Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: The Tomb of Dracula Vol. 1 by M. Wolfman et al.

Marvel Masterworks: The Tomb of Dracula Volume 1 written by Marv Wolfman and others, and art by Gene Colan and others

In the interests of expanding from their kiddie-friendly superhero lines, Marvel started a comic book about Dracula in the early 1970s. The story starts in contemporary times with a descendent of Count Dracula, Frank Drake, who is not a vampire and does not even know he is a descendent. He finds out when he inherits Dracula's castle in Transylvania. He brings to castle his best friend Cliff Graves, who thinks they can cash in on the tourist-attraction appeal of the castle. Also traveling with them is Drake's girlfriend Jeanie, who formerly dated Cliff. Once they get to the castle, mayhem ensues as Dracula rises from his coffin, bites and converts the girlfriend, and plays mind games on the friend (using the newly-vamped girlfriend). The action moves to England, where Drake joins a group of vampire hunters lead by a wheel-chair-bound Quincy Harker (son of Jonathan and Mina Harker from Bram Stoker's novel) and featuring Rachel van Helsing (granddaughter of Abraham van Helsing from the novel). They have various skirmishes with Dracula and his minions.

The book went through a series of writers before settling on Marv Wolfman (yes, it is his real name!) who made the serial his own. Main artist Gene Colan does a great job presenting a horrific, fog-drenched atmosphere, emphasizing the danger and menace throughout. The story also introduces an independent vampire hunter, Blade, who went on to become a Marvel staple in his own right. The stories keep things moving along. The collection includes some black and white stories from Dracula Lives, a short-run side magazine from Marvel cashing in on the sudden popularity of Dracula. 

Recommended for horror/Dracula/comic book fans.