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Book Review: Glamour Ghoul: The Passions and Pains of the Real Vampira, Maila Nurmi by Sandra Niemi

cover art for Glamour Girl by Sandra Niemi

Glamour Ghoul: The Passions and Pains of the Real Vampira by Sandra Niemi

Feral House, 2021

ISBN-13: 9781627311007

Available:  Paperback, Kindle Bookshop.com  | Amazon.com )

 

Glamour Ghoul is the biography of the woman who was Vampira, Maila Nurmi, written by her niece, Sandra Niemi. Pieced together from diaries, notes, family stories, and an unexpected family connection, Niemi weaves a fascinating tale of the late horror icon. She provides a glimpse of her aunt’s childhood,  Maila’s strict Finnish father and alcoholic mother, and how she tried to break free of their grasp. In 1941, Maila began her tumultuous journey into Los Angeles, hoping to find fame and fortune, but instead found heartbreak and betrayal, the first committed by Nurmi’s screen crush Orson Welles.

Nurmi’s creation and development of the Vampira character is discussed in the book. From entering a Halloween costume contest donning an outfit like that of Charles Addams’ Morticia (from his cartoons, not the television show), to appearing on the Red Skelton Show, to her own show and beyond, the tale of Vampira is told. There is also considerable time spent on the lawsuit between Nurmi and Elvira/Cassandra Peterson.

Interspersed between accounts of Nurmi’s life are short biographies of those who entered her life. Her relationships, platonic as well as romantic ones, with Orson Welles, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Anthony Perkins, and Elvis Presley make for an interesting read. Later in life, she was embraced by the punk community, and she, in turn, embraced the community. Her life was not glamourous: she often struggled with poverty, and was barely able to afford to scrape by. She occasionally had to return home, living with her mother and never speaking to her estranged father. Despite that, she lived on her own terms. Niemi is quite candid in telling her aunt’s story, not shying away from such things as a confrontation and violent outburst by Nurmi toward her grand-niece’s snobbish behavior during a visit to Los Angeles. Nurmi was not afraid of making her voice heard. Highly recommended.

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Women in Horror Month: Graphic Novel Review: An Elvira-straganza, Part 2! The Shape of Elvira, vol. 1 by David Avallone, art by Fran Strukan (issues 1-3) and Pasquale Qualano (issue 4)

cover art for The Shape of Elvira by David Avallone

Amazon.com )

 

The Shape of Elvira, vol. 1 by David Avallone, art by Fran Strukan (issues 1-3) and Pasquale Qualano (issue 4)

Dynamite, 2021

ISBN-13: 9781524111977

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, comiXology (for single and TPB digital issues), preorder (release date is May 4, 2021)

 

The Shape of Elvira is a one-volume detour from the main Elvira series, reviewed in part 1 of our Elvira-straganza. This limited series collects issues 1-4.

 

Issue #1: Chapter One: Diving In: Elvira has landed a role in “The Heart is a Black Lagoon”, an art film about the romance of a human and a gill monster. Her co-star, Gill, is introduced as a method actor, preferring to remain in costume and character at all times. Director Billy Bullworth runs a tight ship, so there is no real opportunity for the stars to get to know each other. Will there be an award, or something else in their future with this peculiar film?

 

Issue #2: Chapter Two: Love Means Never Having to Say You’re Soggy: After an intense day of shooting, that glass of champagne goes right to her head. She dreams of a romantic, yet silly, rendezvous with her scaly co-star, only to wake up finding him hovering over Elvira in in her bed. The Queen of Halloween’s co-star makes a swift retreat as Elvira tries to put things together from the evening. The issue ends with a car chase between Elvira and… the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife?

 

Issue #3: Chapter Three: Waterwhirled: Elvira, and everyone else, discovers Gill’s secret. Plus, a murder has taken place on the set.

 

Issue #4: Chapter Four: It’s A Soft G: Gill and Elvira awaken after a blow dart incident to find themselves strapped to metal tables. When they discover the film was a front for something far more nefarious, everyone learns more about Gill and just what he can do. A breakout of epic proportion ensues in the conclusion to this four-part miniseries.

 

I’m glad this was a short departure from the main Elvira series. It was fun and campy, and included a little bit of actual romance. I think it had just enough to warrant a separate storyline, but I don’t think it would have made a good addition to the main series. I would recommend this title to those readers who want to read everything in a series. Highly recommended for Elvira fans and lovers of campy horror.

Contains: a plunging neckline, plenty of innuendo, and puns galore

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker