╬ Be-Boo series: Vampirella ╬

Forrest J. Ackerman was an American collector of science fiction books and movie memorabilia. In 1969, he was the creator of one of the sexiest women in comics: The superheroine Vampirella, in the company founded by James Warren, Warren Publishing. 

This company published his first magazines in 1957 and continued in the business for decades. These magazines, which were only for adults amusement, had the American letter format and offered brief articles, well-illustrated with publicity stills and graphic artwork, on horror movies from the silent era to the current date of publication, their stars and filmmakers.

Warren Period: From 1969 to 1983

Vampirella was born by chance. Firstly she was a secondary character for the magazine 'Creepy'. However a voluptuous vampire had to own her magazine. She was drawn by the artists Frank Frazzetta and the Spanish Pepe González. 

Vampirella #1 (Sept. 1969). Cover art by Frank Frazetta

In spite of the fact that the comics were a big success, the true reason behind was both their covers and illustrations. Pepe González was a great pin up artist, but he wasn't a good comic creator. It reads, he wasn't crazy about the comics, and he used to draw characters out of proportions without previous sketches, poor-quality staging and strip layouts. However his pin up illustrations were masterpieces, he used to contract real people as models. Moreover, Vampirella's adventures took up 5 or 6 inside pages and the rest of the magazine was other comics, therefore readers were utterly pleased. Vampirella had been enchanting fans around the world with her eroticism.

James Warren, little by little, replaced Pepe González on the 'Vampirella throne'. One of my favorite is Enrique Torres. If you want to see the best top ten of Vampirella artists, check out this link.

This is the most famous illustration by Pepe González.

Have you ever read a Vampirella comic? (I used to borrow them from the library). They epitomize a purely 70's aesthetic! The superheroine wears 70's makeup trends such as false lashes, bold eyeliner, the ever-present blue/green eyeshadow and tanned body (although she's a vampire). She is always drawn by artists as a busty woman, wearing a red suit with gold bat emblem, with a white cotton collar attaches to suit, gold ringa, bangs, snaps, and a pair of black leather boots. Vampirella always shows a suggestive pose, that's why male audience loved her comics.

It's not only Vampirella and other characters, the comic's atmosphere is full of 70's references: cars, upholstered sofas and walls, mirrors, furniture, psychedelic backgrounds etcetera.

Unfortunately, the company Warren Publishing demised in the early 80's, Vampirella slept in her coffin during a limbo period. Then, Harris Comics bought the Vampirella stories....and so on But as far as you know... Be-Bop Lashes doesn't like either 80's or 90's ;) so if you want further information check out this website. 

Who is Vampirella according to Warren Publishing?

Vampirella is an inhabitant of the planet Drakulon, a world where a vampiric race live because blood flows in the rivers. Drakulon orbits around two suns, Satiro&Circe. The first one usually erupts and causes droughts across the Drakulon,  marking certain doom for Vampirella and her race. Due to those effects, the race of which Vampirella is born, the Vampiri, are able to transform themselves into bats at will, have superhuman physical attributes, spread wings when require to fly, and of course they drink blood.

The story begins with the inhabitants of Drakulon dying slowly due to the drying up of its blood. The last few lie dying when a spaceship from Earth crashes on the planet. Vampirella, sent to investigate, is attacked; retaliating, she discovers that the astronauts have blood in their veins. In order for her race to survive, she manages to pilot the ship back to Earth where her adventures begin. Vampirella becomes a 'good' vampire, and devotes her energy to ridding our world of the homegrown 'evil' kind.

Suggestive poses

Vampirella strip comic

Vampirella by Pepe González

Warren Publishing calendar in 1977

Do you want to see more covers? Check out this gallery.

Hope you like the first Be-Boo post!

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Lorena Be-Bop