Marvel's '70s Horror Archives: Vampire Tales Volume 1--1973-1974

Marvel’s ’70s Horror Archives: Vampire Tales Volume 1--1973–1974 is the first in a series of Dark Horse collaborations with Marvel Comics to excavate the dark and hidden corners of the Marvel Universe and re-present them in beautiful archival hardcover editions.

Starting in 1973, Marvel Comics embarked on a series of black-and-white horror anthologies in magazine format. These magazines helped ignite a new horror-comics boom while allowing Marvel to expand the boundaries of the stories they told.

One of those series, Vampire Tales, included stories of bloodsucking fiends as both heroes, villains, and anti-heroes, involving fan-favorites like the reluctant monster Morbius, the Living Vampire; the first solo tales featuring Blade the Vampire Slayer; and Dracula’s daughter, the ever-lethal Lilith. Vampire Tales magazine also introduced the comic-book world to Satana, the Devil’s Daughter, and her introductory stories are also in this first volume.

Marvel’s ’70s Horror Archives: Vampire Tales Volume 1--1973–1974 contains nearly 300 pages of terrifying tales from the first six issues of the magazine, including stories by comic-book talent such as Alfredo Alcala, Rich Buckler, Ernie Chan, Chris Claremont, Gerry Conway, Bill Everett, Gardner Fox, Steve Gerber, Carmine Infantino, Tony Isabella, Gil Kane, Stan Lee, Don McGregor, Pablo Marcos, Esteban Maroto, Doug Moench, Tom Palmer, John Romita, Jim Steranko, Tom Sutton, Roy Thomas, Marv Wolfman, and more!

This oversize collection also features full-color reproductions of Vampire Tales covers painted by the likes of Bob Larkin, Esteban Maroto, and Boris Vallejo, along with a new introduction and discussion of the Marvel horror mags’ lasting influence from writer/editor/historian Chris Ryall, as well as a number of Marvel’s most horrific monster-comic covers.

Collects Vampire Tales: #1–#6.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs