33m-H
®*ta LE from the no.24
33033
I
f
™ t,on
H?YPT
1
VpVfn wVY
HEH.HEH' I SEE YOU GOT UP ENOUGH NERVE TO BUY TALES FROM THE CRYPT AGAIN' WELL,] WON’T DISAPPOINT YOU f YOU’LL GET YOUR FAIR SHARE OF SHAKES ANO SHIVERS BEL IEVE ME READY TO BEGIN? GOOO? NOW LIE BACK AND I’LL TELL YOU THE FIRST STORY? IT’S F GALLS IT
~
NO?
NOTH/NO 7
I
THERE MUST BE THEY CAN OOf SO SEE
\S0METMN6
CAN BE DONE E. FOR YOU? THEHE\F IS NO OPERATION!
I
\SPECIAUSTSf MAKE SURE/
I
I
But every doctor i went to told me the same STORY? IT WAS USELESS? WHEN I STARTED TO MISS CUES ONSTABE. vnn
A
A
I
Ano then rr came/ the thick, heavy silence f i WAS STONE DEAF/ I WALKED IN A WORLD OF STILLNESS? THE TRAFFIC, THE CROWOS.THE ORCHESTRAS IN NIGHT CLUBS. .ALL SILENT? I HAD TO LEARN TO LIP- READ TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JOAN SAID TO ME... .
I SAID
OUR HONEY'S PRACTICALIY
SONS/ UNDERSTAND
WE'RE
ALMOST BROKE. ..BROKE...
CLEANED OUTf
THINBS GOT WORSE? X TRIED TO FIND WORK, BUT I COULDNlj DO ANYTHIN6 ? ACTING WAS ALL X KNEW? THEN X THOUGHT OF AN OLD FRIEND, JOHN BAYNE ? JOHN AND I HAD PLAYED SUMMER STOCK TOGETHER? THEN JOHN HAD GONEBLtNPfJ I WENT TO SEE HIM. T DID... DID YOU SAY MY WELL, WELL, HARRY 6OR0ON ) NAME, JOHN? I.. .I’M DEAF? I CAN'T NEAR IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU? . YOU? DID YOU SAY MY .
v
NAME?
YES, JOAN. .
.A
~ TO HIDE HI EYES'[GOOD THESE EYES'
LORD
I HAD DIFFICULTY READING JOHN'S LIPS, BUT J MANAGED TO UNDERSTAND ENOUGH OF WHAT HE SAID TO GET
John's eves gleamed yellow in THE DIM LIGHT OF HIS ROOM.'THEY
WERE THE EYES OF A
CAT...
WHAT DID^YESf THEY'RE CAT'S DO TO I EYES ' BUT WHO 1 YOURSELF? J CARES, HARRY? ft YOUR EYES... I CAN SEE.' jT
WHAT..
.
YOU
T
^
THE WHOLE STORY.,. f T u TiiHiT '^B r OUT~ABOUT HIM THROUGH
Nf Hi
™
ANOTHER EX-BLIND MAN'HE'S A GEN/US.' HE OPERATED ON HI'. GRAFTED THESE CAT'S EYES' AND NOW.. I CAN A SEE...
DOYOU THINK HE CAN HELP ME, RESTORE MY HEARING A SAME WAY’
JOHN
The shop was in a dark and winding back street IN THE SHABBIEST PART OF THE CITY f THERE WERE STUFFED ANIMALS IN THE DUSTY WINDOW... JOHN SAID HE WASH'T A 'H*
Sja THE
DOCTOR... BUT... TH/S.' THIS
™ ^
LOOKS LIKE A TAX/DERM/Srs >553-1
I WENT IN? A LITTLE BELL TINKLED BEHIND A CURTAINED DOOR AT THE REAR OF THE SHOPf THE ODOR OF STALE'HE CAME NESS AND DECAY HUNG HEAVILY ON THE FROM BEHIND THE C URTAIN' HE WAS TALL AND DARK. SINISTER LOOKING.
T
1 SEE BY THE WAY YOU WATCH MY LIPS THAT YOU ARE DEAF ' ' COME INTO THE BACK I WILL EXAMINE YOU / I
1
I
SHOP'
The rear of the shop looked
like an alchemist's NIGHTMARE' THERE WERE BOTTLES AND JARS OF VARIOUS COLORED LIQUIDS AND POWDERS' BUT IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM WAS A MODERN- LOOKING OPERATING TABLE WITH UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT' HE EXAMINED ' ME YOUR AUDITORY NERVES ARE PARALYZED' I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE YOUR WHOLE HEAR/HG SYSTEM A L WITH SOMETHING D/FFEREHT...
