The Esteemed Author introduced Lillith as the first vampire in the “Council of Three” story line. Some people have agreed with that and some have not. Therefore, the Esteemed Author has provided his reasoning for choosing her for such an honour.
First, while the strip and the Mythos Reference use the spelling “Lillith” for all references to this character, this actually only valid for the post-1966 version when she emerged from seclusion. Before that time she used the original spelling of “Lilith”, which is the name by which she is know in myths and legends. (The Researchers consistently use “Lillith” only for the sake of clarity, simplicity, and convenience. And possibly laziness.)
According to Hebrew traditions, Lilith was supposedly the first wife of Adam. She was made in God’s own image, not from Adam’s rib like Eve. This made Lilith Adam’s equal. So, when it came time for Lilith to perform her wifely duties, she asked why she had to lie beneath Adam. Adam demanded she lie beneath him, but she would not, so she left Eden. Lilith went to the Red Sea and laid down with demons. There she produced demon offspring at the number of over a hundred a day. Tough woman. God sent angels to demand she return to Adam. She would not. God then punished Lilith by killing one hundred of her demon children daily. Lilith in turn vowed to kill infant children, but would spare them if the names of the angels were above the infants. This is probably where the vampire myth comes in. Originally Lilith strangled the infants, but in later tellings it was changed to eating, devouring, drinking their blood, or what have you.
Some “legends” attribute her with being the first vampire, some with her being bearing the mark of Cain (there’s a neat trick). Some attribute her with being the first succubus. Most however have Lilith being the murderer of infant children as well as the seducer of men. Lilith was a winged demon, usually associated with having the wings and talons of an owl. (Hence the animal form she can assume in COTC.) Her very name can find its origins in the Semitic word for night. So she is definitely a creature of the night.
Another place where the vampire legend could come in is when she is supposed to be the demoness that drank the blood and ate the flesh of the sons of Job. Lilith was also reported by Solomon as being the Queen of Sheba. Seems like this chick got around. The Esteemed Author is emphasising the point that she is associated with so many different myths, that any one could be as valid as the next. Including, perhaps, the one used in COTC.
The differences between the Lillith character and the Lilith myth will come out over time as COTC develops. As the Hebrew version of Lilith sprung from earlier Babylonian traditions (and even earlier than that), this Lilith has roots in a history that is older than religion itself. Enjoy the ride.
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