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Vampirella Archives Volume Ten

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  •  
    Todd Jordan
    Smut is good.

  • Vampirella Archives Volume Ten


    Published by: Dynamite Entertainment
    Released on: Oct. 15, 2014
    Writers: various
    Artists: various
    Cover: Enrich (from issue #65)
    Purchase at Amazon

    The classic Warren years continue to find their way to audiences new and old with their latest volume of archived issues of Vampirella. Volume Ten reprints issues 65 through 71, published in 1977 and 1978. These black and white comic magazines feature a full-length Vampirella tales in (almost) every issue, and then the issue is filled with various tales of horror and suspense in the same vein as sister publications Creepy and Eerie. We'll cover each of the Vampirella segments, and touch on stories that stood out.

    Issue #65 cover by Enrich; all stories in this one end is a cliff hanger and Warren held a contest to guess the endings, which are to be revealed in the next issue. Kind of a lame gimmick really, but hey they tried.

    “Vampirella: The Mad King of Drakulon”; story by Bill DuBay, art by Jose Gonzalez. Vampi returns to Drakulon to see what has happened to her dead planet, only to find one inhabitant still there. And since the water has all dried up, the lone inhabitant must resort to other ways to get water, which on Drakulon is blood. Vampi doesn't like it one bit and does her thing to fix the situation. Jose Gonzalez's art is up to its usual level of excellence and despite the gimmick of the ending-guessing contest, it's a good story. DuBay usually achieves that anyhow.

    “A Game of Hide and Seek”, story by Roger McKenzie, art by Leo Duranona. A nice little morbid tale similar to The Most Dangerous Game, expect done inside an old geezer's mansion. A number of people are mislead into thinking they have an inheritance from an unknown cousin and that cousin plays a deadly game of hide and seek. He'll leave everything he has to the one who murders him, but not if he kills them first. Good gory fun.

    “Mystery of the Strangled Stockbroker”, story by Gerry Bouderau, art by Jose Ortiz.

    “The Pharoh's Lady”, story by Nicola Cuti, art by Luis Bermejo. Isisi is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh, and she connives and murders her way to get into his gigantic pyramid tomb to give herself to the Gods for immortality. They are not pleased.

    “…But First This Brief Interruption”, story by Bruce Jones, art by Leopold Sanchez. A man at the end of his rope, and at rock bottom, meets a man in a bar who challenges him to riddles and pays his more and more money for solving the riddles after a certain amount of time. The big riddle to end all riddles comes his way, he can't figure it out, and time is running out.

    “Goodbye, Norma Jean”, by Bill DuBay, art by Auraleon.

    Issue #66, cover by Enrich. The final page to each of last issue's stories our housed at the end of this issue, for those who care. This issue also boasts a number of Bruce Jones stories, who later went on to create the Pacific Comics label in the 80s, if you didn't know that.

    “Vampirella: To Be a Bride in Death”, story by Bill DuBay, art by Jose Gonzalez. Still on Drakulon, Vampirella explores and does some “remember when” stuff, until she stumbles upon a recording of her mentor in school and explains how Drakulon dies. Some more memories come forward and she finds the remains of her lover from back when she lived there, before coming to Earth. A panther attacks her out of nowhere, and also out of nowhere comes a tattered figure to rescue her from the beast. He/it leaves without a word and when she awakens, she has plans for the unconscious cat. Great origin stuff in this one for those late to the party, and the start of a story containing another slinky and sexy female character for Mr. Gonzalez to make the readers drool over.

    “Down Under” by Bruce Jones and Luis Bermejo. Great artwork, but kind of a clunker story, and that hurts to say. Bruce Jones is usually top-shelf in the writing department, but this story left this reader cold. Bermejo's sexy lady art and neat underwater illustrations save it in the end, but a real letdown of a tale at the end with mermaid fakery.

    “Picture Complete”, by Bruce Jones and art by Gonzalo Mayo. Surely Mr. Jones has given Gonzalo a better tale to draw than the last fellow got. And it is better. A man becomes obsessed with a painting (that looks like a Frazetta or a Sanjulian) and feels the need to recreate the painting with real people and modifications to the room he basically lives in where the painting hangs. His brother and his estranged, hottie wife are concerned, and when they finally break into his (and her) house, they see just how far his obsession went. Mayo's art once again makes this tale all the better.

    “The Blazer” by Bruce Jones and Jose Ortiz.