T
—
M
~
?
:
/ I PROPOSE TRANSFERSYSTEM of A BAT WTO YOUR BODY >
.
.
I AGREEO TO THE OPERATION.' AFTER WHAT DID I HAVE TO LOSE?
ALI
[
I
|
.
.
/
BATf /yes'
4 RING THE AUDITORY
the BAT'S auditory system IS UNIQUE/ IT IS EXTRA-SENSORY/ IF THE OPERATION S A SUCCESS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR BETTER THAN YOU DID BEFORE YOU LOST YOUR HEARING... I
5»
When
i came out of the anesthetic, I LOOKED ABOUT f HE WAS
STANDING OVER ME ? HE STARTED TO SPEAK., ~
- MY HEAD/
CERTAINLY
HOPE S O f
HOW DO YOU FEE L?lpON 'T TALK.
IWU imMUinc
mt
I
lun
I
n«VC
TUUElVC.lt
TURNED A RADIO UP FULL BLAST THAT’S WHAT EVERYTHING SOUNDED LIKE TO ME AS WAY HOME ? WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR VOICE? SHE WAS UPSTAIRS ON THE
I COULDN'T BELIEVE it? JOAH. ..and another MAN/ l DECIDED NOT TO TELL JOAN ABOUT MY 6000 FORTUNE... ABOUT MY HEARING BEING RESTORED? X WANTED TO WAIT .TO FIND OUT MORE? THAT NIGHT, I COULDN'T SLEEP? I GOT DRESSED AND WENT FOR .
I
I GUESS I WALKED ALL NIGHT WHEN I RETURNED, JOAN WAS GONE.' SHE HAD GOTTEN A JOB SINCE I LOST .'
A
HEAVY DROWSINESS CAME OVER REMEMBER FALLING
I DON'T
;EP...
BUT WHEN X AWOKE.
MY HEARING AND MUST HAVE LEFT EARLY THAT MORNING. .
WHAT IN BL.
.
.
.
I SLIPPED TO THE FLOOR.' I WAS IN A CLOSET.' X HAD FALLEN ASLEEP HANGING UPSIDE DOWN FROM THE CLOTHES POLE. .
.
HAPPEN> !NO TO ME?
WHAT. ..WHAT'S
I WAS FRIGHTENED.' I SHAVED CAREFULLY, CLEARING MY FACE OF THE GROWTH.' THEN I STEPPEO INTO THE SHOWER' AS I RAISED MY ARM TO SOAP UNDER IT. .
/ HAIR/ HAIR GROWING .
HA/RS.
.
^
I DRESSED QUICKLY AND RUSHED TO MY FRIEND .
STRANGER PROPRIETOR.' IT WAS GETTING DARK X BURST IN HIS DOOR WITHOUT KNOCK-
.
HlS ROOM WAS DIMLY LIT.' HIS FELINE EYES GLOWED WIT AN EERIE YELLOW LIGHT.' HE LAY IN A CORNER. ..WHITE, PICKED-CLEAN BONES ABOUT HIM.' HIS FACE WAS COVERED WITH A SILK-BLACK FUR.
OUTSIDEf ing.
.
.
n
JOHN/
GET OUT.. QUICKLY/
ACROSS MY ARMPIT
|
.
JOHN’S HOUSE. .JOHN, WHO HAD FIRST RECOMMENDED THE STRANGE SHOP WITH ITS STILL
^
WHAT THE. A MEMBRAHE/ A MEMBRANE GROWING
'
ON MY FOREHEAD. .MY
NOSEf FINE GREY
’
GETAWAY FROM ME, BEFORE TOO LATE/ 1.. J'M AN
^ ITS
ANIMAL/
T WHAT'S HAPPENED? ME' TELL ME/
JELL
John snapped on a light. LOOK AT NET LOOK I'M
IT'S THAT HORRIBLE FIEND? HE. ..HE'S DONE 1 SOMETHING TO ME? THESE AREN'T CAT'S EYES HE'S GIVEN ME? THEY'RE THE EYES OF A HELP MYSELF? i PANTHER? I... I HAVE AN INCESSANT URGE TO ..KILL? R
I
I
John snarled?
his eyes
[out? I BEGAN TO WALK.
burned?
i
got
^
!1that explains FALLING ASLEEP 1 I HANGING UPSIDE DOWN THE CLOSET... THE GREY IN
HAIRS ON MY FACE... THE MEMBRANE GROWING ACROSS \MY ARMPITS ? I... I'M \TURNING INTO A BAT... 1
GOOD 'THEN I'LL QUIT MINE-TODAY?
