Marvel’s version of Palpatine was their first vampire, and Darth Vader. Dracula is known throughout the Marvel Universe as the Lord of the Vampires, a fearsome presence who has slaughtered and enslaved countless people–but this was not always the case and in a backup story in 1989’s Doctor Strange #13, readers see Dracula before he became a vampire. Dracula had been manipulated by Varnae, then the Lord of Vampires; this manipulation that is echoed in the relationship between Palpatine and Darth Vader.
Dracula is one of fiction’s most enduring villains, inspiring countless adaptations since the publication of Bram Stoker’s novel in 1897, and would enter the Marvel Universe in 1972’s Tomb of Dracula #1. Although Dracula was intended to stay separate from the rest of the Marvel Universe, he proved too good a villain to waste, and eventually Dracula was fighting Doctor Strange and the X-Men. As Tomb of Dracula unfolded, it became clear that vampires had a long history in the Marvel Universe, stretching back countless centuries, to ancient Atlantis and an evil tome known as the Darkhold.
This history was explored in a series of backup stories called “The Book of Vishanti” running through issues of Doctor Strange and in part five, appearing in Doctor Strange #13, titled “The Curse of the Darkhold,” the saga of vampires was developed further. The story, written by Roy Thomas and RJM Lofficier and illustrated by David and Dan Day, begins with Varnae attempting to destroy the Montesi family, who have taken vows to destroy all vampires. The Montesis also safeguard the Darkhold, which Varnae wants for himself and to this end he uses human agents. Suffering failure after failure, Dracula he is a pawn. Dracula defies Varnae, telling him he bows before no one. Pleased with Dracula’s audacity, Varnae attacks Dracula, forcing him to drink his blood, which completes Dracula’s ascension. Readers learn that as one last test for Dracula, Varnae withheld knowledge of the existence of the Darkhold, and the Montesis.
Dracula Is Marvel's Darth Vader
The levels of manipulation and torture that Varnae subjected Dracula to, all in the name of creating a successor, is on par with Palpatine’s treatment of Darth Vader. Beginning with The Phantom Menace, Palpatine took a vested interest in Anakin Skywalker, eyeing him as a potential apprentice. Once Palpatine ensnared Anakin, he manipulated events, such as forcing Anakin to fight, and kill Count Dooku, all to further push Anakin to the Dark Side. Varnae did something similar, propping Nimrod up as the true Lord of Vampires and forcing Dracula to fight him. Palpatine knew Anakin would defeat Dooku and would eventually complete his journey to the Dark Side. Likewise, Varnae knew Dracula and Nimrod’s fight was a farce–it was there to further agitate Dracula to prove his worth. Palpatine withheld or distorted information, and Varnae does the same thing with Dracula.
Of course, the main difference between the two situations is that Vader rebelled against Palpatine and returned to the Light while Dracula’s reign of terror continues unabated. Dracula learned well from Varnae, whose evil was on par with Palpatine, and Dracula was his Darth Vader.
