From The Tomb of Dracula (Vol. 1) #10 (1973)
In 1971, the Comics Code was revised after more than 15 years of existence. Formed in 1954 in an effort to keep the federal government off of the comics industry’s back, the Code existed to keep everything nice and G-rated. Nothing remotely questionable was to be found in the pages of the stories kids could buy at the local drug store. Among those ideas deemed questionable was most things found in horror comics. However, the 1971 revision allowed “classic” versions of monsters like Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and Dracula to once again grace mainstream comics. Wasting little time, Marvel debuted a new title in 1972 named The Tomb of Dracula.
The series focused on Dracula, who returned to undead life in the very first issue. But it was in issue ten that a prominent vampire hunter made his first debut. Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, the writer and artist for most of Tomb of Dracula‘s run, Blade appeared in an effort to hunt down Dracula and upend the master vampire’s plans. Though he looked very much of his time, afro and all, Blade would prove himself as a force to be reckoned with and someone that no vampire in the Marvel universe could ever take lightly.
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Unfortunately, by the time the movie came together, Lou Rawls was too old for the part.
Outstanding!
Trivia fact: I’m proud to say I won a copy of this issue at a trivia contest held at the local premier of Van Helsing (2004), which I’m embarrassed to say I attended.
Beckensale in that flick is worth the price of admission alone
I wish Blade wore purple pants and a green jacket in the movies.
Blade now with Kungfu Grip!
Colan was truly at the top of his game on this title. Sure the outfits are dated, but that action is timeless.
Hate to be a picker of nits, but Marv Wolfman did not write the first few issues of the series. He came on with issue 4 or 5.
Well, bust my buttons. You are indeed correct. That error is totally on me. Gerry Conway, Archie Goodwin, and Gardner Fox all wrote issues of the series before Wolfman came on board with issue 7.
Thanks for the correction!
Wow, was it really as late as issue 7? I could have sworn it was a few issues earlier. I did remember Conway did the first issue, and then Goodwin and Fox did an issue or two. I wonder what was going on that the book kept changing hands so quickly? But man did they make a good choice in giving it to Wolfman. He and Gene, and Tom Palmer, really had a great run on this series.
Gene Colan was one of the bests, man. His runs on Daredevil and Captain America were some of the best stuff on either title. Back in the day, when I was a kid in the ’70’s we didn’t really pay attention to who the artist or writer was, you just read the book. Wasn’t until much later that I started paying attention to the names in the credits. BUT I did know Gene’s name, because it was THAT good, even a kid who didn’t follow artists & writers was captured enough to say “this guy is really great!” He did so much great stuff over the years, in my book he’s up there with Kirby, Steranko and a small handful of Greats.
Agreed. I would also add that his work on Dr. Strange, especially his first run in the late 60s, was absolutely hypnotic. When I think of the artists from that late 60s period who were really key in breathing new life into the medium, I think Kirby, Steranko, Adams, and Colan.
So how much is this issue worth since it’s the first appearance of Blade?