^
IT'S
TOO
LATE, JOHN! IT'S
EVEN BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A PANTHER? DON'T GO TO HIM, HARRY? DON'T...
J
.
TOO
LATE?
NIGHT, AS I WALK EO THROUGH THE BLACKNESS, I BEGAN TO UTTER SHORT SHRILL SHRIEKS? AND I LISTENED FOR THE SHRIEKS TO ECHO BACK? I WAS USING THE BAT'S RADAR LIKE DEVICE FOR TRAVELING THROUGH THE DARKNESS ? WHEN DAWN CAME, I MADE MY WAY HOME — j ^ J opT fl JQB JOAN 'NIGHT WORK? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL NIGHT? CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME? WHY DID YOU STAY OUT ALL NIGHT? |
EE
.
i lay exhausted on the BED? AGAIN, I DON'T REMEMBER FALLING ASLEEP. BUT WHEN I AWOKE, I WAS HANGING UPSIDE DOWN IN THE CLOSE T? I HEARD VOICES -JOAN’S VOICEAND A MAN'S. STILL
She went out and
IS IT
A LARGE INSURANCE POLICY..
$15,000? HE TOOK IT OUT WHILE HE WAS ACTING AND MAKING GOOD MONEY?
J
/
.IN EFFECT?
.
.
I LISTENED? FROM MY LAIR CLOSET, r LISTENED.
IN
I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS? THEY WERE PLANNING TO HUHP£H ME ? I GOT DOWN FROM THE CLOTHES POLE AND SLOWLY OPENED THE DOOR
THE
.
^
THE PREMIUM fWE'LL BE DUE NEXT MONTH? I WCHfAFTER
YES' IS
J WE KILL
RUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS AND UT THE DOOR BEFORE THEY PULP STOP ME...
.
HIM...
GOT TO GETAWAY? 1 1
GOTTO GET AWAY FROM THEM? a
jiP Joan's lover came after me.' the sidewalks WERE OARK AND DESERTED? I.. .RAN. ..UTTERING LITTLE SHRILL HIGH- PITCHED SHRIEKS? THEY WARNED ME OF FENCES, DEAD-END ALLEYS, AND BLIND STREETS. .
As
I RAN, I LOOKED DOWN?CLAWS SPRANG FROM MY FINGERS WHERE NAILS HAD GROWN-
I
He
lay sprawled grotesquely ON THE COBBLESTONES. .WHITE AS CHALK.' TWO PUNCTURES TRICKLED CLARET ON HIS NECK' HE WAS DEAD' HAD DRAINED HIS BLOOD...
I'M A
THROUGH THE TO
VAMPIRE BAT
SE.. .BACK
.
I DIO
|l
CHA
YOU GET HIM, ..
.
WHAT’S
HAPPENED ORDINARY BAT...
KILLED
HIM, JOAN.'
HARRY
WHAT...
,
A
TO YOU?
^
HARRY NO/ X\
NO,
J
Her throat was white and soft WHEN
I
HAP FINISHEQ
not uke his .
NOW, I'VE GOT ANO HIDE
WELL, THAT'S HARRY'S STORY, THINK HE WAS A
f
HMMPH' NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DULY BORED BY THE CRYPT-KEEPER'S FAIRY TALE, I'LL TELL YOU A HORROR STORY COME CLOSER AND GAZE INTO THE BUBBLING CONTENTS OF MY CAULDRON.' GAZE DEEP AND SOON YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST SCENE OF A CHILLING YARN I CALL...
LIVING .DEATH.'
Lester jerome and arnolo manning CLOSE FRIENDS ALL THROUGH THE YEARS AT MEDICAL SCHOOL' THEY HAD STUDIED TOGETHER, AND GRAD-
Yes' LESTER AND ARNOLD HAD BEGUN THEIR MEDICAL CAREERS TOGETHER' BUT SOON, THEY BEGAN TO DRIFT APART' THEY BEGAN TO DIFFER ON THEORIES OF
UATED TOGETHER' THEY HAD EVEN NTERNEO TOGETHER AT THE SAME HOSPITAL' THEY HAD DONE EVERYTHING TOGETHERf AND, TOGETHER, THEY HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE SAME GIRL.../ " '
MEDICINE,.,/
I
-J SAY. THAT'S
C'MON LAURIE' MAKE UP YOUR MIND.' LESTER OK ME.' 1
WHY
NOT,.
BOTH OF ’
YOU?
