I wonder how closely - if at all - this tied in with the Tomb of Dracula series that had been going for about four years before this was published and would continue for another three or so after. I'm kind of curious - though not enough to do the research - to know how (and how much) Marvel marketed this to Tomb of Dracula readers.
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For some odd reason (lack of a social life during high school, perhaps?) I tend to know most things related to Dracula, Michael.
That issue of Marvel Classic Comics has no connection at all with Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan's TOMB OF DRACULA.
This is actually an adaptation of Stoker's novel effectively written by Naunerle Farr and fabulously illustrated by Nestor Redondo.
Except for curiously omitting the character of Renfield, this is an excellent--if condensed--version of the classic vampire story.
Highly recommended.
Thanks! I'll have to track it down.
Actually, I'd like to track down a lot of these Marvel Classics Comics. I wonder how the Source is stocked for back issues...
I should note that Marvel did assign Gil Kane to draw that cover, and stylistically it's almost exactly like the Tomb of Dracula covers he was drawing at the time (practically every issue for the first 35 or so)...down to having the "Classics" Dracula wearing the exact same outfit as "Marvel's" Vlad. So yeah, I think there was an attempt to lure in ToD readers. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Nothing wrong with that, whatsoever. TOMB OF DRACULA is one of the finest horror comics ever. (I think only EC's horror anthologies and Alan Moore's run on SWAMP THING gives TOD a run for its money.)
While he certainly is stamped out of Wolfman & Colan mold on the cover, the Count himself looks quite different in the Marvel Classics interiors. Artist Nester Redondo portrays Dracula very much in the image of Stoker's original description. The script even has the character growing progressively younger, just as the novel.
By the way, there is a b&w 1973 Pendulum Press edition of the exact same book which I prefer over Marvel's blandly flat-colored version.
Still, either version is well worth seeking out, if you're a fan of DRACULA.
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