Tales from the crypt 021 (r),tales from the crypt v2 007 (2008),tales from the crypt v2 010 (2009)

vt\<&z»:»-ws

TALE 1

k

mm mm

F Down

the long corridor to the little green door, THE CONVICTED MAN... FLANKED BY THE WARDEN AND A GUARD... SLOWLY MAOE HIS WAY-DOWN THE "LAST

Outside the dark grey walls, in THE PRISON YARD, STOOD A BLACK HEARSE f A FACE PEERED OUT FROM BEHIND DRAWN CURTAINS.

'

~ WAIT

1

HE'LL

CRACK

THEY

ALWAYS

OOF*

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The professor busied himself with electrodes, PLATES, AND OTHER GAOOETS.WHICH HE FASTENED TO ~~~ COOPER'S BODYf THEN. .

LOOKS LIKE A GIVES THERE f l'VE THROWN THE^^FRANKENSTEIN FRANKENSTEIN ME ^

~~

p

|

MOVIEf

aV

^^

THE

CREEPS'

After the two minutes had passed, the apmratusI WAS TURNED OFF f ALL EYES WATCHED THE STILL FORM f THE SECONDS TICKED OFF.. .TEN... TWENTY. |

LOOK!

ALIVE

.

|

f

f

Slowly the draped figure

stirred.. .theh sat

•HA...

WHAT.

HAPPENED?

' CERTAINLY i H

FLESH BURRED

OR/PES.' his JS ALL

HE LOOKS..

HORRIBLE

UPf THE SHEET FELL AWAY AMD...

HAS BEEN SUB-

JECTED TO A

VERY HIGH

AMPERAGE charge's

DON'T GIVE HIM ANYTHING UNTIL I'VE HAD TIME TO

DETERMINE WHETHER his

BRAIH has

»

LOOEY .' YOUTsURE^Y

JHEARD

bEEhJ^^^

MS'S BOSS*.

rTT~

SURE? (

\HERE.'

THANKS FOR THE FAVOR. PROF' HERE'S

MY PAYOFF'

J

'JIMMY.' DOHJA

rYOU SHOULDN'T !

HAVE

DOHE

THAT,

JIMMY' HE WAS GONNA FIX UP

UoUR BURNS'

DON'T NEED' ITf NOW...

I'M GONNA 4 GET THAT ] L JURY/ A I

Mj

I

A

f WAIT. JIMMY'

DON'T DO NOTHING!

FOOLISH'FORGETl Lthe JURY' THEY

^

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;J

[ JUST DID THEIR L. DUTY'

[MEANWHILE, AT THE COOPER GANG'S HIDE-OUT.

BOSS' -COMET

JUROR IN c0 VICTIM of murdered? f EARED gangland retaliation^

^s&

{ 1

If 1

"

M LOOK AT HIM'

THAT TAKES CARE OF YOU,

“TJUROR NUMBER TWO? J

GET them? EVERY Last one or

r

|W«Ti

rtll

THEM?

The police grilled suspect AFTER SUSPECT? MEANWHILE THE OTHER JURORS WERE GIVEN POLICE PROTECTION-,

^

r—^r YOU RE BV

“'ALL

RIGHT? ALL RIGHT? J I'LL TALK... I'LL

coopts » HE'S ALIVE tai k

'

it's

^ V M

I

'WH;;

’S

S'OKAY, BOYS?

^

HOGAN? GET THE'' "YEAH? THEN 1 WHY DON'T YOU f NECESSARY PAPERS' WE'LL TAKE LOOK IN HIS THIS STOOLIE'S GRAVE FOR l SUGGESTION ?_^J Lhis BODY'

LYIN6?

EMPTY

HE

IS ALIVE?

^ B

Yes, judge 'cooper lived? at ^ LEAST HE MOVED... AND TALKED' HE WAS A LIVING CORPSE? AND HIS, BODY CONTINUED TO DECAY, AS ALL DEAD BODIES DO? SOON, HE HA! DECAYED TO SUCH A POINT THAT EVEN THE 'LIFE' THAT THE POOR D PROFESSOR HAD GIVEN HIM SLIPPED AWAY? TOO BAD, THOUGH? HE WAS GETTING TO LOOK PEAL

IS THE TALE OF TWO PEOPLE WHO VISITED AN AMUSEMENT PARK. ..AND WERE AWT AMUSED? I CALL

THIS

LOOK, GEORGE'

AMUSEMENT PANE/ LET’S -«

an

STOP FOR A WHILE?

IT.

^

LOOKS LIKE THE WHOLE PLACE IS BOARDED UP, RUTH? THE SEASON'S.

OVEN, YOU KNOW?

'

'

SOUNDS LIKE

WATER

-

WHAT^S THAT,

' I GUESS WE MIGHT AS ‘ WELL LEAVE

GEE

I’M

GLAD AT

RIDE

IS

TRY

_

L

RUTH

SPLASHING'

DON’T KNOW, GEORGE' ALWAYS SO DARK^f THOSE THINGS... T

I...1

OPEN!

IT’S

IT f

,

IN

f

aren’t very

BUSY. ARE

YOU?

^

r

DARK BOAT RIDE f

MOLD MILL RIDE.. WITH A

I

•

A

TWO

OH LOOK. GEORGE f

HowQUAurrri

WATERWHEEL ' 1

.

you’re FRESH. \oid you forget GEORGE ARNOLD //WHO YOU JUST

OOOOHf it's

HARRIED

TODAY,

DARK/

PLEASE. GEORGE / THE MAN WILL

*

MMi

)

HEAR YOU...

OH, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE WAX DISPLAYS THEY HAVE IN THESE .

RIDES {

THOSE WAX

WHEN

FIGURES, THEY'RE DONE BY AN EXPERT, ALWAYS DO LOOK REAL? NOW,

WHERE

WERE WE?

>

YOU WERE ABOUT TO GIVE ME A . .

.

SAY.Y THIS ISN'T FUNNY ANY MORE/ THESE DISPLAYS ARE. RE YOL TINS '

-r

—

WE'LL BE OUT SOON, RUTH! X MUST SAY, THE OWNER OF PLACE HAS A MACABRE

LOOK, GEORGE' ONE.

ANOTHER

THIS

I'M

GLOSING MY

IwE .WE HIT SOMETHING?

UGH/ THEY CERTAINLY DO LOON REAL.. .THAT DECAPITATED CORPSE ...AND THE

>

SENSE OE HUMOR

I

I

DRIED BLOOD

J|

LL

YOU? THEY'RE

ALL PRETTY DISGUSTING? IT'S. ..SOMETHING SOFT..

IN THE WATER' X...

I'LL LIGHT MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER...

^J

GOOD LOfiDf

IT...

IT'S A

BODY

I... CAN'T MOVE THE BOAT? IT'S... JAMMED ON THIS... CORPSE? WE'LL HAVE TO WADE THE REST OF THE WAY...

^

Fear and terror clutched at their hearts as GEORGE AND RUTH RUSHED FROM THE HORRIBLE

4

f' YOU

DIDN'T LAUGH AT MY EXHIBITS, DID YOU?

GEORGE! IT'S... -

HIM.'

NO WORE WILL THEY LAUGH 'NOW. MY EXHIBITS LOOK REAL? BECAUSE I USE REAL PEOPLE AND THIS IS

HI LAST

DISPLAY... A

MEDIEVAL

<

TORTURE CHAMBER THANKS TO YOU TWO...UKE THE OTHERS WHO WANDERED INTO THE DESERTED AMUSEMENT PARK AND FOUND THIS RIDE...

>

’

LOOK AT HIS HE «

’EYES...

/S

m>f J

ALL SUMMER THEY LAUGHED AT MY EXHIBITS, THE FOOLS? THEY SAID MY WAX OUMMYS DIDN'T LOOK REAL'

NOW \

CAN

SHOW THEM? HEH-HEH...

WILL BE ABLE TO FINISH IT.' THERE'S NO USE RUNNING... YOU

...I

CAN’T GET OUT' THE EXIT CLOSED... AND LOCKED .'

IS

I

I

.

I'M A

KEEP AWAY, YOU CRAZY

THERE'S NO USE CALLING* NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU' THE PARK IS DESERTED..

IDIOTf |

SEN!US...

CREATE REALISTIC..

DON'T LOOK,

RUTH? DON'T LOOK.'

WHAT A HORRIBLE END CAUGHT IN THE WATER-WHEEL.' I

RIDE FINALLY

DESTROYED HIM ?

COME, ROTH' LET'S

^

BUST THAT PADLOCK AND GET AWAY FROM HERE f REMEMBER 1 WE'VE GOT A

HONEYHOOR TO

FINISH.'

It

was the most unusual fraternity initiation ever seen on the CAMPUS.

.

.

