CELEBRATING Vampire Icons



Before there were vampire that sparkled under the sun, their cheeks as cold as marble and their eyes as red as rubies, there were vampires that dwelt only under a dark lit night time sky. Can you remember those sexy, dangerous, blood-thirsty, tormented souls that were real vampires long before Twilight wormed it's way into the heart of a few million fangirls?

I can.

DRACULA of Bram Stoker's captivating 1897 novel.
The main antagonist of this tale, Count Dracula was a suave nobleman who lived in a crumbling remote castle on the Border of Transylvania with his three Brides. Many stories, books, movies and games have built upon the legend of Dracula. And while Stoker was only took many superstitions and tied them together under the title of Vampire, it was from his book that much of Vampire lore was taken from thereafter.




JEAN CLAUDE of Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake Book Series.
Continuing in the tradition of Bram Stoker's Dracula, with his gorgeous blue eyes, spiraling hair and incredible romantic touch, Jean Claude was also the Master of the City and an incredibly powerful vampire. A master manipulator, he survived when others could not and worms his way into the heart of not only Anita Blake, the Vampire Executioner but all who read of him.




SPIKE, ANGELUS/ANGEL, DRUSILLA & DARLA of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel TV Shows by Joss Whedon.
This awesome foursome combines blood, sex, horror and redemption to startling effect. The oldest, Darla, had a startling innocence, which combined with her bloodthirsty nature made her the ultimate predator. She eventually seeks redemption by staking herself to save her unborn child. Angelus, the first of her Vampiric children was the Scourge of Europe, killing thousands in a bloodthirsty rage. Regaining his soul after centuries of killing, Angel suffered through many difficulties. Eventually he finds love, loses it, regains it and scratches out a new purpose for his vampiric soul existence. Drusilla is quite mad, driven that way by Angelus before being Sired by him. Her naivety, deceptive fragility and madness allow her a clearer insight into her own madness, the future and those around her than her Sires bear.
Spike, the youngest is just as bloodthirsty but never loses the ability to love; which keeps him from losing his soul altogether until it is finally returned to him and he goes through the same trials as Angel, but returning from it with a view that whatever is necessary must be done. The ultimate survivor, what was meant to be a two episode villain somehow managed to steal the screen and hearts of every continuing season of both TV shows.





SELENE of the Underworld movie franchise as portrayed by Kate Beckinsale... who doesn't remember all that leather
Selene's killer blue eyes, smoking leather outfit and incredible sex appeal made her a true vampire sex icon to geeks and freaks everywhere. And while the movie played up a lot of cliches it had some great mythology underlying it all and it has captured a huge fan base mostly thanks to that suit and those guns. The fangs were just an extra bonus but Selene was still bound by the sunlight and lived in a huge dark gothic castle with her vampire brethren.




LESTAT DE LIONCOURT and AKASHA the Spoilt Prince of Darkness and the Queen of the Damned from Anne Rice's spectacular Vampire Chronicles.
Lestat was an aimless vampire wandering the night and searching for a purpose. He wanted more out of the universe. These exceptionally seductive vampires came together when the Queen of the Damned was awakened by Lestat's presence and took him under rather dangerous wing. Attempting to provide him with all the purpose mass murder could achieve. These is simply no way to describe these vampires through whom Rice explores the uncertainties of the universe. They have such character, such subtleties in their creation. There's a reason why Anne Rice's fan base continues to grow. Her vampires were both ruthless and thoughtful. Sad yet spectacular creatures of the night whose history was interwoven with all the religions and histories of the world stretching back several millenia.





DAVID the young, sexy leader of The Lost Boys movie, has become one of the most beloved vampires in the history of horror movies.
His spiky blond hair, his ruthless streak. This vampire combined all the vitality of youth and daredevil with the California scene, slowly seducing potential newcomers with his freedom and incredible skill and strength. And continuing in the vampire tradition, this particular coven could be killed through a sharp object through the heart, and each off them died on various gruesome ways (presumably to allow the Special Effects Department some freedom to explore!)




COUNT VON COUNT most commonly known as the Count of Sesame Street, a vampire modeled after Béla Lugosi's interpretation of Count Dracula.
This Vampire has delighted generations of children as he educates them on mathematics since 1972. His over sized teeth, obsession with counting and lack of reflection in a mirror were the only traits he shared with your average Vampire. He enjoyed being outside, frequently interacting with mortals and his own extended family. While cliched (he lives in a huge castle with bats as companions!), Count Von Count, his songs and his particular MWAH HA HA laugh remain endearing to his fans. "Greetings. I am the
Count. Do you know why they call me the Count? Because I love to count things!"




COUNT GRAF ORLOK yet another vampire based on Count Dracula, whose silent appearance in Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens has ensured that this movie will always be a Vampire Classic.
This vampire possessed none of his inspiration's class and allure, instead he has been given a tatty, disturbing appearance. He in more in line with the historical accounts of vampires, sleeping in soil infected with the Black Death, killing without thought or emotion and brining disease and plague with him wherever he went. A true Harbinger of Death; he is vulnerable to sunlight and garlic and cowers in the face of true courage.




VAMPIRELLA This feisty sex icon from another planet (or Hell, depending on what version you've read) is a true comic heroine.
In order to survive she roams the Earth, dressed in very little, and not weakened by daylight, holy water, garlic, or crosses. She kills the scum of the planet and hunts her own kind. Able to transform into a bat and with a mesmeric stare, Vampirella has captured the hearts and pens of many an artist.




And there you have it ladies and gentlefolk, before there was Twilight or sparkling Vampiric Angels there were these (admittedly slightly motley) Vampiric Icons. So go back, have a read, or a watch and remember...

“Evil is just a point of view” - Anne Rice

With regards,

=ShatteredSwords xoxox