For Collectors Only

Like EERIE and CREEPY, VAMPIRELLA's early issues featured stories that were (mostly) silly and seemingly aimed at pre-teens. Dynamite's Archive Volume 1 collects the first 7 issues of this classic Warren Magazine...and I was surprised to see only two Vampirella stories within them. Vampi was more of a host, like Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie, introducing horror and fantasy stories and making wise cracks.

I found myself more interested in the feedback letters from fans, as well as the neat items that were for sale in the back pages than I was in the actual stories. While VAMPIRELLA picked up story (and art) wise as it progressed, these early issues are strictly for collectors. I wasn't aware Forrest J. Ackerman wrote some Vampi tales (and thank goodness stopped), and it was nice to see early work from the likes of Neal Adams and Doug Moench. Dynamite did a nice job reproducing the magazine in its original size. I'm looking forward to archives of later issues.