| Varney the Vampire | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Sir Francis Varney |
|
First Published as |
Varney the Vampire/Feast of Blood (1845–47) |
|
Created by |
James Malcolm Rymer and/or Thomas Peckett Prest |
Origin
Varney the Vampyre originated in the 19th century penny dreadful of that name. Francis Varney, a nobleman from the English Civil War, was punished for the murder of his son by being transformed into a loathsome blood-sucking monster. He was the first vampire to be depicted with fangs and possessed both a hypnotic gaze and super strength, as well as the first tragic, sympathetic vampire anti-hero of sorts.