Elyra Barovna (The Beyond)

Elyra Barovna

Countess Elyra Barovna hailed from a distinguished lineage of renowned circus performers. Her aristocratic heritage concealed a dark secret—one that would soon intertwine with the world of spectacle and illusion.

Her story began when circus impresario Loritz Nugenberg arrived at her ancestral castle, seeking new talent for his show. Enthralled by Elyra’s extraordinary acrobatic abilities, he invited her to join the circus, where she quickly became a sensation among audiences. However, her presence unsettled some of her fellow performers, particularly a fellow acrobat who found something eerie about her. When he voiced his concerns to Nugenberg, fate took a deadly turn. The very next night, he plummeted to his death during a performance. The tragedy was deemed an accident, and no suspicion fell upon Elyra.

Seizing the opportunity, Elyra offered to take over the act. But as time passed, strange and sinister occurrences followed in her wake. A night watchman, upon witnessing Elyra in her true form, became her next victim. Later, consumed by jealousy over the growing fame of the circus’s animal trainer, she used her vampiric abilities to manipulate the lions, provoking them into attacking their master. That night, she visited the wounded trainer, intending to finish what she had started. However, she was unexpectedly confronted by the circus strongman. Overcome by bloodlust, Elyra launched a vicious assault.

Her reign of terror continued until one fateful night when she attempted yet another attack. This time, her victim fought back. In a desperate act of survival, he hurled a knife, striking her directly in the heart. In an instant, Elyra vanished.

Moments later, her lifeless body was discovered inside the very coffin she had brought with her—a chilling confirmation of her supernatural nature.

Countess Elyra Barovna appears in the story Big Top Nightmare, featured in The Beyond #5 (1951), a horror comic known for its eerie and macabre tales.

Gallery