OR ON ANY OTHER

CAMPUS, FOR THAT MATTER? THE THREE PLEDGEES WERE TAKEN OUT TO THE OLD PALMER HOME ON THAT INFAMOUS NIGHT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, AND INSTEAD OF THE PLACE BEING AMUSINGLY HAUNTED, IT TURNED INTO

Aâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

It was on a night in 1934 that this strange tale HAD ITS BEGINNING ? TODAY, FIFTEEN YEARS LATER,

THERE

IS

STILL NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAP-

PENED AT THE

PALMER PLACE?

V GET A LOAD OF LES WILTON [BACK THERE.. .SCARING THE WITS LOUT OF THOSE POOR FRESHMEN?

^ the claimsWASthat

HE'S GONE ABOUT PREPARING THIS HOUSE FOR THE INITIATION AS IF IT WERE THE CLOSING SECONDS OF THE BIG

EVEN

A

IF IT

JUST AN OLD DUMP BEFORE...

.

.

IT IS

HAUNTED NOW?

>

)

..AND

AS THE LAST STEP

IN

PASS THE TEST OF COURAGE ?

A LONELY JOURNEY INTO THE WHICH

PALMER PLACE. ^ OLD H LEGEND TELLS US

• IF THE RIDE ANYONE WANTS TO DROP OUT NOW... LET HIM SPEAK UP fc-OR SHUT HIS MOUTH FOREVER? EVERYONE

a

IS

^fy^HAunrEor

I

EACH ONE OF YOU WILL FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS I GAVE ON OUT HERE

YOUR

HAZING, nxtino, BOYS... du i a... YOU'LL tuu ll n«vt HAVE TO IU

„

,

HERE'S YOUR LIGHT, HENDERSON..

YOU MIGHT AS WELL START THE BALL ROLLING? AND REST ASSURED OF ONE THING, BOYS... THIS IS NO SCHOOLBOY PRANK. AS YOU'LL SOON LEARN? a4 HEH

—

,

-

HEH?^^^M|

READY...?

^r-YEs

.

i-i

-XAsq...

guessV^B

IX

T

WAVE THAT LANTERN AT US FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND J LANDINGS, HENDERSON... AND -C JUST COOL YOUR HEELS IN THE > ATTIC TILL 1 COME UP FOR YOU IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY 8ATHEDi IN COLD SWEAT, THAT IS ?

YOU'RE DRIVING THESE FRESHMEN PRETTY HARD, LES. YOU a MUST HAVE GIVEN THIS PLACE OUITE A BUILD.

..

.

UP BECAUSE THEY LdOKED SCARED TO DEATH FROM THE

T#

?

LOOK

HENDERSON'S ffi?

YOU IN A MINUTE IF HE HAD THE CHANCE^^H\« IN

IS

>

NOW..

)

STARTSfl

WENT

WAVING THAT/ THROUGH THAT LANTERN PLACE LAST \ WEEK... RIGGED FLOOR WINDOW ? A FEW CON-

\

AT THE FIRST

/

A

» HI I

,

\

(

,

TRAPTIONS FOR

THE BOYS TO

TRIP OVER? \\‘S OUGHTTO BE

\/

c\

„

\

\l

\\ o

GOOD FOR SOME LAUGHS BEFORE THE EVE* NING'SOVER?

\\

/

POOR

*

M ^ JjJ

EYE... HE'D KILL

KID

MUST

HAVE RAN ALL THE WAY UP TO THE

SECOND FLOOR f AS IF THERE WAS A A GHOST BEHIND 'IM

L

JUST A BOYISH PRANK, THAT'S ALL!

HAVE GOTTEN HENDERSON THEN...

'CAUSE IT'S BEEN SEVERAL MINUTES SAW HIM \ SINCE WE ) AT THE SECOND FLOOR... AND IT

\

')

\

THINKS HE'LL TURN THE TABLES AND SCARE US A BIT t PROBABLY SITTING UP THERE 1 IN THE ATTIC, WAITING TO JUMP OUT AND YELL BOO At ME WHEN COME UP TD^^B I

RELIEVE HIM

DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG TO GET UP TO THE ATTIC'

l

SO WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE CHANGE OF PLANS... TO MEET THE EMERGEN CYf INSTEAD OF LES WILTON GO-

UP THERE SECOND PLEDGEE'

ING l

.

.WE'LL PICK

THE lgg

HEY...

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DID IT BUT WILTON'S GOT THESE FRESHMEN SHAKING IN THEIR BOOTS f NO GUY WOULD NORMALLY TREM OF A HAUNTED BLE AT THE THOUGHT IM.II rcc LIC Tun ICUT HE THOUGHT '‘house’. UNLESS THERE WAS DIRTY WORK AFOOT/ .

l ir~i

HEH HEH? LOOK AT

HIS FACE

,

WIU

YOU' IMAGINE THAT.. A GROWN MAN, SHAKING LIKE A TEEN-AGE .

v^GA

l

.

'

M-ME? Y-YEAH..

BE RIGHT THERE

'

WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO itililii ?_ r THESE neat TO iu THAT nuuuc, HOUSE WILTON BOYS HAVE A LOOK OF ABSOLUTE 4 DREAD ON THEIR FA AW. IT'S NOTHING ' JUST A COUPLA LOOSE STEPS A FEW COBWEBS i

,

CES^J^

t,

l

SOME SQUEAKY

DOORS...

l-IT'S

HAPPENED AGAIN

WATERS NEVER REACHED THAT ATTIC WINDOW' DON'T LIKE THE LOOKS

;>

I

Ss.

OF

THIS...

_

^

AW.

.

.

THEY PROBABLY TURNED FROM THE SECOND ..AN WE'LL FIND 'EM HIDING

RIGHT AROUND

FLOOR

NEAR THE FRONT DOOR ' IF THESE TO GO GUYS HAVEN'T THE GUTS T UP THERE THEN THEY RE NOT < FIT TO BE GAMMA DELTAS f J ...

v

« YOU.. ARLING... C MON OVER HERE' YOU'RE NEXT, MAN. GO UP TO THAT ATTIC AND TELL THOSE PALS OF YOURS TO STOP THEIR MONKEYSHINES 'THIS IS A FRATERNITY .

.

INITATION

.

.

.

NOT A SCHOOLBOY

^

T-I DON'tVoU'LLGQ ALL RIGHTTHINK I... k)R THEY'LL FIND YOU X C... CARE/IN A DITCH? I DIDN'T TO GO ? yRIG UP THIS PLACE

atS HEj

^B ^B

^B

JUST TO HAVE A COUPLA PUNKS SPOIL OUR FUN? IF THE THREE OF YOU ARE PLANNING TO GIVE ME A SCARE YOULL

Mb REGRET

HEH.HEH? LOOK AT 'IM SHAKING? BET THE OTHER TWO'LL HAVE A BIG SURPRISE FOR ARLING. THINKING IT'S THEIR BELOVED J LES WILTON MAYBE THE * ..

—

?Jr-

,^^k ^B '^^k /' '^^kl

m

^k\

KID'S RIGHT, LES

MAYBE SOME 1

v, D/D

•

G.',

?

,B

FIVE MINUTES, WILTON... AND NO SIGN OF -<

ARLING? ALL

THREE OF GONE.'

'EM..

..

PELT- TO BE

I

'

It f

^

. .

T. THAT? AND I DON'T LIKE THE LOOKS OF THIS... IT’S N...

NOT LIKE WATERS AND HENDERSON TO FOOL AROUND ? B...BUT> T'LL GO ? tmuu SPOKEN LIKE A REAL GAMMA —

LIKE

.

THERE. ARLING'S AT THE FIRST FLOOR SAFE AND SOUND? FROM THE LOOK ON HIS FACE HE MUST HAVE STUMBLED, OVER THAT SKELETON X BORROWED FROM THE LAB, TOO ?

WRONG UP THERE

.

W WE DIDNYPLAN ANY JOKES

^ IM

HE S AT THEjON HIS WAY TO THE SECOND ATTIC ? HOLD YOUR BREATH, FLOOR.

.

..

)

BOYS.

.

.

HERE'S WHERE THE REAL FUN BEGINS...

IN

THE NEXT SIXTY

SECONDS.

THE STUPID PUNKS... TOO YELLOW TO TAKE THAT LAST FLIGHT OF STEPS' ^I LL SHOW 'EM REAL FEAR

a

.

GIMME THAT LIGHT, JENKINS. I'LL GO UP THERE MYSELFf FIRST TO PROVE TO ALL OF YOU THAT THERE'S NO DANGER UP THERE. AND SECOND, TO KICK THOSE GUYS .

OUT OF THAT PLACE... AND OUT kJDFTHE GAMMA DELTA? BBSBS

I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T LIKE THIS WHOLE SETUP 'THE WINDOW... IT'S BEEN SMASHED' .

I

.

.

.

IT'S

WILTON I'D

UTTL£

EXCITEMENT INTO THIS INITIATION .

,

DO I LOOK ANY THE WORSE FOR

L

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT HERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR jsrEITHER.

V.

THOUGHT INJECT A

wear?

