any rate, by that time, we were back on our feet financially and on solid ground again, ready to go forward. www.twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/04warren.html

[@blindboy118]

Tony Tallarico did some work for Dell in the 60s including their brief Monster superhero titles such as Dracula. He also drew Lobo which was an African American cowboy character. In the late 70s he did some how to cartooning books, which were my first exposure to him. later issues of Vampirella did focus on her and had kind of a horror/soap opera element , but featured gorgeous art by many Spanish artists.

[@CHRISMED2]

Warrant Publishing is doing a great job bringing back the Warren horror magazine style with Shudder & Vampiress Carmilla. Im lucky my local comic shop is really horror centric and carries all their products including all back issues.

[@donaldglass2421]

thanks for bringing up the Warrant magazine stuff. I have been noticing them lately too. One mag is called creeps and i think they have one called shudder too. Vampirella appears to be vampiress carmilla. weird... but love the current trivia stuff

[@blitzcadetstudios]

Absolutely love the José González stuff that comes a little later! You guys should totally give those a look

[@ascorvinus]

I heard "Frank Thorne Red Sonja artist edition" right at the end there, fellas!

[@frankstrysik1558]

I recall reading an interview with Neal Adams where he said he used his time at Warren to experiment in his art so every story he drew looked different.

[@newspooiechannel]

In the first several issues, Vampirella only hosts the stories or makes brief appearances. In issue 8, she receives her own extended story, written by Archie Goodwin with art by Tom Sutton. From that point on (skipping issue 10), she begins receiving her own continuous stories, usually the first segment in each issue, along with the other horror/scifi anthology vignettes. With the exception of a few random issues where Warren would reprint a collection of her stories, or her own solo-focused issue (#73), this format continues until the end of Warren's run.

[@bloodydrake]

after issue 7 she starts to star in an ongoing narrative story with the first of the five stories in each issue being her series. It really does follow the same style as eerie and creepy cept the stories focus on female characters, sometimes like Vampirella (Panthera ,Amazonia etc) others just one offs.I'll say it here.. the art in this series is equal to Creepy and Eerie, grateful Dynamite has the Hardbound Archives available.they're fantastic.

[@abh623]

"A Room Full of Changes" looks like it was done by Ernie Colon. Wasn't his name in the credits? And thanks again for another great episode guys.

[@SpiderS2099]

All modern stories are mostly and fully Vampirella centric and there’s even Grant Morrison and Mark Miller run. There’s like best of masters series that has Alan Moore story as well.

[@UncleObscure]

As mentioned, A Room Full Of Changes was illustrated by Ernie Colon and according to The Warren Companion, it was written by Nicola Cuti.

[@TrevorinNB]

There's a Showcase/Essentials-type book in print by Dynamite with just the early Vampirella stories in it. It is inexpensive and has all the classic Archie Goodwin/Tom Sutton/Jose Gonzalez stuff in it. And yup, when Goodwin comes on, Vampirella stars in her own adventures as opposed to just a horror host. It's great stuff. Highly recommended. (Bit of Triva: Trina Robbins designed her iconic look.)

[@01What10]

I just bought a copy of the old Savage Sword Of Conan and it looks a lot like this. Same era, art styles, Frank Frazzeta covers. Its fucking awesome. My local comic shop has a bunch of em I have been beginning to plunder whenever I go in to clear my box every month. They got some of these old Vampirella ones too, I might have to get my hands on some of these too.

[@joeanderson9045]

Jimmy's gonna be here in Jacksonville?! Man, I can't wait. I didn't even know we had a comic & zine fest here in town.

[@reprintranch]

Yeah, I will be coming up from Gainesville to check it out.

[@ArchibaldGurnsbach]

love these reprints. in the next volume she gets her own stories, with a heavy tomb of dracula vibe. trina robbins gets credited with designing her look, ie the red one piece. when jose gonzalez takes over on her stories things really get cookin. love you guys, how about cracking open some kubert tarzan, or some more 70s horror stuff... i'm grooving hard on colan, ploog, alcala, maroto... or maybe craig russel's run on war of the worlds. and thanks for existing

[@rocketshipevan]

Very cool, I love these. I recently discovered Vampiress and now I understand the horror host angle. It would be great if they came out with some Savage Sword type mag next.

[@Phantastique_138]

Archie Goodwin starts writing the Vampi ongoing story in #8 (I think) and those stories with Jose Gonzalez are some of my favorite comics ever

[@DforDembol]

There's usually a Vampirella story in later issues. It just takes them a while to figure out the character. Jose Gonzales starts drawing her stories in issue #12 and he's awesome. He's the artist associated with most of her iconic imagery (apart from that Frazetta cover).

