Ever feel like some writer is just pulling your chain? a story is continued-- and continued-- and CONTINUED-- in ways that do nothing but "force" readers to buy issue after issue of worthless junk, hoping the thing will continue, or end, but it doesn't?

I ran across an infuriating example this week while looking over some old VAMPIRELLA mags. Fans had been complaining about how the regular cast hadn't been seen in ages, and each new stand-alone story just got more trivial than the one before it. So they announced a "big" story was about to start soon-- watch for it! Here's what happened...

VAMPI #43 / Jun'75 -- "The Girl Called... Vampirella"
Bill DuBay started a mystery where Vampi was accused of murder. By the end of the 12-page episode, 2 of her friends were in the hospital, shot, maybe dead, and she was on the run from the law.

VAMPI #44 / Aug'75 -- "Blood For The Dancing Sorcerer"
Apart from 3 pages that formed a "framing sequence", this had NOTHING TO DO with the mystery started in #43! It's clear what happened-- writer-editor Bill DuBay was desperate not to lose fans, so a story by another writer was BUMPED from the previous issue so he could fool readers into thinking he was getting the book back on track. That story was run here-- as a "flashback".

VAMPI #45 / Sep'75 -- "Blood Wager"
Gerry Boudreau had been writing Vampi before DuBay came back-- this issue was the 2nd in a row that was presented as a "flashback"! This is unforgiveable. Artist Gonzao Mayo made his debut in this tale, which was far better written and better drawn than what DuBay was pushing on readers as the book's "new direction".

VAMPI #46 / Oct'46 -- "The Monster Called Vampirella"
In an otherwise ALL-REPRINT issue (I hate when they do that) they insterted a new 8-PAGE episode! It was made up almost entirely of narration bringing readers up on recent events. In effect, it didn't advance the plot AT ALL!! And "returning" artist Gonzalez was clearly too busy with other advertising jobs, as the work on this brief chapter was split between him and another artist! GEEZ.

VAMPI #47 / Dec'46 -- "Mother's Comign Home"
On the run from the cops, Vampi has a side adventure that has NOTHING to do with the ongoing mystery! Shades of "THE FUGITIVE"!! Another 8 pages (and an entire issue) wasted.

VAMPI #48 / Jan'76 -- "The Wonderworld..." title too stupid to repeat in full)
ANOTHER side adventure-- another 12 pages and another issue wasted. Some editors REALLY try their readers' patience-- don't they?? the cover of #48, like that of #43, has NOTHING to do with the story inside.

VAMPI #49 / Mar'76 -- "The Blood Red Queen Of Hearts"
The mystery is FINALLY solved in a "measely" 12 pages-- and the heroes don't even find out who was behind what was going on! This is not only BAD WRITING-- it's TRANSPARENTLY bad writing.

I know Harris Comics has had their hands on Vampi for the last 12 years or so, but if I were in charge, there's NO WAY I'd ever let this guy DuBay get near her adventures again.


Anyone else have similar examples they'd like to dredge up?