Dark Shadows #13
Published Gold Key (Western) and © Dan Curtis, April 1972
Title: “Hellfire”
Synopsis: When Constance Collins returns to Collinwood, Barnabas swears to save his innocent cousin from hellfire and damnation.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: John Certa
Review: For whatever reason, Little Me never encountered the “Dark Shadows” television show, meaning nostalgia offers no advantage to this comic. Unfortunately, this Gold Key offering does little to bring a franchise newbie up to speed. Who are all these characters? And what is the series’ central drama? Hmm. Still, there are the makings of a poignant story here. Barnabas, the conflicted vampire protagonist, decides it best not to drain a young human cousin; apparently, her innocence offers the family a chance to escape its curse. And something about hellfire. And Bluebeard the pirate. And … yup, this one loses the thread.
Grade: C-
Cool factor: This one goes out to college-era roommate Scott Stine, who has been known to argue Dark Shadows is the coolest things of all.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a 20¢ variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “I want to see it … feel it! I’ll touch it … I’ll just touch it … nothing more… just touch … just touch….” – Constance Collins, innocent
Editor’s note: This review was written Aug. 13, 2026.
