DARLA AUGUST

Real Name: Darla August

Identity/Class: Human vampire (see comments);
    active for a period possibly ranging from around 1900 to 1939 as as a human, and from 1939 to 1974 as a vampiric being (see comments)

Occupation: Predator;
    former servant girl

Group Membership: Possibly Earth's Vampires;

Affiliations: Anthony Bellis, Henry Bellis, Martin Bellis

Enemies: Clodetta Bellis, Ernest Bellis, Mary Bellis, Lisa, Sam;
    formerly Martin Bellis

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Snow Vampire" (only on the cover of Vampire Tales#4)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly the woods surrounding the Bellis house in Northern Wisconsin (near Wausau);
    formerly the Bellis house

First Appearance: Drifting Snow short story (1939);
    (Marvel adaptation): Vampire Tales#4 (April, 1974)

Powers/Abilities: As a human, Darla had some experience as a hired servant.

    As a vampiric being (see comments), Darla did not age, and she was immune to the effects of severe cold and presumably other human limitations. 

    She was apparently unable to depart the region in which she perished as a mortal, the western slope extending up to the Bellis house. 

    She could physically move a solid being without leaving footprints, possibly via levitation or as existing as a spiritual being and not necessarily possessing physical mass.

    Darla was active during evening hours, from dusk until dawn, during the portions of the year when it was snowing (which is quite extensive in northern Wisconsin).

    She could mentally influence others in relative proximity, even without direct eye contact. Via eye contact, even from some distance and through glass, she could entrance a victim, compelling that victim (male in both documented cases) to come to her, disregarding frigid weather and her own ghoulish appearance.

    Via direct contact with a person, she could transform that person into a snow-related vampiric being like herself.

    It is unrevealed whether Darla had other characteristics typical of Varnean vampires, such as superhuman strength (typically enhanced human); requiring regular blood meals to survive; when fully fed, being able to heal rapidly from non-fatal wounds; and/or vulnerability to religious icons, sunlight, garlic, and a wooden stake through the heart; she was presumably vulnerable to the latter, but this is not 100% confirmed.

Height: Unrevealed (no frame of reference against anyone of established height); it is similarly unrevealed whether her height changed following her transformation
Weight: Unrevealed (no frame of reference against anyone of established height); it is similarly unrevealed whether her height changed following her transformation
Eyes: Unrevealed (they appeared to be solid white in her vampiric form)
Hair: Unrevealed; she appeared to be brunette as a living woman, and possibly brunette or blonde in her vampiric form.

History: 
(Vampire Tales#4 (fb)) - A servant girl employed by Martin Bellis at his northern Wisconsin house, she was caught by Martin in a romantic embrace with Martin's son Anthony. Enraged, Martin -- though the girl had been blameless (at least according to Mary Bellis) -- cast her out into the cold night alone. 

Vampire Tales#4 (fb) - BTS) - Trapped in the violent snowstorm, Darla died.

Vampire Tales#4 (fb) - BTS) - They found Martin's frozen body in the same spot that Darla's had been found.

Comments: Created by August William Derleth (initially credited under the pseudonym Stephen Grendon);
    adapted by Tony Isabella and Esteban Maroto.

    As this was an adaptation of a story written/published in 1939, I would think that it makes the most sense that the main part of the story took place at that time period, with the flashback with Martin Bellis taking place "decades past," perhaps around the turn of the century, or even slightly before.

•     Darla August, as well as Henry & Martin Bellis, were referenced in the Vampires Appendix in Vampires: The Marvel Undead handbook, but no time frame was given for their adventures, just the date of the publication of the adaptation. 
•     The online, unabridged appendix notes that the main story took place in the 1970s (presumably around the time of Vampire Tales#4 (1974).
  
•     Mary referenced how they weren't that isolated "...what, with telephones and all. But when Ernest's grandfather was a living man, many's the time he was snowbound with no way to let anybody know."
  That would indicate to me that they didn't have telephones readily available back when Martin was alive.
•     Henry had a car, as did Mary's handyman, Sam; but we never saw these cars, to gain any temporal reference.
•     Clodetta's name is certainly less common, but perhaps it was a family name.

