Customer Reviews

Tomb of Dracula Omnibus, Vol. 2

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Tomb of Dracula" didn't get off to an auspicious start in the '70s. With the character of Dracula squarely in the public domain, the book seemed to be riding the horror fad of the day, an easy way for Marvel to make a buck. The comic went through several scripters in its first batch of issues, and then Marv Wolfman came along and fleshed out the character of the lord of the undead. In his capable hands, Dracula was imperious, ruthless, and yet frequently, understandably fallible, a victim of his foibles as much as any of us are.

This second and final volume collecting the series finds Wolfman and collaborator/artist Gene Colan (who has never done better work, IMHO) at the top of their game. It opens with the two-part confrontation between Drac and his nemesis Quincy Harker, a tense nail-biter with several great twists that flesh out their adversarial relationship. The story then follows Drac as he battles his greatest nemesis, Doctor Sun, comes to America, falls in love with the beautiful Domini, battles God through his own son, rejects Satan and pays for it with his humanity - in so many ways, you cannot imagine.

Years after their publication, these stories still stand just as strong as ever. What strikes me now is Wolfman's uncanny ability to find the right notes to characterize major and minor characters. (The hack writer Harold is a major miss in my book, but easily overlooked.) There's such real danger everpresent in these stories, to Dracula, to the band of fighters (including a certain vampire hunter named Blade) and to anyone who ends up in their crossfire. Wolfman keeps the stories moving by shifting focus among the cast and yet holds true to Dracula's incredible character arc, a man who walks his own path by his own rules. It's extraordinary writing and illustration, and is easily one of the best comics Marvel ever produced. The company was right to issue these in Omnibus form. Now Dracula can truly live forever.

When the comics code relaxed its standards in the early 1970s to once again allow horror comics Marvel jumped right out of the gate with Tomb of Dracula. The book quickly settled in with Marv Wolfman writing, Gene Colan penciling, and Tom Palmer inking. Here in the second omnibus they hit on all cylinders producing what many believe to be Marvel's best book of the decade.

In retrospect it is amazing that the book lasted as long as it did. Having a villain as a protagonist, especially one as so completely, irredeemably evil as Dracula, is really very limiting. There are only so many plots available and Wolfman used them all. Dracula fights greater evils, Dracula's schemes are foiled, Dracula is pushed into the background while nobler characters take center stage, and finally Dracula undergoes a redemption of sorts as the series comes to a close. All is very well done. Only toward the end is Dracula's character softened to make him more sympathetic. Wolfman does everything brilliantly and the series ends right where it must.

The art is also perfectly suited to the book. Colan has never been one of my favorite artists but here his dreamlike, soft, "fuzzy" style is just right for the book's mood.

The reproduction looks to be excellent also. In places it is hard to tell not having the originals for reference. I found myself saying that that really looks crude in places but that was probably artistic intent not reproduction problems.

The extras are of interest especially the unused pages. The remainder are collection covers and pinups.

All in all superb value getting the equivalent of three Marvel Masterworks for the price of less than two. I look forward to the promised third volume. Highly recommended except for the very sensitive and/or young who might have trouble the constant death and mayhem of the series. There are good reasons for the Parental Advisory!

TOD was one of the earliest and best "auteur" titles, long before the concept really existed in the world of comics. Beautiful and evocative Gene Colan artwork and rich, character driven writing by Marv Wolfman keep these stories compelling and enjoyable 30 years after their original publication. The second half of the series doesn't quite match the energy of the first half but is still first rate.

LOVE THIS ITEM!!!! it was just as it was supposed to be as shown on website!! I had found this item in town for $150.00 thank goodness I checked on my favorite website first!!! One of my favorite purchases!!!

I understand the prior reviewer's comments, but I'd rather have this book than Howard the Duck, Grant Morrison's X-Men and the Alias Omnibus books, all of which Marvel's already produced. These releases make no rhyme or reason; however, the sheer brilliance of the Marv Wolfman/Gene Colan Tomb of Dracula series make it the single best comic book series of the 1970s and most certainly Masterworks-worthy. I read every one of these comics as a kid and simply cannot wait for this volume's release to go with my volume 1 edition!

I do not doubt the quality of this book, however.... Who is responsible for the production of these omnibus books? How can book number two of Tomb of Dracula be released and still no AVENGERS? No (original) DAREDEVIL? No THOR? Makes no sense.