Our Financial Service Manager Chris Rocci knows a thing or two about financing (and protecting) your next vehicle with more than a wooden stake, but did you know he also has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to comic books?

The issue picks up with Frank Drake returning to the burnt-out ruins of Castle Dracula with a valet named Gort, hoping to get revenge on his immortal ancestor, Count Dracula who had succeeded in changing Drake’s lover Jeanie into a vampire. Taking Gort into Dracula’s tomb, he explains to the man-servant the events that led up to Dracula’s resurrection and the vampire lord’s subsequent escape after he turned Jeanie into a vampire and the local towns folk had lit Castle Dracula ablaze. Hearing cries for help, Frank and Gort find Clifton Graves trapped in a pit and help him out. Brought up to speed, Drake explains the first part of his plan to get revenge against Dracula: stealing the vampire lord’s coffin.

While down in the village below, Dracula stalks and kills another girl to feed upon her blood. Afterwards, Dracula pays a visit to Carl Von Harbou, a man who, as a boy years ago, had been a loyal servant to Dracula prior to his recent death. Dracula asks Von Harbou to help conceal his pale skin tone in order to more easily pass as a normal human. With the process done, Dracula then feeds upon Von Harbou, revealing that he knew that it was Carl – as a boy – who betrayed him to the men who killed him last.

Days later, Frank Drake and Clifton Graves arrive in London, having brought Dracula’s coffin with them, Drake ready and confident that Dracula will come to them and that he will be ready to stop his murderous ancestor. That night, Drake is visited by Jeanie who attempts to tempt Frank into becoming her next victim. When they are interrupted by Clifton, Clifton is too drunk to realize that Jeanie is really a vampire until Frank pulls out a crucifix, causing Jeanie great pain.

Listening from below, Dracula has faith that Jeanie will succeed in killing both Drake and Graves and walks off when he spots another girl to make his next victim. Following her into a pub, Dracula uses his power to charm the woman until he is interrupted by the man’s boyfriend Remo. When Remo attempts to pick a fight with Dracula, the vampire easily overpowers and leaves with the girl. Luring her into a dark alley, Dracula feeds upon her, her screams drawing Remo and the other bar patrons who stand in utter horror as they witness Dracula transforming into a bat and flying away. Dracula returns to his hide out where he boasts over Drake’s error in planning: Having Dracula’s coffin is not fatal to the vampire at all, it’s not the coffin but the dirt inside which Dracula needs to be able to sleep and laughs as this will lead to Drake’s defeat.

Back at Drake’s apartment, Frank has tied up Jeanie, who continues to try and convince Clifton that Frank has gone crazy. Clifton, still jealous over the fact that Frank had won Jeanie’s love away from him, decides to betray Frank in order to get Jeanie back and drugs Frank’s coffee. With Frank knocked out he unties her as Dracula arrives to reclaim his coffin. As they go into the other room to take the coffin, Frank revives and enters the room with a crucifix in hand.

Dracula sends Clifton to attack Frank, the struggle takes the crucifix out of Dracula’s sight long enough for the lord of the vampires to attack his ancestor, knocking the holy symbol away. With Frank preoccupied with Dracula, Jeanie then turns on Clifton. Managing to struggle from Dracula, Frank sees that Jeanie is about to feed upon Clifton and grabs a broken table leg and rams it into her back. Realizing that the dawn is rising, Dracula decides to retreat and transforms into a bat and flies away.

With the sun rising, Jeanie begins to disintegrate, her final words are her pleas to Frank that she does not want to die this way. Her pleas are useless as she eventually burns up in the sun leaving Frank to weep for her passing.

Feel free to discuss the merits of Chris’s recommendation with Chris himself: chris@haltonhonda.com