Tomb of Dracula by Wolfman, Colan, and Palmer has long been considered one of the best Marvel Comics of the 1970s. Colan’s atmospheric artwork was the perfect companion to Wolfman’s dark and foreboding stories—together they formed a classic series.
This Artist’s Edition collects six fantastic stories, plus an incredible gallery section.
- IDW Publishing, January 17, 2018
- ISBN 978-1-68405-217-2
- 12″ x 17″, 144 pages
- $125 USD
- Order Online: eBay, AbeBooks
As with all AE format material (Artist’s Editions, Artifact Editions, Gallery Editions, Art Editions, Studio Editions, etc.), this is a collection of classic comic material and I’ll be reviewing the book and not the story. For a complete list of all current and announced editions, with review links, please visit our Index. Also, see What is an Artist’s Edition and our Artist Index. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
A wonderful collection of Colan and Palmer’s Tomb Of Dracula work, with six complete issues (25, 28, 36, 37, 46, 48), a gallery of cover and additional pages spanning the series, plus an informative introduction by Marv Wolfman and a one page bio of Colan to close it out.
Scans, for the most part, are clear; some slight softness here and there. There’s a significant amount of tape on the pages, instead of the normal glue for additions like page numbers and text replacement. Any text under tape is showing as blurry. Page colour varies from off white to yellow and light brown. There are a lot of blue pencil margin notes, but because of printer trimming we don’t get to see what they are. Also some red and blue ink notes. Blacks vary greatly between no gradients and heavy gradients. Lots of Zip-A-Tone. Love the text ads that run along the bottom of every other page of issue 25.
The included unused pencil pages are a real treat for Colan fans, filled with expression and atmosphere. The lettering is modern and appears digital; I wonder if it was added for this volume?
Dahlk’s design brings a horror feel to the work through his stellar choices of colour and pattern. Not only the black and blood red but the repeating use of pattern on its own and within images. And the blood splatter on the cover is a great touch.
Production is IDW excellence: sewn binding of thick matte paper stock. Almost every page lays flat after smoothing the center. The books comes shrink wrapped in a cardboard base with a colour sticker showing cover and UPC.
