Vampirella Quarterly
Issue #1 "Ash Can" (March 2007)
Cover A - Joe Jusko $free
Vengeance of Vampirella [Artist, Stephen Segovia; Writer, Joshua Hale Fialkov]
This is a reproduction of the first seven pages of issue 1 of the 2007 Vampirella Quarterly series (below).
There is some question as to whether this counts as an "official" publication or not. It may not have been intended as an ash can, but I saw this advertised on eBay with the following description.
"ULTRA RARE "VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY: SPRING 2007" # 1 Promotional ASHCAN Preview comic from Harris Comics 2007! This SEXY 7-page FULL COLOR Ashcan edition of VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY # 1 was sent out to retailers to promote interest in the series and is EXTREMELY RARE! This ashcan comic preview, printed on 8.5" x 11" paper, had an EXTREMELY small print run and is VERY scarce! If you're a VAMPIRELLA fan, don't miss out on this RARE collectible! SOLD OUT from the publisher... "
Bon Alimagno, Harris Editor, had a few words to say on the topic.
"I don't know why someone is calling the packet we sent out to retailers an ashcan. I guess it is the classic old school definition of what an ashcan is, but it's nothing that's in any way collectible: We printed out the first seven pages, went to a copy center and had many more copies printed up. They were bound together only by a staple in the upper right corner and sent out to retailers with a press release and a letter by me. And that's it -- definitely not what we used to sell as an ashcan."
Well, I suppose you pays your money and you takes your choice! I will leave it up to you, gentle reader, as to whether this counts as a true "ash can" or not.
Whatever. A big "Thank You" to Bon for letting me have a copy for my personal collection!
Spring (April 2007)
Jusko cover - Joe Jusko $4.95
Virgin Jusko cover - Joe Jusko (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Virgin Jusko cover - Joe Jusko (100 copies) $29.95
Segovia cover - Stephen Segovia $4.95
B&W Segovia cover - Stephen Segovia (500 copies) $19.95
Fleming cover - Tom Fleming (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Fleming cover - Tom Fleming (100 copies) - $29.95
Sienkewicz cover - Bill Sienkewicz (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Sienkewicz cover - Bill Sienkewicz (100 copies) $29.95
Vengeance of Vampirella [Artist, Stephen Segovia; Writer, Joshua Hale Fialkov]
A sexy lady enters a cinema, followed by an enamoured man. After they enter the auditorium the ticket booth attendant morphs into Vampirella who follows them. Inside the woman attacks the man, killing him, and is then attacked by Vampirella. The woman, a rape victim turned serial killer, dies at the hands of Vampirella who then gives her heart to the Blood Red Queen of Hearts.Vampirella and the Blood Red Queen have an arrangement - if Vampirella collects sufficient hearts from unrepentant souls the Blood Red Queen will be able to summon the mad god Chaos, who will use his powers to return Adam van Helsing to Vampirella. This unholy union ends when Vampirella decides to cut out the middle man and collects the Blood Red Queen's heart for Chaos.
... And Be A Bride of Chaos [José Gonzalez, art; Archie Goodwin, story] (from Warren Vampirella #16)
A really clever story by Joshua Hale Fialkov combined with eye-popping artwork from Stephen Segovia make this an absolute pleasure to read, with a promise of a fascinating, must-have story arc to follow. Stephen Segovia has a distinctive look and feel for Vampirella, and has brought her right up to date. Fialkov's writing holds a promise of a dark and deadly Vampirella for mature readers only, and I look forward to the rest of this story arc and future Fialkov/Segovia collaborations.
Vampirella's "fluid" costume appears again, and looks as if it has now become a standard part of her arsenal. What is really interesting though, is that the ticket booth attendant is a male and then morphs into Vampirella - who is definitely a female! Many vampires have shape shifting abilities. Vampirella herself has shifted into a bat form and a half-bat, half-human form, but shape shifting from a male to a female form is a new one - which opens many interesting possibilities! It is not clear whether she actually shape shifts or if it is another of her talents coming into play and she was projecting an illusion using her hypnotic skills. On reflection I think that it is probably the latter as the whole cinema scene with Celeste was an illusion.
The back up story, a classic Warren tale from April 1972, shows off the talents of José Gonzalez in full, glorious colour, though the story itself is a little dated by modern standards. Having said that, it is all good, clean fun and an enjoyable romp for new readers and a rekindling of fond memories for long time Vampirella fans.