    Issue #67, photo cover of Barbara Lane as Vampirella.

    “Vampirella: Baby Theda”, by Bill DuBay and Jose Gonzales. Vampi now has her friend Pantha to visit with on Drakulon, and the first thing they need to do is to get her some clothes (why??). Then it's back to Earth and her pal Starpatch is ready to take them to Hollywood, as Pantha wants to be a movie star. An aging child star Baby Theda (kind of a Shirley Temple deal) wants to make a movie about her life and when she sees Vampi in the audition room she instantly wants her in the role and not Pantha. Pantha can come too; she'll put her in the movie somewhere. Baby Theda's real agenda comes out and puts the two raven-haired beauties in real danger. It's a bit of a silly tale, but Pantha spends a lot of time topless and that's not a bad thing. Gonzales' artwork is up to its usual sexy excellence.

    “The Quest”, by Budd Lewis and Ramon Torrents. A voluptuous Amazonian warrior lays down her sword to join the priesthood in a holy city, recently thought as only a legend. A gang of barbarians show up at the same time to murder, loot and pillage, and ignore her pleas to leave the city be. When she beats them to the city, she finds it empty and the high priests all dead. This city is more than it seems and she finds the place more than she thought it to be. Aliens? Maybe. Torrents' art is hindered by a poor looking print job, but the story and art still strike a chord. It's a neat tale with an unexpected ending for certain.

    “Fish Bait”, by Nicola Cuti, art by Alex Nino.

    “Home Sweet Horologium”, by Nicola Cuti, art by Paul Neary.

    “Choice Cuts”, story by Cary Bates, art by Russ Heath. A talk show host interviews a man about his survival in a desert for what would seem an impossible amount of time. He and his fiancé crashed in his plane near an oasis and after months, it would seem the only option for food is some long pork, and his lady friend seems the only candidate for consumption. It's a quickie with a twist.

    “The Last Dragon King”. A color tale written by Roger McKenzie, illustrated by Esteban Maroto.

    Issue #68, cover by Enrich.

    “Vampirella: Orphee, Poor Orphee”, by Bill DuBay and Jose Gonzalez. This goofy story follows Vampirella and Pantha on the set of Vampi's movie, “The Slime Creatures From Planet X.” Right there at the location they are filming, lives a mad scientist and he's created a life form out of nothing, and one that his assistant suspects is getting out and eating people. On the set, Vampirella is acting out a fight scene and the beast escapes and attacks her. But the beast was just trying to save the lovely lady. That's all. DUMB story and the whole Hollywood story so far has been a disappointment. Except Gonzalez's art, which is never a disappointment. This whole issue was a dud, other than the 1977 Warren Awards in the back, featuring artists like Frank Frazetta, Richard Corben, and writer Bruce Jones.

    “October Man”, by Bruce Jones, art by Leopold Sanchez.

    “Fleur: Night of the Allycats”, story by Gerry Boudreau, art by Ramon Torrents.

    “By Degrees”, story by Bruce Jones, art by Jose Ortiz. A Christmas shopping story? For real? Blah.

    “Ali Addan and Son!” by Bill DuBay and Esteban Maroto.

    Issue #69; photo cover featuring Barbara Leigh

    “Vampirella: The Saga of Frick and Frack Freckles and the Phantom of Hollywood”, by Bill DuBay, art by Gonzalo Mayo. An artist change and a really long story title start part one of this serial and Vampi gets kidnapped by an old lady and her lug of a son who saw her in the newspaper and decided her wanted a play thing. The granny is a robotics expert and has a small army of robots by her side as well as a flying ship and lots of gadgets which keep the vampire from escaping. The son, Rollem seems a might bit nicer than the granny, but that doesn't mean he's any less dangerous.

    “Hit Six”, by Bruce Jones and Luis Bermejo. A hitman's during the 1940s gets his newest job, and it's a woman. And he falls for her and becomes her protector rather than her assassin. After a boat chase a little twist in the story puts the would-be assassin at the wrong end of the gun. It's a straight up auctioneer that flows well and tells a good little tale of good guys vs. bad guys. Bermejo does some great speedboat action panels in this one which overshadows the somewhat dopey ending.

    “Off the Beaten Empath”, by Gerry Boudreau with art by Leo Duranona.

    “Reagan Redux”, story by Bruce Jones, art by Jose Ortiz.

