Vampirella Magazine

Issue #1 (2003)

Regular Painted Cover - Texiera $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover by Palmiotti (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover by Wheatley (1,500 copies) $9.95

$Regular Edition$

Vampirella: The Killing Floor [Steve Lieber, art and story]

A short story in which Vampirella investigates a meat packing plant which has been taken over by occultists intent on reanimating their deceased leader. Vampirella interrupts their spell causing the dead cattle to be reanimated instead of the cult's leader!
Vampirella Must Die, Part 1 of the Definitive Infinity Virus [Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, writers; Gabriel Rearte, penciller; Meth, inker; Raymond Lee, colourist; Michael Conley, letters]
A very tongue in cheek story in which Vampirella and her friend Tina have their girls' night out interrupted by muggers, and then an alien spacecraft containing a dying alien who warns that Earth's super heroes have been infected with a deadly virus. If they don't get the antidote within 24 hours they will go insane... Vampirella and Tina set out to find "Dynamic Force" in the hope that their leader, Professor Rx, can help.You can see that this going to be a parody/spoof of mainstream comic book heroes. Vampirella's costume is relegated to the cupboard for the evening and she struts her stuff in a hot red mini dress.

Issue 1 was launched with cover art by fan favourite Mark Texiera with limited edition versions showcasing the art of Jimmy Palmiotti and Mark Wheatley. There are only two Vampirella stories; the rest of the magazine featuring a collection of articles including an interview with Kitana Baker the latest Vampirella model who graces the cover of one of the limited editions.

A new format, a new cover model and lots of hype. Sadly, I don't feel the magazine format worked. I buy Vampirella for the stories of which there are a paucity. It is almost as if the Vampirella stories are secondary to articles about rock groups and "celebrities" I have never heard of.

Issue #2 (2003)

Regular Painted Cover - Beck $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Virgin Cover (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Virgin Kiss Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95

Vampirella Must Die, Part 2 of the Definitive Infinity Virus [Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, writers; Gabriel Rearte, penciller; Meth, inker; Raymond Lee, colourist; Michael Conley, letters; p.20-29.]
The story continues with Vampirella and Tina meeting Cockroach-Man (Spider-Man?), his ageing Aunt and the Retaliator (who looks suspiciously like Marvel Comics' Punisher). Affected by the virus they end up dead and Vampirella and Tina continue in their quest for Dynamic Force ...

This issue features cover art by Michael Beck on both the regular and limited edition virgin cover. The News Stand Edition features Kiss and Kitana Baker which is replicated in the limited edition virgin cover. Again, there is a limited edition Photo Cover with Kitana Baker. There is only one Vampirella story, the rest of the magazine featuring articles, reviews and adverts.

An enjoyable story, albeit with Vampirella in her "out-on-the-town gear" instead of her regular costume. It's just a shame that the whole magazine only has the ONE story which isn't that long.

As an aside, on the last page it is revealed that one of them isn't wearing underwear, but we never get to find out whether it is Tina or Vampirella. Maybe one day, Jimmy Palmiotti or Justin Gray will supply a definitive answer for the Vampirella trivia fanatics (like me!).

Issue #3 (2004)

Regular Painted Cover - Noto $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Virgin Cover by Parke (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover by Parker (1,500 copies) $9.95

Vampirella Must Die, Part 3 of the Definitive Infinity Virus [Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, writers; Gabriel Rearte, penciller; Meth, inker; Raymond Lee, colourist; Michael Conley, letters; p.20-29]
Vampirella and her friend Tina deal with rabid super hero Stainless Steel and finally get to the Dynamic Forces headquarters...
Hate Mail [Jeff Parker, art and story; p.36-43 (black and white)]
Vampirella steps in to help Spellinore (the hostess of a TV show) who is under attack by a coven of witches who have taken offence to some comments made on the show. Vampirella tracks the coven and shows them some real "magic".

There are five editions; a regular cover by Phil Noto, a news stand edition with a cover by Steven Parke, the model edition, the Parke Virgin cover and a Jeff Parker cover. In between the adverts, reviews and articles there are two Vampirella stories.

Hate Mail is an amusing story which could be construed as a bit of a dig at over-the-top politically correct, wiccan, feminist groups.

Issue #4 (2004)

Regular Painted Cover - Golden $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Virgin Cover (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Virgin Kiss Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95

What Have We Become [Becky Cloonan, art and story; p.11-18 (black and white)]
Vampirella destroys a 3,000 year old plague infected Norse Warrior zombie.
Vampirella Must Die, Part 4 of the Definitive Infinity Virus [Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, writers; Gabriel Rearte, penciller; Meth, inker; Raymond Lee, colourist; Michael Conley, letters; p.25-34.]
The final part of this story has Vampirella kill off the remaining super heroes and wind down with her girlfriend, Tina.

