It was 25 years ago that our resident soul-stealing succubus, Lorelei, made her small-press comic debut, in 1989’s Lorelei One-Shot Special (the cover of which you see here). Heavily influenced by comics’ #1 femme fatale, Vampirella, as well as by Marvel Comics’ Satana, the Devil’s Daughter (a succubus) and writer Bill Mantlo’s superhero duo Cloak & Dagger, not to mention the gritty 1980s TV series The Equalizer (whaaaat?), Lori was an avenging angel—a temptress who feasted only on the souls of evildoers. And the dangerous streets of late ’80s New York was the perfect setting for her nightly hunts.
The one-shot was a rough effort, both in writing and art (hey, it was my first time producing a comic), but I told the story I’d set out to do, and was fairly pleased with the results. And when it came time in 1993 to launch StarWarp Concepts as a for-real publishing company, Lorelei was the first character to lead the charge into the direct market.
Most recently, Lori starred in the graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City, an ode to those old Vampirella magazines, as well as the horror comics I enjoyed back in the 1970s. It got some nice rave reviews, and found an audience among horror and good-girl art fans. In fact, it’s so good you should order yourself a copy—either in print or digital format, we’ve got both—from our webstore. No, really—go ahead. You’ll thank me later. 😀
To celebrate Lori’s place as StarWarp Concepts’ first leading lady of horror, we’ll be releasing two special projects this year:
Lorelei Presents: House Macabre: Coming September 17, it’s Lori’s debut as the hostess of a horror anthology comic (if Vampirella and Elvira can do it, why not Lori?). Available in print and digital formats, it features stories by Steven A. Roman (me again!) and Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Marvel Comics Presents), with art by Uriel Caton & “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), John Pierard (My Teacher Fried My Brains), and Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo. Cover art is provided by Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella).
Lorelei: Genesis: Scheduled for October 8 release (just in time for Halloween!), it’s a digital-exclusive collection of Lori’s original small-press appearances, written and drawn by yours truly—a 24-page, one-shot special for just 99¢! Ordering information on this and House Macabre will become available as we get closer to their release dates.
(Both covers, by the way, are colored by the multitalented Eliseu Gouveia, artist of Lorelei: Sects and the City.)
But that’s not all! There are a few more anniversary presents in the works, including additional pinups for our Visions of Lorelei art gallery that have never been seen before by Lori fans.
So join us for the celebration!