1 I
SAY THAT I
MIND.' THEY ARE
PSYCHOLOGICALLY
BOTH TAKE HER TO THE L
MOVIES,
hi
ARNOLO'
BAH 'LESTER, YOU'RE
the MAJORITY OF ILL- MAD.' CM ILLNESS IS NESSES ARE NOTHING • AN ILLNESS AND BUT PRODUCTS OF THE (SHOULD BE TREATED
NOT A 8AD IDEA' WE'LL
_
INCURRED'
A^ .
AS SUOHf
.
/
f DIDN'T GET HIS CHANCE' THE HOSPITAL BOARD VOTED HIM DOWN, AND DOCTOR ARNOLD MANNING PERFORMED THE OPERATION' HE DID HIS BEST, BUT...
SHE
...SHE
DIED,
D
NO' YOU COUL ) 'HAVE LISTENEOTO HE' BUT ^/YOU'RE
/ COULD HAVE SAVED HER' I COULD HAVE SAVED HER
Bur LESTER
,
IF
YOU HAD GIVEN ME THE
r
CHANCE YOU RILLED
'
HER, MANNING' YOU... ANO
SURGERY/
YOUR
OH LORD.'NO..
1
A SURGEON .'OPERATE .'CUT 'THAT'S ALL YOU KNOW.'
^
NO'
LESTER.'
WELL, I'LL SHOW YOU, DOCTOR MANNING' SOMEDAY. I'LL CONVINCE YOU THAT I WAS RIGHT.'
^
_
PASSED' DOCTOR ARNOLD MANNING BECAME A WORLD FAMOUS SURGEON, WHILE DOCTOR LESTER JEROME REMAINED AN OBSCURE PSYCHOSOMA-
And SO THE YEARS
PERHAPS, DOCTOR 1
JEROME 'PERHAPS... BUT I DOUBT IT'
lit,
rnioiuiH,,
' DOC JEROME? I WOULDN'T 60 TO HIM ON A BET HE OON'T GIVE YOU PILLS OR
»'
1
NOTH/N'f JUST HYPNOTIZES
I
THE GUY OUGHT TO BE PSYCHOANALYZED HIMSELF? HE'S
NUTS'
YOU ...PSYCHOANALYZES YOU...
oay, while doctor Arnold m anning was performing a routine operation.., _/ .. .
One
f
r
r
DOCTOR MANNING 'WHAtJTTeE? EVERYTHING IS IT? IS BLURRED'T-TAKE \ OVER. ..DOCTOR... m...
I
(Doctor manning slumped to the floor, unconsckx HIS ASSISTANT TOOK OVER WHILE THEY CARRIED DOCTOR MANNING OU TOF THE OPERATING ROOM TO A
HOSPITAL BED. .
J
PUPILS DILATED.
NO PAIN REACTION' GET HIM TO _ X-RAY,. AT ONCE'
DOCTOR .'YOU J
MEAN...
J
f
Hee.hee' THAT'D be some TR/CK, eh, dear reader? YEP? ARNOLD CERTAINLY WAS IN A HOPELESS PREPICAHE'S A MAD QUACK
M-ENT.-.| nor.mR MANNING! 'what about... doctor JEROME? HE CLAIMS THAT A TUMOR GROWTH CAN BE CONTROLLED BY..
ll ...I'D
RATHER. ..GULP..
DIE? PRETTY STUBBORN WASN'T HE? WELL, HE CHANGED HIS MIND ' DOCTOR M ANNING THpUGHT IT ** OVER REAL HARD ... HERE WELL, WELL 'THE FAMOUS SUR- J. GEON-. DOCTOR ARNOLD MANNING' AND TO WHAT DO I OWE THE g EXTREME PLEASURE.
^
f OOCTOR LESTER JEROME STEPPED ASIDE AND DOCTOR ARNOLD MANNING ENTERED THE NEAT WHITE OFFICE' ONCE INSIDE, HE EXPLAINED TO DOCTOR JEROME THE REASON FOR HIS VISIT.' DOCTOR LESTER JEROME LISTENED QUIETLY, AND THEN... WHEN DOCTOR MANNING HAD FINISHED .BURST OUT LAUGHING.' .
SO' THE SKEPTICAL DOCTOR MANNING TURNS TO PSYCHO“ SOMATIC MEDICINE AS A LAST RESORT, EH? NOW, NOT YOU RELUCTANTLY AGREE (laugh, J TO GIVE ME A CHANCE, C LESTER! eh?
J
^
.
WHY SHOULDN'T I LAUGH. ARNOLD? WHEN LAURIE STOOD BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, I SMS A QUACK... A { CHARLATAN BUT NOW.WHEN
YOUR LIFE
IS
AT STAKE. ..YOU COME
RUNNING? WELL... I CANNOT REFUSE YOU? IN FACT, IT WILL GIVE ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PROVE JiU THAT I AM CORRECT. Vtflll
^
.
