VAMPIRELLA Debut Issue Sets Record for Dynamite
[featured art: Dynamite]
Dynamite Comics has announced that the first issue of the new Vampirella by Christopher Priest has broken records in advance of the character’s 50th anniversary.
In a press release dated June 26, Dynamite says the #1 will have an initial print run of 130,000 copies, the highest for a full price comic in Dynamite’s 15-year history. The release also notes, “Furthermore, 130 thousand copies is higher than all recorded paid circulation numbers for the original Vampirella magazine – making this possibly also the best selling Vampirella comic book of all time!”
The book teams writer Priest with artist Ergün Gündüz, with a number of cover artists beginning with Frank Cho. Issue #2 will feature a cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, with #3 fronted by J. Scott Campbell.
“We cannot express enough how appreciative we are for the support from fans, retailers as well as support from retailers outside of the direct market and talent who have created covers for their own sales,” said Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher. “We knew we had a great creative team on this title with the incredible Christopher Priest being complemented by the lush art of Ergün Gündüz, and breathtaking covers to match. The 50th Anniversary will only happen once, so everything had to be perfect. Everyone from the creative team, editorial and sales & marketing worked hard together at all levels to make this a success. It’s incredibly gratifying to get such a welcoming response back.”
This follows criticism of an article by Newsarama writer Chris Arrant that some have characterized as ambushing Priest for giving less than politically correct answers to questions about his approach to Vampirella in the new run, which sees the alien vampire stuck on Earth without her usual cadre of companions. She’s faced with the impact of living in a world that deems creatures like her to be fictional.
Issue number one of the new Vampirella hits local comic shops in July.
