Vampirella #9 - Barry Windsor Smith, Wally Wood, Jeff Jones art

Vampirella magazine #9, 1971 - Jeff Jones' inside front cover deftly tales the tale of Lilith, the biblical Adam's first wife prior to Eve. Wally Wood both writes and illustrates a memorable fantasy story featuring an enchantress and her sword-wielding brute. It is a labor of love for the artist, and arguably one of his best bronze age efforts. Giant spiders, skeletal soldiers, and voluptuous women are some of the few visual delights. The use of cave-like openings as panel frames on page five are used to great effect, and the first two pages (one repeated on the cover) are simply exceptional in their detail. Barry Windsor Smith draws his one and only story for this publisher, in a style not unlike his early efforts on Conan the Barbarian. A little boy consorts with tree dryads in the woods, only to fall victim to a gang of bullies intent to murder him. While not as polished as Wood, Smith's drawings retain a surrealistic creepiness that reflects the mood of the story. The interior page shown above is by Smith. This is number 1 of 3 Vampirella issues with Wood art and/or covers, number 3 of 8 Vampirella issues with Jones art and/or covers and 1 of 1 Vampirella issues with Smith art and/or covers. See today's posts or more Jones, Smith, Wood or Vampirella issues. See also this blog's Smith checklist, Jones checklist or Wood checklist.
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"The Curse" Wood story pencils and inks 8 pages = ****
"The Boy Who Loved Trees" Smith story pencils and inks 6 pages = ***
"Lilith" Jones inside front cover pencils and inks = ***
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