Description

The Tomb of Dracula: Day of Blood! Night of Redemption!           Trade Paperbacks Lot
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Gene Colan
Inker: Al Williamson
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Editors: Terry Kavanagh, Carl Potts & Mark Powers
All Covers by: Gene Colan

When a researcher named Gregor becomes obsessed with Dracula and seeks out the members of the old vampire-hunting team… his trail leads him to Frank Drake, a descendent of Dracula who was instrumental in killing him. Drake has since married and attempted to put his past behind him, but now a series of dreams and visions has sent his wife over the edge of insanity. That’s when Gregor then appears and takes her to Transylvania in order to find the remains of Dracula. Frank follows in desperate pursuit. But by the time Frank catches up to Gregor, he has already found the vampire and removed the silver spoke from Dracula’s heart. The undead nightmare named Dracula lives again!!

Story/Spoilers
In book #1, Marlene McKenna is having a nightmare. She dreams of the vampire lord Dracula and his final battle against aged vampire hunter Quincy Harker – a battle that seemingly resulted in the deaths of both men. She also dreams of Dracula attacking. When she awakens, she finds herself at a special dream research clinic run by Doctor Gregor Smirnoff. Marlene leaves the clinic, but while driving, she sees images of another late vampire hunter – Rachel van Helsing. The image startles Marlene and the car swerves off the road. A short while later, Marlene’s husband Frank Drake arrives at the hospital to pick her up. Marlene tells him about her experiences and the visions of Rachel van Helsing. She knows of Rachel from Frank’s diary, back in the days when he used to team up with her to hunt down Dracula. Over the course of several evenings, Marlene’s emotional state grows more chaotic. She continues seeing images of Rachel van Helsing, and before long the spirit of the dead vampire hunter takes full possession of her. Frank doesn’t understand what is happening to his wife. Doctor Smirnoff arrives at the Drake residence and finds Marlene. He deliberately used Marlene’s natural empathic abilities to make her a suitable receptacle for the spirit of Rachel van Helsing. Rachel was one of the few people on Earth who knew where Dracula’s remains were buried. Taking Marlene/Rachel to Transylvania, he wishes to unearth the vampire so that he can obtain the secret of immortality for himself. Frank Drake discovers that Marlene is missing and determines where Doctor Smirnoff has taken her. He follows them to Castle Dracula in Transylvania and finds them at the exact spot on the grounds where Dracula’s corpse lies. Smirnoff and some hired servants unearth Dracula and Gregor removes the silver wheelchair spoke lodged in the creature’s chest. Frank tries desperately to stop them, but he is too late. Dracula lives again.

Next in book #2, The newly resurrected Dracula allies himself with Smirnoff, while Frank and Marlene flee for their lives. Marlene ends up institutionalized after suffering a complete mental breakdown from witnessing Dracula’s resurrection. Frank contacts his old ally, Blade the vampire hunter, who is now graying and decidedly unhinged. Together they pay a visit to Smirnoff’s home in Maryland, which Blade savagely vandalizes while Frank searches for clues. Returning to America, Dracula makes his way to the nation’s capitol, where he feasts on strippers at a seedy men’s club. The resulting bloodbath is gruesomely depicted. During a meeting at Georgetown University, Smirnoff pleads with Dracula to turn him into a vampire and grant the old man immortality. The Professor also begs Dracula to attend a party in D.C. he has arranged in the vampire’s honor that will be attended by the rich and powerful elite of American political circles. Dracula takes an interest in Lila, Smirnoff’s student who is grief-stricken at her lover’s accidental death during a Satanic rite gone wrong. Smirnoff informs Dracula he has successfully instituted a widespread network of Satanic cults on college campuses across the country. Blade and Frank watch while Marlene’s doctor, an Eastern European albino woman named Katinka, demonstrates that Marlene is still under the vampire’s control. At the party in D.C., Dracula mixes with the influential and wealthy until a sexually aggressive woman irritates him and he pitches her off the balcony to her death. No sooner has this happened then the vampire is disturbed as he senses that his enemies have discovered his hiding place. The scene shifts to Dracula’s Virginia estate, which Frank and Blade torch to the ground. A furious Dracula vents his anger on Smirnoff in an unforgettable sequence that sees the vampire gouging the professor’s eyes out before decapitating him with his bare hands and tossing the severed head behind his back and kicking it aside with the heel of his boot. Finally at the end, Frank falls into despair over Marlene’s demonic possession, while Blade informs him he has a plan to use Marlene as bait to trap Dracula and end his menace forever.

