Magazine Review: Vampirella Magazine – Issue 1

VAMPIRELLA #1
Author: Nicoli Cuti, Forrest J. Ackerman, Don Glut
Artists: Neal Adams, Ernie Colon, Reed Crandall, Billy Graham, Mike Royer, Tom Sutton, Tony Tallarico
Cover: Frank Frazetta
Editor: Bill Parente
Publisher: James Warren
Publication Date: 1969
Format: – 66 pages
Price: $.50

I will admit straight out, I know very little to almost nothing about the books that started this amazing genre. So when I am able to get my hands on a classic you better believe I will sit down and review it.
I was able to get my hands on a copy of Vampirella #1 and it just shows how far we have come in 40 years and yet the same style is still used. This edition collects 7 stories in 66 pages and I was more than impressed. I can see that the same ideas still flow in the thought process of horror writers but the original works can really stand on their own with today’s big stories.

Artwork: 4.3 out of 5
You know you see talent when you flip through older books. While most artists had similar styles it was all good! I will come out and say that I would prefer artwork like this over some of the stuff that is going on now. The characters are clean and crisp, each story has a different style but it all feels consistent through out the book, plus you get some Neal Adams work and who doesn’t like that? Just looking at the first page I wonder how they got away with such work in the late 60’s. Fantastic Job all around!

Story: 4.0 out of 5
If there is something to frown upon here it would be the stories. They are all great works which flow well but most have a consistant theme, shocking endings! it works for one or two but having 7 stories where more than half make you go “Oh wow!” is kind of repetative. That being said the stories are all wonderfully done and a few are pretty creepy. You couldn’t lose back then.

Dying Breath: 4.2 out of 5
The whole issue is just solid. The artwork shines and the stories can stand up to anything put out today. I was shocked to learn Vampirella’s origin to be honest. I just wish I had issue #2 now so I could see where her story is going. She is a great story teller style character for the rest of the stories and you know Elvira had to play off something. Just a fantastic overall read that I would say if you can get a copy, read it and enjoy why it is worth what it is.

A new Vampirella series is coming out soon (2009), so lets hope it can flow along the same lines as the original!