Mm

.

.

T WE LL COMB THIS PLACE UNTIL WE FIND ALL FOUR

NOT A TRACE

OF 'EM' MIKE... FRED...

SEARCH EACH ROOM WITH A FINE-TOOTH COMB' WE'LL GET THIS THING

ANYONE

STRAIGHTENED OUT IF IT TAKES THE REST OF L THE NIGHTf

OF ,

S

THE FRONT

IN ,

ROOM..

OR ANY OF THE OTHERS EITHER' THE DUST WASN'T EVEN DISTURBED'

NO ONE 1 ON THE SECOND J

OUTSIDE,

r

NO FOOT-

WILTON'S IDEA OF A JOKE...

HAZING THE

WHOLE BUNCH OF US'

COULD ]

PROBABLY

T...THIS IS

FLOOR

W...WELL...

EITHER' AND SINCE NO ONE

M AND

GOES

.

.

HERE

.

T...THE DOOR...IT OPENS

4

EASILY' AS IF SOMEONE ELSE OPENED IT .BEFORE WE D...DID'

HAVE LEFT THE HOUSE...

^

PRINTS ' THEY A WHICH MEANS MUST 1 THEY'RE ALL ALL BE | STILL IN UP ) THE THERE' /i HOUSE' J T. THE ATTIC f I

I

.

.

G-GOOD HEAVENS

T.

..

IT

S

YEARS k

WILTON f H.HE'S AGED FIFTY THE LAST FEW MINUTES TURNED WHITE' 1

IN

.

.

.

H...HIS HAIR... IT‘S

LOOKS AS IF HE'S GONE INSANE LISTEN TO HIS MOANING'

H...HE

NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE NEVER EVEN HEAND OF EOUALf THAT WILTON KID ...CAN'T GET A COHERENT WORD

THIS.

.

.

ITS

OUTOF HIM'

HIS MIND... IT’S

CRACKED... HE'S COMPLETELY INSANE ' AND THE OTHERS..

THERE SHE GOES... CONSIGNED TO FLAMES BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER' AND WITH IT... THE LAST TRACE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ARLING, WATERS AND HENDERSON' -

VANISHED

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO IT HAPPENED. AND NO EXPLANATION HAS EVEN BEEN FOUND AS TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE THREE

FRESHMEN

OR WHAT AWFUL HORRORS

LES WILTON SAW

IN

THE MOMENTS

BEFORE HIS MIND CRUMBLED '

c b

TH

Greetings, dear reader' we meet again? remember me? i am THE OLD WITCH in each issue of this, THE CRYPT- KEEPER'S MAGAZINE. I BREW A TERRORTALE HERE IN MY CAULDROH ' THIS TIME, I HAVE COOKED UP A CHILLER -D/LLER.' 1 CALL IT...

DEATH

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN,yYES/ SHE'LL '-v LARRY? NANCY WILL BE PROBABLY GET THE .THRILLED? Js SHOCK OF HER LIFE/

\

As HE STRUCK JOHN, LARRY GRABBED THE WHEEL AND GUIDED THE CAR TO A STOP/ THEN HE DROVE TO A POINT WHERE THE ROAD SKIRTED A MOUNTAINSIDE...

They called

it an accident/ LARRY'S PLAN HAD WORKED PERFECTLY? AT THE FUNERAL, HE COMTHE GRIEF-STRICKEN

FORTED

NANCY.

The months passeo, and Lawrence CABOT CAME TO CALL MORE AND MORE OFTEN AT THE HOME OF THE YOUNG WIDOW.NANCY BAXTER...

pr

r

I

SUPPOSE

YOU'VE GOT YOUR YOU'RE LIFE AHEAD * . RIGHT, OF YOU, NANCY? YOU } LARRY? CAN'T THROW IT AWAY?

ra

|

WHOLE

% J

'^NANCY/ YOU KNOW HOI I've FELT ABOUT YOU.'.

EVER SINCE COLLEGE!

'And that is Lawrence

C

.CABOT'S STORY... SO FAR' ( WAIT.' HEAR THAT HOLLOW .BOOM? THE COFFIN' LET'S .

I SEE WHAT HE'S UP TO... i

* HAH'

NOW TO OPEN YOUR CASKET AND STRIP YOU OF YOUR LAST POSSESSION. JOHN BAXTER? /

H-M-M-M? FOUR MONTHS

IN

^ASN'T HARMED IT ANY? IN GOOD CONDITION

THE GROUND

IT'S

STILL

d

jf

V

f

Larry cabot removed the TUXEDO from the CORPSE OF JOHN BAXTER AND RE-COVERED THE ' GRAVE? THEN... |—

—

The church was hot? and

W

as larry stood

VESTRY. WAITING FOR THE CEREMONY TO BEGIN, IT...

AS

MUST BE MY .IMAGINATION. ..BUT I FEEL...

SUIT- WERE CRUSHING ME?

THOUGH... THIS

.

f f

>Y£M£fUI/l Ann!

HEH.HEH? iff KNOW HOW. DON'T WE. 'STRANGE? THIS REPORT JEMBALMSAYS THAT LARRY DIEDJ/NG FLUID f OF POISONING.. FROM BUT HOW ] EMBALMING FLUID!'J DID LARRY EVER COME IN CONTACT ] fntiL/f~\pmr with that?

0$E H

(

J

DEAR READER? WHEN LARRY GOT HOT UNDER THE COLLAR,*** BOOT ABSORBED THE EM6ALMING

.

FLUID WHICH HAD CONTAMINATED C TUXEDO AND NOW, LARRY N JOHN'S

REALLY HAS EVERYTHING THAT / JOHN HAS? NO NANCY... NO JOB... \ NO PRESTIGE. .MO NOTHING.' JUST A A NICE, COOL COFFIN IN A NICE. COOL BRAVE

\

PAPERCUT 3' PROUDLY PRESENTS THE SHAMELESSLY-STRUGGUNG-TOWIN-FAN-SUPPORT SEVENTH ISSUE OF THE ALL-NEW...

[FEK°)ft£]

ME

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO WILLIAM M. GAINES, AL FELDSTEIN, REED CRANDALL, JOHNNY CRAIG, JACK DAVIS, WILL ELDER, GEORGE EVANS, GRAHAM INGELS, JACK KAMEN, BERNIE KRIGSTEIN, HARVEY KURTZMAN, JOE ORLANDO, GEORGE ROUSSOS, MARIE SEVERIN, AL WILLIAMSON, AND WALLY WOOD. “IGNOBLE ROT”

“MOONLIGHT SONATA”

FRED VAN LENTE WRITER

JOE R. LANSDALE & JOHN L. LANSDALE WRITERS

MORT TODD

CHRIS NOETH

ARTIST

ARTIST

MORT TODD

MARK LERER

LETTERER

LETTERER

GHOULUNATICS SEQUENCES JIM SALICRUP

WRITER RICK

PARKER

ARTIST/TITLE LETTERER /COLOR TERRY NANTIER

JIM SALICRUP

MARK LERER LETTERER

STEVE MANNION COVER ARTIST MIKHAELA REID & MASHEKA WOOD PRODUCTION MICHAEL PETRANEK EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Caricatures by Rick Parker.

ES FROM THE CRYPT. VoL 2, No. 7, July 2008. Published bimonthly by : yright 2008 William M. Gomes. Agent. Inc. The EC logo Is a registered .ng

may be

similarity to

reprinted, reproduced, or posted

red people ond pieces

m

fiction

on the internet or

ond

Return postage must accompany submissions.

in

Papercutz,

m

CEO and

Ploce. Ste. 1306. tnc.

New

York.

NY 10005.

usea wim permission,

whole or port without written permission from tne publisher,

semi-fiction is purely coincidental.

Terry Nontier.

40 Exchange

trademark of William M. Goines. Agent,

chat groups

Publisher

Pubilsher: Jim

cssunes no response^?,

VP ond Edfo

So&crup.

Soles Mcnoger: Martha Samuel. Traffic Monoger. www.popercutz.com. Prmted

in

Conodc.

for

unseated materiMartin Sotryb. Art

IN.

THIS ISSUE:

AN AU-NCW STORY BY

.ATURING

JOE R. LANSDALE & JOHN L. LANSDALE TtXAS' TOP TiRROR WRITtRS!

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE VAULT-KEEPER

$3 95US .

71

896 45306 ll

Wr

WELCOME,

KIDDIES!

IT'S YOUR 0Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; PAL THE CRYPT-KEEPER GETTING READY TO FILM A COUPLE OF VIDEOS FOR YOU TOOMB, THE

'

L

SCARIEST WEBSITE

OF ALL!

MY

FIRST FRIGHTFUL FEATURE, STARS A LOUT

NAMED

LOUIS, WHO COULD'VE BEEN A REAL HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STAR - THAT IS BEFORE SOMETHING SET IN

THAT

f

LIKE

TO

CALL...

