From the oddball werewolf of our last post, to an equally weird (looking) vampire in today's entry, (and don't get me started on that cape), this story comes a'flappin' forth from the September 1954 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #21. Featuring legendary, Peter North, who some of you might already know went on to a very lucrative career in the 80's adult entertainment industry...
I have to say, I kind of think the villagers deserve their fate -- in 99% of pre-code "who is the vampire" stories they always suspect the brand new guy that shows up with a big box right as the vampire killing start -- but not these guys! They are completely oblivious!
ReplyDeleteI really like the art in this, it's really busy and has some good action panels, page 3, panel 1, page 4, panel 2. I think there was some miscommunication with the colorist, though, because they couldn't figure out what to do with the vampire's chin. Did he grow a beard? Is that drool? It's multiple colors throughout this tale!
"Swwiiishh"? Not the sfx I'd choose!
And I should note -- everybody click on the link in the description -- this issue has the kind of cover that gets the kids blood pumping and throbbed a vein in the head of the moral majority!
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a werewolf/vampire hybrid, with a little bit of lion thrown in.
ReplyDelete"Contrary to popular belief, vampires are like ordinary people," I don't know any ordinary people who turn into horrors at night or sleep in coffins.
This would have made an interesting Mexihorror back in the fifties.
So many of these stories would.
ReplyDeleteI love the "full moon" on the penultimate panel, page 2. If this were a movie I would already be rushing to submit an item to imdb.
ReplyDeleteI'm not one to be suspicious of just every story in which male vampires bite other men, and I don't feel like there is anything particularly erotic about the art here--but the fact that M. North cannot bring himself to consecrate his relationship with a lady and, oh boy, the overheated narration really pushes it all over the edge.
ReplyDeleteThe taste of his blood filled me with ecstasy supreme! I went home with my joy bubbling over!
The art is marvelous: All those energetic lines and weird textures; the great character faces. It's like everything I love about Sheldon Moldoff with a little more ad art sophistication stirred in for good measure.