Elizabeth Báthory may not have been a vampire, but legends that have grown around her have sometimes caused her to be known as “The Blood Countess.” She hold the Guinness World Record for the woman who has killed the most people, as many as 650. Her paternal uncle and her mother’s uncle were both officials of the highest rank in Transylvania.
The story of Erzsébet Báthory, with or without later fictional embellishments, may have been rather grim and heady stuff for the ‘tweeners Annie and Honeymoon sitting in on Professor Stokes’s illustrated lecture (though admittedly both, but Annie especially, have had life moments far beyond a normal girl’s experiences). One suspects that vampire hobbyist (ha!) Stokes may have emphasized the gory aspects of the largely hearsay allegations against the Countess called Elizabeth in English. (I bear a bit of Austro-Hungarian ancestry myself.)
And the girls, presumably accompanied by Tracy, enter the professor’s office/den, where he proceeds to put the screws to Honeymoon (that we can see) as to their real reason for visiting. He is suspicious (in more ways than one). What do the real and the amateur detectives sense?
Bathory was a sadist of the worst sort. among her lures was a ‘school’ for young laduies in the hopes they could marry better, but after a while neither servaqnts nor gentry daughters could be lured in and her people went to actual kidnappingshe was so sure of her court power that she thought she was imune from prosecution.
This story reminds me of the TV movie “The Night Stalker.” Reporter Carl Kolchack (played by Darren McGavin – the Old Man in “Christmas Story”) covers a series of murders in Las Vegas by a killer who “thinks he’s a vampire.” City officials are angry because it’s bad for business, but eventually have to admit Kolchak’s right, and worse, the guy really is a vampire. It inspired all the urban vampire & monster shows on TV and set viewing records when it first aired.
1-THE SHARP TOOTHED INSULT COMIC PROFESSOR: And here’s a candid shot of Hilary Clinton after she’s fed on unsuspecting children. She once told a friend that “THEY TASTE JUST LIKE CHICKEN!" SAAAAA-NAPPPP! THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Be sure to tip your wait staff.
2-ANNIE: You’re SOOOOO funny Professor Comic! TSTICP: Thanks. Are you girls 18 by chance?
3-DT: I’m sure you know who I am. Could we talk to you in private?
4-TSTICP: Well someone’s a little full of himself but yes, I know the headline hog, Dick Tracy. C’mon back…
5-TSTICP: So what’s this about?
BLONDIE: We got some material for you! What’s red on top and beautifully peeled on the bottom?
Is that a shadow of the gizmo owned by the professor behind him? I suppose the presence of Honey Moon and Annie along with means he is granting them an interview for their project.
We have been discussing how Brenda does not seem to look like the Brenda we remember. I posted this to Neil late yesterday but thought I would repost today for everybody’s benefit:
Brenda Starr used to be one of my wife’s favorite comics. Brenda’s creator and original artist Dale Messick did draw sparkles around Brenda’s eyes and in her hair (also on her necklace and jewelry) but was very subtle.
It was the final artist June Brigmann who overused the technique with bolder inking and it is apparently Brigmann’s redesign of Brenda’s face that Joe is using:
Good teaming of Annie with Honeymoon. One reason for that is obvious: a bit like adding Tonto to the Lone Ranger stories, it provides opportunity for conversation Honeymoon and ??? (this case, Annie).
- To be seen whether Brenda Starr is the sister of the most recent victim, i.e. the next likely victim.
- Can Joe Staton and Mike Curtis get permission from Leonard Starr to use The Asp’s niece?
- Likely the story will be so typically short and wind up fast. Would it be better if stretched out a few weeks longer?
No doubt Staton & Curtis got the name “Professor Stokes” from Professor Timothy Elliot Stokes of “Dark Shadows”; this one was a descendant of Ben Stokes, an indentured servant of Barnabas Collins.
Pequod over 3 years ago
Stokes’ secret life brings death and strife. Device indeed infernal
Draining blood. Extract a flood. The stain he bears eternal.
Shall Hope and Charity follow Faith into an early grave?
Might young reporters seeking truth discover ways to save
The sisters from the vile fiend who plots his next bloodletting
On the trail of a “Vampire” the facts can be upsetting.
Attend the lecture. Look and learn. The Prof has an obsession
A kindred spirit from the past who offered no confession.
Did she bathe in blood she spilled? A victim of a plot?
The facts are lost to time and tide. A cell is what she got.
Honeymoon shall need her skills. “Aunt” Mysta taught her well
Get the goods on bloody Stokes and send the man to hell.
avenger09 over 3 years ago
Hard to tell
If this is comic heaven
Or if this is hell
Stayed away
For more than a day
Came back for watery jell
Without the O
Judge Magney over 3 years ago
Interesting shadow.
Neil Wick over 3 years ago
Good morning™, hobbyists!
I was handy that they got to learn something of his interests at a lecture (public or for a class?) before interviewing him.
poore.ronnie over 3 years ago
Saved you the trouble of Googling Elizabeth Bathory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory
Nimblejack over 3 years ago
Elizabeth Bathory, eh? Surely he’s not collecting blood for someone to shower/bathe in…
Neil Wick over 3 years ago
Elizabeth Báthory may not have been a vampire, but legends that have grown around her have sometimes caused her to be known as “The Blood Countess.” She hold the Guinness World Record for the woman who has killed the most people, as many as 650. Her paternal uncle and her mother’s uncle were both officials of the highest rank in Transylvania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory
Cheapskate0 over 3 years ago
I guess we are going to have a crossover visit with the Shadow!
Check out the shadow behind Herr Stokes!
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray over 3 years ago
Good morning™, spellbound audience members !
How will Joe and Shelley depict looks of horror on the two girls faces when they find out Stokes ghoulish truth ?