THE FREWCH QUARTER

AT MIGHT.

yOUR FAVORITE HUMTIMG GROUN17, ISN'T IT, LOUIS?

THE TRAVELER'S OHEOKS YOU STOLE FROM THE PURSE OF YOUR LAST MARK ARE JUST ABOUT GOME, SO IT'S HIGH TIME TO C7RUKIK,

FINE?

SOME OTHER

LONELY TOURIST...

..AMY WOMAKI, REALLy,

WITH MORE MOMEY THAM SELF-ESTEEM...

-

T

(TP

AT FIRST YOU WOKJPgR WHAT

__

THESE SLACK JAWEC7 OUT-OF-

SrtfMJ

Mf ’

r> ‘j|^g

P

4

jJTVJ —•gh

TOWKJER S'

PROBLEM

IS...

!

...eur

ITS

WHAT

you pou'T see that TERRIFIES

you

you pou't see fog ow THE MIRROR

FROM YOUR BREATH! FOR WO MATTER HOW HARP YOU STRAIW youR LUWGS...

THERE'S OWUy OWE POSSIBLE EXPLAWATIOW, WO MATTER

HOW IMPOSSIBLE

AW [7 THE SKIW

COLP

AWE?

IT

SEEMS:

IS

CLAMMY

TO THE TOUCH LIKE

RUBBER LEFT

OUTSIDE OVERWK3HT!

I'M

PSAPM

aJ

r«V7*7fM

By' i\’l r/q t,

J

u

fill:

ii

;;

//Sr*

because y ou'RE gong to prive RIGHT OUT TO HER PATHETIC SWAMP TRAILER PARK AMP BEAT HER IMTO REVERSIM G WHATEVER

HgX SHE'S

you ASSUME IT'S PART OF HER CURSE THAT YOU'VE BECOME SO CLUMSY ALL OF A SUPPEM THAT YOUR MUSCLES POM'T WAMT TO PO WHAT YOU TELL THEM TO.

You'Re WO CORONER, OF

course. wor vo you REALIZE THAT YOU V16V WHILE NAPPING IW YOUR FLOPHOUSE OVER THREE HOURS AGO.

GO YOU WOULDN'T KWOW THAT WHEW THE HEART STOPS, GRAVITY IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO PULL THE STAGNANT

BLOOD DOWN, DOWN,

fWTO THE

LOWER PARTS OF THE BODY...

...IW THIS INSTANCE,

YOUR DUE TO YOUR SLEEPING FACE,

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KID-DIES!

^

^

BUT BEFORE WE PUT THIS ISSUE TO DEATHBED MUST WARN OUR ROTTEN READERS NOT TO MISS OUR NEXT ISSUE! IT FEATURES TWO TERROR-TALES YOU WON’T SOON FORGET! >

r

,

I

V

GOOD NIGHT, KIDDIES! AND PLEASANT SCREAMS!

.

CRETINS! It’s

Greetings,

me, your digital camera-tot-

ing Crypt-Keeper, with another

SCARY SELECTION

of SPAM from our beloved fans. Looks like our “NEW DIRECTION” toward DARKER, more INTENSE

TALES of TERROR Ripping

“A

Lansdale

and John

Rornberger,

I.

issue’s favorite

TERROR

Good Time” by writers Joe R. Lansdale and illustrated by James.

show that even

and

artist

comes to the real FEAR

TV prowhen

FACTOR!

COLLECTOR’S ITEM hardcovers, THE CRYPT #4: CRYPT-KEEPING

Velilla

&

my never-before-seen

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"

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The third

and

“Roses

Bedight"

Sanchez Martinez.

VENOMOUS VOLUME,

entitled

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ZOMBIELICIOUS!” fea-

“Graveyard Shift at the Twilight Gardens' by Rob

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and

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#3:

and and and Facundo

by Alex Simmons

by Scott l.obdell Cabral,

FROM THE CRYPT tures

YOU TOOMB

“You Toomb" by Stefan Petrucha

contributions,

Tim Smith Mart Todd,

Available in both

booksellers shelves.

“TALES FROM

I T REAL! "features

and Tim Smith

3,

On

good and

#4

I

really

I

is

an EXCLUSIVE all-new

loved the

art.

story for the

sale at better

where, but then I wouldn't have any .

Life,”

has

It

just lagging.

On

issue

#5 “Queen of the Vampires”

a good read and the artwork

“Kid-tested,

me.

1

as if

my 5

CRYPT Me

BOOkstores every-

room

left for your

I

Then “Crystal Clear” another great modern horror reader yet the art is getting better.

is

Mother Approved” shot

it

down

for

enjoyed the story but what a lousy cover, its year-old son

questions;

Why

cant you get a better Keeper, the

drew the

art.

--

the Vault Keeper? I’m silly.

I’m on the brink of finishing

horror comic publication.

Any

make

could

it

happen?

twisted stories

Or how

and

art in

advice

Island,

I

get

your mag?

A true fan, Long

my

And

to represent the Crypt

artist

Old Witch and

sure most will agree they just look

questions

So here re

only two stories per issue?

Doug Randazzo

createdjust for the graphic novel series!

1 could also mention that thefirst two collected

FAWNING FAN-MAIL.

fan

was

find myself fiending

enjoyed “Extra always a plus.

New York

volumes (“Ghouls Gone Wild!’’ and “Can You Fear

Now?”) are both still on

EC

first I

yet the stories

art,

a great modernized sense of horror writing and

is

paperback and

been an

I’ve

gotta say at

I

for the next issues. I just finished reading issues

#4 and #5.

extreme gamer madness

FOURTH FEAR-FILLED collection of TALES FROM THE CRYPTstoriesfrom Papercutz will soon be HAUNTING your favorite

Now

disappointed with most of the

it

announce that yet a

also thrilled to

comic shop.

local

and have been reading your new publica-

tion since issue #1.

“Jumping Mr. Exes.

today’s frightening

ducers cant compete with ol’ Jack the Ripper

Were

my

forever

are actually quite

SOUNDLY SLAUGHTERED

the Shark " by writer Arie Kaplan Just goes to

Cheers to you for bringing T.F.T.C. horror back to

Just check out the votingfor last

TALE.

Dear Crypt- Keeper,

going over better than expected!

is

Bribery usually works, Doug!

Two last my own

on how one of

to

my

!

Dear Crypt-Keeper,

TFTC #6

Subject:

— new

just got a

I

Congratulations on the sixdi

Tales

from the Crypt pinball

you have made

machine! Attached

seems to

me

picture of

my

with

pinball machine.

a

is

area

really

1

like the older

reading your comic

like

a look

has lots of evil

because

it

stories

and

fun

its

Keep up your

US

Base

Ramstcin

Subject:

since

toward the

first five

FROM THE CRYPT

Generally,

new

concerned that the

felt this

a

I

really

ist

said,

1 still

you

have

is

FROM THE CRYPT

TALES

great to sec

some new

would be happy

and

I’m gonna vote too.

loved “Jumping The Shark” as

I

I

enjoy the artwork for “A Ripping

wish the story had been a

bit more fleshed out. work and I hope to keep

you hacking thing: out

to

like to

The Crypt

I

a

to a

of your

produced thus are taking

is

Either seeing

my newsstand.

Faithful,

readers.

and

far

Maybe we should

gradually

couple of complaints.

pun?

1

is

TV producer.

.

.

bring Jack the Ripper back as

?

I

gore,

more

is

is

Keep those emails

The

was not crazy

get so

New York, NY Or

email your

1308 10005

Place, .Suite

comments

to the

Old Editor

at:

your most gruesome thus

was going on. The murky

hell

coming - we

Crypt- Keepers Corner

40 Exchange

the opposite of I

anti letters

lonely here in the Crypt of Terror! Send letters to:

also

salicrup@papcrcutz.com

pretty sure that decapitations typi-

art

And be TALES

sure to visit papercutz.com for the latest

FROM THE CRYPT news!

understand the progression of

difficult to

it

is

The

ironic

CRYPT art-

often had to reread pages in order

1

what the

the plot and a

it?

no

quite good; Mr.

liked the story, but

I

am

cally involve blood),

made

No

“A Ripping Good Time”

about the art. While the story

to understand

traditional style

would have

greatly

benefited the story. However, if you arc conducting a poll about this issue,

my

vote goes to “A Ripping

Good

Time.”

Looking ahead, image leads

me

CRYPT

is

1

eagerly await issue "7, as the cover

to believe that this will

with actual gore in

it. I

be the

first issue

#7 is shipping in August. Docs this mean that

also noticed that

subsSa'T^ionsi For a one year (six-issue) subscription to

going monthly?

FROM THE CRYPT, order, in US funds

Michael

Send

July and #8

is

shipping

in

to:

just only,

for

$24.00.

