TARTOFF
Real Name: Tartoff (full name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Unrevealed; possible vampire-hunter
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Dracula (aka. Sandor Xaviar)
Known Relatives: Unidentified grandfather (deceased), unidentified aunt (deceased), unidentified cousin (deceased), seven other unidentified relatives (deceased)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile across the USA
First Appearance: Suspense#7/7 (March, 1951)
Powers/Abilities: Tartoff believed he possessed vast knowledge about vampires, especially Dracula, but lacked the insight to see the threat that was right in front of him. He was armed with a wooden stake.
Height: Unrevealed (6'6"; by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed (195 lbs.; by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Suspense#7 (fb) - BTS) - During Dracula's voyage across Earth he slew
people every ten years. He eventually arrived in America. Before 1951
the last two places he killed in were New York and Chicago. His last
ten victims were members of Tartoff's family including his grandfather,
aunt and cousin.
During Tartoff's search for traces of vampires he came across the fact that Dracula had survived his seeming death in 1840. He discovered a series of strange deaths every ten years that spanned from Budapest to Rome, London and eventually America. Each victim was drained of all blood and had the fang marks of a vampire upon their throats. Tartoff followed the trail along a certain route and was sure were Dracula would appear next.
(Suspense#7) <1951> - On a rainy night Tartoff arrived at the little country home of horror author Sandor Xaviar and knocked on his door. Xaviar opened the door and Tartoff was glad he was out of the rain while apologizing for his late night visit at the same time. Tartoff explained to Xaviar that he had traveled across the Earth on his mission and that Xaviar was the only one that could help him. Tartoff tried to convince Xaviar that vampires were real and that Dracula was still alive, but Xaviar claimed not to believe him because like the books he wrote about them, vampires were fiction. Tartoff then claimed that Dracula was still alive and Xaviar, though he claimed to not believe Tartoff because Dracula would be over a hundred years old, was willing to listen to Tartoff because he hoped it could give him a plot for a future story. Tartoff went on to explain that he read all legends about Dracula and how he was seemingly slain, but noted that he has since then found information that Dracula had traveled across the Earth since 1850, ten years after his supposed death, and killed people every ten years. According to Tartoff Dracula had arrived in America thirty years ago and Tartoff was sure of that because the last ten victims of Dracula had been members of Tartoff's own family. Tartoff believed that Dracula would try to kill him, the last member of the Tartoff family, that night in this part of the country. Though Xaviar claimed to still not believe Tartoff he let him stay because Tartoff claimed he could recognize Dracula by his teeth, which Dracula couldn't change like the rest of his body. Tartoff vowed to destroy him with a stake through the heart if he saw Dracula.
Xaviar tagged along with Tartoff when he went into the slums of the city to go looking for Dracula. Tartoff explained that it they failed to kill Dracula he would kill them both and his secret would die with them and Dracula would be able to go on killing. He was sure Dracula would track him down like every other member of his family, but they couldn't find a trace of Dracula all night. At 5 AM dawn Tartoff told Xaviar that if Dracula didn't attack him before dawn he would die forever because he couldn't live longer without Tartoff's blood. Shortly before 6 AM Xaviar suggested to Tartoff to hand over the stake just in case Dracula suddenly attacked him. Xaviar surmised that while Tartoff wouldn't get the chance to slay Dracula in such a situation, Xaviar would still be able to do it. Five minutes before 6 AM while entering a dark alley Xaviar dropped the stake. Tartoff told him that it was not time yet, but Xaviar dropped the act and attacked Tartoff because Xaviar was Dracula.
Comments: Created by unrevealed writer and artist.
This story marked the first appearance of Dracula at Marvel Comics. We never learned where exactly in the US the story took place.
Thanks to Ron Fredricks for the scans.
This profile was completed 07/11/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Markus Raymond.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Tartoff should not be confused with:
images (without ads)
Suspense#7/7, p2, pan2 (main)
Suspense#7/7, p3, pan8 (head shot)
Suspense#7/7, p6, pan6 (attacked by Dracula)
Appearances:
Suspense#7/7 (March, 1951) - unrevealed writer, unrevealed artist, Stan Lee (editor)
First Posted: 09/02/2021
Last updated: 08/29/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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