Lester led Arnold manning into a dimly lit room HE SEATED HIM IN A COMFORTABLE CHAIR AND TRAINED A SPOTLIGHT ON HIS EYES... YOU WILL NOT DIE, r WHAT. WHAT IF I SHOULD DIE 1ARNOLD? I'LL SEE ' WHILE UNDER YOUR HYPNOTIC TO THAT/ TRANCE, LESTER? (
—
— — .
.
Soon doctor arnolo
manning's eyes grew heavy? UNDER THE SPELL OF DOCTOR LESTER'S SOFT SOOTHTONES, ARNOLD FELL INTO A DEEP HYPNOTIC ING
SLEEP.
.
.
-
—
.YOU WILL REMAIN IN THIS I.. J STATE UNTIL I UTTER THE WORD 'LAURIE'TjuNDER. 1 THEN YOU WILL AWAKE? DO YOU STAND. J UNDERSTAND? .
..
AND WHILE YOU ARE IN THIS HYPNOTIC TRANCE, YOU WILL NOT DIE/ REMEMBER? YOU NOT DIE.
ARNOLO. WILL
.
.
Doctor Arnold manning left doctor Jerome's OFFICE AND WALKED THOUGHTFULLY TOWARD HIS HOME.' AS HE CROSSED A BUSY INTERSECTION....
ThEYPULLED ARNOLD FROM BENEATH THE WHEELS HAD PASSED QVERHIM? HE WAS IN A SOMEBODY GET
THAT CAR.'
IF
AN AMBULANCE!
CAR.' THE
HE
FRONT]
AIN'T...
\E...W/LL BE.'
The WAIL OF THE AMBULANCE SIRENl SCREAMED THROUGH THE CITY AS ARNOLD MANNING WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL... GOOD LORD' r
IT'S...
TT
HANNING .'
BUT THAT'S
IMPOSSIBLE.' V THIS MAN IS DEAD.'
^ S
HE'S BEEN RUN OVER'
r HE.. .HE'S DEAD? J < HIS HEART HAS STOPPED BEATING.' I
J
'look, DOCTOR 'T BUT HIS HEART * ^IS HAND JUST < HAS STOPPED.' TWITCHED.' HOW CAN A MAN , ) BEALIVE...MOAN... MOVE. ..WHEN HIS HEART HAS STOPPED?
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;y
'
WTJ UNBELIEVABLE! THIS / INCREDIBLE.')
ISA
corpse/
When doctor manning
oid
not
OOCTOR MANNING CAME TO ME.' HE ASKED ME TO CURE A TUMOR HYPNOTISM' I PUT HIM IN A TRANCE AND ASSURED HIM THAT HE WOULD MOT DIE WHILE
RIDICULOUS?
f
RETURN TO OOCTOR JEROME'S OFFICE IN TWO OAYS, LESTER INQUIRED AT THE HOSPITAL AND LEARNED ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.. /gentlemen'
IN THIS HYPNOTIC STATEf SO. ..HE
CANNOT DIE
UNTIL
l PELEASE HIM' NOR WILL HE DECAY OR TAKE ON ANY
y_ x J
T OH? YOU ^ DOUBT ME'
l_
BY
/ then you
jflpL
m
FIGURE IT OUT, ,1 GENTLEMEN ?
V WjHKf sooo oat ?_*
,
/ ,
r
YES, ARNOLD' YOU'VE
BEEN_J
DEAD FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS' I'VE KEPT YOU FROM DECAYIN6 THROUGH HYPNOSIS' YOUR TUMOR IS GONE, TOO? ’ Y YOU SEE-. I COULD HAVE SAVED LAURIE... I... •r' •
YESTERDAY, DOCTOR MANNING RE8AINED CONSCIOUSNESS? WE X-RAYED AND FOUND THAT HIS CEREBRAL TUMOR HAS ALMOST ENTIRELY DISAPPEARED? HIS HEART STILL DOES NOT BEAT? f GOOD? TAKE J HE ASKED FOR YOU? HE IS i
‘
4M
IN
TERRIFIC PAIN'
J JME TO
\
HIM.'
lyr
WHAT ...THE...
T
J
rlEE.HEE? SO ARNOLD FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH HIMSELF? WHAT WAS LEFT
,
OFHIMSELF, ANYWAY? WELL...HOW / I LONG CAN A DEAD MAN FIGHT OFF DECAY, EH? rrs BOUND TO WEAR \ YOU DOWN SOONER OR LATER ? OF COURSE WITH ARNOLD IT HAD TO MAKE j UP FOR LOST TIME? TOO BAD ARNOLD / DIDN'T LISTEN TO LESTER, ANYWAY ? \ MAYBE HE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE SUCH L A MASS OF
—
.
|
HIMSELFf'BYE.