Place, Suite 1308,

10005. Moke checks payable call 1-800-886-1223.

to

Or

not exactly

KETCHUP on

BLOOD,

but we are hoping

our schedule!

to

TALES

send a check or money

subCRYPTions, PAPERCUTZ,

40 Exchange

Saddle Brook, Nj

It's

it

at

just

commend

work on “Queen of the Vampires”

“Jumping the Shark.” far (even thougli

1

to

did, however, really

Good Time”

way, keep up the good

becoming my favorite modern

as his

far,

I

material as

also to see his ideas

VAULT and HAUNT

triumphant returns now, jusr for the record

was

Seriously, “I’m a rerun?” That’s

was leading up

quickly

solid. In a way,

style

it

enjoying “Jumping the Shark,” but the ending

huge letdown.

thus

for the

my opinion.

not die only person

death, nothing? Okay.. .at least the art is

und

good thing. some heavy credit

the morality of modern television.

evident.

entire story

Exes

isn't

was a well-written story with some exceptional looks

was happy with the

would

issue

(old) direction that

That being

is

in

my genTALES 1

one

it

style

that fed that

not be grisly enough.

actually listening to rhe input

new

becoming was

am

1

that’s

While

own

Jason Greene

This was definitely the best this

I

may

series

column,

letter

its

seem to carry

a kid, obviously from the reprints,

a return. Its time for

their

way.

After reading the sixth issue,

you on

making

of the new

being a huge fan of the original comics,

scries but,

Judging by the that

issues

was

sure that Gaines

make

on our good side

wrote to you guys and expressed

I

I

must say that

am

Crypt #6

Recently,

eral feelings

have been reading

1

PSC 2 Box 11587

to get

nice to see that

art.

there.

(Germany)

Gabe knows how

the

does have

stories

do, however, have to give

I

APO AE 09012

Now

it

It is

in the letrers section

comics and

TALKS FROM THE CRYPT cover and it really gave me rhat nostalgic feel just looking at it, serious Kudos

(age 9)

Air

EC comics,

own. The

for,

cover of issue #6. This cover alone looks like a classic

work!

evil

art in the

the old issues have, and that’s a

to

read.

Gabe

all its

issue.

Everyone

this far.

it

about the

talk

can applaud you guys

1

MC, VISA, and

AMEX

accepted.

New NBM.

York,

NY

a

€.D. FA NS/

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LETTERER

GHOULUNATICS SEQUENCES LAURIE E. SMITH COLORIST

JIM SALICRUP

WRITER RICK

PARKER

ARTIST/TITLE LETTERER/COLOR

TERRY NANTIER

JIM

MARK LERER

SALICRUP

LETTERER

STEVEN MANNION COVER ARTIST CHRIS NELSON & SHELLY

DUTCHAK

PRODUCTION MICHAEL PETRANEK EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Caricatures by Rick Parker.

TALES FROM THE CRYPT, Vo!. 2. No. Copyright ® 2009 William M. Gaines, Nothing may be reprinted, reproduced, Any

similarity to real

people and places

10,

January 2009. Published bimonthly by Papercutz,

Agent,

Inc.

The EC logo

in

fiction

and semi-fiction

Return postage must accompany submissions. Terry Nantier,

40

Exchange Pface,

Sle. 1308, ,New York.

NY >005.

a registered trademark of William M. Gaines, Agent, Inc. used with perr

is

or posted on the Internet or

in

chat groups

in

whole or port without written permission from the

is purely coincidental. Publisher

CEO and

Publisher; Jim Salicrup,

Tony Shenton, Soles Manager; Martho Samuel, Traffic Manager. Printed

in

assumes no

VP and

Conodo. www.papercutz.com

responsibility for unsolicited

Editor-in-Chlef: Martin Satryb.

An

ss.-on. i-.tr.

nc’f Os. C=rector;

7}0737Jm-i

IN

THIS ISSUE:

AN AU-NCIV STORY BY

FEATURING

GREG FRRSHTEV BIONIC! E

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE VAULT-KEEPER

71896 45306

COMICS AUTHOR!

JUST LIKE NO ONE LISTENS

TO THOMAS DONALLEY A STORY CALL...

I

re

IN

-

AND

IN

FINAL i

THAT

MOMENT,

pememsep.

Hi'

-

THAT LOOIC OP UPSENT REAP ONLY

HALF-CONCEALED ey THE PATIENT'S AWAPENESS OF THE SULF THAT SEPAPATES US.

HE PUNS HIS

TONSUE

NEPVOUSLy

ACPOSS

HIS

Dpy LIPS THPEE

Si*

TIMES...

w

r

...eEFOPE FINALLy

UTTEPINS THE WOPDS THAT

CHANSE My FOPEVEP.

LIFE

1

K:

.

B:

::::

ft

j

£ Q

I THINK THAT THEPE IS A SPAIN-EATINS MONSTEP LOOSE ON THIS L

V

WAPD.

1-

.

sT

;/S

ill \

|

HIS

CHAPT TELLS

j

MT^TmonstepN [ { you

ME EVEPYTHINS I THINK I NEED TO

say.,..

HM/A/A.

KNOW.

•

r

I-

]

>r-

:

5+

I

4* 5 V1

\

1*7'

f

V

i

'TV^Ol

lS

JK

1

I

ft |

HE PIDSETS WHEN

LOOK AT

DON ALLEY —IS IT? ..

MP... v.

I

I

HIM DIPECTLY.

THAT'S PPOBASLY THE THOPAZINE.

you so ey THOMAS?

MOTHER-DEAD NOW TWO yEARS OP CARDIAC

THE

PAILU(?6

UNDER MySTERIOUS

CIRCUMSTANCES.

r My mom

>

THE CATAtyST POP THE PATIENT'S FIRST REFERRAL

USED TO CALL

ME TOMMy S.

ONLy

THIS

but...

TO THIS

y

ONE BLAMES

FACILITy

AS A

CLASSIC SELF-MUTILATOR.

HIS

BREAKTHROUGH

EPISODE ON A SUPERNATURALLy CURSED *PULLy POSEABLE, MICRO-ARTICULATED ACTION FIGURE." WHATEVER THAT MEANS.

SO....

THOMAS-

HOW APE .

A LITTLE NEPVOU5, I 5UE55.

you peelins TODAY?

l\

M.

\,,,

(

s/]

\\i

NEPVOU5?

AND WHY

K [a

DO YOU

x

i 1 1I VI

THINK

THAT 15?

Q

pposably because OF THE BPAIN-EATINS

^

MONSTEP THAT 15 LOOSE IN THE WAPD...

^ YOU DON'T IT'5 MAY8E

THINK

THE THOPA2INE?

NO, I'M PPETTY 5UPE IT'5 THE 6PAINEATIN5 MON5TEP, ACTUALLY.

HOW COMFOPTING IT

MUST 86 TO AWAY ALL

EXPLAIN

OP

LIFE'S ILLS 8Y THE EXISTENCE OF A 8PAIN-6ATING MONSTEP.

,

CAN'T HOLD A 8PAIN-6ATING

008?

MONSTEP. GLOBAL WAPMING? TPY A

1 1

1

8PAIN-EATING

MONSTEP

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WOPPY A80UT,

V

THOMAS.

>

LIE

|

SACK AND

TPy TO P6LAX.

ON ^ WGOODHAVEAUTHOPITY I

INSTEAD.

IT

'then i'll let the^ NUPSES KNOW THAT you APE DUE FOP YOUP MEDS. t

THAT THEPE APE NO SPAIN-EATING MON-

^

STEPS LOOSE THIS FACILITY.^ IN

V.

THANKS.

I

PUT THE EVENT

IN MY MENTAL COLUMN OF

VICTOPIES.

ANOTH6P PATIENT 8POUGHT BACK FPOM THE EDGE OF psychosis sy my wopds OF COMFOPT AND SOLACE. AT LEAST 1 THINK HE IS UNTIL...

WELL, I DIDN'T LOOK BE-

r

w WHAT DO^ YOU MEAN HIS SPAIN IS .

3UT,

SONE?'

WOW,^

HE IS TOTALLy 6PAINLESS NOW s.

FOP SUPE.

ONCE INSANE, NOW HE'S SOT NO SPAIN/ /

6UHWHA-

>

FOPE TO MAKE SUPE HE HAD ONE 6UT HE WAS BPEATHINS AND STUFF, SO, you KNOW, X A OUST ASSUMED.

r DON'T WOPPy,

^

DOC. WE'LL SET HIM

DOWN TO

THE SLAB

FOP YA!

v

BUT

^

WHAT COULD HAVE--? k COULD

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;HOW ? a

WHAT DID X

TELL yOU,

DOC?

J

IN LISHT OP WHAT CAMP APTPP, I CAN SEP HOW MY PPSPONSP TO THE PATENT'S WAPNINSS COULD BP CONSTPUPP AS... DISPPOPOPTIONATE.

PEPHAPS,

^

r

THP SPAINPATINS MONSTPP ^STPIKPS ASAIN'

^GENTLEMEN, WAY,^ THIS

AND POUSHLY, IP YOU LIKE....

s.