    Darla August was clearly referred to as a vampire in the story, but, she seemed more like a ghoul or some sort of vengeful spirit.

• If she was truly a vampire, then she had to have been bitten and fatally drained by another vampire before she froze to death.
• That being said, there are many variations among non-traditional vampires, as opposed to the "standard," Varnaean vampire.
  
• If she was truly a vampire, she would typically have to have fed on someone regularly. 
• We know "decades" occurred between Darla's seemingly freezing to death and her encounter with Henry Bellis (it was long enough for the young adult Anthony's son, Henry, to become a young adult). 
• It is hard to believe she would not have starved as a vampire if she only fed on Martin.
• That being said, there are many variations among non-traditional vampires, as opposed to the "standard," Varnaean vampire.
• There was never any discussion of anyone being bitten or having their blood consumed.
  

    On the cover of Vampire Tales#4, the feature starring Darla is introduced "The Snow Vampire." That name might lead one to suspect Darla (and Henry and Martin) were members of the Yiki Onna, a sect of Asian snow vampires. However, these beings existed (as one might expect) in Asia, and they could transform into razor sharp clouds of ice, instead of mist. Other than the unoffical nickname, there is nothing to link Darla (and Martin and Henry) to the Yiki Onna. That, however, does not mean that there is anything to officially rule them out, either. Darla and her like were, at least, an unconventional vampire sect, if they are indeed true vampires.

    If Darla (and Henry and Martin) were indeed true vampires, if they perished following being staked at some point in the 20th century, she (and they) would have been restored by fulfillment of the ritual/prophecy that restored all vampires in Blade III#12 (October, 2007)  

   Darla August's name, as well as the last name Bellis and the first name for Martin were provided in the the Vampires appendix in Vampires: The Marvel Undead handbook. The first name for Anthony was given in the online, unabridged appendix. I think it is pretty obvious that Darla August was named for author August Derleth.
    Thanks to Darci for noting that you can read more about August Derleth here:  http://heartinajar.blogspot.com/2009/12/snow-beautful-lovely-snow-drifting-and.html
    I think it likely that the name Bellis is used in homage to Guy Bellis, who was in the 1935 film Mark of the Vampire, but who knows...

    The original short story notes that the father <Martin> found out his son <Anthony> had been very familiar with the servant girl, a pretty girl, a little older than Mary. The father had initially thought the servant girl, was to blame for the romance (and he did not find out that she was not until it was too late), and that he had sent her to walk the five miles to her home. Mary and her siblings had begged Martin not to send her out, but he paid them no attention. After repenting his actions, he sent some men out to find the girl, but they could not find her in the storm.

    My grandparents had lived in Chicago and had a house in Northern Wisconsin: Lac du Flambeau, which is about 80 miles north of Wausau.
    And I have an Aunt Mary and a cousin Henry.
    No Clodettas, Martins, Anthonys, or Johns, though...

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Darla August should be distinguished from:

