Marvel Monsters: December 2008 Archives

Back in 1974, Marvel hit their loyal legion of zombies straight in the pocket-book with a new series of giant-size comics.  The first one in the horror line was called Giant-Size Chillers.  A real hokey name, right?  It was supposed to be one of those rotating titles that featured alternating characters, like Dracula, Werewolf by Night, and Man-Thing.  This concept fell apart right after the first story appeared, as you can tell by this long explanation in Marvel’s Bullpen Bulletins: “Hope that’s all clear, Flame-Keeper, cause as or right now—you’re on your own!” Giant-Size Chillers was renamed Giant-Size Dracula with issue #2.

But this was a terrific launch to a line of giant-sized horror comics.  Written and drawn by Tomb of Dracula regulars Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, it introduced fans to Dracula’s long-lost daughter of darkness, Lilith.  I just loved this cover by John Romita, introducing his tarted-up vamp offspring to the legion of Marvel adolescents about to go through puberty.  That costume is a classic Romita design, split down the middle in just the right place.  Cher used to wear Bob Mackie designs that looked like this, true believer!

Look at how many logos they had to cram onto this cover to covey the content.  Giant-Size Chillers!  The Curse of Dracula!  Her name is Lilith!  She is—Dracula’s Daughter!  Sheesh!  And yet we somehow we are just blinded by that tiara.

You would never know from this cover that Lilith and Dracula just can’t stand each other.  I’ve written a nice little explanation of their family dysfunction over at Photon Torpedoes:  Lilith: Ungrateful Daughter of Dracula!  Nuff said. 

I was crazy about Morbius ever since he first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #101.  I loved that costume, the way his white-pale skin contrasted against the blue, the fact that maybe it had shrunk in the wash a few sizes.  Morbius is a scientific vampire, he drinks blood because of an experiment gone awry, yet he can fly because...his bones are hallow?  A man of contradictions, that Morbius, but I love him.

Morbius' greatest adventures were in Vampire Tales, in a series of stories written by Don McGregor and Doug Moench.  Adventures into Fear featured Morbius' full color adventures, which had a lot less blood and horror.  But this cover for Adventure into Fear #23, by Gil Kane and Tom Palmer, has always been my favorite one featuring Morbius.  The composition of the piece, with the viewer looking at Morbius from a slightly down angle, with the woman sprawled between his legs, is just terrific.  That gaudy blood-red sunset behind him still sends a chill up my spine, even today.

Gil Kane did hundreds of covers for Marvel in the 1970s.  I bet he banged this out pretty quickly, but that doesn't make it any less great.  He had an instinctual knack for placing figures at dynamic angles.  There's no one drawing today with Gil Kane's unique style or talent.  Nuff said.