HOT DOS'

THAT'S GOOD,

OW/ THAT sucked.'

.

THOMAS.

DON'T BP APPAID TO VOCALIZP YOUP MOST VIOLPNT IMPULSPS.

s.

WHAT VIOLENT IMPULSPS? "

7^

I

OUST

^

ekY DON'T WANT MY

AV

SPAIN TO SET EATEN.'

A

TUT, TUT,

THOMAS.

we BOTH KNOW THAT THEPE'S NO SUCH THINS AS A SPAINEATINS MONSTEP.

XeAH,

THAT '5

WHAT USBO TO I

^THINK, TOO.

V

> v

V HOPPOP5 JUST YOU TO SUP UP AND

WAITING FOP

&Wan dX IP WHAT DO

lyou ||^

Y

THINK L now ? Jm.

^

THEN.,.

AND

jk4

THEN.

IHTThepe's {

STUFF OUT

«g

||jj|K x

>-43

you eecoMe A 8PAIN-EATINS .

MONSTEP?

.

AND SEE THAT THE TAKE MP. DONALLEY SACK TO HI 5 POOM. NUPSE ST APT S HIM ON THIS PESIMEN OF EXPEPIMENTAL FOUP POINT J PESTPAINT.^^ .AND POSSIBLY DANSEPOUS.

I'M NOT THE BPAIN-EATINS

MONSTEP.

k

L

r APE you > WPITINS ANY

OP

Wmni

ANTI-PSYCHOTICS AT once...

THIS

r NO,^

DOC'

mm

/

V/

.WAIT' s-

mP h tJ'i

i

WAIT,

FEELINS f I'M SUDDENLY ^SETTEP 1

F

*

*

IF THE MUPOEPS DON'T END THEPE, THUS PPOVINS THAT THOMAS ISN'T THE SO-CALLED

BUT WHAT

'BPAIN-EATEP"?

A

becomes

it

APPARENT ALMOST IMMEDIATELy THAT THE K£y TO PISHTINS THIS

DELUSION

SUBJECT

TO TO

IS IT

THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS.

THERE WILL BE

NO MOPE OF

THIS UNSCIENTIFIC BRAIN-

EATER CLAPTRAP.

f IS

L

THIS,^^|| SENTLEMEN, ^ THE NEW FACE OF ENCEPHALOPHASIA.'

A

Wr r

x

you ARE, OP COURSE, WELL AWARE ^ OF THE CURIOUS STRINS OF

”

CAN'T

BRAIN EXTRACTIONS THAT

EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THE OLD

.

HAVE OCCURRED ON

fes*.

ONE LOOKED

WATCH OF

OUR^

LATE.

LIKE...

|| If.-f

IF

1 ¥4

:

!

k

-3

»

’HI

jbLEi NOW

THAT HE 8PINSS IT

WELL,

r

_

ji

i

ii

L

I

SUESS^^

SIX IN

L.

ENCEPHALOPHASIA?

X

A WEEK

DOES CONSTITUTE SOME KIND OF

^ .

"•

YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN OLD FACE OF

DID

W

UP...

PATTERN.

~

.m

^3

.

—

SENTLEMEN/

T

”

THIS IS

NO

TIME

POP

PERFECTION

OP

^

ETHICAL

CAUTION/

*

WHAT THIS

^

MOMENT CALLS ,FOP

IS

ACTION/

HEAP/ HEAP/

r 1

—

U4?a\ y

J

J

\M£

.

a

..

I

^

j

lft_

-*X — IN POOLING ALL OP OUP PESOUPCES, WE'LL TUPN THE MEDEA INSTITUTE INTO TUB DESTINATION POP

^ M1

ENCEPHALOPHASES PPOM ALL OVEP THE WOPLD/ AND WHO WILL WE HAVE \ / V 'O '-'.AL’,

k .

^

'

so,

you*

pemembep

WHO

I

AM,

THOMAS?.

THOMAS?

I'M

'

SOPPy I ATE youp LEMON DPOPS.

'

yEAH.

^-7

w

—-w

-

DO ME55ED-UP

——

H M*

SUESS

”

MAKE ME 5EEM LIKE KIND OF A V

DECK, HUH? V

A

STUFF TO ME.

mo

X

THAT WOULD

n

you

APE the' \ OEPK THAT KEEPS > OPDEPINS PEOPLE TO

^ ^

w - \

“2^PS'w<

4 PE

you SO INS

I Ns!0 untie n

jrn

z^//

--

J

l^\

1

i

v

r

J

0U5T BECAUSE^ A GUY NEVEP HAD A SIPLFPIEND, DOESN'T NECESSAPILy MEAN HE ^didn't na/vr one.' y

^

FIPST, LET'S

-

TALK ABOUT yOUP

ENCEPHALOPHASIC v

/

UPSES.

NO, THOMAS,

BNC£PHALO.

JE \

'

Vi

PHA&IA.

«=;-

V'KjLmV O

~

BPAIN-EATINS,

THOMAS.

IT

r

eur

>

1

I DIDN'T

EAT ANyONE'S BP AIN...

V

^

^

ALPEADy TOLD

yOU THAT L

i

|

/I

MEANS

v BPAIN-EATINS.

Wr

^

A

y

oh, i pon't pispute that you believe THAT WITH ALt YOUQ HEAPT ANP MINP., gut imagine ip you ^

r

WEPE EXPEPIENCINS A COMPLETE PSy-

^ MM

CHOTIC SPEAIC WHEPE jO\ YOU APE ABLE TO v ACT OUT yOUP A/ / MOST UNTHINKABLE k'Mf'/i «E&/Ci8111 IMPULSES WITH NO / /=/s& / /./ J PEAP OF PECALL /--/ J Gl /

tMl

APTEPWAPPS

>V—/

I

/

I

IMBIpamous'

X

* /

/

yOU'LL BE

I

WILL?

FAMOUS'

POCTOPS WILL WANT TO COME PPOM ALL OVEP THE WOPLP to STupy youp A

L ^UNIQUE

^WOW,

WILL THEIP

HANPS^

LEAVE COOL LISHT TPAILS THE AIP LIKE yOUPS PO?

IN

THE MEPEA INSTITUTE WILL BECOME SyNONyMOUS WITH THE 1 MOST CUTTINS EPSE PESEAPCH INTO THE EXTPEMITIES OP THE HUMAN PSyCHE.'

1 I

(

A

.

TJT<- -A.

BUT BEPOPE ANy

OP THAT CAN HAPPEN, yOU ANP I HAVE VITAL WOPK THAT MUST

V

B

BE PONE.'

y

^

IT'S

A

^

SOOP THINS THAT THEPE'S SO MANy OP you...

POCTOP

>

ANPEPS.'.' COME QUICK'.'

V.

^

SOME

PATIENTS

LOST ANO SOME WILL WILL BE

BE SAVED. THAT'S THE CUPPENCy

OE EAILUPE WHEN you APE A DOCTOP.

BUT WHAT MEANING APE WE TO TAKE...

I D-DON'T UNDEPSTAND.

.WHEN IT IS THE DOCTOPS

WHO APE LOST?

r

OUST

^ ^ NOT A 8PAIN~

BEPOPE, TO PIECE TOSETHEP ^BETWEEN THEM^ DOC.

LIKE

V

^

SUCH..^ 8PILLIANT .

MINDS. >

PEDUCED TO WHAT?

LOOK, DOC, WE'VE ALPEAOy CALLED THE

COPS AND TH£y APE ON ITHEIP WAy. 8ETTEP THAT i

^

you OUST SO

OOWN

LIE

UNTIL THEY SET HEPE.

i

A

THEN

POP ONE MOMENT,

X

PEALIZE. I

CONSIDEP ^OLLOWINS HIS ADVICE.

SHOULD

LIE

MAYSE DOWN.

THAT'S OUST WHAT IT WANTS ME TO DO. THINK

PATIONALLY.

I

LAy DOWN. CLOSE My £y£S AND

HAVEN'T I SEEN UNDEP A LOT OP STPESS

WAIT.

LATELy? I CAN'T PEMEM6EP.

AND SO, INSTEAD, I DO SOMETHING ELSE. SOMETHING CPAZy.

Pthomas?^ IT'S

ME.

DOCTOP

ANDEPS. WAKE

HUH?

MOVE QUICKLY: WE HAVEN'T MUCH

\

TIME'

'pon't you

r

IS THE

^

METEP PUNNING ON THE ELECT POSHOCK

MACHINE ASAIN? S

.

I

WAS?

~

YES,

UNDEPSTAND, .

THOMAS?

.

r you wepe * pisht/ you WEPE PISHT ALL V. ALONS' >

A CYNICAL APHOPISM 8UT ONE, IN THIS CASE, I HOPE WILL ENSUPE THAT I LIVE TO NEVEP SPEAK OF THESE HOPPOPS ASAIN. IT'S

~

NOW SET YOUP SLIPPEPS ON.

