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Tomb of Dracula (1972 series) #9

Marv Wolfman | Gene Colan

Tomb of Dracula (1972 series) #9 cover

Story Name:

Death from the Sea!


Synopsis

Tomb of Dracula (1972 series) #9 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3.5 stars

In the village of Littlepool, a fisherman hooks the corpse of a well-dressed man; villagers help carry the body to the back room of the local church until authorities can be notified the next day. It’s Dracula, of course, and he awakens in a church and panics, crashing from wall to wall until he manages to escape when someone opens the door to investigate. The villagers gather and he tells a tale about recently undergoing an operation, fainting from weakness, and being robbed by some motorcycle hoods, falling into the river. (The pictures reveal what Dracula leaves out, including the sort of operation last issue, his failed attempts to prey upon a teenaged couple, and his ability to fight off the cyclists, who will return, with leader Lucas Brand, in issue #11.) “Mr. Drake” decides to stay for his own sinister reasons; young Dave offers to put him up at his home. After getting settled, Dracula goes out secretly to feed; he preys upon Gladys, a barmaid, who instantly becomes a vampire and attacks her admirer Corker….

In London, the vampire hunters (Frank Drake, Rachel van Helsing, Taj Nital, Quincy Harker, Edith Harker) are laying their plans when Quincy receives a phone call and hurries off with Edith. We learn next issue that the call was about Blade….

At home, Dave confides in his guest how he desires to leave this small town, which has his girlfriend Andrea mad at him because she feels it is a betrayal of their heritage. They hear a scream outside: Andrea is being attacked by Gladys and Corker. The men rush out and the imposing lord of the vampires orders his new minions away. This is observed by the local priest who makes the obvious inference and assembles a group to hunt down Dracula. Dave tries to dissuade them but the priest, bearing a firecross, and his group encounter and kill Corker and Gladys. David, who knows where Dracula is hiding, sends the hunters off in a different direction. Dracula thanks him and offers him a role in the new vampire world order. David declines, so Dracula merely promises him his protection and flies away….


Characters
Good (or All)
DRACULA
EHARKER
FRANKDRAKE
QHARKER
RVHELSING
TAJN
Plus: Lucas Brand.


> Tomb of Dracula (1972 series) comic book info and issue index



Excelsioring your collection:
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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Gene Colan
Vince Colletta
Glynis Wein
Gene Colan (Cover Penciler)
Tom Palmer (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Art Simek.



Review / Commentaries


Tomb of Dracula (1972 series) #9 Review by (August 10, 2020)

Review: Uncharacteristically sketchy art (Vince Colletta’s fault?) nearly sinks this issue but a decent story helps. It’s rather offbeat, putting our central villain in a different sort of situation and making him almost the good guy, and a catalyst in David’s story. Yeah, there’s still some plot trouble, like the new vampires returning too early. But the biggest disappointment? The firecross barely appears in the tale, never justifying its exciting depiction in the cover.

Comments: Book goes to monthly publication with this issue. Cover penciller unidentified; likely John Romita or Larry Lieber, according to the Grand Comics Database. First appearance of motorcycle gang leader Lucas Brand, though his name is not revealed until issue #11. Contrary to later dictate that a vampire’s victim returns as a vampire three nights later, both Gladys and Corker turn into one almost immediately.





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