"Fear is the Name of the Game!" is the title to the fifteenth issue of the Tomb of Dracula ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Marv Wolfman with artwork by Gene Colan and inks by Tom Palmer. It was colored by Tom Palmer as well and lettered by John Costanza. The story was edited by Roy Thomas. This issue shipped with a December, 1973 cover date and carries a cover price of .20 cents per copy.
Dracula was created by Irish author Bram Stoker. He is the titular antagonist of Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, which was inspired by an actual Wallachian nobleman known as Vlad II, aka Vlad the Impaler. The character has since been imagined as a powerful vampire count in various forms of media and has been played by many notable actors such as Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Frank Langella, Gary Oldman, and even Leslie Nielsen.
This is the first and only appearance to date of Richard, who is the lover of Kitty. Appears in flashback only.
This is the first and only appearance of Orphelus; dies in flashback in this issue.
This is the first, and to date, only appearance of Vinnie, who hunts bats. Vinnie is an idiot. Who the Hell hunts bats?!
The flashback scene detailing Dracula's imprisonment, his confrontation with Turac and the death of his wife Maria is recapped from the "That Dracula May Live Again!" story from Dracula Lives #2 in April, 1973.
Turac is responsible for raping and murdering Dracula's second wife, Maria back in 1459.
This is the first appearance of Kitty, who becomes a vampire in this issue. Her real name is later revealed to be Maria. She appears next in Dracula Lives! #6 in May, 1974.
Meanwhile...[]
Here's what some of the other Merry Marvel Monsters are up to during the events of this issue.
Injured special effects artist Bob O'Bryan finds a way to take control over It, the Living Colossus, and uses it as instrument of revenge against the one responsible for breaking his legs. [2]
Brother Voodoo returns to Haiti to fight up against Baron Samedi, who has used his magic to turn deceased soldiers into a horde of zombies. [4]
Jack Russell has his hands (claws?) full when dealing with the Hangman while in werewolf form. He escapes from the initial encounter, only to deal with him a second time, leaving him for dead. He later meets Raymond Coker, who will go on to plague Jack as well, as Raymond is also a werewolf. [5]
