Rachel van Helsing
Encyclopedia
Rachel van Helsing is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe
.
, the legendary vampire hunter whose exploits against the vampire
lord Dracula
were chronicled in Bram Stoker
's novel, Dracula
. As a child, Rachel was witness to the murders of her parents at the hands of Dracula, in revenge for his defeat by Abraham Van Helsing. Rachel was subsequently raised by vampire hunter Quincy Harker
, who was Dracula's most persistent enemy in the 20th century.
While earning her PhD in anthropology and studying parapsychology, Rachel was trained as a vampire hunter by Harker. When Dracula led a large vampire attack on a village in India, Rachel slew the vampire that had bitten the boy Adri Nital
using her wooden crossbow, and drove Dracula off when he tried to slay the boy’s father, Taj Nital. Taj joined the band of vampire hunters both in gratitude and for revenge against Dracula for his son’s transformation into a vampire.
Rachel and Taj were later joined by Frank Drake
. Rachel and Frank fell in love, and Frank joined Harker’s organization of vampire hunters. They clashed repeatedly with Dracula over the years, and Harker finally slew him at the cost of his own life. Following Harker’s death, at his request Rachel tried to find happiness with Frank, but due to his feelings of inadequacy and her emotional inhibitions they ultimately parted.
After leaving her teaching job at University of Oxford
and becoming a visiting professor at Bard College
in New York, Rachel was taken by surprise by Dracula, who killed her and turned her into a vampire. Rachel became his consort and ally when he clashed with the X-Men
and his daughter Lilith, who had possessed Kitty Pryde
at that time, over the Montesi Formula
. During this battle, Dracula was unable to maintain the concentration required to keep the strong-willed Rachel van Helsing under his control. Appalled at what she had become and what she had done, she hurled a spear through Dracula’s heart and killed him again. At her request, Wolverine
gave her a merciful death by driving a stake into her heart.
Months later, Frank Drake avenged Rachel's death at Dracula's hands by playing a major role in assisting Doctor Strange
in casting the Montesi Formula, the spell which destroyed Dracula and all other vampires on Earth.
However, the Montesi Formula was later reversed. Some time later, Blade inadvertently fulfilled a prophecy which brought back every vampire who had died; whether this includes Rachel has yet to be revealed.
animated Tomb of Dracula TV movie (Dracula: Sovereign of the Damned), Rachel Van Helsing was voiced by actress Melanie McQueen.
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
Fictional character biography
Rachel van Helsing was the great-granddaughter of Abraham Van HelsingAbraham Van Helsing
Professor Abraham van Helsing is a protagonist from Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Dracula.Van Helsing is a Dutch doctor with a wide range of interests and accomplishments, partly attested by the string of letters that follows his name: "M.D., D.Ph., D.Litt., etc." The character is best known as a...
, the legendary vampire hunter whose exploits against the vampire
Vampire (Marvel Comics)
Vampires are fictional characters found in the Marvel Universe.-History:They were created roughly 15,000 years ago when a small band of sorcerers from the legendary city of Atlantis discovered a book known as the Darkhold, an indestructible text filled with arcane lore and dark magic written...
lord Dracula
Dracula (Marvel Comics)
Dracula is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. He is based on the vampire Count Dracula from the novel of the same name by author Bram Stoker, and is also influenced by Universal Studios' version of the character.-Publication history:A...
were chronicled in Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
's novel, Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
. As a child, Rachel was witness to the murders of her parents at the hands of Dracula, in revenge for his defeat by Abraham Van Helsing. Rachel was subsequently raised by vampire hunter Quincy Harker
Quincy Harker
Quincy Harker is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe which is based on a character in Bram Stoker's Dracula.-Publication history:...
, who was Dracula's most persistent enemy in the 20th century.
While earning her PhD in anthropology and studying parapsychology, Rachel was trained as a vampire hunter by Harker. When Dracula led a large vampire attack on a village in India, Rachel slew the vampire that had bitten the boy Adri Nital
Adri Nital
Adri Nital is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Adri Nital first appeared in Tomb of Dracula #28-29 , and was created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan....
using her wooden crossbow, and drove Dracula off when he tried to slay the boy’s father, Taj Nital. Taj joined the band of vampire hunters both in gratitude and for revenge against Dracula for his son’s transformation into a vampire.
Rachel and Taj were later joined by Frank Drake
Frank Drake (comics)
Frank Drake is a fictional character appearing in publications from Marvel Comics, most notably the Tomb of Dracula series created by Gerry Conway....
. Rachel and Frank fell in love, and Frank joined Harker’s organization of vampire hunters. They clashed repeatedly with Dracula over the years, and Harker finally slew him at the cost of his own life. Following Harker’s death, at his request Rachel tried to find happiness with Frank, but due to his feelings of inadequacy and her emotional inhibitions they ultimately parted.
After leaving her teaching job at University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and becoming a visiting professor at Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
in New York, Rachel was taken by surprise by Dracula, who killed her and turned her into a vampire. Rachel became his consort and ally when he clashed with the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
and his daughter Lilith, who had possessed Kitty Pryde
Kitty Pryde
Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 and was created by writer-artist John Byrne....
at that time, over the Montesi Formula
Darkhold
The Darkhold, also known as The Book of Sins, is a fictional book in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:The Darkhold was co-created by Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog. The Darkhold was first mentioned in Marvel Spotlight #3 but first shown in Marvel Spotlight #4...
. During this battle, Dracula was unable to maintain the concentration required to keep the strong-willed Rachel van Helsing under his control. Appalled at what she had become and what she had done, she hurled a spear through Dracula’s heart and killed him again. At her request, Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
gave her a merciful death by driving a stake into her heart.
Months later, Frank Drake avenged Rachel's death at Dracula's hands by playing a major role in assisting Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
in casting the Montesi Formula, the spell which destroyed Dracula and all other vampires on Earth.
However, the Montesi Formula was later reversed. Some time later, Blade inadvertently fulfilled a prophecy which brought back every vampire who had died; whether this includes Rachel has yet to be revealed.
Other media
In the English dub of the ToeiToei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
animated Tomb of Dracula TV movie (Dracula: Sovereign of the Damned), Rachel Van Helsing was voiced by actress Melanie McQueen.