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| When I first started collecting Vampirella comics I wasn't very bothered about the various women who have portrayed Vampirella over the years. In fact I knew very little about them, as I preferred the artists impressions of our heroine rather than the real life versions. Thus, when I started this website I had no intention of even including a section on Vampirella models. But the Vampirella model is so important to the Vampirella story I felt I had to include something. |
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Many ladies have portrayed Vampirella, either officially for Warren Publishing and Harris Publishing, or unofficially at comic conventions and similar events. All of them look fabulous in their Vampi costumes. The first ever model would appear to be Kathy Bushman, who is pictured here from the first ever fan page in Warren's Vampirella #4. The photo was taken at the World Science Fiction Convention in St Louis in 1969, making Kathy the first person to be published dressed as Vampirella. The fan club pages of both Warren's magazines and Harris' comics would feature many more hopefuls, but there's something special about being first - isn't there? I wonder where Kathy Bushman is now, over thirty five years later. |
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Originally my site contained detailed pages for each model with interviews and help from Terry Sanders. Unfortunately I could not fit all of these in as my site continues to expand - and I am delighted to inform you that Richard Boom is now hosting these pages for me. To find his site go to http://vampimodels.boomvavavoom.com |
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I am not going to pick favourites (how could I?) but I have a certain fondness for the pose Sascha Knopf has adopted for the 1995 Harris Christmas card (see right). I think it's her smile and the hat, and the fact she really looks as if she's enjoying it. In the space I have it is impossible to mention them all, so I have picked the ones I felt were either particularly special to the Vampirella story, or ones I have a soft spot for. One person who is an expert on Vampirella models is Terry Sanders who takes hundreds of photos of them (some of which are on this page) and is a renowned expert. Thanks to his efforts you can see some of the models below in natural poses. So enjoy the world of the Vampirella model ..... |
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Cathy Christian, one of the very first Vampirella models, featured here on a trading card |
Lesley Culton, another early Vampirella with probably the best costume of all | Barbara Leigh - the original Vampirella model, seen here on a Warren magazine |
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Maria d'Angelis - the model who won the 2001 Harris competition |
Julie Strain - another model to appear on many Vampirella covers | Kitana Baker is the 2004 model who appears on the Comics Magazine |
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This model was never identified but had the honour of being the first on a comic cover |
Sascha Knopf at the Harris stand at a Comic Con - looking delightful | Talisa Soto played Vampirella in the Showtime Vampirella Video |
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All images on this site are copyright © 2007, Harris Publications, Inc. VAMPIRELLA ® and other characters are trademarks of Harris Publications, Inc. Text and concepts © 2007 Mike Grace. All rights reserved. |