Vampirella Archives HC Collection

Vampirella Archives Vol. 1, cover art by Frank Frazetta

Warren Publishing Continued ... Part 4

In 1967, Warren Publishing underwent something of a crisis.  They were short on funds, writers and artists came and went.  Instead of new stories, reprints often had to suffice for both Creepy and Eerie.  This was known as a dark period for Warren.

But in 1969, things began to look up for the publisher.  A new influx of cash, new writers and artists, plus returning of old ones heralded a new day.  But what really signaled a change in fortune for James Warren and Company was the launch of the third horror magazine - Vapirella.

Vampirella was the creation and collaboration of Forrest J Ackerman, friend and fellow publisher with Jim Warren, and Trina Robbins.  Forrest wrote the first story and Trina designed the distinctive hairstyle and skimpy costume of Vampirella.  Like Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie, Vampirella was to serve as host for the new magazine, but soon she became so popular that she became a character within the stories of the magazine.

Vampirella was no ordinary vampire.  She was an alien.  Born on the planet Drakulon, she came from a race of vampires who were sustained by rivers of blood which ran throughout the planet.  But alas, because of the twin suns of her solar system, the planet was doomed.  Vampirella survived when an American astronaut landed on her planet.  When she discovered that blood ran through the veins of human beings, she commandeered the space craft and returned to Earth.  Soon, she became a "good" vampire and frequently did battle with the forces of evil.

Vampirella was a success.  Like Creepy and Eerie before it, the magazine drew some of the finest talent of the day: Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, John Severin, Alex Toth, Carmine Infanto, Russ Heath, Doug Moench, Bernie Wrightson, Barry Windsor Smith, Jose Gonzales, Frank Brunner, Mike Ploog, Wally Wood and a host of others.  Also, there was a period when a number of Spanish artists were employed.

Frank Frazetta's rendition of Vampirella

Vampirella, like her sister magazines, had a very good run, which ended in 1983 when Warren Publishing went into bankruptcy.  Harris Publications obtained the rights to Warren's library and titles in August of that year.  After a protracted lawsuit, Jim Warren regained the rights to Creepy and Eerie, but not Vampirella.  This remained a Harris property until 2010 when Dynamite Entertainment secured the rights to the character, title, and past magazine publications.  Fortunately, like Dark Horse with Creepy and Eerie, Dynamite Entertainment began to publish the entire Vampirella archives in hardback form in January 2011, featuring the first seven issues.  Three volumes have been published thus far and Vol. 4 is due soon.