Set Description:
I was 10 years old when BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA premiered in cinemas in November, 1992. I remember the film's impact well, along with the accolades for costumes and makeup effects. I also remember The Simpsons Halloween Special: "Treehouse of Horror IV,” featuring the parody "Bart Simpson's Dracula.” In early 1993 my older brother, a college student at the time, brought home the movie on VHS. We sat down for a late night viewing where I became mesmerized by the striking visuals of the film's prologue. I recall vividly laughing out loud in shock at the sight of Prince Vlad impaling a Turk, while donning blood red armor. The carriage scene at the Borgo Pass also impressed my young imagination, with the mysterious coach driver draped in the armor of the armadillo, as well as the shadows of Dracula that never matched the actual movements of D himself.
I would not get to finish the movie that night, not long after a scene featuring Dracula's exotic, insatiable and barley clothed brides, my father appeared, who upon his discovery of what we were watching, decreed that such a film was inappropriate for me, thus ceasing my viewing pleasure. Several months later I was able to watch an edited version on network television, with Dracula's brides more clothed. A few years later I came across a VHS copy for myself and finally saw the film in all of its unedited glory.
I would go on to learn about the production of the film and its unique visual style, a result of naïve, in-camera tricks perfected by the magicians of golden age cinema. I've also read about Vlad Tepes, a.k.a. Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula, the prince of Wallachia, the historical influence for the character imagined by author Bram Stoker in In Search of Dracula: A True History of Dracula and Vampire Legends by Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu.
While visiting my brother in California in 2007, we came across a handsome hardback graphic novel at a comic shop, Stoker’s Dracula (Marvel 2005), a comic book adaptation of the original novel. The book was sealed in shrink-wrap, I told my brother that Roy Thomas (writer) and Dick Giordano (illustrator) were two legit name in comics, based on that my brother made the purchase. The gamble paid off, the 1970s black and white interior art work was beautiful and the story behind the making of the adaptation was just as good. Not long after I purchased my own copy I searched online for other Dracula comics, and discovered Topps Comics did a four issue comic adaptation of the 1992 film. When I saw Roy Thomas as the writer along with Mike Mignola (Hellboy) on art, I knew this adaptation would be good.
Each issue came sealed with four exclusive trading cards, and was only available in the direct market - comic book shops. Issue #1 has a second printing along with a Crimson Foil edition. This miniseries was also collected in a TPB, a.k.a. the Graphic Album (March 1993) with a unique wraparound cover. There is also a Diamond Comic Distributors exclusive TPB (1993) reusing the cover art from issue #1, which came sealed with a set of trading cards. This may have been a limited giveaway; I have yet to find any additional information. The Diamond TPB is interesting as is it is just the four actual individual issues bound together under a card stock cover.
I’m working to complete this set in 9.8 grade, it has been challenging as the front and back covers of these issues are affected by the seal lines from the poly-bag along with attrition from the trading cards included, dropping the grade significantly. The long out of print Graphic Album was also difficult to find in good condition but I was able to obtain a copy in 2021 that I submitted to CGC - it came back in 9.8 grade.
My Submission Timeline:
September 2021: submitted issue #2 to CCS/CGC, returned August 2022 in 9.8 grade.
October 2021: submitted the Graphic Album to CGC, returned in 9.8 grade.
Check out my Self Submissions custom set to see the graded Dracula Graphic Album, along with all of my other submissions.
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| Slot: |
Bram Stoker's Dracula 1 |
| Item: |
Bram Stoker's Dracula 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1230933011
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Owner Comments
Indicia Date: October, 1992
Roy Thomas story
Mike Mignola & John Nyberg art
Mike Mignola cover
Movie adaptation.
Poly-bag removed.
Grade Date: 08/07/2017
Acquired: 11/01/2017 - 1 of 2 in Universal 9.8 when purchased.
Then there was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of massive bolts drawn down back. A key was turned with the loud grating noise of long disuse, and the great door swung back. Within, stood a tall old man…
Bram Stoker, Dracula - 1897
This crimson draped cover is my favorite of the four in this series. Topps Comics made their publishing debut with this issue in October, 1992. This issue includes part one of INSIDE COPPOLA’S DRACULA: Inspiration, by Gary Gerani.
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| Slot: |
Bram Stoker's Dracula 1 Red Foil Edition |
| Item: |
Bram Stoker's Dracula 1 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1233793017
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Owner Comments
Crimson Foil Edition
Roy Thomas story
Mike Mignola & John Nyberg art
Mike Mignola cover
Movie adaptation.
Embossed red foil logo.
Grade Date: 08/30/2017
Acquired: 02/11/2018 - 1 of 11 in Universal 9.8 when purchased.
Denn die Todten reiten Schnell. (For the dead travel fast.)
Bram Stoker, Dracula - 1897
Issue #3 of this series advertises a Dracula Crimson Foil contest and contains an insert to mail away for a chance to be selected as 1 of 500 winners.
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| Slot: |
Bram Stoker's Dracula 2 |
| Item: |
Bram Stoker's Dracula 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3938014002
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Owner Comments
Indicia Date: November, 1992
Roy Thomas story
Mike Mignola cover & art
Movie adaptation.
Poly-bag removed.
Purchased Raw: 11/04/2017 - $1.80
Grade Date: 08/17/2022
1 of 2 in 9.8 after certification.
I purchased this book when it was still sealed in the original poly-bag, from my local comic shop, Escape Velocity Comics in Colorado Springs, Colorado. About a year later I removed the book from its poly-bagged tomb. The spine and corners were beautiful, and the imprinting from the trading cards and poly-bag seal did not break color on the front and back cover. In August of 2021 I sent the book to Classic Collectible Services (CCS) to be worked on, after almost a year of waiting, my patients paid off with a CGC 9.8.
As of this writing I have opened several sealed copies of issues #3-4, looking for quality examples for pressing and grading, without luck. Yet the lone copy of issue #2 I’ve found to date was the only copy needed to make a CGC 9.8. That’s how the hobby works.
This issue includes part two of INSIDE COPPOLA’S DRACULA: The Players, by Gary Gerani along with a centerfold poster by Mike Mignola.
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