"I pledge by the strange powers which have become mine to fight against the injustice, corruption, evil and greed which fills this Earth in the hopes that somehow my example will be an example to all men."
- Dracula (The Super-Hero)
To think that Dell spent the money on licensing Universal's legendary vampire to create something like this is unfathomable. And to think that a competent writer like D.J. Arneson churned out a script like this is unthinkable. But they did, and this attempt at turning Dracula into a superhero failed miserably.
The simplistic art by the team of Bill Fraccio and Tony Tallarico is on full display here in this truly bizarre series.
Lasting for just a few more issues, Dell gave up on their bid to compete with the burgeoning juggernauts of Marvel and DC that were vying for the top spot in the superhero business at the time.
My verdict: Like the vampire, it sucks. Nonetheless, for the sake of dyed-in-the-fur Monsterologists, I'll be somewhat reluctantly covering more issues of DRACULA, as well as Dell's other monster superhero mad experiments with Frankenstein and The Wolfman in later posts. You've been warned!
DRACULA
No. 2
November 1966
Dell Publishing Co., Inc.
Editor: D.J. Arneson
Cover: Bill Fraccio (pencils); Tony Tallarico (inks); Ben Oda (lettering)
Pages: 36
Cover price: 12 cents
CONTENTS
"The Origin of Dracula"
Script: D.J. Arneson
Art: Bill Fraccio (pencils); Tony Tallario (inks)
"The Peace Conference"
Script: D.J. Arneson
Art: Bill Fraccio (pencils); Tony Tallario (inks)
"Dracula's Pledge"
Script: D.J. Arneson
Art: Bill Fraccio (pencils); Tony Tallario (inks)
Adding this comic and its companion Frankenstein to my collection was a priority. It must have been something in the water, but I'm a Fraccio and Tallarico fan. Delightful nonsense.
ReplyDeleteSimplistic art, but still not bad! Still have trouble getting through this story. It's quite unusual for the time, I'd say.
ReplyDelete