\
W\% H
now? i'll
jlffl
iM
/
\
TURN Y0U 0VER to that i PURVEYOR OF \ FAIRY TALES- J vault- \ keeper.' )
OH, BY THE WAY? IF YOU WANT A PHOTO OF ME IN THE FLESH, READ THE CRYPTKEEPER'S CORNER?
he drew the revolver from its holster, took aim and fired at point-blank range.
Three shots rang out, and he smiled grimly as he moved toward the crumbling cabinets along one of the walls. He wasn't considered a deadexpected
He hadn't find anybody sitting here and guarding that fortune in jewels but he had taken care of whoever it was, anyway! The curse be damned!
shot for nothing!
He patted the it
to
gun-holster at his side;
reassured him and he pressed on
.
through the matted undergrowth of the jungle. It couldn't be much further, he reflected ... according to the map the site was a mile east of the River of
The cabinets were jewels
Doom.
Imagine those idiots, back in Port Prince, he chuckled, as he hacked his way forward. Isn't it just like these Haitians falling for every VooDoo story they hear! They're positive that a fortune in jewels is hidden in this
Au
.
.
.
crumbling dump, yet no one has the guts to trek through the jungle after it, just because there's supposed to be a deadly curse on the house where the
stuff
is
He patted
hidden!
.
VooDoo
.
.
floor,
staring
off
.
there
full of
.
.
sparkling
was a king's ransom
.
.
of something fired the gun,
long dead! Twice he almost convulsively .
.
.
and still the creature kept advancing, never wavering, never altering
its
funereal pace! In the next instant the truth burst in upon him in a wave of panic. This
superstition!
The clearing opened with unexpected suddenness in front of him, and under the dripping centuries-old trees he saw the dilapidated house they had described to him. It was ghostly, with that vapor seeming to rise from its sides, he thought, moving cautiously toward the sagging front door and into the dank building. He froze in his tracks immediately. Someone was seated in a chair in the center of the
.
tucked away in this hovel, his for- the taking! Suddenly the floor creaked behind him and he whirled, his hand gripping the revolver. The chair in which he had left his victim ... it was empty! And by the glittering light of the gems he could see that there was no pool of blood where there should have been one! His head moved slightly as he slipped the safety catch on his revolver and he saw approachslowly, ominously, as if there ing was all eternity to accomplish its task ... a being with the bloodless look .
the
heavy revolver at his side once again. His gun would take care of any curse careless enough to try to keep him from getting his hands on that treasure! Let the Haitians beware of the curse they dreaded the gun at his hip made him safe from this outlandish
-
.
into the
murkiness of the room. Quietly, taking great pains not to make a sound.
curse he had heard whispered about at Port Au Prince ... it was one of the
Walking Dead! THAT was why no one would accompany him on his trek they knew that bullets were pathetically useless against one of the dreaded creatures! .
.
.
And now the curse was reaching out and touching him, and a chill such as he had never before felt was moving down his body. It was all over, he knew, in his last moment of consciousness!
body and
soul,
He had been claimed, by a ZOMBIE
HELLO, AGAIN, YOU LITTLE MONSTERS?
Scene: the home of duncan REYNOLDS' TIME: MIDNIGHT?
f
^
f
MIDNIGHT? BRR-R? THESE ^ HORROR STORIES (YAWN-N) CERTAINLY GIVE A PERSON GOOSE-PIMPLES? i
HOW THE DEVIL DID GET HERE? LAST THING I REMEMBER, I OH, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? I WANT TO BE HERE? SOMETHING TELLS ME I I SHOULD BE HERE?
I
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
HEH.HEH? DUNCAN SURVEYS THE DESERTED STREET, AND ON THE CORNER HE SEES... A RESTAURANT I'M IN LUCK? HOPE IT'S STILL OPEN FOR
I
BUSINESS?
N ...OUGHT TO 60 TO BED? (YAWN-N-N) FEEL TIRED? BUT MAYBE I BETTER HAVE A > SNACK FIRST? DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS SO HUNSRY.'l'fOMNf)
BOY I'M SO HUNSBY, MY STOMACH HURT, I BETTER GET. SOME FOOD.' J
AHf IT IS OPEN?
RsX AXO
^
?
Blackness clouds
his eyes and mind' he FEELS HIMSELF FLOATING IN A WHIRLING VOID.. AND THEN, SUDDENLY, IT IS OVER. .
