Fright #1
Published and © by Atlas (Seaboard), June 1975
Title: “And Unto Dracula Was Born a Son”
Synopsis: Dracula hooks up with his fourth cousin and their progeny would eventually terrorize coeds in New York City.
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Frank Thorne
Review: Wow, this comic is quite the mess. Ghost Rider co-creator Gary Friedrich offers up a script that’s built on a germ of a cool concept, multiple convenient coincidences and an almost surreal lack of story logic. The art – by comics veteran Frank Thorne – is excellent. But even that is marred by odd coloring choices that sometime make it seem like key characters are changing races. This done-in-one – clearly meant to be Atlas (Seaboard)’s answer to Marvel’s classic Tomb of Dracula series – almost makes it to so-bad-it’s-good status. Emphasis on almost.
Grade: C
Second opinion: “An insult to blood-sucking, mass-murdering fiends the world over.” – Mike Hall, Comic Effect #34, April-May 2003 … “Avoid it.” – Frank Plowright, FantaCo’s Chronicles Series Annual #1, 1983 … “For once Frank Thorne isn’t drawing busty babes, but the story is total kack.” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: Frank Thorne’s art.
Not-so-cool factor: Yeah. Not much else.
Notable: The indicia lists the publication month of this issue as August.
Character quotable: “I must never forget that the blood of a vampire flows through my veins – and this cross is my only weapon to combat its craving for fresh human blood!” – Adam Lucard, son of Dracula
Editor’s note: This review was written Oct. 20, 2023.