The regular and limited edition virgin covers features Michael Golden's art, the news stand version features Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart's art, and there is a Ben Templesmith limited edition and, of course, the Kitana Baker model edition. Two Vampirella stories are squeezed in between the adverts, reviews and articles.

What Have We Become is a thought provoking and interesting story that leaves you with more questions than answers.

There are definite lesbian overtones between Vampirella and Tina in the Definitive Infinity Virus story. This aspect of her persona was not too popular with the fan base. Maybe the writers were trying to make a point.

Issue #5 (2004)

Regular Painted Cover - Chiodo $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Virgin Cover by Chiodo (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover of Samantha Mathis (1,500 copies) $9.95

Vampirella: Mo Money, Mo Bullets [John Lucas, art; Stuart Moore, story; Michael Conley, letters; p.10-18 (black and white)]
A record producer tries to destroy Vampirella because she refused his advances a few years previously.
Bound, a Pantha Tale [Mark Texiera, art; Dan Jolley, script; Mike Conley, letters; p.37-46 (black and white)]
Pantha is conjured by a young girl whose magic binds Pantha to her will. Pantha kills the man that the girl hates and then leaves the girl with some profound insights.

There are five editions; a regular and limited edition virgin cover by Joe Chiodo, a news stand edition with a Kitana Baker photo cover, the model edition with more Kitana Baker, and a limited edition cover featuring Samantha Mathis of Salem's Lot. In between the adverts, reviews and articles there are two stories, one Vampirella and one Pantha - both in black and white.

Maybe it's because I am in the UK, but I didn't really understand Mo Money, Mo Bullets. I get the feeling that it is a parody of some figure in USA rap culture, or a statement of some sort but I think something has been lost in translation!

Bound, on the other hand, is a well drawn story with a message about abuse and becoming worse than your abuser.

It was about this time that I started losing interest. Generally I am very enthusiastic and look forward to my next delivery of Vampirella goodies, but the magazine left me cold. Over-sized, over-priced and the Vampirella stories seemed to be a rushed after-thought put in merely to justify using the name on the magazine's title.

Issue #6 (2004)

Regular Painted Cover - Brereton $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Virgin Cover by Brereton (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Alien Cover (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Predator Cover (1,500 copies) $9.95

Vampirella: The Convent [Greg Scott, art; Frank Tieri, story; Mike Conley, letters; p.9-18 (black and white)]
Cold, snowy Quebec is the venue for a convent infested with vampires. One dark night a cloaked, shadowy figure appears out of the blizzard.
Vampirella and the Scurvy Dogs in 'Night Boat to Drakulon' [Ryan Yount, art; Andrew Boyd and Ryan Yount, story; p.43-46 (black and white)]
Vampirella gets chatted up by a bunch of sailors/pirates in a run down tavern with predictable but amusing results.

The sixth issue provides a wealth of covers for the collector - six in all! In between the usual reviews, adverts and columns there are two Vampirella stories, both in Black and White - which is a bit sad really as the focus of the magazine seems to be the articles and reviews (in nice shiny colour), with a couple of "cheap" (no colourist to pay for) Vampirella stories thrown in at the last moment to justify the name of the magazine.

Issue #7 (2004)

Regular Painted Cover - Sharp $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Virgin Cover by Sharp (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover by Zdarski (1,500 copies) $9.95

Vampirella: The Robin Syndrome [Joyce Chin, art; Jim Catapano, story; Mike Conley, letters; p.11-18 (black and white)]
Vampirella saves a young orphan boy from a couple of vampires. He then decides that he wants to be her side kick and helps Vampirella deal with the "mother" vampire. Vampirella refuses to take him with her, but there is a happy ending.
Vampirella and Monster Cops: Together for the first time in ... Indecent Proposal! [Chip Zdarsky, art and story; p.39-46 (black and white)]
Monster Cops takes the premise that Dracula, Frankenstein (or his monster to be precise) and the Wolf man join the police force. They rush out to help other officers who are having a problem addressing a scantily clad female vampire... Dracula and Vampirella are old acquaintances, but Vampirella refuses to be ticketed for "indecency".

Back to only five covers to collect, this issue contains the usual motley collection of reviews, articles and adverts with the bonus addition of a couple of Vampirella stories.

Joyce Chin has outdone herself! The Robin Syndrome has some of the best artwork in a Vampirella story for ages - a shame it's not in colour.

The Monster Cops story is silly, but fun.

