Tomb of Dracula #43 (1976)

Paul Butterworth, reporter for the Boston Bugle, has run afoul of Dracula and he is quickly trying to type up his story before Dracula can find him: His story begins on the night of New Year's Eve as Mary-Ann Travers is heading home from a party; she is attacked and killed by Dracula. When the police arrive on the scene, Paul arrives as well, trying to get a scoop on this girl who was bled dry, and his presence is less than welcomed by the police. Later, in the early hours of the new year, Margaret Simmons pays her respects to her deceased husband when she witnesses Dracula rising from the grave, and she is also fed upon by Dracula. When these reports go out, Paul begins to wonder if vampires are involved when he hears a radio advertisement for Harold H. Harold's book True Vampire Stores, who was an eyewitness account of Harold's encounter with Dracula. Visiting Harold's home and asking Harold for an interview, Harold tells Paul of his encounter with Dracula and how, after their battle with Dr. Sun, Blade had demanded that Dracula help him find the vampire who killed his mother or fight to the death. Dracula refused to be ordered around, leading to a battle between the two. Harold tells Paul that he saved Blade's life and sent Dracula running - a part of the tale fabricated by Harold that Paul sees right through. Paul asks for Blade's address and Harold gives it to him. Along the way to Blade's house, Paul hears a police call about Dracula attacking some police officers. Rushing to the scene, Paul arrives in time to see Dracula in action and attempts to take Dracula's photograph. This angers the vampire lord who attempts to attack Paul; however, Paul slips on the ice and snow, jarring his crucifix loose and prompting Dracula to flee. Paul continues his trek to the address that Harold gave him and finds himself in the company of Blade, Rachel van Helsing, Frank Drake and Quincy Harker. Blade gives Paul a more accurate depiction of their last encounter with Dracula, one where Blade's struggle with Dracula ended in Rachel firing an arrow at Dracula, forcing him to flee. As Paul listens to the story, Dracula has appeared in the lobby of the hotel and has demanded that the desk clerk provide him with the room in which Quincy is staying in. Upstairs, Paul finishes his interview with the vampire hunters who request that, if he is going to publish his story, that they keep their names anonymous. As Paul is leaving the hotel room, Dracula suddenly bursts in. Catching the vampire hunters off guard, Dracula easily fights off Blade and is about to feed on Rachel when Paul suddenly pulls out a crucifix and trains it on Dracula. Furious that this man has once more stood in his way, Dracula uses his hypnotic powers to force Butterworth to drop his crucifix. Paul finishes his recounting of the events by explaining how Frank saved his life but was tossed aside, and Dracula fleeing the scene once more, vowing to get revenge against him in the near future. Just as he finishes typing up his story, Dracula bursts in; however, Paul has had time to prepare for Dracula's coming with a gun armed with silver bullets and a crucifix sharpened at the point. Dracula attacks Paul, who uses up all his bullets, and gets his crucifix smashed by Dracula. Their fight wrecks the entire newsroom, and eventually Dracula gains the upper hand. However, before the vampire lord can feed upon Paul, he pulls the curtains open to show the coming dawn. Realizing that it is almost morning, Dracula flees before the Sun can destroy him. Later, when Paul's editor enters the office, he demands to know what has happened, Paul rushes to the dark room and gets the photos of Dracula he was having developed and soon realizes that vampires cannot be photographed. Without any credible evidence to prove his story, he is demoted to answering the "Ask Miss Annie" section of the paper.