Summer (July 2007)
Cover A- Stephen Segovia $4.95
Cover B - Stephen Segovia $4.95
Limited B&W Cover A - Stephen Segovia (500 copies) $19.95
Limited B&W Cover B - Stephen Segovia (500 copies) $19.95
Limited Edition cover - Dan Brereton (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Limited Edition cover - Dan Brereton (100 copies) $29.95
Limited Edition cover - Al Rio (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Limited Edition cover - Al Rio (100 copies) $29.95
Vengeance of Vampirella (part 2) [Artist, Stephen Segovia; Writer, Joshua Hale Fialkov]
Vampirella is on a crusade to kill the most evil people she can find. Giving them a chance to repent (which they don't) she kills them and collects their souls. In the process the Blood Red Queen's essence/ soul escapes from within Vampirella and takes on a new form. A battle between Vampirella and the Blood Red Queen ensues, during which the final soul is collected and Adam van Helsing is released from the void. Unfortunately, so is the mad god Chaos.Death's Dark Angel [José Gonzalez, art; Archie Goodwin, story] (from Warren Vampirella #12)
The story itself could have been told in half the pages, but the artwork and "eye candy" is ladled out with abandon. This is not a story to be read with any great depth, but just sit back and let your eyes enjoy some of the most stunning art you've seen for quite a while. Every page is a gem.
Hopefully, one day this will be presented as a graphic novel/trade paperback as it is probably best read as one complete story rather than three segments a quarter of a year apart.
The back up story, Death's Dark Angel, is not only a "classic" story from the early 1970's but probably the most reprinted Warren story from that era. José Gonzalez' art is beautifully coloured, but having read this story many times before I didn't get past the second page before giving up. New readers, however...
Fall (October 2007)
Jusko cover - Joe Jusko $4.95
Scott cover - Scott $4.95
Virgin Jusko cover - Joe Jusko (500 copies) $19.95
B&W Scott cover - Scott (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Virgin Jusko cover - Joe Jusko (100 copies) $34.95
Medina cover - Lan Medina (500 copies) $19.95
B&W Medina cover - Lan Medina (500 copies) $19.95
Vengeance of Vampirella (parts 3 and 4) [Artist - Stephen Segovia (pt. 3), Noah Salonga (pt. 4)/ Writer - Joshua Hale Fialkov]
By the hand of his greatest enemy, Chaos was set freeFire and brimstone rain down from the skies, buildings crumble and demons walk the Earth. In the middle of it all, Vampirella takes on the Blood Red Queen and Chaos. As Vampirella falls, Pendragon appears out of the smoke and debris- and he's not alone! With a compliment of other magicians he'd met in his travels they take on Chaos, giving Vampirella the breathing space she needs to recuperate and a much needed power boost. Chaos and Adam van Helsing are inextricably entwined and to destroy Chaos Vampirella must kill her lover, Adam. Which she does. Yet when Chaos is defeated, Adam still lives.
Out of the desolation Vampirella, Adam and Pendragon walk into a new future.
Lurker in the Deep [José Gonzalez, art; Archie Goodwin, story] (from Warren Vampirella #13)
Vampirella: the Movie [Pablo Verdugo, art; Bon Alimagno, story]
A bunch of film studio executives are discussing the concept of a new Vampirella movie. They agree that the film has potential but the costume has to go. They tell Vampirella that all is good apart from the costume, and she has a rather unique response.
This issue has Jumbo Sized Special on the cover, and for once it is true. Four stories in one issue wraps up the Vengeance of Vampirella story arc, presents a classic Warren story and introduces a new artist (the winner of the 2006 Talent Search competition).
Again, the Vengeance story is more visual than plot, but eminently enjoyable anyway. There are a couple of subtle touches which may pass by the casual reader. We see Pendragon recruiting magicians at a meeting of the AA-M (AlcoholicsAnonymous - Magicians) which is being chaired by a talk dark magician with a very distinctive style of cloak. If that wasn't Marvel Comic's Doctor Stephen Strange then it is a very close accidental rendition.
Interestingly, the artist changes from part 3 to part 4, with Stephen Segovia being replaced by Noah Salonga. To give him his dues, Noah had some big shoes to step into which he did so well that if you didn't read the credits you wouldn't have realised it was a different artist. Well done, Noah.
