Publishers / Marvel / Vampire Tales (1973) / #1
1[August] 1973
$0.75

Vampire Tales #1

Marvel · [August] 1973 · on sale 1973-05-01

First appearance: Emil NikosFirst appearance: Lord Ruthven
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Vampire Tales (Marvel, 1973 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
[August] 1973
Key date
1973-08-00
On-sale date
1973-05-01
Indicia publisher
Marvel Comics Group
Price
$0.75
Pages
76

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Emil Nikos - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Lord Ruthven - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Esteban Maroto; inks: Esteban Maroto; colors: Esteban MarotoLord Ruthven First
2Stan Lee Presents Vampire Talescredits, title page1letters: typeset; ? (logo)
3-foreword, introduction, preface, afterword1pencils: ? (photography); inks: ? (photography); letters: typesetCount Orlock
4Morbiuscomic story14script: Steve Gerber; pencils: Pablo Marcos; inks: Pablo Marcos; letters: Tom OrzechowskiMartine Bancroft, Curt Connors, Hans Jorgenson, Lizard, Morbius, Michael Morbius, Emil Nikos First, Peter Parker, Spider-Man
6Editorialtext article1.5pencils: ? (photography); inks: ? (photography); letters: typesetLon Chaney, Jr. (photograph)
7-promo (ad from the publisher)0.5script: Roy Thomas; pencils: Barry Windsor-Smith; inks: Barry Windsor-Smith; letters: John CostanzaConan
8-foreword, introduction, preface, afterword1pencils: ? (photography); inks: ? (photography); letters: typesetDavid Peel (photograph); Yvonne Monlaur (photograph)
9To Kill a Werewolf!comic story5pencils: Bill Everett; inks: Bill Everett; letters: Bill Everett; editing: Stan LeeKenneth Long (death); Hastings; Lloyd Wayne
10The Vampire: His Kith and Kin: An Analysis in Five Parts of the Book by Montague Summerstext article4script: Chris ClaremontLon Chaney, Sr. (photograph); Bela Lugosi (photograph); John Carradine (photograph)
11Crazypromo (ad from the publisher)0.5letters: ?; typesetMarcus Welby; Woody Allen; Bob Hope; Lily Tomlin; Richard Nixon; Alfred E. Neuman
12-promo (ad from the publisher)0.5
14-foreword, introduction, preface, afterword1pencils: ? (photography); inks: ? (photography); letters: typesetChristopher Lee (photograph)
15The Vampyre!comic story13script: John Polidori, Ron Goulart, Roy Thomas; pencils: Winslow Mortimer; inks: Winslow Mortimer; letters: Joe Rosen, Charlotte JetterLord Ruthven First
17-promo (ad from the publisher)0.5letters: typeset
19-foreword, introduction, preface, afterword1pencils: ? (photography); inks: ? (photography); letters: typesetMichael Ripper (photograph)
20Satan Can Wait!comic story5pencils: Paul Reinman; inks: Paul Reinman; editing: Stan LeeLucifer
21Monsters Unleashed!promo (ad from the publisher)0.2
22Monster Madnesspromo (ad from the publisher)0.12pencils: ? (photography); inks: ? (photography)
27-public service announcement0.05letters: typeset
30The Worst (No Kiddin'!) Vampire Films Ever Made!text article4script: Mark Evanier
31Dracula Livespromo (ad from the publisher)0.5pencils: Neal Adams; inks: Neal Adams; letters: Tom Orzechowski
32The Haunt of Horrorpromo (ad from the publisher)0.5letters: John Costanza
33Back Issues Offer!promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: various; inks: various; letters: typeset
34-foreword, introduction, preface, afterword1pencils: ? (photography); inks: ? (photography); letters: typeset
35Revenge of the Unliving!comic story8script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Bernet; inks: Bernet; letters: Joe RosenMelissa Jenkins (also in flashback, death); James Gordon (also in flashback); Jim Gordon
36-promo (ad from the publisher)0.64pencils: Pablo Marcos; inks: Pablo Marcos; letters: John Costanza

Plus 9.49 pages of advertisements and other matter across 16 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Marvel Firsts: The 1970s #2
ISBN 978-0-7851-6381-7
2012On eBay ›
Marvel Horror Omnibus #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-91953-5
2019On eBay ›
Morbius the Living Vampire Omnibus #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-92240-5
2019On eBay ›
Vampire Tales #1
ISBN 978-0-7851-4644-5
2010On eBay ›
The Living Vampire
ISBN 978-1-302-92835-3
2020On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

1 of 11#2 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com