• ALBINO (Dr. Augusta Seger) - biologist specializing in mutagenics, allied with Taskmaster against Hawkeye, briefly enabled him to duplicate superhuman powers--Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman#1
• AUGUST, Rev. of Earth-93060 - Ultraverse, used Penny Slater, killed by Rafferty--Firearm#11
• AUGUST PERSONAGE in JADE - alternate name for YU-TI (ruler) of K'un-Lun (Nu-An in this link)--Marvel Premiere I#15
• AUGUST STAR of HEAVEN - see MIKABOSHI--[Thor: Blood Oath#5, Ares#1], 2
• AUGUSTINE - servant of Absynthia. large and strong, transparent skin--X-Man: All Saint's Day
• D'ANGELO, AUGUST - Roxxon, unspecified relationship to Julie Angel--Alpha Flight I#12
• DEATHTRAP (Alistaire Augustus Armstrong) - assassin, kidnapped but failed to kill Deadpool. Expert torturer, possibly psychologist, highly eccentric--Deadpool III#9 
• EBERS, AUGUSTUS - formerly held the Yazdi Gem--Tomb of Dracula I#1 
• GAIUS TIBERIUS AUGUSTUS AGRIPPA - aka EMPEROR--Fantastic Four I#241
• JONES, AUGUSTINE - see HERA--Avengers I#380
• LOCUST (Prof. August Hopper) – entomologist + designer of insecticides, former professor at Metro college--X-Men I#24
• MASTERS, AUGUST - former agent of Professor Power--Defenders I#102
• MISTER TUNE (Augustus Tuneski) - agent of Brothers Grace--Marvel Knights II#1
• PHYFFE, AUGUSTINE - sorcerer, son of Lord Phyffe, Marquess of Phyffe, Count of Pelborough, Viscount of Marlord, former orphium addict--Marvel Super-Heroes III#12
• PUGLIESE, AUGUSTUS "PUG" - lawyer, Goodman, Lieberman, Kurtzberg, & Holliway--She-Hulk I#2
• Pulse (Augustus) - agent of Mystique--X-Men II#174
• SOFEN, KARL AUGUST - father of Karla/Moonstone--Thunderbolts I#25
• TYRANNUS (Romulus Augustulus) - native of ancient Rome, exiled from Camelot to Subterranea by Merlin, discovered fountain of youth + race of subterraneans--Incredible Hulk I#5
• van HELSING, AUGUST - adoptive father of Noah, married his mother after Mr. Tremayne's death, raised him as his own--[Tomb of Dracula IV#3]
• other "August" or "Darla" characters
  

Bellis house

Anthony Bellis

    The son of Martin Bellis, Anthony was caught by his father in a romantic embrace with the servant Darla, whom Martin cast out into the frigid wilderness.

    Anthony was the father of Henry Bellis, the uncle of Ernest, and the brother of John and Mary. 

    Clodetta, the wife of Martin's grandson Ernest, referenced Anthony as "of whom auntie never spoke."

(Vampire Tales#4 (fb)) - While living in the Bellis house in northern Wisconsin, Anthony was caught by his father, Martin, in a romantic embrace with the servant girl Darla August. 
    Enraged, Martin -- though the girl had been blameless (at least according to Mary Bellis) -- cast her out into the cold night alone. 

Clodetta Bellis

    The wife of Ernest (and daughter-in-law of John), she was only related to the Bellis family by marriage. Nonetheless, she referred to Mary as an aunt and Henry as cousin.

    She was loyal to her husband and her family, and more swiftly sensed something was amiss than he did.

    She and Ernest apparently lived in Chicago, Illinois.

Vampire Tales#4 (fb) - BTS) - The day of the death of her father-in-law, John Bellis, Ernest's Aunt Mary invited her remaining family members, including Ernest and Henry, to visit her, to remind her she still had relatives, people who cared for her welfare. Clodetta accompanied Ernest.
    Mary gave strict orders that none of the curtains over the west windows were to be withdrawn between sunset and dawn. Ernest and Clodetta were placed in rooms facing East.

Ernest Bellis

    Ernest was the grandson of Martin Bellis, the son of John, the nephew of Anthony and Mary, the cousin of Henry, and the husband of Clodetta.

    Ernest enjoyed smoking a pipe.

    He and Clodetta apparently lived in Chicago, Illinois.

(Vampire Tales#4 (fb) - BTS) - Having previously spent time at the Bellis house, Ernest had previously been instructed not open the curtains on the west side of the house as there was danger in doing so. However, Ernest did not know what this danger was.

Henry Bellis

(Vampire Tales#4 (fb) - BTS) - Henry had previously been instructed not open the curtains on the west side of the Bellis house in Northern Wisconsin as there was danger in doing so. However, he did not know what this danger was.

Vampire Tales#4 (fb) - BTS) - The following morning, Sam, Ernest, Clodetta, and Mary found Henry's body in the same spot where the bodies of Darla and Martin had been found.

    John Bellis was the son of Martin Bellis, the brother of Anthony and Mary, the father of Ernest (and father-in-law of Clodetta), and the uncle of Henry.

    He died under unrevealed circumstances just before the main story.