.
WHAT TH...? A CEMETERY.' HOW DID I GET HERE..? WHERE'S THE RESTAURANT? AND THIS T SHOVEL.' HOW DID I GET THIS/ SHOVEL ? 1
Against his will, he enters the cemetery AND GOES FROM ONE GRAVE TO ANOTHER...
WHAT AM I DOING? WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR? HAVE I GONE CRAZY? WAIT.' THIS . 6RAVE' A RECENT ONE Is 1
\
'/cfftircpr
\
NOW I KNOW WHY I HAVE
THIS SHOVEL.' BECAUSE I N HAVE TO DIG UP THIS. .THIS GRAVE.' THIS GRAND NEW . .
1
GRAVE.'
r
—
1
—
Bewildered, and driven by A FURY HE CANNOT RESIST, DUNCAN AGAIN AND AGAIN DIGS
DO'm^^m .
.
.
U
.
.
.
AH' HERE IT ISf HERE IS WHAT I'VE BEEN SEARCHING 7
Suddenly, a spark of realization seeps INTO HIS CONCIOUSNESS. A REALIZATION OF WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO W GOOD LORD.' L..I MUST BE INSANE? WANTING TO. .TO. .NO? NO.' DON'T ML LET ME DO /Tf .
Finally, the coffin is bared, LID RAISED
THE
DEEPER INTO THE EARTH
FOR ALL EVENING?
'k
i
OH PLEASE.' PLEASE' DON'T MAKE ME DO IT.' BUT... BUT I. HAVE TO. SOMETHING'S FORCING ME TO. .OH-H. I... I FEEL. DIZZY AGAIN... ,
.
.
.
.
.
^
Y Y HE
Heh.heh? again the empty terrifying blackness SURROUNDS HIM AND WHEN HE REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS... wh A WHAT 9 MUST
STARES, HORRIFIED, AT THE MUTILATED, PARTIALLY DEVOURED BODY BEFORE HIMI... I TRIED NOT TO DO IT? I TRIED BUT THE CRAVING WAS...TOO .t*
,
I
STRONG? I... WHAT'S THAT NOISE?
PEOPLE fA CROWD OF PEOPLE... WITH TORCHES!
THEY'RE AFTER HE... COH/NS THIS WAY
r-rr
Yy
THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY HY FOODYBUT I WON'T LET THEHY I'LL RUNAWAY J WITH IT Y
-r
Tiring under the corpse's weight as he DODGES AND WEAVES THROUGH THE GRAVEYARD,
DUNCAN SUDDENLY
TRIPS.. AND
)
An
•
THEY'VE SEEN ME ?...HAVE TO RUN FASTER /I'LL HIDE MY ^ FOOD? MUSTN'T LET THEM ) CATCH ME ? 1
y——
eternity seems to pass, but finally
ARM QUIVERS-HIS EYES FLICKER AND
his
OPEN...
FALLSY ’ THE GRAVEYARD... THE CORPSE? OH... I... I GET IT NOW? HUH? I'VE BEEN HERE ALL THE TIME ? MUST HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP? I'VE ONLY BEEN DREAMING
THAT'S STRANGE? WHAT ARE ALL THE SHELVES > AND FOOD FROM THE REFRIGERATOR DOING ON THE TABLE? I DON'T REMEMBER PUTTING THEM THERE?
Stunned by his discovery, he stares at THE GRUESOME SIGHT AND SUDDENLY HE REALIZES... r
Perplexed, duncan opens the refrigerator DOOR... AND OUT TUMBLES A PARTIALLY
EATEN CORPSE' r
HEH? HEH? HEH? THE MORAL OF THIS TALE IS'HE WHO EATS AND RUNS AWAY, WILL LIVE TO EAT ANOTHER DAY.'* HEH? ISN'T THAT SILLY? WHO EVER HEARD OF EATING A DAY.' DUNCAN CERTAINLY WOULDN'T? IT'S TOO BAD HE TRIPPED AND FELL IN THE CEMETERY... BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CARRY AROUND TOO MUCH DEAD WEI6HTf HEH ? HEH ? HEH? AND NOW, I'LL TURN YOU BACK TO MY FELLOW GHOULUNATIC, THE CRYPT-
It
was a
diabolical
Cba WDOia
be,,
jM/Ealpb was £01*0 ,
.
Cora clutched her shawl tightly around her THROAT AND STARED HORRIFIED INTO THE DARKNESS OF THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE HER ROOM? RALPH, HER HUSBAND, GRASPED THE ARM OF HER WHEELCHAIR, STUOY'NG HER... HE. ..HE'S
h0 >
I
COMING. CORA?
