Bad-Girl Comics? We’re Familiar With That Genre…

Last week, DC Comics announced the forthcoming publication of Catwoman by Jim Balent, Book One, a collection starring Batman’s number one femme fatale. Originally published as individual issues, this 1990s series was a prime example of what came to be known as “bad-girl comics”: female-led titles in which the heroines wore little clothing (or in Catwoman’s case. a form-fitting body stocking) and sexily fought their adversaries while posing in the most provocative ways.

Well, if sexy heroines are your thing, but you’re looking for ones with greater depth than being mere eye candy, we have a couple of homegrown femme fatales you might be interested in checking out…

First off, there’s Lorelei, StarWarp Concepts’ resident soul-stealing succubus. Making her small-press comics debut in 1989, Lori is SWC’s first leading lady of horror, and stars in two critically acclaimed titles:

Lorelei: Sects and the City is a Mature Readers graphic novel in which Lori battles a cult of Elder God worshipers attempting to unleash hell on Earth. Basically a love letter to 1970s horror comics like Vampirella, Tomb of Dracula, and Ghost Rider, it’s written by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (Stan Lee’s Alexa, X-Men: The Chaos Engine Trilogy), and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia (Vengeance of the Mummy, Lady Death), Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), and Neil Vokes (Flesh and Blood, Fright Night). It also features a cover by legendary artist Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide), a frontispiece by original Vampirella artist Tom Sutton (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night), and a one-page history of succubi illustrated by Ernie Colon (Vampirella, The Grim Ghost).

“I can honestly say that I enjoyed the hell out of this book…. The art is solid, the story is full of lots of things that make the horror genre so great, and the overall quality of the book is top notch.”—Die-Screaming

“Kudos to Roman for capturing the essence of 1970s fare like Vampirella. Filled with ghouls, chicks, and some strong artwork, this is a title that might’ve piqued Hammer Studios’ interest back in the day.”—Dread Central

Lorelei Presents: House Macabre is Lori’s first outing as the hostess of a horror comic anthology, in this one-shot special. Behind that eye-catching cover by fan-favorite artist Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Supergirl, Batman 80-Page Giant) you’ll find a quartet of terror tales:

• “The Old, Dark Manse” is written by me and illustrated by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual, The Ex-Mutants, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa) and “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales), and has Lori welcoming readers to this special.

• “All in Color for a Crime” is another tale from me, with art by Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Young All-Stars). Two comic book collectors clash over a rare back issue—and only one of them will be adding it to their long boxes!

• “The Basilisk,” from me and artist John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics, My Teacher Fried My Brains), is a “Lori’s Feary Tale” that examines the history of a supernatural creature that’s a cross between a deadly snake and a…chicken?!

• Wrapping up the special is “Requiem for Bravo 6,” by New York Times bestselling author and comic writer Dwight Jon Zimmerman (She-Hulk, Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool) and artist Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo. A special-ops team goes on a life-or-death mission…but will they be prepared for what awaits them at mission’s end?

“This is like a cross between Elvira and House of Mystery, where you’ve got a very sexy hostess who loves the Macabre and tells you stories that are supposed to chill and thrill you…. This whole book is such a pleasant surprise, [and] something that should be sought out by everyone.”—Reading With a Flight Ring

“Any fans of the old-fashioned horror anthology comics (Eerie, Creepy, Tales From the Crypt, etc.) is gonna want to take a look at this one-shot from StarWarp Concepts…. If campy horror fun is your thing, this should be a hit for you.”—The Pullbox

Then there’s Sebastienne Mazarin, an immortal, shape-shifting monster hunter who currently appears in my Saga of Pandora Zwieback novels, where she mentors a teenaged Goth chick on the finer points of handling the creatures of the night. You’ll find Annie in Blood Feud and Blood Reign, trying to prevent a worldwide takeover by monsters led by a fallen angel who used to be her lover.

But long before her present-day occupation, Annie was the star of a short-lived bad-girl comic book miniseries that was published in the 1990s: Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa. (“La Bella Tenebrosa” means “the beautiful dark one” in the Olde Tongue.) Here you’ll find her doing a bit of ogre-crushing while researching an article about gentlemen’s clubs in Times Square—research that includes actually performing as an exotic dancer (I did say it was a ’90s comic, didn’t I?). It’s that part-time gig that brings her into contact with Corum de Sade, a heavy metal singer with a deadly secret: he’s a soul-devouring incubus!

“Sebastienne is a great character who will have you on your toes. She will entice you into her world.”—Jazma Online

“Wow! Breathtaking art and characterization! Heartstopper meets her match in the form of a handsome incubus and his demon driver. Terrific storytelling, powerful dialogue, great body language, camera angles, pacing. A well-conceived and executed comic book. Recommended.”—Small Press Creative Explosion

All three issues of Heartstopper are available for free from this very website, so download them today.

Lorelei: Sects and the City and Lorelei Presents: House Macabre are available in print and digital formats; Heartstopper is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.