Elvira Mistress of the Dark: The Classic Years Omnibus Vol. 1

Elvira Mistress of the Dark: The Classic Years Omnibus Vol. 1 by Richard Howell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Elvira Mistress of the Dark: The Classic Years Omnibus Vol. 1 collects Elvira #1-26 from Claypool comics.

While I was aware Elvira hosted DC's House of Mystery comic for a short time, I had no idea she later starred in a comic published by Claypool for something like ten years.

In the twenty six issues contained in this omnibus, the titular (get it?) character deals with such menaces as paying her rent, a corrupt station manager, vampires, werewolves, mummies, zombies, aliens, and all sorts of other things. The creative teams have her look and voice down perfectly. The innuendo-laden dialogue rings true to the horror hostess.

Elvira is in fine form, with artists like the great Dave Cockrum handling the art chores on some issues. Some of the artists are unknown to me but Marvel stalwart Jim Mooney also does a few stories. In fact, the creative team features artists on their way down like Cockrum and Mooney, and writers on their way up like Kurt Busiek and Paul Dini. It's a good mix.

I don't have a lot to complain about this. It's an Elvira book so you pretty much know what you're getting. The horrors hostess bounces from one adventure to the next, making chokes and outwitting the bad guys. I guess one complaint I have is that Monster Beach Party did not feature a surf contest.

Was Elvira: Mistress of the Dark one of the best licensed books of the time period that didn't feature Bill Mantlo or Larry Hama? Probably. Three out of five stars.

View all my reviews