Happy 55th Anniversary, Vampirella (who made her comics debut in 1969)! And a happy discount for her fans!
Just in time for the Spooky Season, and the 2024 celebration of New York Comic Con (which kicks off on Thursday), today through Sunday, October 20, at e-book distributor DriveThru Comics (and its sister site DriveThru Fiction) we’re offering the digital edition of our nonfiction comic-book history From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!), at a 50% discount!
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures is an extensive look at Vampi’s early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983, in seven heavily researched chapters:
The Vampire Who Fell to Earth: It’s the story of the life of Vampirella at Warren Publishing: her 1969 development by cocreators James Warren and Forrest J Ackerman, with the assistance of artists Frank Frazetta and Trina Robbins; the adventures she went on via the writing and artistic talents of such visionaries as Archie Goodwin, Bill DuBay, Jose Gonzalez, Enrich, Gonzalo Mayo, and many others; and the cancellation of her series in 1982 when the company collapsed. It also features probably the most you’ll ever see reported about four Vampi writers who were just as talented but not as well known: Mike Butterworth, who wrote under the pseudonym Flaxman Loew; T. Casey Brennan; Rich Margopoulos; and Gerry Boudreau.
The Vampirella Episode Guide: The largest section of the book, it examines every story starring Vampirella during the Warren Era: over 100 entries, some with little known behind-the-scenes details. Plus stories behind some of Vampi’s unpublished adventures!
Vampi Goes to Hollywood: In 1975, Hammer Films announced the development of a Vampirella movie starring model/actress Barbara Leigh and the legendary Peter Cushing (later known the world over as Grand Moff Tarkin of Star Wars). The project crashed in spectacular fashion, but the details have always been murky. I try to clear up the confusion surrounding it, detailing the production from its launch to its unfortunate ending. And then I take a critical look at the awful Vampirella movie that was made in 1996, starring Talisa Soto and rock god Roger Daltrey of the Who—and probably shouldn’t have been!
The Literary Vampiress: From 1975 to 1976, Warner Books published a series of Vampirella novelizations by sci-fi author Ron Goulart. I take a look at each novel, and explain why they’re worth tracking down…if you can find copies!
The Vampirella Warren Era Checklist: A list of every Warren Vampi story! Every reprint volume from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment! Plus little known trivia!
From the Stars also features: A foreword by Sean Fernald, the Official Vampirella Historian! A peek at Peter Cushing’s personal copy of the 1976 Vampirella screenplay! A frontispiece by legendary artist Bob Larkin, who painted covers for Warren’s Vampirella, The Rook, Eerie, and Famous Monsters of Filmland! Photos of Barbara Leigh in costume as Vampirella at the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention, held in New York! Photos of Talisa Soto in costume on the set of the 1996 Vampirella movie! Rare photos from the collection of Forrest J Ackerman!
“This is without a doubt the essential, authoritative reference book for anything related to the Warren-era Vampirella… There are lots of books out there with good information—Empire of Monsters, The Art of Vampirella: The Warren Years, The Art of Jose Gonzalez, etc.—but none offers such a broad, all-encompassing look at the history of this character.”—Vampirella of Drakulon (blog)
“Everything you always wanted to know about Vampirella and then some! I was particularly enthralled reading about Hammer Films’ never-made film version of Vampirella and the big ballyhoo that happened at the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention—with Peter Cushing presenting Barbara Leigh—because I was there as Ingrid Pitt’s aide-de-camp! It brought back such a torrent of jaw-dropping memories! Bravo to author Steven A. Roman and Foreword legend Sean Fernald!”—Sam Irvin, director of Elvira’s Haunted Hills and co–executive producer of the Academy Award–winning Gods and Monsters
“A great book for any Warren Vampirella fan.”—Seth Biederman, writer of Vampirella Manga 2999 and Vampirella Manga 3000, former Harris Comics Vampirella editor
“Not only a fantastic reference guide, but it is also a love letter to the fanged horror heroine. New fans and old will be interested in the bibliography especially. Libraries that specialize in comics should consider including this volume in their collection as well. Highly recommended.”—Monster Librarian
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures is available for half price October 14 through October 20—and yes, you’ll need to set up an account (it’s free) to take advantage of this promotion. So, visit the StarWarp Concepts publisher page at DriveThru Comics and get yourself a copy!
