Dracula Lives (UK) Vol 1 41

Rachel van Helsing finds herself travelling through the winter ravaged Transylvanian Alps with an unlikely travelling companion: Her mortal enemy, Dracula, king of the vampires. In this baron and near lifeless domain, the two have become temporary companions relying on each other both to survive: Rachel so that she can return to relative safety off the mountains, and Dracula so he is not stuck in a winter wasteland without sufficient blood to stay alive.

After Rachel almost falls off the side of a cliff and is saved by Dracula, the two find shelter in a cave. Where Dracula starts a fire and the two talk about their mutual hatred of one another. As Rachel rests, Dracula goes out into the snow once more when he spots a mountain goat. He then feeds upon it, while he finds it's blood revitalizing, he finds the act of drinking non-human blood repulsive. Dracula then reflects back on how they ended up in this predicament: It was following his battle with the Werewolf when Rachel van Helsing stole the Second Book of Sins and made an escape in a helicopter. Following after, Dracula managed to board the copter. His weight throwing the helicopter off course until he managed to throw the helicopter pilot to his death, the two would find themselves miles off course in the Alps. The helicopter would crash. Dracula would find that Rachel had survived, and now finding his need to have the book has passed, and that his continued survival reliant upon Rachel's own survival he would administer first aid and the two would begin their search for rescue.

Finishing his recollection, Dracula brings the dead goat to Rachel so that she can cook it's meat for her own meal. Rachel and Dracula establish that while both need rest at different times, they are in a Mexican Stand-Off situation and that neither can kill the other without dooming themselves. Meanwhile, in Dr. Sun's Pagoda in Ireland, Mr. Lo continues to hone the skills of vampire Lucas Brand, to test the full limit of his abilities for his master Dr. Sun. While back in the mountains, Dracula and Rachel continue to struggle through the Alps. Having to climb a mountain by rope, Rachel has an another near-death experience when she almost falls down the side of the mountain, once more relying on Dracula to save her. This once more leads to an argument over who will destroy whom. Still in a stalemate position, the two once more seek refuge from the snow in another cave to rest.

While in Paris, Quincy Harker is standing over the vampire bitten Blade and is ready to drive a stake through his heart. Before Quincy can strike, Blade suddenly revives and to Quincy's surprise -- Blade has not changed into a vampire. Blade explains that through some twist of fate he is immune to vampire bites due to the fact his mother was bit by a vampire while Blade was being born. Blade vows to use his immunity to his advantage and not let it stop him from destroying all vampires.

Back in the Alps, while Dracula rests, Rachel attempts to slay him with a stake through the heart, however Dracula was waiting for such a move and knocks the girl away. Dracula then pulls her outside and demand that she keep going because he no longer cares about her discomfort in the cold. They are suddenly attacked by a mountain goat, with no choice Rachel realizes that she has to save Dracula or die alone in the cold and so she pulls out a gun and shoots the ram to death.

Just then, Frank Drake (who had commissioned another helicopter and has been searching for Rachel all this time) spots the two down below, and goes in for a rescue. Spotting Frank's helicopter, Rachel flees Dracula. Realizing that she intends to leave him behind, Dracula pounces on her and attempts to feed upon her body. However he is chased away when Frank begins firing upon him with wooden bullets. Frank then rescues Rachel and flies away, heading back to Transylvania, leaving Dracula in the Alps all alone.

This story is continued next issue...

Appearing in "Death in the Cathedral!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Werewolf by Night #16

Featured Characters:

Werewolf (Jack Russell)

Supporting Characters:

Topaz

Antagonists:

Hunchback of Notre Dame (First appearance; dies) (Main story and flashback)

Other Characters:

Dracula (Referenced)
Committee (Mentioned)
National Police
- Raoul
- Numerous unnamed police officers
Lyndie (Pilot)
Charles (Pilot)
Numerous unnamed plane passengers
Royal Air Force (Mentioned)
French Army
- Numerous unnamed soldiers
Lord (Invoked)

Races and Species:

Humans (Main story and flashback)
Werewolves
Birds (Referenced)
Mutants (Main story and flashback)

Locations:

Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Europe
  - France
    - Paris
      - Orly International Airport
      - Notre Dame de Paris
  - Transylvania (Referenced)
- Los Angeles, California (Mentioned)

Synopsis for "Death in the Cathedral!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Werewolf by Night #16

At the airport in Paris, Jack and Topaz get held up by a hunchbacked hijacker. The Werewolf faces the hijacker in a battle that carries them to the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Appearing in "The Lady of the House!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Frankenstein #18

Featured Characters:

Frankenstein's Monster

Supporting Characters:

Berserker (Robot) (Death)

Antagonists:

I.C.O.N.
- Cardinal (Death)
- Indigo (Death)
- Rainbow (Mentioned)
- Werner Schmidt (Death)

Other Characters:

Veronica Frankenstein
Eric Prawn
Ralph Caccone
Children of the Damned
- Dwarves
- Igor
- Mother (First appearance)

Races and Species:

Locations:

Switzerland
- Swiss Alps
- Veronica's chalet
- Castle

Items:

Submachine gun

Vehicles:

Helicopter

Synopsis for "The Lady of the House!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Frankenstein #18

At the chalet of Veronica Frankenstein, Ralph spots Werner making his escape to Cardinal and Indigo's helicopter. He grabs the gun of injured Eric Prawn and chases them, managing to shoot the copter's gas tank, causing it to explode. Out in the wilderness, the Monster and his new friend, the tamed Berserker robot are attacked by a band of homunculi hunting the Monster for their "mother". They destroy Berserker and knock the Monster out by forcing his head under water. They then take the Monster back to the castle of their mother, who also claims to be a descendant of the Monster's creator, Baroness Victoria Von Frankenstein.

Links and References

References