VAMPIRELLA "Origin" 2.5

We previously brought you the revised origin of Vampirella...

Art by Ken Kelly

...now here's the re-revised origin, using the art previously-published in color, but now in it's originally-intended b/w form!

This rewritten version of Vampi's revised origin appeared in Warren's Vampirella #46 (1975), just three years after it's first appearance (in color) in Vampirella Annual #1 (1972).

Rewritten by Budd Lewis, but using the previously-produced art by Vampi's signature artist Jose Gonzalez, this was a retelling of the girl from Drakulon's origin first told by writer Forrest J Ackerman and artist Tom Sutton in the magazine's premiere issue in 1969.

(And you thought Marvel and DC rebooted their continuities quickly!).
This version was reprinted by Harris Comics when they had the rights to the character, but Harris totally-redid the origin story, eliminating the extra-terrestrial aspect.
The recent revival by Dynamite Entertainment, follows the Harris Comics version of the character.
Dynamite is also reprinting the Warren series in trade paperback form.

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BLACK VENUS "Sacrificed to the Flag of the Rising Sun"

Now wearing a costume almost exactly like rival aviatrix Black Angel...

...Black Venus is led into a trap by a devious Japanese commander.

NOTE: contains racial stereotypes that may be NSFW!)

Illustrated by noted cover artist and art director L B Cole, this tale from Aviation Press' Contact Comics #3 (1944) was the beginning of a new direction for the heroine as she became more aggressive in taking on Axis foes instead of simply waiting for them to attack first.

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HONEY WEST "Fall Guy" Conclusion

When Last We Left Honey West...

...she had been hired by rookie pro wrestler Acey Allan after anonymous threats to kill his manager unless the neophyte fighter throws the match.

When the detective damsel questions the fighter's manager, he seems evasive about who and why anyone would want Acey's career ended before it can begin...

Story for this never-reprinted, one-shot from Gold Key Comics (1966) by Paul S. Newman, art by Jack Sparling.
Trivia:
Most of the original novels were recently-reprinted, and a new comic series is available from Moonstone Comics.
There's been talk of a feature film based on the novels, but it's currently in Development Hell.

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HONEY WEST "Fall Guy" Part 1

She's the subject of our most popular posts ever...

...so who are we to deny our frantic fans another look at her?

Methinks the manager doth protest too much...and so does Honey!

Be here next week as Honey cracks the case...and a few skulls!

Story for this never-reprinted, one-shot from Gold Key Comics (1966) by Paul S. Newman, art by Jack Sparling.
Trivia:
Anne Francis took instruction in Okinawa Te under Sensei Gordon Doversola for a couple of months before shooting began.
The TV series the comic is based on ran only one year and Anne Francis won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy.
The Executive Producer of the show was Aaron Spelling, who later created Charlie's Angels.
The complete series is available on DVD in the US from VCI.
The British Region 2 DVD set from Delta Entertainment also contains the Burke's Law episode "Who Killed the Jackpot?" which served as a "backdoor pilot" for the character.
Most of the novels have been reprinted, and a new comic series is available from Moonstone Comics.
There's been talk of a feature film based on the novels, but it's currently in Development Hell.

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LEOPARD GIRL I "Snake Ring"

We've covered several jungle girls on this blog...

Art by Joe Maneely

...but this is the first (and only) one we've seen in a costume and secret identity (complete with "Clark Kent" glasses)!

BTW, you'll note the cover image above from Jungle Action #1 doesn't feature the leopard head/cowl the interior story shows.

It was probably done before the costume was finalized.

Leopard Girl's premiere tale in Atlas' Jungle Action #1 (1954) was scripted by Don Rico and illustrated by Al Hartley.

Her series ran thru the entire eight-issue run of Jungle Action and was lost to both Silver Age and modern-day fans until it was finally reprinted in the recently-released Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Jungle Adventures #2 & #3!
Don Rico was both a writer and artist in comics of of the 1940s and 50s.
He also co-created both Jann of the Jungle and Lorna the Jungle Girl for Atlas.
Don's wildest work was in the horror genre, as shown HERE.
Though he left the comics field to become a succesful paperback novel writer in the 1960s, Rico stayed involved by teaching a course on comics at UCLA and Cal State Northridge, co-founding the Comic Art Professional Society, and doing an occasional cover or story.
Al Hartley was one of Atlas' good-girl experts, drawing Patsy & Hedy, Millie the Model, and various romance stories.
Al drew one Thor story (in Journey into Mystery #90)...

...and scripted an Iron Man one-shot in Tales of Suspense #68 (1965) the final Giant-Man storie in Tales to Astonish #69 (1965), plus several Western tales before moving to Archie, where he worked steadily until his retirement.

Note: There was a different Leopard Girl appearing in her own strip in Gold Key's Tarzan comics in the late 1960s, written by Gaylord Du Bois and drawn by Tom Massey...

(The only example I could find was from a Spanish-language reprint.

But convention season is under way, so I'll probably be able to find some inexpensive copies over the next month or so.)

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