Tomb of Dracula #53

This February 1977 issue of Marvel's self-proclaimed "Comicdom's Number 1 Fear Magazine" delivers a cover charged with supernatural menace — a looming Dracula commands the scene from above, fangs bared, while Blade and Hannibal King clash in the foreground against another vampiric figure, the cover promising "vampire against vampire" conflict. Speech bubbles call out Dracula ordering the destruction of both Blade and Hannibal King, and a bold banner at the bottom heralds the return of Deacon Frost, with a mysterious cloaked figure lurking in the upper corner hinting at the issue's promised "surprise shock star." With cover art by Gene Colan, Tom Palmer, and John Romita, this issue showcases the kind of densely atmospheric horror storytelling that made Tomb of Dracula one of Marvel's most distinctive series of the decade.