[@freeradiomars]

Yes, Vampirella does become the star of her own comics eventually. With stories written by Alan Moore, Kurt Busiek, Joe R Landsdale, Gail Simone, Mike Carey, James Robinson, Grant Morrison, Chris Priest, and more! with art by everyone from Tim Sale and Gray Frank to Amanda Conner (of course) and so many others!

[@theartofSkinner]

Richard corben did some cool vampirella stuff. Wooooo

[@UncleObscure]

Re: the Warrant magazines...Although certainly similar to the classic Warren pubs, Warrant has nothing to do with the original '60s magazines. Aside from some repurposed Frazetta cover art (Warrant appears to have a deal or an affiliation with the Frazetta estate and they run house ads for the Frazetta museum,) otherwise, everything else Warrant does is new and original. Warrant has actually been around for several years and their first magazine, The CREEPS, published quarterly before upping to a bi-monthly schedule for a total of 32 issues, plus a few Yearbooks. At some point, whoever owns the publishing rights to the Creepy and ERRIE reprints filed an injunction claiming that the Warrant mag was so similar in appearance that it devalued their original content. Apparently, Dynamite has the reprint rights for Vampirella, so they are not part of the equation. To settle out of court, Warrant agreed to rebrand The Creeps and stop selling back issues and ancillary materials. Without skipping a beat, The Creeps ended and its replacement, SHUDDER, began. It's the same magazine with a different horror host. Issue number one features an homage to the classic Jack Davis cover art for the first issue of Creepy. IMO, it is better than The CREEPS, with better-written stories and art, however this may be more of a result of Warrant's stable of contributors now being better at their craft. The companion magazine to SHUDDER is the Vampirella "inspired" (lol!) Vampiress Carmilla. Much like the Warren original, this one gets better with each successive issue. I don't think either mag (SHUDDER / Vampiress Carmilla) has yet peaked, but they are getting there.

[@darkdial]

To make matters weirder, I believe the publisher's name is Richard Sala but not THAT Richard Sala, another big horror guy, who recently passed.

[@ironrope]

And don’t forget, stories by Artie Godwin. Eerily, pun intended, similar to Archie Goodwin.

[@grokeffer6226]

I bought this collection several years ago. I'd bought quite a few of the magazines in my pre- and post-adolescence but hadn't seen the earliest issues. That Frazetta cover is another iconic one. ** In some of the later issues, Vampi has larger storylines, and had a story in every issue, with other stories being secondary.

[@turbo_pit-fighter_comic]

These old BW mags will always be my go-to. Savage Sword of Conan was the greatest! Who's making stuff like that nowadays?

[@Therealmrmeow]

I've never read an issue of Vampirella. Great to take a look. Lots of cool stuff going on in there!

[@consarolas3872]

Tallarico drew Blue Beetle and Son of Vulcan for Charlton and Dracula, Frankenstein, and Werewolf as heroes for Dell. The uncredited story looks like Ernie Colon.

[@mrwasi99]

The irony. Just got the 1st hardcover last week and loved it. Probably aiming to collect the whole hardcover set. I heard it gets better with every issue. Especially once they establish Vampirella.

[@Dr.Kananga]

Tura Satana.

[@josephbarbera9220]

I got this book in excellent condition back in the 70s for a great price! I was so happy to have this iconic book in my collection, unfortunately squirrels got into my attic ten years ago and torn it to shreds along with many comics! 😫

[@apexcomix3200]

Love that Vampirella! I have the first issue Dynamite reprint of issues 1 & 2. Great video, gentlemen!

[@galacticfish61]

Is the unknown artist Ernie Colon?

[@Gootie29]

The uncredited story looks like Ernie Colon. Great artist.

[@kgreene317]

Totally unrelated but have you guys ever looked at Steve Skroce's Wolverine arc? Might be of interest...

[@allenrobinson9890]

Vampirella becomes a 22 page story feature around issue 8 or thereabouts.

[@chriswhittome7231]

love these black and white horror comics. vampirella, creepy and errie are the best.

[@buzzopolis050]

Straight up Frank Frazetta on that first lifeboat page.

[@trevor_nielson]

"Room Full of Changes" Looks a LOT like early Ernie Colon.

[@davidmacpherson770]

Trina Robbins design Vampirella's costume, and the Frazettta came and tarted it up

[@XAVIERCUERVO]

you like unrefined comics ??? check out the mexican historietas called ( Aventuras Aniceto ) and ( Hermelinda ) or ( mini Hermelinda ) which is a 3x3 '' comic circa 1970's

[@ottovitt9906]

Uncredited artist looks like Ernie Colon.

[@andyburk8771]

Tom Sutton is great!

[@HalfassDIY]

Vampi !

[@shpoopyshpoop]

Vampirella is a ridiculous series. Her origin story is a clusterfuck. I love it.