Mordecai Pendragon

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Blood Red Queen of Hearts

Mordecai Pendragon is Vampirella's guide and mentor for many, many stories. We first meet him in Warren's Vampirella #11 at the carnival where he is 'rescued' from the clutches of the demon Asmodeus by Vampirella. Although he loses her that night (she slips away) by the time the story reaches Vampirella #13 she has found him again and he offers her both a home and a job as his assistant in his magic act.

From that moment on Pen becomes a valuable, trusted companion. He saves Vampirella many times, and despite his age (and his love of the bottle) he is always there to help her. As we discover in Vampirella #24 to #27 he has a guilt-ridden past which returns to haunt him when his ex-wife (who left him while he was away at the war) and his daughter capture him to seek revenge for his desertion.

As the stories unfold so Pen starts to play a larger and larger role in Vampirella's fight against evil in whatever form it takes. He is involved in the fight against Dracula, goes back in time to become Vampirella's slave in ancient Egypt, and saves everyone from the Blood Red Queen of Hearts by conjuring up a demon.

Pendragon's sudden magical powers are apparently due to the fact that Vampirella gave him a transfusion of blood to save his life (he had been shot and was in hospital) and thus also transferred some form of mystical ability to him.

This power serves him well, as he can now produce genuine illusions (a great help with his magic act). Despite this, he loses his heart (literally) when the Blood Red Queen reappears, and after Vampirella disappears for ten years he reverts to his old life of drink and aimless wandering.

Then, in Morning in America: Book 2 he is re-united with Vampirella and Adam in one of the most touching scenes written in comics.

After the Dracula Wars Pen starts to play a less important role in Vampirella's life, appearing occasionally almost as a visitor rather than a mentor and friend. As Vampirella starts to move closer to her discovery of her destiny (The Mystery Walk) so Pen's telepathic ability to foresee the future increases.

But it is not enough. Despite his foreboding and his powers he is not able to prevent the showdown between Vampirella and Nyx leading to Vampirella's ultimate death. Cast aside during the battle he can only watch helplessly.

Finally, after she has gone, he discovers her diary (Sad Wings of Destiny) and all he has now are his memories of his time with the woman that was Vampirella.

But the story of Pendragon wasn't finished yet. Out of the blue, Vampirella is sent back in time to 1969 after her battle with Lady Death when she is pierced by the Spear of Destiny, and finds herself suddenly part of Pendy's original stage act when she changed from a bat into herself.

It is part of the plot so she can retrieve Pantha's mystic amulet which enables her to eventually defeat Dr Midwinter and Lady Death back in the year 2000. Her meeting with Pendragon is a really nostalgic trip for older fans, and he is braver than I remember he was when he first met Vampirella, but what the heck .....

It may be his swansong because he hasn't reappeared yet. personally I hope not because I've always had a soft spot for the old magician.

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