"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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