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Vampirella/Dracula: The Centennial
Issue #1 (October 1997)Regular cover - John Bolton $5.95
Part 1: Necromance The police investigate a grisly murder, and from the diary of the victim they learn he was killed by his lover. Vampirella arrives and admits the murder, explaining that the victim was a serial killer and then warns the police detective that she knows that he is a murderer too, and will be back one day for him. Part 2: The New European An American helps arrange transport to America for an aging Balkan. In the middle of the night he is attacked and drained by the three female members of Mr. Dragonsun's family. Weak but determined he kills the three vampires and sets out for America. Too late, he arrives home to discover that his wife and her best friend are now vampires under the thrall of Dracula. He kills his wife's friend but Dracula and his wife walk away into the night. Part 3: Vampirella vs. Dracula In a library two men sit opposite each other, both researching bats. It turns out that both are writing about vampires, or to be precise a particular vampire. One is Archie Goodwin writing about Vampirella, the other Bram Stoker writing about Dracula. As they talk, they are watched from the shadows by their creations, who also discuss the strange reality them seem to be in. Dracula decides to kill Bram Stoker and Archie Goodwin in an attempt to increase his power. Vampirella saves the day, and has a few poignant words for Archie Goodwin.
All three stories in this book are completely unrelated. A Dracula story, a Vampirella story and a Vampirella and Dracula story. The first two stories are fine, but the third one is a little "out there". As escapist fantasy goes this is a beauty, but it is a very clever tribute to Bram Stoker, without whom we would have missed a century of classic gothic horror in a wide range of media. |
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