DaveG1960 over 3 years ago
Fangs for the memory..
Sisyphos over 3 years ago
The story of Erzsébet Báthory, with or without later fictional embellishments, may have been rather grim and heady stuff for the ‘tweeners Annie and Honeymoon sitting in on Professor Stokes’s illustrated lecture (though admittedly both, but Annie especially, have had life moments far beyond a normal girl’s experiences). One suspects that vampire hobbyist (ha!) Stokes may have emphasized the gory aspects of the largely hearsay allegations against the Countess called Elizabeth in English. (I bear a bit of Austro-Hungarian ancestry myself.)
And the girls, presumably accompanied by Tracy, enter the professor’s office/den, where he proceeds to put the screws to Honeymoon (that we can see) as to their real reason for visiting. He is suspicious (in more ways than one). What do the real and the amateur detectives sense?
SKJAM! Premium Member over 3 years ago
“Vampirism is just a hobby. My vocation is lycanthropy.”
Knightman Premium Member over 3 years ago
Ah!!! Step into my parlor you little potential victims!!! And did he not look much older at first???
Wizard of Ahz-no relation over 3 years ago
Bathory was a sadist of the worst sort. among her lures was a ‘school’ for young laduies in the hopes they could marry better, but after a while neither servaqnts nor gentry daughters could be lured in and her people went to actual kidnappingshe was so sure of her court power that she thought she was imune from prosecution.
jrankin1959 over 3 years ago
Planning on bathing in the stuff, are we? Eeewwwww…
WGillete over 3 years ago
This story reminds me of the TV movie “The Night Stalker.” Reporter Carl Kolchack (played by Darren McGavin – the Old Man in “Christmas Story”) covers a series of murders in Las Vegas by a killer who “thinks he’s a vampire.” City officials are angry because it’s bad for business, but eventually have to admit Kolchak’s right, and worse, the guy really is a vampire. It inspired all the urban vampire & monster shows on TV and set viewing records when it first aired.
Another Take over 3 years ago
This is the best Tracy I’ve read so far. GO MIKE GO! GO MIKE GO!
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 3 years ago
Prof. Stokes resembles dorky John Kerry!
Another Take over 3 years ago
1-THE SHARP TOOTHED INSULT COMIC PROFESSOR: And here’s a candid shot of Hilary Clinton after she’s fed on unsuspecting children. She once told a friend that “THEY TASTE JUST LIKE CHICKEN!" SAAAAA-NAPPPP! THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Be sure to tip your wait staff.
2-ANNIE: You’re SOOOOO funny Professor Comic! TSTICP: Thanks. Are you girls 18 by chance?
3-DT: I’m sure you know who I am. Could we talk to you in private?
4-TSTICP: Well someone’s a little full of himself but yes, I know the headline hog, Dick Tracy. C’mon back…
5-TSTICP: So what’s this about?
BLONDIE: We got some material for you! What’s red on top and beautifully peeled on the bottom?
TSTICP: Is this a joke about my girlfriend, RED?
BLONDIE: A HALF PEELED APPLE! SAAAA-NAPPPP!
DT: STOP, STOP, STOP! That’s not why we’re here…
tsull2121 over 3 years ago
Hmmm… he looks a lil bit like a grown up version of Klarion the Witch Boy from DC Comics
https://youngjustice.fandom.com/wiki/Klarion?file=Klarion.png
IvanB.Cohen over 3 years ago
Is that a shadow of the gizmo owned by the professor behind him? I suppose the presence of Honey Moon and Annie along with means he is granting them an interview for their project.
Ray Toler over 3 years ago
We have been discussing how Brenda does not seem to look like the Brenda we remember. I posted this to Neil late yesterday but thought I would repost today for everybody’s benefit:
Brenda Starr used to be one of my wife’s favorite comics. Brenda’s creator and original artist Dale Messick did draw sparkles around Brenda’s eyes and in her hair (also on her necklace and jewelry) but was very subtle.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/83/5c/48/835c48ee6cf81c9d2adcc0a43744d06b.jpg
Messick did not always use them on the eyes and hair however but still on the jewelry:
https://i0.wp.com/www.markcarlson-ghost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Brenda-Starr-Charlton-cover.jpg?fit=1280%2C1881&ssl=1
The second artist Ramona Fradon rarely used the sparkles in the hair and kept it subtle around the eyes.:
http://graphicpolicy.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/artoffradon_cover.jpg
It was the final artist June Brigmann who overused the technique with bolder inking and it is apparently Brigmann’s redesign of Brenda’s face that Joe is using:
https://thedailyfunnies.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/01-02-10-brenda-starr.png
436rge over 3 years ago
Stokes reminds me of the old horror tv character Zacherly!
Jonathan Bridge Premium Member over 3 years ago
See “Countess Dracula” with Ingrid Pitt for more (albeit fictional) details. Good movie!
BreathlessMahoney77 over 3 years ago
Will we see a cross-over with Count Chocula?
b2plusa2 over 3 years ago
Good teaming of Annie with Honeymoon. One reason for that is obvious: a bit like adding Tonto to the Lone Ranger stories, it provides opportunity for conversation Honeymoon and ??? (this case, Annie).
- To be seen whether Brenda Starr is the sister of the most recent victim, i.e. the next likely victim.
- Can Joe Staton and Mike Curtis get permission from Leonard Starr to use The Asp’s niece?
- Likely the story will be so typically short and wind up fast. Would it be better if stretched out a few weeks longer?
WDD over 3 years ago
No doubt Staton & Curtis got the name “Professor Stokes” from Professor Timothy Elliot Stokes of “Dark Shadows”; this one was a descendant of Ben Stokes, an indentured servant of Barnabas Collins.