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Vampirella time I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and just need to tell you
all about Vampi. Today we’re going back to the beginning the origin that started it all,
and also some fun Vampirella movie connections
It’s going to be a cheesy time but before we get started I’m Sasha
and if you’re enjoying this content you know what to do,
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Vampirella debuted in Vampirella number 1 in 1969 and was created by Forest J
Ackerman , Trina Roberts, Frank Frazetta and Tom Sutton.
Vanpirella was a horror anthology style series that featured tales with
Vampirella but also utilized her as the narrator or rather host of the book.She
would open an conclude the entire affair but also the different entries.
You would occasionally have other women but for the most part it was her. The focus of the
magazine was on horror and attractive females. And it made no efforts to shy away from that,
but was also a bit tongue in cheek about it and would poke fun at itself on occasion.
Vampirella’s iconic and for some controversial costume was designed
by Trina Roberts who modelled her off of horror hosts of the time.
However, she also feels that over time there has been an emphasis
on sexualizing vampirella that was not part of her original design she stated
"There's a difference between sexy and hyper-sexy. The way I have drawn Vampirella, she's definitely
sexy, I designed the costume. But her costume, through the years,
has gotten briefer and briefer. She has been hypersexualized, but not by me. I mean,
I see drawings in which she's got the 'brokeback pose'. I would never do that."
Vampirella has definitely changed over the years her first appearance and story
are succinct to the point of being simplistic.
Illustrated Tales To Bewitch & Bedevil You Vampirella
Look out she’s waiting inside, this first collector’s edition...for you!
The by Frank Frazetta is simple but very striking. Vampirella in her costume standing against a full
moon. Her food resting atop a human skull while her wings appear as shadows on the moons surface.
The interior instantly introduces you to the magazine and you get
to know Vampirella or Vampi as she says YOU the reader may call her.
It’s all very personal as if she’s chatting with you the reader and
the tone taken is very casual and amenable it engenders a rapport
with Vampirella beyond what will be presented in her actual tale.
The intro page is also a strikingly simply panel that allows Vampirella
to hold most of the focus. Again with her batty silhouette
Vampirella’s story is the first in this first issue it’s very short and very cheese cakey.
Opening on her having a shower under the
guise of we’re supposed to notice something different about this.
Note the bat like birthmark, it is significant.
There’s a birthmark, I’m only half joking it took me a minute t o find the birthmark
Vampirella is showering in blood and drinking it as the comic has her vamp
pose and explains her origin
Vampirella of DRaculon !!
Drakulon is….literally...a planet of blood! Thus on Drakulon a race has developed that
depends solely on blood for sustenance, evolution has taken strange ways on Drakulon
The people have wings, and can transform and become invisible, why?? Blood water?
As a terrible drought besets Drakulon Vampirella observes a crashed ship,
with the name of the Arthur Clark, like Arthur C Clark the sci fi author, nice nod.
Vampirella goes to investigate and changes form,
so we the reader get a sample of her powers in action
However vampirella is too weak after days without food to maintain her form and so reverts back to
normal and attacks one of the astronauts. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorched
H2O water flows in their veins
On Drakulon the formula for water is haemoglobin doubled with oxygen
Smorgasblood
These puns,,,they hurt so good!
You won’t have died in vein
Next issue beware earth vampirella is coming!
So yes very simplistic the rest of the issue consists of other
horrorish tales with vampirella introducing and concluding them.
There is a very campy b movie vibe to this story but when you learn more
about her creator forest or forrey ackerman it makes a lot more sense.
Forest J Ackerman was a mega nerd a huge fan of science fiction, horror and comics.
He attended the f1st world science fiction convention in 1939 where he
wore his first what he called futuristic costume. Basically a 1930s cosplay.
He frequented writers clubs rubbed shoulders with the likes of ray bradbury,
robert a heinlein, leigh bracket and more.
He started collecting sci fi memorabilia, enough for his own museum known as son of ackermansion.
There is much more more but we coil
d be here all day, he was also a huge fan of b movies and in no way shied away from
the cheesy of “low brow” so the embracing of camp in this tale is hardly surprising.
Vampirella would run under Warren Publishing for 112 issues with the final one being 1983
which wasd the year they declared bankruptcy and their assets were
auctioned off and Vampirella was purchased by Harris Publications.
Who would release an issue numbered 113 in 1988 but it just contained reprinted material.
OVer time the magazine would change and it’s fascinating to see how evolving sci fi
and comic book tropes impact the magazine. The style of adventures change, the art styles
change. Vampriella stops hosting quite quickly even tho the book remains an anthology. And
while there is also some highlighting and care taken with emphasizing Vampirella’s
appearance the stories and her as a character become more fleshed out.
Tho not as much as she will be in later eras.
Still there;s something there, something in how upfront Vampirella is about what it is,
and the simplicity of the concept that seem to have helped it endure.
Of course it’s not for everyone, tho her origin has since changed but the appearance of Vampirella
for some has been quite polarizing and off putting and they feel it is indicative of
exploitation of females in comics and a sign of problems within the industry.
There are discussions to be had around vampirella whether her appearance is
empowering or exploitative whether focusing on it is in and of itself something to be examined,
Not every female character needs to be or should be vampirella but there should also be a place
for the Vampirella’s out there which doesn’t mean there can’t be a discussion about her.
But she has bee loved and reviled by people from all genders sexualirties and walks of life. For
those who are aware of her. She causes a reaction in most lets put it that way.
She has most certainly endured and even been adapted with another in the works at
the time of this recording. If it’s the future or your present and it’s out tell me about it.
At the time of this recording the world has the 1996 movie version starring
Talisa Soto as Vampirella which we did a review on which I’ll of course link to.
However that movie has some nods to classic Vampirella outside of origin that I initially
missed and I would be remiss not to tell you all about them because well they made me happy.
When Vampirella firsty comes to earth she meets the most stereotypical nerd
imaginable walking down an alley carrying his computer getting mugged. This character is
named forrey ackerman a nod to her creator. He also is the first to dub her Vampirella.
This is meant to be the meta reason why she randomly kisses him cause she owes her
existence to him, but in the movie it comes out of nowhere but it’s a nice nod for fans.
Ackerman himself is also in this movie in an uncredited cameo. Ackerman made
cameos in movies all the time appearing in over 210 movies. And this was one of them
he’s one of the people in the crowd when Vlad is performing his super club banger bleed for me
Ackerman was a mega nerd and huge fan and big proponent of fan culture. So it’s nice
he was included and also given is love of cheese and b movies something he enjoyed.
It’s more respect than a lot of creators are granted.
It doesn’t make the movie better or good but it has that going for it.
There are documentaries out there on Ackerman if you need to know more about this nerdy nerdy
man who seems to have potentially started the cosplaying trend or been one of the
very early first people to do it in a con setting.
Vampirella and her fascinating appeal and
evolution are fascinating to me but I want to hear your thoughts?
Are you fans of Vampirella? If why? If not why not? LEt’s talk vampi down
below. And while you’re down there please do all of the youtube things.
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Thanks so much for taking some time out of your day to discuss comics
with me. I always appreciate it and I will see you again soon Buh Bye.