_

ow/

WAS

THAT

ATTACHED?

AND you JUST SO HAPPEN TO FIND YOUPSELVES CONFPONTED ey a spizzly beap...

IF EVEP you FIND YOUPSELP IN THE WILDEPNESS WITH A FPIEND.

WHEPE'PE

WE SOIN'P OUST Tpy

OUST A FEW

r TO FOCUS ON

MOPE YAPDS,

STAYINS AWAKE. I'M T AKINS yOU OUT OF THIS FACILITY

L.

v

AUTHOPITY.

y

s

-

1^

^

/

i

OUST PEMEM8EP.

^ .

THE

THOMAS.

ON MY

^

EMEPSENCY LOCKS HAVE ENSASED/.

WHICH

kby?

THE FOOTPACE ISN'T

BETWEEN

YOU AND THE 8EAP...

/f

Jl

,

D

IT'S

YOUQ

FPIEN

YOU'ee PACING DOWN...

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;MMMMMUNNN6H'

AND IN THAT FINAL MOMENT, I PEMEM6EP.

>NNN6H<

y-you ^ KILLED

HIM.'

K

ST Ay

>

AWAy FPOM

veuaovs

ME.' I'M

5UPEP

kPELISIOUS.' >

/H/M/H/W/W.

*HATE TO BE A SNOB

ABOUT

IT*

BUT

m SOMB-

MNP AT THIS POINT,

THING OF A CONNOISSEUR*

YOU PONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T EVEN

RATE AS AN AFTER -PINNER / L

WOW. s,

/y

/MINT*

^ IT's LIKE ^ I'M TOO STUPID V TO v DIE.

vg

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO ABOUT THE DISGUSTING DETRITUS

'W YOU LEFT HERE? YOU

~

THANKS TO CAN KISS MY I

GOOD CRYPT-KEEPING SEAL OF APPROVAL

K

ARE YOU NUTS, C-K?!

GOOD-BYE!

V

DON

KNOW EXACTLY T BRING HER BACK! WHAT YOU NEED TO CLEAN UP YOUR I

KR

CRYPT! LET ME TELL YOU ALL jrABOUT HER IN j

THIS CHILLING TALE CALL...

I

meet the exMP5. EMEPSON (Sale, net? visit

TO HEP FOPMEP HUSBAND'S

HOUSE

15

NOT

A SOCIAL- ONE.

~W£LL, ,

IT'S

ABOUT TIME, EMEPSON/

DP. SALE IS NOT PECE IVINS VISITOPS. PLEASE COME BACK TOMOPPOW. THANK

you.

pteAse wipe youp peeT. PteAse wipe

youp

peer.

eMePSON, you owe Me sio,ooo IN ALIMONy, ANP I WANT IT NOW/

~ i

OH, sap ah... as loud as evep, i HAPouy think

see.

i Neeo to PAy you POP thb ppiviLese OP HAVINS you CH6AT

k

Fa.

^ r

on

Me.

HA' IP OAKt i hapn't eeeN

anp

^

so â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;eusy* upstaips we shook youp TesT Tuees you Nevep woulp havb eveN known. ^

yes, weu., you cePTAiNty uePT a eeniNP. it .

took

two Mess

m.a.i.p

a puu, PAy TO CLEAN UP.

M.A.I .0? DON'T TELL ME.

ANOTHEP ONE OF YOUP STUPIO INVENTIONS?

M.A.I.O.

CUTE. COULDN'T FIND A PEAL

MULTIFUNCTIONAL

AUTOMATED IMMACULATE DISPOSAL UNIT. HOW MAY I ASSIST you?

WOMAN TO CLEAN YOUP HOUSE FOP V

you, HUH?

^^^IDON'T^^M HAVE TIME TO r DEAL WITH PEOPLEâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

TO ANSWEP

THEIP

TIONS, LISTEN

TO

1

QUESTHEIP

COMPLAINTS, OP PICK UP THEIP

MESSES. THIS

M.A.I.D DOES A ^ NEW THAT POP

^ALL

you SEE? EVEPYTHINS A L

t

MODEPN MAINTENANCE PO0OT NEEDS, ALL IN A one unit^^B

is

|V

i

i

(

-

\

J/

l

kvhat APe

you HAVE MADE A M6SS ACTIVATES CLEANSING ANO DISPOSAL PPOSPA

4

you OOlNS 3 ” STOP FOLLOWING Mg, you piece i

r THIS ISN'T

^ ^^OP

ovee/ you 'u. be HEAPINS FPOM My Sv

LAwyee.'

j

you HAVE MAOe A MESS. MPS SALE Messes must

PPOSPAM ACTIVATED

commano

eeceiveo assist suest to OEPAPT

OUM.'

r

ee oisposeo l

OF.

,

-V;

|

'

y

THE SAP6ASE

DISPOSAL WAS r

JAMMED, DOCTOR.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I TEXT

k FIVE

MINUTES A&O.

ASAIN? THOUGHT X. YOU FIXED THAT TWO DAYS > ASO, RIGHT AFTER MY SHIPMENT I

' .

OF CAPACITORS COT

MESSAGED YOU

DELIVERED, WELL, ANYWAY, I NEED >

v

X.

.

/

OH,

WHAT

'

YOU

1

NOW? SO SEE WHO'S AT THE k

WHERE IS SHE 3 WHERE'S SARAH? KNOW SHE WAS

I .

COMINS HERE/

^

DOOR. J

TOâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

S

.

OP.

SALE

IS

NOT

peceivins visitors.

PLCASEâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

^WHAT'S whepe

^

is he?

HE DONE

WITH SAPAH? SHE NEVEP CAME HOME AND HEP CAP IS ^STILL OUTSIOE

^

^

SALE.' IT'S OAKE.' I'M COMINS

FOP YOU, OLD MAN.'

A

PLEASE WIPE yOUP FEET. PLEASE WIPE

youp

...

you HAVE MAOE A MESS.

/

THAT'S A, UM, GPEAT CO STUMEGOING TO A PAPTy? I WENT AS A FISH ONC6--HAO A HOOK HANGING OUT OF My MOUTH

AND EVEPyTHING.

HEH.

^

PIGHT. LET

^

ME OUST TAKE A LOOK HEPE. WHOA'

THE DISPOSAL IS NOT OPEPATING.

THAT DOESN'T k.

SOUND 6000

VAAAHHH â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ir

SOMETHING'S

PEAU-y

SASy

JAMMED

THIS

UP...UNNNH...IT'S

PEALLy IN THEPE...

Ih^WAIT, GOT IT...

^

—

f

THAT'S

you've— god WHAT Ace you? ^

,

^

f

THAT

IS

TH6

1

secoNo Mess you HAve MAoe siNce you Acciveo. J

L

^

WHAT?

^

you'ee ccazy' S6T AWAY PPOM

v

Me/

^

MeSS CANNOT 66 T0L6PAT60.

yes, yes, fine,

yes, eveeyTHiws seeMS to ee intact, but let me pun A FULL CHECK.

IS

^

V

i

...

THAT? IT LOOKS 6LOOO.

what LIKE

r I AM IN WOPKINS opdep, messes will ee ELIMINATED OISPUPTION

FPOM NEISHBOPS

WILL

ee ENDED.

r ...WHy

IS

THEPE

BLOOD ON youp SAW TOOL?

.

HAVE BEEN CAPPyiNS OUT My 1

PPOSPAMMINS.

you wet?e PPOSPAMMEO TO \ ANSWEP THE DOOP AND THE PHONE TO SET THE MAIL TO CLEAN UP ANy ^MESSES IN THE HOUSE / r

.

Bfc.

THAT'S ALL.

...

.X

coppect i was PPOSPAMMEO TO IN THE MOST

OPEPATE

EEP'CIENT

MANNEP

possible. \ '

THE

MOST

^

EPPlCIENT 3 EXPLAIN

WHAT HAVE yOU

DONE?

Sw

CLEANING UP A MESS IS A TEMPOPAPy SOLUTION. IT IS PAP

MOPE

EPPICIENT

TO ELIMINATE THE CAUSE OP THE MESS.

^

^

WAIT A MINUTE, yESTEPPAy, you said SOMETHINS...WHEN SAPAH THPEW THE BEAXEP .yOU SAID SHE HAD MADE

A MESS.

^

^

COPPECT THAT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH THEPE WILL BE NO PUTUPE OISOPOEP

OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF MY BLACK HEART, I’D BE .

TICKLED PINK TO TIDY-UP YOUR CRYPTIC-CRIB! .

>GASP!< >CHOKE!< SHE’S ALMOST AS

SCARY AS WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THE NEXT FRIGHTENING ISSUE OF TALES FROM THE CRYPT!

DO YOU DO VAULTS?

.

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED® Presents: FULL-COLOR GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION

permissh*

By

reserved.

rights

All

Inc.

illustrated

by

Classics.

