Well, this was a pleasant surprise!
In the latest issue of the comics-nostalgia magazine Back Issue (#169, from TwoMorrows Publishing), writer Dewey Cassell contributes the article “The Magic of Mordecai Pendragon,” providing an overview of the oft-inebriated stage magician who was best friend to that stalker from the stars, Vampirella, back in her original Warren Publishing days.
Best of all, he acknowledges the source of his information: the acclaimed StarWarp Concepts nonfiction comics history From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, by author Steven A. Roman (that’s me)! How awesome is that?
Well, if you’ve read Mr. Cassell’s article and are in interested in the deepest of dives for the behind-the-scenes story of Pendragon and his sultry, blood-drinking assistant, or whether you’re an old-school fan of Vampirella or someone discovering her for the first time, let me tell you about this fantastic book.
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures is an extensive look at Vampi’s early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983, in seven heavily researched chapters:
The Vampire Who Fell to Earth: It’s the story of the life of Vampirella at Warren Publishing: her 1969 development by cocreators James Warren and Forrest J Ackerman, with the assistance of artists Frank Frazetta and Trina Robbins; the adventures she went on via the writing and artistic talents of such visionaries as Archie Goodwin, Bill DuBay, Jose Gonzalez, Enrich, Gonzalo Mayo, and many others; and the cancellation of her series in 1982 when the company collapsed. It also features probably the most you’ll ever see reported about four Vampi writers who were just as talented but not as well known: Mike Butterworth, who wrote under the pseudonym Flaxman Loew; T. Casey Brennan; Rich Margopoulos; and Gerry Boudreau.
The Vampirella Episode Guide: The largest section of the book, it examines every story starring Vampirella during the Warren Era: over 100 entries, some with little known behind-the-scenes details. Plus stories behind some of Vampi’s unpublished adventures!
Vampi Goes to Hollywood: In 1975, Hammer Films announced the development of a Vampirella movie starring model/actress Barbara Leigh and the legendary Peter Cushing (later known the world over as Grand Moff Tarkin of Star Wars). The project crashed in spectacular fashion, but the details have always been murky. I try to clear up the confusion surrounding it, detailing the production from its launch to its unfortunate ending. And then I take a critical look at the awful Vampirella movie that was made in 1996, starring Talisa Soto and rock god Roger Daltrey of the Who—and probably shouldn’t have been!
The Literary Vampiress: From 1975 to 1976, Warner Books published a series of Vampirella novelizations by sci-fi author Ron Goulart. I take a look at each novel, and explain why they’re worth tracking down…if you can find copies!
The Vampirella Warren Era Checklist: A list of every Warren Vampi story! Every reprint volume from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment! Plus little known trivia!
From the Stars also features: A foreword by Sean Fernald, the Official Vampirella Historian! A peek at Peter Cushing’s personal copy of the 1976 Vampirella screenplay! A frontispiece by legendary artist Bob Larkin, who painted covers for Warren’s Vampirella, The Rook, Eerie, and Famous Monsters of Filmland! Photos of Barbara Leigh in costume as Vampirella at the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention, held in New York! Photos of Talisa Soto in costume on the set of the 1996 Vampirella movie! Rare photos from the collection of Forrest J Ackerman! If there’s only one Vampirella history book you pick up—and let’s be honest, this is the only Vampirella history book that’s been published—then be sure to add it to your collection!
“This is without a doubt the essential, authoritative reference book for anything related to the Warren-era Vampirella… There are lots of books out there with good information—Empire of Monsters, The Art of Vampirella: The Warren Years, The Art of Jose Gonzalez, etc.—but none offers such a broad, all-encompassing look at the history of this character.”—Vampirella of Drakulon (blog)
“Everything you always wanted to know about Vampirella and then some! I was particularly enthralled reading about Hammer Films’ never-made film version of Vampirella and the big ballyhoo that happened at the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention—with Peter Cushing presenting Barbara Leigh—because I was there as Ingrid Pitt’s aide-de-camp! It brought back such a torrent of jaw-dropping memories! Bravo to author Steven A. Roman and Foreword legend Sean Fernald!”—Sam Irvin, director of Elvira’s Haunted Hills and co–executive producer of the Academy Award–winning Gods and Monsters
“Not only a fantastic reference guide, but it is also a love letter to the fanged horror heroine. New fans and old will be interested in the bibliography especially. Libraries that specialize in comics should consider including this volume in their collection as well. Highly recommended.”—Monster Librarian
Back Issue #169 is in comic shops right now, or you can order it directly from TwoMorrows Publishing.
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures is available in print from BarnesandNoble(dot)com and Bookshop(dot)org, and in digital form from DriveThru Fiction. (Unfortunately, Amazon has currently delisted the print book from wide availability and categorized it as a third-party used book because their “algorithm” made that decision, and they refuse to change that status.)
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