    Though not mentioned, John would presumably have been present during, or at least aware of to some degree, the events involving his father, Anthony, and Darla August.

    For unspecified reasons, Mary referred to him as "Dear John" (see comments).

Martin Bellis

    Martin Bellis was the father of Anthony, John, and Mary, and the grandfather of Anthony and John's sons, Henry and Ernest, respectively. 

    Not wishing to reference Anthony, Mary consistently referred to Martin as "Ernest's grandfather."

    As a vampiric being, Martin presumably had abilities comparable to Darla's (see main entry's abilities), although he seemed to be subserviant to her.

(Vampire Tales#4 (fb)) - While at their northern Wisconsin house, Martin Bellis caught his son, Anthony, in a romantic embrace with the servant girl Darla August. 

    Enraged, Martin -- though the girl had been blameless (at least according to Mary Bellis) -- cast her out into the cold night alone. 

Mary Bellis

    Mary was the resident of the Bellis' house in northern Wisconsin in the modern portion of the story. She was the daughter of Martin Bellis, the sister of Anthony and John, and the aunt of Ernest and Henry. Ernest's wife, Clodetta, considered her an aunt as well.

    Mary was present during the events involving Martin, Anthony, and Darla August. 

    She "never spoke" of Anthony Bellis, although the reasons for this are unrevealed.

    She referred to John Bellis as "Dear John," although the reasons for this are also unrevealed.

    For decades, Mary apparently lived at the Bellis house, assisted by her servant, Lisa, and handyman, Sam, both of whom were privy to the nature of the threat of Darla August and Martin.

    In her later years, at least, Mary used a cane.

Sam

    Sam was Mary's long-term handyman at her house in northern Wisconsin.

    Whether he was present at the time of the events involving Martin Bellis and Darla August is unrevealed, but he was certainly privy to the nature of their threat.

Lisa

    Lisa was Mary's servant at her family's house in northern Wisconsin. 

    Whether she was present at the time of the events involving Martin Bellis and Darla August is unrevealed, but he was certainly privy to the nature of their threat.

(Vampire Tales#4 (fb) - BTS) - Appreciating the danger of the vampiric Darla August and Martin Bellis, who were limited to the the long slope of the hill to the west of the house, Mary Bellis had the windows covered during the winter nights from sunset to dawn.
    Mary, along with her handyman, Sam, and servant, Lisa, kept this secret.

(Vampire Tales#4 (fb)) - Lisa assisted Mary in getting around the house and keeping the curtains closed. She likely performed cooking and cleaning jobs as well.

    She was witness to Henry's encounter with Darla and Martin.

images: (without ads)
Vampire Tales#4/9, pg. 1 (Bellis house);
        pg. 2, panel 1 (Clodetta, in glass);
            panel 3 (Mary full, with Lisa);
            panel 4 (Clodetta full);
            panel 5 (Lisa, upper);
        pg. 3, panel 3 (Ernest, face);
        pg. 4, panel 3 (Henry, face);
        pg. 5, panel 3 (silhouettes in the snow);
        pg. 7, panel 1 (Mary, face);
            panel 2 (Martin finds Anthony and Darla);
            panel 3 (Darla cast out);
            panel 4 (Darla freezing);
            panel 5 (Darla frozen);
            panel 6 (Darla returns);
            panel 7 (Martin approaching Darla; near);
            panel 8 (Martin approaching Darla; distant)
        pg. 8, panel 5 (Sam profile; Ernest and Henry full);
        pg. 9, panel 1 (Darla & Martin at the door);
        pg. 10, panel 1 (Sam stops Ernest from going after Henry);
            panel 2 (Henry approaching Darla);
            panel 3 (faces of Sam & Lisa);
            panel 4 (Henry corpse);
            panel 5 (Henry corpse face);

Appearances:
Vampire Tales#4/9 "The Drifting Snow" (April, 1974) - Tony Isabella (writer), Esteban Maroto (artist), Marv Wolfman (associate editor), Roy Thomas (editor)

First Posted: 10/31/2017
Last updated: 10/31/2017

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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