Marvel Comics' Dracula with his vampires next to him.
Summary 70 years ago, Marvel published its weirdest vampire story ever–and they would love you to forget about it. Vampires have been a consistent part of the Marvel Universe since 1972’s Tomb of Dracula #1, and just made their presence felt in Blood Hunt. Yet in 1954’s The Human Torch #37, Marvel told a much different kind of vampire story with a weird, science fiction-oriented premise.
“Vampire Tale,” drawn by Dick Ayers, appeared in The Human Torch #37. It opens with the original, android Human Torch and his sidekick Toro investigating vampire attacks. Meanwhile, a mysterious object is approaching Earth and will land at the exact spot where the vampire attacks are happening. Traveling to the landing spot, Torch and Toro are shocked to learn these vampires are actually the descendants of alien criminals. These aliens resemble giant, anthropomorphic bats, and use Earth as a penal colony.
Tomb of Dracula inaugurated a new era for horror in the Marvel Universe, introducing vampires to its mix. When the undead made their Marvel debut, their origin was decidedly different from the one depicted in The Human Torch #37. Instead of being of extraterrestrial origin, vampires are the product of the Darkhold. This ancient tome of evil is responsible not only for vampires, but werewolves and other monsters as well.
Marvel Will Never Acknowledge "Vampire Tale" Ignoring "Vampire Tale" Is Probably For the Best 70 years later, Marvel has never given a proper follow-up to “Vampire Tale,” and most likely never will. “Vampire Tale” does not gel with any of the vampire lore Marvel has established over the past 50 years. The story is science-fiction oriented, perhaps as a response to the virulent attacks on horror comics occurring in the real world.
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