MASTERS SERIES
The Masters Series is a collection of reprints of some of the best Vampirella stories published by Harris. They are reproduced faithfully and haven't lost their appeal in the intervening years. For readers unfamiliar with the Harris run of Vampirella they are pure gold and worth every penny.
Volume 1: Grant Morrison and Mark Millar [August 2010]
Cover - Jae Lee
Ascending Evil [Writer - Grant Morrison, Mark Millar : Art - Amanda Connor, Jimmy Palmiotti] (reprinted from Vampirella Monthly 1-3)
Holy War [Writer - Grant Morrison, Mark Millar : Art - Louis Small Jnr., Rob Stull, Gary Martin] (reprinted from Vampirella Monthly 4-6)
The Blood Red Game [Writer - Grant Morrison : Art - Michael Bair, Kevin Nowlan] (reprinted from Vampirella: 25th Anniversary Special)
A Cold Day in Hell [Writer - Mark Millar : Art - Louis Small Jr., Caesar] (reprinted from Vampirella Strikes 6)
Interview [Writer - Amanda Connor] (reprinted from Vampirella Monthly Preview Edition)
Interview [Writer - Grant Morrison and Mark Millar] (reprinted from Vampirella Monthly Preview Edition)
Ascending Evil and Holy War are some of the best Vampirella stories of that time. Action, excitement, suspense, humour and Vampirella in a really hot black latex outfit. What's not to like?
All that and the first appearance of the Vatican's killer nuns - the Scarlet Legion.
Volume 2: Warren Ellis [August 2010]
Cover - Adam Hughes
Vampirella Lives [Writer - Warren Ellis : Art - Amanda Connor, Jimmy Palmiotti] (reprinted from Vampirella Lives 1-3 and Vampirella: 25th Anniversary Special)
Necromance [Writer - Warren Ellis : Art - Mark Beachum] (reprinted from Vampirella/Dracula: the Centennial)
Vampirella Lives is a dark and bloody tale of Vampirella's resurrection and revenge after both she and Adam van Helding had died at the hands of Mistress Nyx. There are literally rivers of blood in this compelling piece of Vampirella's history.
The main story has a small addenda wherein Lilith enlightens her daughter of the vampire race through time. It's a bit strange but interesting.
Necromace is a particularly dark and disturbing tale of Vampirella stalking and killing a sexually driven serial killer. The traditional comic-book style of art would have been totally incongruous for this type of story but Mark Beachum's masterpieces in oil suit it perfectly.
Volume 3: Mark Millar [August 2010]
Cover - Jae Lee
Nowheresville [Writer - Mark Millar : Art - Mike Mayhew] (reprinted from Vampirella 1-3)
Fear of Mirrors [Writer - John Smith : Art - Mike Mayhew] (reprinted from Vampirella 4-6)
This was the centennial relaunch of the monthly Vampirella comic and features the artwork of Mike Mayhew.
The fact that the story lines are superb and the characterisation excellent is completely overshadowed by the artwork of Mike Mayhew which is at the absolute apex of comic book art.
Yes, the stories are great but this book is worth paying for twice over just for Mike Mayhew's art.
I am fortunate enough to own some original pieces of Vampirella art by Mike Mayhew and they are some of my most prized items.
Volume 4: Visionaries [August 2010]
Cover - Jae Lee
Dracula Reborn [Writer - Alan Moore] (reprinted from Vampirella/Dracula: The Centennial)
The New European [Writer - Alan Moore : Art - Gary Frank] (reprinted from Vampirella/Dracula: The Centennial
Vampirella of Drakulon [Writer - Forest J. Ackerman : Art - Mark Texeira] (reprinted from Vampirella 25th Anniversary Special)
Looking for Mr. Goodwin [Writer - Jeph Loeb : Art - Tim Sale] (reprinted from Vampirella 18)
Bugs [Writer - Kurt Busiek : Art - Arthur Adams] (reprinted from the Creepy Fearbook 1993)
Sanctuary [Writer - Christopher Priest : Art - Alan Davis] (reprinted from Vampirella 19)
Lust For Life [Writer - Ty Templeton : Art - Bruce Timm] (reprinted from Vampirella 20)
The Killing Floor [Writer - Steve Lieber : Art - Steve Lieber] (reprinted from Vampirella Magazine 1)
Winter Rose [Writer - Liam Sharp : Art - Liam Sharp] (reprinted from Vampirella Magazine 10)
Matinee [Writer - Michael Golden : Art - Michael Golden] (reprinted from Vampirella Magazine Summer Special)
Fantasy Feast [Writer - Jimmy Palmiotti : Art - Amanda Conner] (reprinted from Vampirella: Halloween Trick and Treat)
Ink [Writer - Phil Hester : Art - Stephen Segovia] (reprinted from Vampirella: Halloween Special 2006)
A very enjoyable collection of some of the best and most outré short stories from the Harris era.
They are all an excellent read and kudos goes to whoever selected them for this book (I suspect it was Chris Caniano).