Issue #8 (2004)

Regular Painted Cover - Shy $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Virgin Cover by Shy (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover by Haspiel (1,500 copies) $9.95

Vampirella: Kickstart my Heart [Dean Haspiel, art; Brian Wood, story; Mike Conley, letters; p.9-18 (black and white)]
Vampirella breaks into a highly guarded, secret compound. After fighting her way through the guards and booby traps, she finally gets to the central chamber containing Frankenstein's Monster. She revives him, spends the night (it seems that they are "old friends") and then goes on her way...
Vampirella and Sword of Dracula's Ronnie van Helsing in Witness - Part 1 [Greg Scott, art; Jason Henderson, story; Ed Dukeshire; letters; p.42-46 (black and white)]
A vampire has turned himself in to the police, exchanging information for immunity. Other vampire gang members want him back. Hovering in the wings is a shadowy figure that Agent van Helsing recognises as "Ella". All hell breaks loose and... To Be Continued.

Another couple of black and white stories interspersed between the usual columns, reviews etc.

As a collector I usually get every variant cover as soon as possible but not so in the case of the Vampirella Magazine. I had no interest in anything other than the Vampirella stories so the majority of the magazine was wasted paper IMHO. I only bought the cheapest, standard edition to keep up with the stories and waited a couple of years until mint copies of the alternative covers were being sold on eBay for a pittance by dealers who couldn't sell them in their stores. A sad reflection on the direction Harris had taken with their premiere title.

Issue #9 (2005)

Regular Painted Cover - Constantine $3.95
Regular News Stand Cover $5.95
Limited Alternate Photo Cover - Kitana Baker (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Virgin Cover by Constantine (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover by Harris (1,500 copies) $9.95

People v. Vampirella [Batton Lash, art; Melissa Uran and Trevor Nielson, art assists; p.13-22 (black and white)]
Harkening back to the Warren days of Vampirella and Pendragon, Vampirella is arrested for public indecency and thrown in jail. Pendragon contacts specialist "supernatural" lawyers who smuggle in her blood substitute serum and arrange bail. The judge decides to attend Pendragon's magic act to see what all the fuss is about, but the local "moral brigade" have other ideas. They pass the word around and stage a protest in the theatre which turns into a riot. Vampirella and Pendragon are forced to do another disappearing act to escape.
Vampirella / Sword of Dracula: Witness; part II [Greg Scott, art; Jason Henderson, story; Ed Dukeshire; letters; p.46-50 (black and white)]
Out of the flames of conflict "Ella" destroys the vampire thugs and takes the vampire informer from Agent van Helsing. Van Helsing tracks "Ella" as she hands over the informer to his vampire gang mates in exchange for a young girl captive. Riding off into the sunset to return the girl to her family, Van Helsing muses that if he is going to lose a witness at least it is for a good reason.

Again, a couple of black and white stories interspersed between the usual columns, reviews etc. I don't know... couldn't Harris find an artist who uses coloured crayons?

People v Vampirella is a nice amusing, little story with more than a passing nod to the heady days of José Gonzalez' Vampirella.

Witness is an interesting and shadowy story with a twist (or two). We know who the mysterious "Ella" is but have no idea until the last moment why she wants the informer.

Issue #10 (2005)

Winter Rose: a Vampirella tale [Liam Sharp, art and story; p.11-18 (black and white)]
A romantic interlude wherein Vampirella has a dalliance with Iago, who turns out to be a werewolf. She lets him go but he kills a child while the moon is full. Spurning his offer of love she does her duty and destroys another monster.
A day at the beach, or, Vampirella vs. the fish-men! [Jeff Zornow, art; Dan Jolley, story; Michael Conley, letters; p.40-46 (black and white)]
A quiet day chilling out on the beach turns to mayhem when a "mad occult scientist" type invokes an invasion of sea monsters. Battling against overwhelming fishy odds Vampirella has to try and prompt the absent minded scientist to remember the magic word to make them go away!

Winter Rose is deep and thoughtful, this is a wonderful story on all levels. Nice one Liam.

A Day at the Beach is a silly story, but a bit of fun. The interchange between Vampirella and the scientist is quite amusing.

Vampirella Magazine - Summer Special (2005)

Regular Cover - Dog Bone Studios $4.95
Regular News Stand Cover - $5.95
Limited Virgin Cover - Dog Bone Studios (1,500 copies) $9.95
Limited Alternate Cover - Dan Brereton (1,500 copies) $9.95

Matinee [Michael Golden - art and story]
A bunch of kids are spending an afternoon in a run down movie theatre having been given free tickets by a mysterious stranger. The film is about a haunted theatre where vampire/demons prey on the people sitting in the dark watching the films. While the children watch the film Vampirella enters and destroys the real vampire/ demons who are in the theatre about to re-enact what is on screen. She then tells the children to keep the noise down and eats their popcorn.

The story is quite clever - a story within a story within a story ... and a credit to Michael Golden. But, it is only eight pages long, and in black and white.

There are many pages of colour comic book action throughout this "Special", but it is all selections of pages from other comic books. This comic sized magazine seems to be mainly a large advert for various other publications with a spare Vampirella story they had lying around chucked in to justify the name on the cover!

At least they have only issued four variant covers to collect.