Dell Classic Monsters Re-Imagined: Dracula, Fankenstein & Werewolf

I have no idea how this bizarre concept came about, but somewhere in the Dell offices, the decision was made to update the classic Movie Monsters of Dracula, Frankenstein and the Werewolf as Super-Heroes. The printing history is a bit convoluted, particularly for the Dracula comic, but it’s well documented on other sites, so if you’re interested you should be able to figure out what was printed when and which issues have strange numberings.

First up is DRACULA (Dell, 1966)

Written by Don Seagall, Pencils by Bill Fraccio

This post covers the issues 2-4, issue 1 was an adaptation of a movie and isn’t related to the later issues.

Al Dracula is a modern day descendant of the Dracula family, who’s name has been defamed by the fictional Dracula legends. Al discovers a serum that can cure brain diseases, ironically it uses bat blood. A freak accident causes him to take an altered version of the serum only to discover that it has side effects, he now has bat radar and he can physically transform into a bat. So, using standard comic book logic, he gets himself a costume, goes to America, and hides out in a cave whilst fighting crime.

He also gets one of the most annoying side-kicks ever in Fleeta, aka B. B. Beebe, and meets some pretty wacky villains. There’s nothing here that breaks new ground, but it’s a fun and quirky read that leaves us with a new direction at the end of the last issue, but of course, it was never followed up.

You will find issues numbered 6, 7 and 8 (no issue 5 was ever printed, perhaps a reprint of the original number 1 was planned, but it didn't materialise) but they are just reprints of the issues mentioned above.

Next is FRANKENSTEIN (Dell, 1966)

Written by Don Seagall, Pencils by Tony Tallarico

Again, this post covers the issues 2-4, issue 1 was an adaptation of a movie and isn’t related to the later issues.

Of the three titles, this is the one that has the most recognisable character. In fact, the Frankenstein of the title is the original monster, with a few minor tweaks. After years of sleep, the monster, known from now on as Frank, wakes in an abandoned and crumbling castle and through a series of events, legally inherits the legacy of his creator’s wealth. Wearing a very convincing rubber mask when in his civilian identity, he quickly becomes known as the new socialite and desirable man-about-town, Frank N. Stein. But he soon becomes an invaluable aid to justice as a police sanctioned crime fighter in his role as Frankenstein.

Along the way, he picks up a particular female admirer who, from page to page, becomes convinced that she has penetrated his secret identity, only to be dissuaded again by the evidence of her eyes. Much like the Lois Lane and Clark Kent dynamic before he revealed his double life to her.

But, best of all, he has a fight with Mr. Freek’s pet Gorilla. Amazing.

Wacky villains and weird costumes abound. Why haven’t you read this yet?

Lastly, WEREWOLF (Dell, 1966)

Written by Don Seagall, Pencils by Bill Fraccio

This post covers all issues of Werewolf, numbered 1-3.

This one has absolutely no connection to any other Werewolf or Wolf-Man character. This is a straight up super spy story, with no supernatural element present.

USAF Major Wiley Wolf crashes his aircraft in the Arctic Circle and is presumed dead by the military. Suffering amnesia, he manages to win the trust of a wolf pack by rescuing one of them and continues to live and hunt as one of them for some time. The result of this is an incredibly heightened sense of the world about him and a dramatic increase in his own strength and stamina, gained from necessity of living wild. Over time his memories return and he makes his way back to civilisation accompanied by the wolf whom he saved, now named Thor.

On his return, Wolf finds himself legally deceased and is quickly recruited by a CIA like group for undercover espionage work. He agrees, on the condition that Thor can accompany him whenever possible. Wolf is trained in all areas of espionage, including how to use the muscles in his face to alter his appearance. He’s given a host of gadgets including a chip which allows him to communicate with Thor and a super-suit, which is bullet proof and a self contained breathing apparatus. Given the codename Werewolf, Major Wiley Wolf and Thor are sent out to battle the Red Menace wherever it raises it’s wonky-eyed and crooked-toothed head.

This one is a fun read, and I say that as someone that doesn’t normally read spy stories. There’s a lot of story in these three issues, the pacing is off in places, but the brisk pace makes up for that. It felt pretty fresh to me, but maybe that’s because spy comics aren’t something that I read very often.

There you go. Nine pretty weird and reasonably obscure comics from the Silver-Age. They are what they are, I’ve never read anything else like them.

Mad Thinker Reads………..

Whatever.