Vamperotica

- compiled by Paul Alexander

Our criteria for this list was very simple. The book title/character with the most issues with an appearance wins. That includes mini/maxi series’, magazines, one-shots etc. Anything that shows the title/character in comic form. Reprints, trade paperbacks, omnibus’ were not included. The trick was trying to research through as many issues as possible, making sure most of the stories were first run. One major thing that I noticed is that over the last 10 – 15 years, most publishers released mini-series’ instead of continuous runs. Another trend is the re-booting, or re-numbering of a series’.

When listing each selected title/character we listed the year of origin and publisher. In the case of multiple publishers throughout the years the oldest publisher is listed first to the most recent, separated by commas (i.e. Warren, Harris, Dynamite Publishing). When published under an imprint, the parent company precedes the imprint company by a colan (i.e. Image:Cliffhanger). When able, an image of the first appearance cover is posted.

As always, it would be great to hear from you, so if you have any comments, and/or updated information pertaining to any character/title count, just CLICK HERE to contact us.

#10. CHASTITY (1995/Chaos Comics/Dynamite) TOTAL = 33

In 1976, an American, Chastity Marks, did what any 17-year old abused by their father did – runaway. Her dream was to be an actress and she wanted to travel to London and train with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but only made it to New York on Halloween broke and hungry. After being caught up in the seedy side of life, she finally made it to London and her dream only to be turned away at the door. It was then that Chastity was swept up in the Punk Rock scene and ran with a band called The Nobs. She was later attacked by a Vampire called Farley. It was then that her life would change forever. Chastity’s first appearance was in Chaos Comics’ 5-issue series Evil Ernie: Straight to Hell. From that point on she appeared in multiple mini-series and crossover throughout the Chaos Comics world.

#9. MORBIUS, THE LIVING VAMPIRE (1971/Marvel) TOTAL= 71

Dr. Michael Morbius was a Nobel Prize-winning biochemist dying from a rare disorder dissolving his blood cells. Michael began secretly (is there any other way these thing are done?), working on a cure as not to give fear to his fiancee Martine. He attempted using distilled fluids from bats to rid his disease. Experimenting with such formulas on his yacht, Michael had his assistant Nikos run an electrical shock through his system. The combination profoundly changed Michael’s body, transforming him into something resembling a Vampire. Driven by the hunger for blood, Morbius slew Nikos. Fearful that he would strike at Martine, Morbius tried ending his life by jumping into the ocean, he failed. Mans inner need for self-preservation led him to escape the water’s embrace. I have always thought that Morbius had potential to be a cool character. With the success of the first Blade movie I thought they might tap Morbius next, yet no one has taken the character to task.

#8. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT (2002/IDW) TOTAL= 83

Idea + Design Works first published this limited series about Vampires in Barrow, Alaska in 2002. Located in the northernmost part of Alaska. Temperatures average below freezing from mid-November to mid-December there is no Sun. Sheriff Eben Olemaun and his wife, Stella, discover that something is quite not right on the eve of their first thirty days of night. Amongst the rise in crime, one in particular that destroys all communication devices, a mysterious stranger appears, asking for raw meat. It is far to late when they realize that it is Vampires who have invaded Barrow. The Vampires turn the town into a buffet, killing and feeding on all the townspeople. The Sheriff discovers a way to save his wife and the town, only the cost may be more than both may realize.

#7. BLADE (1972/Marvel/Marvel:MAX) TOTAL= 94

Eric Brooks’ origin into Blade goes something like this. While pregnant with Eric, his mother was bitten by a vampire named Deacon Frost. Eric was born different, and many around him felt it. It was after finding out the truth about his mother, her death and his birth, Eric decided to hunt down the one who “killed” his mother, and every last Vampire on the face of the Earth. As Blade, Eric is considered The Daywalker. A man with Vampire tendencies and abilities, yet able to survive in the Sun and the direct bite of a Vampire, which he discovered in issue #19 of The Tomb of Dracula. One little note here: I found it funny that it was a secondary character from an obscure title that gave Marvel Comics what is to be considered its first box-office hit.

#6. ANGEL (2007/Dark Horse/IDW) TOTAL= 113

The character of Angel first came to popularity on Joss Whedon’s television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the vampire with a soul. For killing a loved one, gypsies put a curse on the then named Angelus that returned his soul to him. Thus, to be forever tormented by the centuries of violent murders he has now become a force for good. Like its parent title, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is full of the same characterizations as the show in which it has been adapted from. The comic book series continues were the live action television series left off with Season 5.

#5. PURGATORI (1994/Chaos Comics) TOTAL = 114

Chaos Comics was a ground breaker in returning to the Horror genre with the creation of Lady Death and Evil Ernie, two titles I have enjoyed very much. Creators Brian Pulido and Steven Hughes hit the trifecta with the lovely hellspawn of Purgatori. Purgie became just as popular as any of the Chaos creations. Maybe even more so with this run.
The sadness of this all is that artist Steven Hughes lost his long battle with cancer and passed away in 2000 at the age of 46.