The artwork in Winter Rose and Ink is exceptional but may favourite story of all has to be Fantasy Feast. It is totally ridiculous and very funny, but most of all it starts with a "splash" page (pun intended) of Vampirella sitting on the toilet with her costume around her ankles. A brave plot concept that produced one of Amada Conner's most iconic depictions of Vampirella.
You just gotta laugh.
Volume 5: Kurt Busiek [August 2010]
Cover - Jae Lee
Foreword [Writer - Kurt Busiek]
Morning In America [Writer - Kurt Busiek : Art - Many including Louis LaChance and Trina Robbins] (reprinted from Vampirella: Morning In America 1-4)
Summer Nights [Writer - Kurt Busiek : Art - Many including Dave Cockrum and Steve Leialoha] (reprinted from Vampirella: Summer Nights)
Dracula War [Writer - Kurt Busiek : Art - Many including Tom Sniegoski and Louis Small Jnr.] (reprinted from Vampirella: Dracula War 1-4)
Afterword [Writer - Richard Howell]
These were the early days of Harris Publishing's take on Vampirella. Morning In America explained where Vampirella had been since the demise of Warren and Summer Nights and Dracula War continued to develop the character of the "new" Vampirella and her entourage of enemies and allies.
Though not the most inspiring stories by modern day standards they laid the foundations for several further decades of Vampirella and many of the elements of current Vampirella publications were established here.
The Foreward and Afterward interviews by Kurt Busiek (Writer) and Richard Howell (Editor) provide an interesting insight into the early days of Harris Publishing
Volume 6: James Robinson [August 2010]
Cover - Jae Lee
Introduction [Writer - James Robinson] (reprinted from Vampirella: Blood Lust 1)
Blood Lust [Writer - James Robinson : Art - Joe Jusko] (reprinted from Vampirella: Blood Lust 1-2)
Vampirella vs Dracula [Writer - James Robinson : Art - David Mack, Rick Mays] (reprinted from Vampirella/Dracula: The Centennial)
Two So Different [Writer - James Robinson : Art - Ray Lago] (reprinted from Vampirella: 25th Anniversary Special)
The primary story here is the Blood Lust classic tale of Vampirella's adventures in Drakulon/Hell following her death at the hands of Mistress Nyx. Every panel is an oil painting by Joe Jusko, one of the greatest current comic-book artists.
The other two stories are "fillers", as they were originally.
Vampirella vs Dracula is a clever Archie Goodwin (creator of Vampirella) meets Bram Stoker (creator of Dracula) story written as a tribute to Archie who had recently died. Archie would have appreciated it.
Two So Different is a revisit of Warren's origin story from 1972. Nothing original here, but a joy to see the story (re)told with Ray Lago's art.
Volume 7: Pantha [August 2010]
Cover - Jae Lee
Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! [Writer - Mark Millar : Art - Mark Texeira] (reprinted from Vampirella vs Pantha 1)
Year of the Cat [Writer - David Conway, Steven Grant : Art - Mark Texeira] (reprinted from Vampirella Monthly 13-15)
Femme Fatal [Writer - David Conway, Steven Grant : Art - Mark Texeira] (reprinted from Vampirella Monthly 16)
Venus In Furs [Writer - David Conway, Steven Grant : Art - Mark Texeira] (reprinted from Vampirella Monthly 17)
Pantha [Writer - John Smith : Art - Mark Texeira] (reprinted from Vampirella 7-10)
Bound [Writer - Don Jolley : Art - Mark Texeira] (reprinted from Vampirella Magazine 5)
Mark Texeira is, without doubt, the artist for Pantha. He has made her his own and even in recent Pantha publications from Dynamite the covers are by him.As a long-time ally and friend of Vampirella Pantha has a lot of history but exactly who she is, her origins and abilities seem to be "Variable". Originally she was from a sister planet of Drakulon but now she is an immortal aspect of an ancient Egyptian goddess.
Whatever your take on who/what she is Pantha is an intriguing and underrated character.
Volume 8: Mike Carey with Joshua Hale Fialkov [August 2010]
Cover - Joe Jusko
Revelations [Writer - Mike Carey : Art - Mike Lilley, Joe Rubenstein, Bob Almond] (reprinted from Vampirella Revelations 0-3)
Vengeance of Vampirella [Writer - Joshua Hale Fialkov : Art - Stephen Segovia, Noah Salonga] (reprinted from Vampirella Quarterly; Spring 2007-Fall 2007)
Revelations: Layouts [Writer - Mike Carey]
Vengeance of Vampirella; Layouts [Writer - Joshua Hale Fialkov]
In the latter days of Harris Mike Carey and Joshua Hale Fialkov attempted to take Vampirella to a new level. The stories and art were excellent and held out a promise of a much more interesting Vampirella in issues to come.
Sadly, it was probably too late to save Vampirella as the fatal damage had already been done with the Vampirella Magazine which simultaneously failed to attract new readers and alienate the majority of the fanboys.
These were the last twitches of the death throes of Harris' Vampirella, but what excellent twitches they are.