    “Jessie's Friend”, by Bruce Jones and Gonzalo Mayo.

    Issue #70, cover by Ken Kelly. Two things are missing from this issue: Bruce Jones and Vampirella. The former is understandable, with schedules and all, but the latter? Maybe it has something to do with The Rook having been in the Vampi story that was originally in this isuue, The Rook being part of the Eerie magazine family, and Dynamic didn't have the rights to print it. At any rate, no part 2 to last issue's part 1 so unless you have access to the original issue #70, you may never know how it ends.

    “Mask of U'Gin”, by Nicola Cuti and Gerry Boudreau, art by Jose Ortiz.

    “Swamp Lovers”, by Bill DuBay with art by Leo Duranona. With a story that seems more fitting for Creepy than Vampirella, Bill DuBay spins a yarn about a man who's left society to live in a shack in the swamps and meets an unlikely lover. She comes from the muck and the slime but he sees her as a shapely and beautiful brunette, but he's the only one who sees her that way. The two have a torrid affair until a couple of hunters find them in embrace, and think the hermit is being attacked. A bit of sicko fun from two talents who usually put out product to make one smile.

    “Reality Twice Removed”, by Gerry Boudreau and Ramon Torrents.

    “The Terrible Exorcism of Adriennes Pompereau!”, by Luis Vigil and Bill DuBay, art by Auraleon. A story that seems at first to be nothing more than a blatant rip-off of The Exorcist, this tale of possession puts a new angle on things. And it's an angle that someone should steal and run with, as it would make a cool series if done right. It involves other-worldly beings, protectors and scheming horned beings. Auraleon's art elevates the tale, which is really nothing to get excited over until the very last page.

    Issue #71, featuring a photo cover of Vampi model Barbara Leigh.

    “Vampirella: The Case of the Connected Clowns and the Collector!” by Bill DuBay and Jose Gonzalez. Now that Vampirella's the newest hot commodity in Hollywood she's got a big role alongside a Hollywood legend, Mae Fay. But before getting into filming, Mae Fay leaves the set and doesn't ever come back. And she's not the only star that has disappeared at the studio: for decades females names have been walking away and never being seen again. Anyway, Pantha is still hanging around, so she gets a job in the movie to fill in for Mae Fay. Meanwhile, conjoined twins argue with each other. One wants the other gone (dead) so he can get busy with the ladies. That set of twins is the kiddie television sensation “Frick and Frack Freckles”, and the dick of the two has taken a keen interest in Pantha. You know what? The whole Vampi Hollywood theme just kind of stinks. We're done here.

    “Trial of the Sorceress”, by Bill DuBay and Esteban Maroto.

    “Night of the Chicken”, by Michael Fleisher, art by Jess Jodolman. Oh man, classic EC horror stuff here. A man raises chickens and slaughters women, feeding them to the chickens. Chickens rise up, chicken farmer/murderer gets his. Really basic story, but nice artwork that includes gore, gratuitous violence, and a sexy chicken costume he makes girls wear when he brings them home. Who knew a chicken costume could be sexy? Jess Jodolman, that's who.

    “Machu Picchu: The Treasure of the Incas”, by Josep Toutain and Nicola Cuti, with art by Luis Bermejo.

    “Australopithicus”, by Bruce Jones and Leo Duranona.

    Like with other Warren titles, a lot of stuff is thrown at the wall. A lot of it sticks, some falls by the wayside, and it's a real blast rifling through and finding the good stories. The black-and-white artwork rarely disappoints, and even if the story fails to capture your interest at least there's that consistent artwork to ogle at. The Vampirella material starts pretty strong in the earlier issues in this volume, but then that Hollywood garbage kicks in and ends up being a real downer. Even so, this volume has some great material inside that deserves to be seen by a new audience, or to remind an older reader just how great the Warren era books were: they were anthology at its finest.

    • Ian Jane
      #1
      Ian Jane
      Administrator
      Ian Jane commented
      Editing a comment
      I really like that cover art even if I have no idea what's really happening on it. Also Jose Gonzalez might be my favorite of the Warren era Vampirella artists.

    • Todd Jordan
      #2
      Todd Jordan
      Smut is good.
      Todd Jordan commented
      Editing a comment
      Ortiz was awesome, but Jose Gonzalez sure does make a good case against him. I've always been partial to Esteban Maroto and his sexy eyed ladies.
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