#4. THE TOMB OF DRACULA (1972/Marvel/Marvel: Epic) TOTAL= 115

In 1459, Vlad Tepes Dracul was mortally wounded by the Turkish warlord Turac, who brought Vlad to a gypsy named Lianda to be healed. However, Lianda, a vampire, in revenge for Vlad’s persecution of the gypsies, transformed him into the vampire Dracula. Dracula defeated the vampire Nimrod in battle, and thus succeeded him as ruler of Earth’s vampires. Soon afterwards, he enhanced his own blood with that of Varnae, Lord of the Vampires before Dracula, giving him greater powers than any other vampire.
We have creative comic book greats Stan Lee, Gerry Conway, and Gene Colon to thank for bringing back the horror comic in shocking fashion. The characterizations and story-telling is first rate, and Colon’s artwork at times is pure genius.

#3. VAMPEROTICA/LUXURA (1994/Brainstorm) TOTAL= 119

We expected that our very own Vamperotica/Luxura comics would make the list but even we were shocked at how high we placed. First a Vampire anthology comic book, it featured Kirk Lindo’s creation The Vampress Luxura. Soon Luxura became center stage and one of the most revered new female characters in Vampire lore throughout the independent publishing world since Vampirella. Yes, I am being a bit biased, and yet there has not been a female Vampire character to resonate with collectors since Warren’s illustrious Vamp. After the comic books more than five year run, Luxura soon appeared in multiple mini-series’ and crossed over with some equally well-known top independent characters of the time. Luxura’s title count should increase with the new graphic novel in the works.

#2. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1996/Dark Horse/IDW) TOTAL= 153

Created by Joss Whedon, The Vampire Slayer was based on his 1992 movie starring Kristy Swanson and Luke Perry. After spending some 5 years in limbo, Buffy returned to the screen, the small screen that is. After 7 seasons the television series ended giving way to a continued Season 8, and now a Season 9, in comic book form. Television gave Whedon the perfect format to expand and create an entire world and mythology for his Vampire Slayer. Now in comic book form, the story-telling is unlimited. Driven by characterization some of the best stories told on the tube came from this and its later spin-off Angel. The recent try for a big screen re-boot failed without her creator involved. Let’s hope it stays that way.

#1. VAMPIRELLA (1969/Warren, Harris, Dynamite Publishing) TOTAL = 309+!

At over 300 issues and still counting, no other comic even comes close to Vampirella! Created by Forrest J. Ackerman, with costume designed by Trina Robbins for Warren Publishing’s b/w magazine Vampirella #1 (1969) which featured a cover by the late great Frank Frazetta. It was comic book great Archie Goodwin who later developed the character from her horror-story hostess role to leading character status. It was the magazine format that saved the famous Vamp from censorship during the late 60’s and early 70’s. Harris Comics acquired the rights in 1983 and sold those rights to Dynamite Entertainment in 2010.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

AMERICAN VAMPIRE (2010/DC Comics) TOTAL = 29

First published with the help of the authorship of famed horror master Stephen King, DC Comics finally is able to make a dent into the world of the Vampire genre. In researching for this article, it was made apparent that DC seemed never really comfortable with the any horror genre under the DC banner until the Vertigo line.

ANITA BLAKE: VAMPIRE HUNTER (2006/MARVEL COMICS) TOTAL = 28

Based on the Laurell K. Hamilton series of novels. With 21 novels in print date, this comic book series is a joint venture between Marvel Comics and Dabel Brothers Production, should have more material then they need for the long haul.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
While researching this article I did find a few things fascinating:

Lots of BUFFY! The large body of work showcasing Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel was way more than I expected.

What’s up with DC?! DC Comics seems to have not done much with Vampires since their inception. Except for the Vertigo line, which seemed to dabble in the genre, as far as any character sticking out in ones mind, they fall very short compared to Marvel.

Way to go Chaos Comics! The amazing thing about this to me was that two of Chaos’ characters made it to our top ten list. Brian Pulido obviously is a Vampire fan!

The Wetham Effect! Prior to The Tomb of Dracula, there was a moratorium on horror comic books thanks to Fredric Wertham and his book The Seduction of the Innocent which caused continued overreaction to horror comics of the 1950s and ‘60s. With the government’s involvement in passing new  laws, many publishers were put out of business, and what was worse is that many fantastic artists were driven out of the industry never to draw again due to the stigma of the day. MAD went from comic book format to magazine so it did not have to deal with such laws, the same for Vampirella when Warren Publishing released the sexy vamp in magazine format by-passing the newly established Comics Code Authority. That is why there were many Westerns, Suspense, Mystery, and Romance comic books during that period. A great book to read on this is The Ten-Cent Plaque: The Great Comic Book Scare and How It Changed America by David Hajdu

Main Reference Sources: Cesnur.org, ComicBookdb.com, ComicMonsters.com, ComicVine.com, Comics.Wikia.com, Grand Comics Database, IGN Entetainment (Comics), Overstreet Price Guide #40, Wikipedia.com