Friday 20 January 2012

1988: ELVIRA IN THE FUNNY PAGES

"Elvira is outstanding... well two bits of her anyway!"
Barry Norman. BBC FILM '89
ELVIRA
MISTRESS OF THE DARK
NBC PRODUCTIONS/ NEW WORLD
1988

The ample charms of Elvira need no introduction but the eighties were her decade.  Oft-overlooked, but once-seen, never-forgotten, is her low-budget ($7.5 million) theatrical mis-fire (it grossed a paltry $5.5 million domestically).

New World Entertainment purchased Marvel Comics Group for $50 million in 1985 so, inevitably, Marvel churned out a comic book version (other New World tie-ups included HOUSE 2 (1987); CAPTAIN JUSTICE/ ONCE A HERO (1988); SLEDGE HAMMER! (1988)).

ELVIRA
MISTRESS OF THE DARK
MARVEL US
1988

Marvel's adaptation was a one-shot in a black and white magazine format.  It's never been reprinted and there was no UK edition.

MARVEL AGE MAGAZINE (issue 68, November 1988) ran a tie-in feature to promote it.



Here's the movie trailer.  It's got all the - ahem - stand-out moments in it.



And here's a remix of the best scene from the movie intercut with other scenes.  It exposes Elvira's real talents.


Here is the video sleeve for the first UK VHS sell-through release.


FANGORIA 77 ran an article on the making of the movie:





Elvria's Marvel one-shot wasn't her first (or last) comic book encounter.  DC Comics had already nabbed her to front their 1986 revival of horror anthology HOUSE OF MYSTERY (previously 1951-1983).  ELVIRA'S HOUSE OF MYSTERY ran for 11 issues (1986-1987) and a special.


And the hostess of horror would go on to enjoy considerable longevity in Claypool Comics' ELVIRA MISTRESS OF THE DARK (166 issues, 1993-2007).



SLOW ROBOT BONUS FEATURE

Elvira also starred in her own, unfortunately unsold, TV pilot.  The 1993 production for CBS never aired.  But here it is:


PART ONE


PART TWO


PART THREE


Unpleasant dreams!

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