Count Dracula the Vampire From Transylvania

Count Dracula is a vampire from Transylvania created by Bram Stoker, an Irish novelist in 1897. He (Dracula) is a nobleman and a sorcerer who studied dark arts and became proficient in alchemy and magic. Using the dark arts he managed to return from the dead as a vampire and lives for centuries in his castle.

He has supernatural powers such as great physical strength, the ability to defy gravity (he can climb upside down vertical surfaces like a reptile) and transform himself into other creatures (bat being the most common). He can also control other people's mind using hypnotic power.

However, Count Dracula also has his weaknesses. He is rendered powerless by sunlight and repulsed by garlic as well as sacred objects like crucifixes and holy water. He can be killed by driving a wooden stake through his heart.

Oh, but don't worry... he won't stay dead for very long. In fact, he still lives to this day!

Image source: Wikipedia

How I met Dracula

It was a dark and stormy night... well, not really but I love that phrase :)

I was about 9 years old and I was reading a Donald Duck comic where he and his friends went to a movie theater. In the front they saw a poster for "Dracula", and they all ran away scared. That got me curious as to what Dracula was, so I asked my mom about it. She told me Dracula was a creature/monster that sucked people's blood. I was like, "Whoa, that's too scary!" But even as a kid I was always intrigued by scary stuff. Since then I had always wanted to see Dracula.

It wasn't until I was 12 that I first saw a Dracula movie. It wasn't really that scary and I no longer remember the title (tells you how much I was impressed by it, huh?). All I can remember is that it was about a vampire couple who slept in coffins in the basement of a castle and they drank the blood of virgin girls out of glass wines. They had a hunchback servant who went out looking for these girls at night. There was no scene of them sucking blood right out of the neck of those girls. In the end they were killed by being exposed to sunlight.

The second Dracula movie I saw was Dracula Vs Frankenstein. It was somewhat scarier than the first one but still not too impressive. All I remember is there was a duel between Count Dracula and Frankenstein. This was a mediocre movie. Then I started to wonder, "is that all there is to Dracula?"

Then I saw the third movie. It was a Japanese version of Dracula called Lake of Dracula. This one really got me. What I found the scariest were the women vampires who were actually the victims of Dracula. They all wore long white robes, had long black hair, and their faces were ghastly white. Then they would grin, show their fangs, and let out hair-raising giggles.

I had a hard time sleeping for weeks after watching that movie. Every time I lay in bed in the dark of night, those scary female vampires would start appearing in my mind. Many times I wished my mom would have been there in my room but I was too ashamed to even say anything since I was already a big boy. The frightening images of those vampires remain vivid even to this day. No, I don't have trouble sleeping anymore, in case you're wondering :p

It was many years before I saw another Dracula movie. By that time I was a grown up and was no longer scared. I have seen quite a number of Dracula movies played by different actors including Christopher Lee, Bela Lugosi, Frank Langella, and Jack Palance. Christopher Lee is my favorite by far. To me he is the real Count Dracula.

Image source: Wikipedia.

Is there any vampire better than he?

I was going to say "why I LOVE Count Dracula" but that would be going a bit too far. I like to keep a safe distance between me and this legendary vampire :)

Anyway, I have come a long way since the day I watched "Lake of Dracula." I have grown to become a fan of the Count. A special TV series played a big role in that (see below).

Indeed, Dracula is a legend that has lived through time. Being a vampire allows one to become immortal. But Count Dracula isn't just any vampire. He is the classic vampire. And dare I say that he has actually morphed from a villain into a hero? Well, at least he is the protagonist in every movie that bears his name. Don't you somehow feel bad to watch him die in a movie? Oh come on, admit it! :) Yes, he gets killed as the story ends but he will be resurrected in the next one, and the cycle continues. He is simply invincible.

"Contrary to the vampires of Eastern European folklore, which are portrayed as repulsive, corpse-like creatures, Dracula can exude a veneer of aristocratic charm which masks his unfathomable evil." (from Wikipedia).

Yes, Dracula is actually quite charismatic, and he is not bad looking either. What do you think draws the women to him? He also looks quite classy. After all, he is a nobleman. Just look at his elegant attire: tuxedo, bow tie, and cuff-links, oh my! And who can resist that black cape?

Image source: Wikipedia - public domain.

The Hammer House of Horror movies have become cult classics, and Dracula is known the world over. Check out these 50th anniversary Hammer Films special edition cuff links.

These Dracula costumes are great for Halloween and other occasions.

There are plenty of Dracula books besides the original one by Bram Stoker. Below are just a few of them. You can also download a free Dracula ebook (the original version) here. Yes, it's free and legal!

His name is Alexander Lucard - abbreviated A Lucard. If you haven't figured it out, it's Dracula spelled backwards. It has been centuries since his first adventures in Transylvania but his quest for world domination has not changed. As a young and handsome international billionaire power broker he is now taking advantage of the financial world and modern technology to accomplish his goal. But there is one problem: Gustav Van Helsing the vampire hunter who is a descendant of his nemesis, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, knows his secret. Gustav, with the help of his 2 nephews and a girl named Sophie, tries to stop Lucard every step of the way.

This is a comedy horror TV series (leaning towards the comedy side) that aired in 1990. It's really fun to watch. In fact, it was after watching this series that I became a big fan of Count Dracula. Here Lucard/Dracula, played by Geordie Johnson, is clearly the hero despite what they may lead you to believe. It's almost impossible not to like him. In at least a couple of the episodes even the kids actually had sympathy for him even if only for a brief moment.

You can learn more about Dracula: The Series at Lucard's Homepage.

The series is available in 2 DVDs containing all 21 episodes and I bought them when they were first released. Unfortunately, they have been discontinued by the manufacturers. However, there are still a few copies available from independent sellers.

This page wouldn't be complete without including the lovable vampire muppet (or is it muppet vampire? hmm...). On Sesame Street he is not called Dracula and they try to disguise him a little but it is quite obvious who he really is. His name is Count von Count and is modeled after Count Dracula played by Bela Lugosi.

This vampire muppet lives in a creepy old cobweb-infested castle which he shares with many bats. You will recognize other vampiric traits in him such as fangs, the typical cape, and having no reflection in mirrors. He even talks with an Eastern European accent. Well, he is from Transylvania, yeah?

However, unlike ordinary vampires, our little Count friend does not suck blood or sleep in a coffin. That would be too frightening for little kids, now wouldn't it? Oh, and he also loves sunlight!

Actually, the Count character used to be scarier in the early days as he had hypnotic powers and was able to temporarily stun people with the wave of his hands. He also used to laugh maniacally following a counting session. He later became a friendlier Count with no hypnotic power, and his laugh sounded less spooky - supposedly more suitable for younger children.

Regardless, this is another proof that Count Dracula is a legendary and charming character.

Watch the second video to see the older (spookier) version of the Count.

A bonus trivia: It is believed that Count Dracula is unable to enter your home unless you invite him. But once he is invited, he can come and go as he pleases.

Whether you like Dracula or not, or you have your favorite vampire, share it with us in the comments section below. You can also tell me how much you like this page :)