Gahan Wilson

Fira

2009

is logo

and

Coming

In

April

2009 From

PAPERCUT2

.

U

Who knew THE OLD WITCH was so jealous of TALES FROM THE CRYPT’s successful return to NIGHTMARISH NEWSSTANDS and CREEPY

“Glass Heads.

KEEPER

tvould I be ifI couldn't deal with

EC-CENTRICS? As enjoy

it

my

if REAL-LIFE wasn’t

seems all you

unique

style

ENVIOUS SCARY

BOILS and GHOULS still

Though they missed the

PARTNER-IN-SLIME consoles

MARVEL ZOMBIES 3, from

managed

all that

to

is

REAL STORY-

that

TALES

able to find our poll

back

we’ve

FEAR-Y TALE from TALES FROM THE CRYPT " $8. The winner is “She Who Would Rule the World,

ULTIMATE ADAPTATION of

Stanley G. Weinbaum’s classic

Adaptive Ultimate.

Keeper's grip

”

sci-fi

The race was as tight as the Vault-

on INSANITY, with Joe

R.

Lansdale

and

BIONICKLESANDDIMES - and click on

seems that some ofyou

LAME-BRAINED LUDDITES may many

have had trouble

votes as toe expected! What’s wrong, kiddies ?!

VOTING is not only a right, but PATRIOTIC DUTY! How else will we determine

Don’t you realize that

your

exactly

what kind of TERROR-TALES

our not-so-pulpy pages? Be that as Lansdale, James Romberger

“Chicken

Man,

"

roosters this side

it

of find

it’s

this issue’s

EC!

Don’t forget, ifyou ever miss an issue (Gaines forbid!)

THE CRYPT, you can stillfind the

of TALES

FROM

in paperback

and hardcover collections

wherever hooks are sold! There’s even a boxed set

SALE NOW collecting

ON

paperback volumes # I (“Ghouls

#2 (“Can You Fear Me Now?”), #3 (“Zombielicious! "), and #4 (“Crypt-Keeping It Real”)!

So,

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you

see,

thanks

to

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you’re never without access to all our

BADNESS!

And speaking of BADNESS, time to FIENDISH FANS have to say.

hear what our

.

to present

on

may, John L.

and Marguerite Van

Cook’s

the scariest story featuring hens and ofTROMA’s POULTRYGEIST, won Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey’s

top honors over Fred

way rest

cover to vote for your favorite story from this issue!

stories collected

in

finding our new online poll - there weren't nearly as ]

but the

to ivww.papercutz.com,

FROM THE CRYPT section - don't be scared off by that terrifying GHOUL DETECTIVE, NANCY DROOL or those BRAINLESS

Gone

last issue's contest, it

VAULT OF HORROR -

TALES

See,

close second.

As for

company that once

hardly find his

short story “ The

John L. Lansdale’s “Virtual Hoodoo, " illustrated by James Romberger and Marguerite Van Cook coming a

to his

- he can

you fan-addicts?! Just go

back, baby!

MEDIA FRENZY behind us,

count up all the votes for your favorite

Christian Zanier’s

himselfscripting

that

Now, I can understand the Vault-Keeper not being

the

But with

to settle for

was known as ATLAS!

ol’

FROM THE CRYPT

Poor Ryan will just have

of SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES!

TIME MAGAZINE featured the cover TALES FROM THE CRYPT #8 in a recent issue!

Even tired

”

his AWFUL ARTWORK being on display New York City’s MUSEUM OF COMIC AND CARTOON ART (www.moccany.org), while his

having at

COMICBOOK STORES? But what kind of CRYPT-

enough,

B|

v

Dear The Crypt-Keeper, The Old Witch and The Vault-Keeper: I

must say

that these

THE CRYPT

#8

two

really

TALES FROM me some shivers this

stories in

gave

,

.

Who Would

Rule the World” is a story of two doctors that thought they were going to win the Nobel Peace Prize for achieving a magnificent evening. “She

healing process on a

who was

lying

becomes

a

human

subject.

on her death bed,

gorgeous

woman

that

makeup continues and

genetic

Apcp Nephthys AIDS, invincible. Her

inflicted with is

she thinks she has the

ultimate power of doing anything and everything

she wishes. She had no conscience and commits a

random act of murder, just because she can. She becomes Homo Superior. I can only wonder how she would have continued to evolve, if it was not for the good doctors ending it all in a grand finale. Great story, it had me going. Whew!

Then

“Virtual

Hoodoo” was somewhat

grisly to

when that poor guy was bludgeoned to death with a bowl and spoon. Yep, it turned out to be a nice neighborhood without Sidney, a neighborhood filled with monsters! Since I am a ghosrhunter, I en joy these kind of comicbooks.

I recently was told by Cartoon Network that I am say the least, especially

on

a short list as a technical consultant for a pilot

called ‘Afterschool Paranormal’ that

two producers from

am

is

produced by

Sci Fi Channel’s Destination

Mayan pyramids for Show, to investigate the Mayan prophesy of 2012. As you can see everyone loves horror, everyone loves the paranormal. That is why I will be raking a few of my TALES FROM THE CRYPT comics to Mexico with me. Love ya guys!

Truth.

I

Showtime

also flying to the

Penn

-

&

Teller

#4 - “THE RAVEN AND

OTHER POEMS. "Marion Mary

Mousse’s all-new adaptation of

novel

dark drawing

Already

are comparing Mysterious Mousse’s

style to Hellboy's

storytelling to that

of the

Mike Mignola, and the Will Eisner. I'm no

Spirit’s

expert on comicbook art, but as a

CRYPT-KEEPER

And if I ever had to of poetry,

Edgar Allan Poe! Of

better be by

it

course,

MACABRE illustrations by GHASTLY GAHAN WILSON addjust the right SENSE OF DREAD! Who

the

DEAD?

says the Crypt-Keeper isn’t well-read, or well,

Subject:

YOUR NEW MAG

Dear Crypt-Keeper, Just wanted to drop a line to wonderful idea you had reviving

THE

CRYPT.

I

you what a

tell

TALES

FROM

especially love the Crypt- Keeper,

Vault-Keeper and the Old Witch. They are some old friends that

missed dearly and

I

I

am glad they’re new mag (although sure

back from the dead. I love the the artw'ork is simply ghastly), and I just to say how happy I am that you don’t have any advertising breaking up the stories. I hate that so much 1 could kill someone. Keep up the gory work!

some of wanted

Gruesomely yours, Raelayna Alvarez

Paul Dale Roberts

And it’s great to

General Manager/Paranormal Investigator

DEAD — again!

BLOODLUST won’t ABYSMAL

be back from the

Fear not, Raelayna, your

be triggered by any disruptively

ADVERTISING in TALES FROM THE CRYPT! That’s 'cause we sneak all our APPALLING ADS in this letter column! And speaking of which.

A ghosthunter, eh? You may want to check out the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art! No, not for Dunlavey’s exhibit, scary as that may be! They've also got to

an

exhibit devoted to

>gasp< >choke< CASPER,

GHOST! Sic Subject:

'em,

TALES FROM

This stuff

is

.

Harvey Comics, home

THE FRIENDLY

SUBS tWfWT IONS!

PDR!

great.

I

For a one year (six-issue) subscription to

THE CRYPT

FROM THE CRYPT,

remember reading

reprints of

order,

the originals back in the ‘80’s, so as a 35 year-old reader that

came

across this

new

series,

1

Send

40

absolutely

it. 1 just love the talcs and I cant get enough. book thirsting for more. 1 just read #1 and #2 and have read about your plans for CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED, which I think is great. Keep up the good work!

love

in

to:

US

Or

call

TALES

send a check or money

just

funds only, for $24.00.

subCRYPTions, PAPERCUTZ,

Exchange Place,

Suite 1308,

10005. Make checks payable

1

finish each

to

New

York,

NY

NBM.

1-800-886-1223.

MC, VISA, and AMEX accepted.

So, until our next issue, keep those emails and letters

A

fan,

Steven Ortiz

coming — we’ve

gotta

fill

these pages

somehow! Send

letters to:

The Crypt -Keeper’s Corner Thanks, Steve! As for CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED, you wont find too many of those lurking in the CRYPT OF TERROR, but we’re making a couple of exceptions

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED DELUXE #3 “FRANKENSTEIN" and CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED

for

40 Exchange

New Or

\

GHOUUSHLY GRUESOME when 1 see it’ K be caught UNDEAD with a book

know

I

Shelley’s original

MODERN MONSTERPIECE!

a

is

HORROR FANS

email your

Place, Suite

York,

comments

NY

to the

1

308

10005 Old

fcxliror at:

salicrup@papcrcutz.com

. i

â&#x201A;¬.D. FA NS/

YOU'VE WRITTEN! YOU'VE E-MAILED! YOU'VE PHONED! YOU'VE THREATENED US!

wn vmmw (BUT WE'RE COMING OUT WITH THESE COLLECTIONS ANYWAY!)

CRYPT

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