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Tomb of Dracula #55: Review

Apr 1977
Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan

Story Name:

Requiem for a Vampire!

Review & Comments

Rating:
4.5 stars

Tomb of Dracula #55 Review by (October 19, 2021)

Review: A moody issue as we see the inner turmoil of both Dracula, with his history of family problems, and Domini whose troubles are of short duration but no less disturbing. We gain some great insight into Domini’s mind and emotions, raising more questions as to what she is planning that Dracula does not know about. And the story leaves Dracula, confused by recent events, pondering the meaning of happiness, which is definitely not to last.

Comments: Dracula’s first son Vlad Tepulus appeared in DRACULA LIVES #2-3; daughter Lilith was introduced in GIANT-SIZE CHILLERS #1. The letters page includes one by Ed Via, future publisher and editor-in-chief of Claypool Comics.





 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Tomb of Dracula #55 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Dracula stands with his wife Domini and their child but the new father is disturbed: why does his child have the golden skin coloring of an angel? Domini’s answer that the baby is a cross between them isn’t likely and he fears to consider anything else. Dracula summons Anton Lupeski, outlining his big plans: the Satan cult will grow as a platform for world domination. Lupeski secretly wants Dracula to die so that he (Lupeski) can regain control of the cult….

Rachel van Helsing and Frank Drake meet with Quincy Harker, who is being nursed back to health by Aurora Rabinowitz, and tell him of their inability to destroy Dracula in the presence of their newborn. Quincy has an idea to defeat their foe….

At an elaborate ceremony in the Satanist church, Lupeski presents the baby to the congregation, naming him Janus Tepes, born of a mortal and an immortal, proclaiming him the new messiah. Dracula realizes Lupeski is trying to sideline Dracula in favor of his son. Angered, Dracula rebukes him in front of the assembled Satanists, proclaiming himself the Dark Lord Supreme. Lupeski quietly vows revenge. One of the congregation departs quickly: it is Harold H. Harold, disguised in a robe to spy on Dracula. He reports back to Frank and Rachel on the rift between Dracula and Lupeski….

With his wife, Dracula mentions all of his previous troubles with his offspring souring his affection for his newborn son. Domini explains her own unhappy past: sent to a convent by her strict unloving father, finding Anton Lupeski who promised to take her away from that but trapping her in a cult where she was so abused and degraded that she considered herself garbage, seizing on becoming the Bride of Satan as a possibility at some small shred of dignity. But when she married Dracula she came to love him, believing that her love has sparked some esteem in him for her….

Elsewhere, Lupeski is forging silver bullets marked with the cross in his plan to assassinate Dracula. A vampire hides in the rafters, witnessing this. He is the man vampirized by Dracula in issue #53, in his service. This vampire hurries to the church but finds Dracula gone. He gives the warning to Domini and departs. She hurries in the night with her baby to Lupeski’s home with matters to discuss….

Dracula flies though the wintry night, brooding on matters he can’t understand but he thinks having a loving wife and child may finally bring him peace….



Gene Colan
Tom Palmer
Michelle Wolfman
Gene Colan (Cover Penciler)
Tom Palmer (Cover Inker)
Tom Palmer (Cover Colorist)
Letterer: John Costanza.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.


Plus: Aurora Rabinowitz, Domini, Janus Tepes (Son of Dracula).

> Tomb of Dracula: Book info and issue index

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