V A M P I R E L L A

Vampirella is a very unusual vampire in that she fights against the forces of evil. She is one of the most complex and enduring characters in comics today. She has experienced numerous different origins, each one revealing new aspects of her character, and has died more than once, only to return to fight another day. She has lived and loved, known tragedy and happiness, and is, of course, immortal.

Vampirella made her debut in 1969 in the horror magazines Creepy and Eerie (both of which continue to endure to this day), but unlike her co-stars, Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie, who existed solely to introduce the stories, Vampirella featured in stories of her own in her own magazine. She was originally envisioned as a spoof on science fiction comics of the time, but it was not long before she began to develop a serious side. The result was a series of classic stories that surpassed the typical fare of the day.

The last Vampirella comic under Warren Publishing was published in 1982, just after the company was forced into bankruptcy. The rights to the character were bought by another company, called Harris Publications in 1983, but it was to be another 8 years before Vampirella was back in action in the classic series Morning in America. After that, she went from strength to strength, coming up against and defeating foes that far surpassed anything she had dealt with previously. Her character was developed considerably during the course of the 1990s. Perhaps most important of all was her new origin, which was far more cleverly conceived than the original story of her being an alien visitor from another planet.

Whether she is the star-crossed vampire from another world or the unwitting victim of her mother's temptation, Vampirella is a character who positively exudes style and sophistication. She stands her ground, fights her own battles and gives her heart to those she chooses. She is emancipated, strong and loving. She is also highly courageous in her battle against the forces of evil. Many people regard her as a sex symbol, but there is far more to Vampirella than just that; as numerous villains have dicovered to their peril. She shows little mercy to those who prey on the innocent and doesn't suffer fools gladly.

Over the years, the character of Vampirella has been interpreted in a number of different mediums, including film and paperback fiction. She has even been made into an action toy. Yet she remains true to her comic-book roots, where her true strength lies, thanks to the power of the plots in which she has featured. Not only is she pleasing to the eye, but her character seems to draw the best creative talent in the business. Vampirella is not just a pin-up in a skimpy costume, providing sex-starved males with something to look at, she is the centre of a body of fiction that literally explodes over the page, and the inspiration for artwork that turns her stories into the very picture of reality.