The Lurker in the Deep is another much reprinted classic with the addition of some excellent colour work to take it into the 2000's. Much as I love the work of José Gonzalez, there are other great Warren Vampirella stories by other artist/ writer combinations which don't get to see the light of day that much.
Pablo Verdugo's Movie story doesn't really give him much chance to showcase his skills, but nevertheless he manages some cracking renditions of Vampirella. Let us hope that we get to see more from Pablo in the future and with better and longer story line.
Winter (December 2007)
Cover A- Joyce Chin $4.95
Cover B - Al Rio $4.95
Limited B&W Cover A - Joyce Chin (500 copies) $19.95
Limited B&W Cover B - Al Rio (500 copies) $19.95
Limited Edition cover - Matt Haley (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Limited Edition cover - xxxx (100 copies) $29.95
Limited Edition cover - xxxx (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Limited Edition cover - xxxx (100 copies) $29.95
The Prisoners [Artist, Noah Salonga; Writer, Joshua Hale Fialkov]
Vampirella and Adam van Helsing are prisoners in an unknown facility. In a control booth shadowy figures interrogate them via intercom, and drug Vampirella to make her talk. Elsewhere, Pendragon senses that Chaos may not be completely gone.Dracula Still Lives [José Gonzalez, art; T. Casey Brennan, story] (from Warren Vampirella #18)
Pushed beyond her limits, Vampirella breaks the bonds that hold her and frees Adam and they both escape. In the control booth we meet the interrogator, a beautiful red-head wearing a costume very similar to Vampirella's, albeit in black.She claims to be Vampirella's sister, Draculina.
Noah Salonga takes over the artwork with aplomb. You'd think he'd been drawing her for years. The story is an interesting teaser and a start to a new story arc with a new villainess/ character, Draculina.
I think that Draculina could be a new fan favourite and will have many appearances in the future, though her name is a little "theatrical".
Spring (April 2008)
Cover A - Joe Jusko $4.95
Cover B - Stephen Segovia $4.95
Limited Virgin Cover A - Joe Jusko (500 copies) $19.99
Limited Virgin Cover B - Stephen Segovia (500 copies) $19.99
Limited Virgin Cover C - Noah Salonga (500 copies) $19.95
Sex and Death [Artist, Noah Salonga; Writer, Joshua Hale Falkov]
Adam van Helsing realises that he is more than he was before. Through a series of visions he realises that he has the powers of Chaos, and can use them so he will no longer be Vampirella's "sidekick" but her equal.He senses that Pendragon is being tortured and attempts to transports himself and Vampirella to save Pendragon. En route they are waylaid by a Chaos clan who want to "merge" with Vampirella and create a new order os super demons.
The clan are soon destroyed by the combined talents of Adam and Vampirella, Adam transforming into the demonic form of Chaos.
Elsewhere, Draculina continues to torture Pendragon in an attempt to gain control of him and his powers to open portals between worlds.
Shadow of Dracula [José Gonzalez; T. Casey Brennan] (originally from Warren Vampirella #19)
When Wakes the Dead [José Gonzalez; T. Casey Brennan] (originally from Warren Vampirella #20)
A short story, but well illustrated by Noah Salonga who seems to have made Vampirella his own. Adam's Chaos powers is a nice twist and has a lot of potential for future story lines.
TRIVIA: On the contents page the two Warren reprint stories are cited as being from Warren Vampirellas #18 and #19, when in fact they are from #19 and #20.
Summer (September 2008)
Cover A- Joe Jusko $4.95
Cover B - Stephen Segovia $4.95
Limited Virgin Cover A - Joe Jusko (500 copies) $19.95
Limited B&W Cover B - Stephen Segovia (500 copies) $19.95
Limited Edition Franchesco cover - Franchesco (500 copies) $19.95
Limited Edition cover - Fiona Staples (500 copies) $19.95
xxxx [Artist, xxxx; Writer, xxxx]
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Halloween (October 2008)
Cover A- Dan Brereton $4.95
Cover B - xxxx $4.95
Limited B&W Cover A - xxxx (500 copies) $19.95
Limited B&W Cover B - xxxx (500 copies) $19.95
Limited Edition cover - xxxx (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Limited Edition cover - xxxx (100 copies) $29.95
Limited Edition cover - xxxx (500 copies) $19.95
Signed Limited Edition cover - xxxx (100 copies) $29.95
xxxx [Artist, xxxx; Writer, xxxx]
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