Next in book #3, A quiet interlude is shattered when a street gang makes the mistake of harassing the vampire after discovering him alone on the streets of Washington D.C. Dracula literally drags the leader of the gang to his death. Katinka as having joined Frank Drake and Blade in their hunt for the vampire. Dracula pays a visit to Lila in her dorm at Georgetown University, where he succeeds in seducing her. Once under the vampire’s spell, the young woman eagerly steals all of Professor Smirnoff’s notes. While Dracula absorbs all of this information, he is dismissive of Lila. The sexually confused young woman believes she loves the vampire and willingly enters into an abusive relationship with him. Sensing that Marlene is escaping his control, Dracula makes his way to Katinka’s laboratory, where he quickly defeats the over-zealous Blade. Frank makes a noble attempt to defend his wife, but it is Katinka wielding a crucifix who succeeds in burning the vampire’s face and driving him off. We learn that the young albino’s extreme condition is a result of Dracula having slain her mother during childbirth. Frank rejoices, believing his wife is now free of the vampire’s control. A dying Dracula, whose skin has literally burned away after contact with the crucifix, repulses Lila when he returns to her dorm. Angered by her, he beats her savagely before finding the strength to venture out and slaughter the denizens of a restaurant near the campus. Lila has already communicated the vampire’s wishes via email and around the country more than 1,600 students partake in Smirnoff’s Satanic ritual three nights later, resulting in their mass suicides as they are consumed in flames. Dracula absorbs all of the psychic energy released by their deaths and uses it to save his own life. Finally at the end, a revelation that Marlene McKenna is still under Dracula’s control, despite having succeeded in fooling her husband.

Finally in book #4, This final issue reveals that Katinka was well aware that Marlene is still under the vampire’s control. She seeks out Lila after learning she was Becky’s lover. The three vampire hunters enter her dorm room and discover Dracula’s coffin, but inside the coffin they find only Lila’s cowering form, for the vampire has escaped to Arlington Cemetery. Marlene answers Dracula’s psychic call and joins him at the cemetery. The vampire harnesses the psychic powers of the souls of the dead students to revive a number of the dead at Arlington Cemetery to serve as his undead minions. Lila leads the newly-armed vampire hunters to Arlington Cemetery, where Frank again displays his newfound courage in fighting for his wife. Blade finally gets his chance to finish off the vampire and manages to mortally wound him, but is knocked unconscious by an enraged Lila. The dying vampire rewards her by savagely killing her and feasting on her blood to hold back death for a few more moments. Frank bravely saves Katinka’s life and the two of them go after Marlene. A seemingly unstoppable Blade drags himself into the vampire’s path and very nearly finishes him off until the vampire’s cruel lies about the fate of Blade’s mother causes the vampire hunter to suffer a severe psychosis that leaves him mentally crippled. The dying Dracula attempts to absorb all 1,600 souls to avert his death, but the act causes his dying body to bloat and explode from the effort. The abrupt conclusion sees Blade confined to a mental institution, while Frank and Marlene depart for a newfound life of peace, leaving Katinka and Inspector Golem to put together a new team to combat the forces of darkness that threaten an unsuspecting world.

Trade Paperback lot contains: The Tomb of Dracula: Day of Blood! Night of Redemption! (1991-1992) Issues #1-4.  Epic Comics

Trade Paperbacks are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printing
Publisher: Epic Comics
Publication Date: 1991 – 1992
Format per TPB: FC, 32 pages, TPB, 10.25″ x 6.5″
ISBN-10: 0871358379 (Book #1) 0871358387 (Book #2) 0871358395 (Book #3) 0871358409 (Book #4)
ISBN-13: 9780871358370 (Book #1) 9780871358387 (Book #2) 9780871358394 (Book #3) 9780871358400 (Book #4)

Collectible Entertainment note: Trade Paperbacks 1,2,3,4 are in Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Dracula collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended.

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