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VAMPIRELLA POST CARDS
I always thought it was a bit of a silly idea to produce Vampirella post
cards - as a collector it would the utmost sacrilege to actually stick
a stamp on one and send it someone! However, I am not all people, I am
me.
And I am sure a few people did actually use these as post cards. And
I'm also sure that they attracted the momentary attention of some of the
postal workers who handled them on their journey as well as the recipient(s).
I don't know whether these were actually retail items or were freebies
to dealers and the like, but I wouldn't consider them to be an ideal form
of mass promotion for Vampirella comic books. But what do I know?
Mystery Walk Post Card - 1995
This card came out in 1995 as a promotional item for
Vengeance of Vampirella #0.
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POST CARD SET - 1997
Now, I think that this is a neat idea. Nine post cards
on a tear off strip.
Each post card features a distinctive recent piece
of art and provides a showcase for nine of Harris' top Vampirella
artists.
The back of the card(s) are quite simple with the
Vampirella logo and a credit for the art.
I decided against scanning all nine reverse sides,
as they are all exactly the same barring a couple of lines of small
text, which I have documented below. I have one sample reverse side
above from card #9 by Jim Silke. Click on the thumbnail to see the
full sized card and use your imagination to transfer the credit
information for each card!
CARD #1: Text reads:-
Artwork by JOE JUSKO. Cover art for: Vampirella:
Sad Wings of Destiny
CARD #2: Text reads:-
Art by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL and ALEX GARNER.
Digital colour by BRIAN HABERLIN. Cover art for: Vampirella
Lives #3
CARD #3: Text reads:-
Art by AMANDA CONNER . Digital colour by
DAN KEMP and BRIAN HABERLIN. Cover art for: Death of Vampirella:
Memorial Edition
CARD #4: Text reads:-
Art by LOUIS SMALL, JR. and CAESAR.
Digital Colour by BRIAN HABERLIN. Cover art for: Vampirella
Strikes Annual #1
CARD #5: Text reads:-
Painted by MARK TEXEIRA. Cover art for: Vampirella
vs Pantha #1
CARD #6: Text reads:-
Art by JOHN BOLTON. Cover art for: Vampirella:
Blood Red Queen of Hearts
CARD #7: Text reads:-
Art by JOE QUESADA. Cover art for: Vampirella
Lives #1
CARD #8: Text reads:-
Painted by MARK BEACHUM. Cover art: Vampirella
Strikes Anniversary Collection #2
CARD #9: Text reads:-
Painted by JIM SILKE. Cover art: Vampirella
Strikes Anniversary Collection #1
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Topps promo card - 1994
This is a promotional Vampirella postcard published
by TOPPS Trading Cards and mailed out exclusively to retailers to
promote their impending Vampirella Trading Card Set.
These were impossible to get unless you were a retailer!
The back of this card displays a list of the artists
appearing in the card set along with a beautiful, original colour
portrait of Vampirella, hand rendered and signed by Louis Small,
Jnr. Louis is well known for his work on the Harris Comics' VAMPIRELLA
comic book series and famed for his good girl/bad girl art!
In addition, the front of the card has a printed image
of a black and white watercolour study of Vampi by painter Ray Lago
and it is autographed in silver pen by Ray.
The postcard measures 4.25" x 6".
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heroes & angels promotional post card - 1998
Another Ray Lago picture from the Visions of Vampirella
trading card set graces the front of this promotional postcard.
It also shows two of Lago's colour paintings of the Predator and
Spider-Man and it is autographed in white pen.
Published by Ray Lago himself back in 1998 and mailed
out exclusively to retailers and collectors on his mailing list
in order to promote the publication of his art book, Ray Lago: Heroes
& Angels. These were impossible to get unless you were a retailer
or on Ray's mailing list!
The back is an advertisement for Ray Lago's Heroes
and Angels book, and, again, sports a one off portrait drawing by
Ray Lago in the area left for the address ... a much more sensible
use for post cards than sending messages through the post.
I have included two samples of Ray's work, one in
colour and one in black and white - both are stunning!
The postcard measures 4.25" x 6".
Ray is well known for his beautiful work on Vampirella,
as well as his DC and Marvel trading card illustrations, and his
work on MAGIC the Gathering and PLAYBOY Magazine's "Little Annie
Fanny". |
Claudio Aboy Post Card Set
Based in Argentina, Claudio
Aboy is a talented illustrator with a prolific portfolio of
Vampirella images sold on eBay. Though the originals fetch top rates
his prints are quite reasonable.
Unfortunately, I have bought prints in the past (with
the original artists' signatures), but have always been a little
dissatisfied with them - prints are OK, but once you start getting
some original art then they hold little or no interest!
To promote his work (perhaps for the odd people
like me who don't want prints but can't afford original art work)
Claudio produced a couple of sets of Vampirella post cards with
six images in each set.
I was very tempted, but it was a case of bad timing
when they were listed on eBay.
However, the good thing about eBay is that if you
are patient enough everything turns up - sooner or later!
One day I'll have these sets in my collection ...
just not today. |
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Michael Golden Post Card - 2007
This exclusive 4" x 6" post card was available at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con, and was (presumably) to promote Michael Golden's latest book.
Taken from the cover of the 2004 Halloween Special, this is one of my favourite Vampirella images - it is simple, but very effective. |
Claudio Aboy Halloween Post Cards
Claudio Aboy produced a new set of Vampirella post cards for Halloween 2008. Basically, these are a couple of his recent works with a Halloween message and pumpkin overlaid upon them. Nice, though.
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If you know of any Vampirella post cards that aren't listed here, please
send me some scans (front and back please)
and as much information as you have on them and I will gladly credit you
for their inclusion on Vampilore.
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