UNCLES COMING FOR US'
YOUR
^
"
NO.RALPH?
I...1
Cora's face was wet with perspiration ? her hand TREMBLED— THE KNUCKLES WHITENED... AS SHE DREW HER SHAWL PROTECTIVELY ABOUT HER ? RALPH SMILED SLIGHTLY AS HE WATCHED HER REACTION' IT WAS GOING TO WORK' IT HAD TO? U/ STOP IT. RALPH? listen! CORA? L/STEN HIS FOOTSTEPS... ON THE STAIRS? HE'S COMING TO AVENGE HIS
STOP
IT...
Tears filled cora's eyes' they SPILLED OVER THE RIM OF HER EYELIDS AND RAN CRAZILY DOWN HER
Cora gasped? ralph chuckled
r
HEMEMBEH.ZORV REMEMBER THE NI6HT
^ KILLED HIM?
’
TO HIMSELF' POOR CORA' ONE MORE HEART ATTACK WILL SURELY KILL HER?', THE DOCTOR HAD ’
CHEEKS? SHE BEGAN TO SOB... HEAVING SOBS THAT WRACKED HER 800V AND SHIFTED HER WHEELCHAIR.
—
TOLD RALPH...
?
X
SOB... SOB-.PLEASE-.
REMEMBER.
P PLEASE .RALPH'
CORA? WE DID
DON'T...
WE..
'
AH? FRANK? GLAD YOU CAME? WHO'S YOUR FRIEND? S.
0H.THI3 IS RALPH KEARNS.'HEV (nonsense? how do FROM NEW YORK? I TOOK THE YOU DO, RALPH? I'M LIBERTY OF BRINGING HIM _ < CORAS UNCLE, ALEX ALONG TO YOUR NIECE'S WEATHERBY? GLADr-' PARTY? I HOPE YOU TO HAVE YOU ? 1 mind f I
&W
,
T don't
Ralph smiled to himself as he watched cora SQUIRM IN HER WHEELCHAIR? YES? THAT WAS WHEN HE HAD FIRST MET HER... f THAT'S YOUR HOSTESS? HEY, FRANK? WHO'S CORA WEATHERBY ? SHE THE PRETTY ONEGETS ALL THIS WHEN * THE OLO GEEZER CROAKS? SOLE HEIR...
Sole heir' all
of alex weatherbys wealth WOULD BE CORA'S SOME DAY? SUODENLY IT HAD COME TO RALPH. ..THE WHOLE PLAN.../-' : V. a / OH, YEAH? SURE, A — WELL, FRANK?‘ YOU'RE SOME PAL 'AREN'T YOU GOING > TO INTRODUCE ME? J
-(
RALPH'C'MON? -» COHA...
rr~
1
FOR BREATH? RALPH EYED HER HER CHALK-WHITE HER WRINKLED FOREHEAD? SHE WASN'T PRETTY NOT ANYMORE? NOT AS SHE HAD BEEN WHEN HE HAD .
SKIN.
.
FIRST ASKED.
Again Ralph laughed silently? cora. .. always the PUSHOVER f LIKE NOW. CRINGING.. SHAKING? THE SILLY POOL? HE HAD WANTED HER UNCLES HONEY.. NOT .
.
.
.
^
' OH, RALPH? 00 YOU 'WILL YOU MARRY ME, CORA? I> REALLY WANT ME? KNOW WE'VE ONLY KNOWN EACH 7 OTHER A SHORT TIME. YET... .
.
.
Not that cora had been so bad to LOOK AT BACK THEN? YET. TO RALPH... EXPERIENCED. WORLDLY. SUAVE... THE MONEY HAD SEEMED 30 MUCH
WORE ATTRACTIVE.
The wino outside cora's bedroom WHISTLED THROUGH THE TREES? ANOTHER NOISE... ANOTHER GASP? RALPH WATCHED HER CLOSELY. SHE WAS BREATHING
. .
And THEN THE WEDDING? RALPH ESPECIALLY REMEMBERED THE WEDDING? HOW HE HAD SLIPPED THE RING ON HER FINGER. .SAYING .
THE WORDS... BUT THINKING.
.
HEAVIER NOW .PAINFULLY. .. .
OH, CORA.
|
Ah, THE HONEYMOON? THE CRUISE TO EUROPE. ..ON THE OLO MAN'S MONEY "v WITH ALL MY HEART, CORA?
—^ .
.
BEAUTIFUL MOON TONIGHT? LOVE ME, DARLING?
f WHAT A
W
And then those rotten months at the plant? WORN/N6, LINE ANY OTHER LABORER, IN THE OLD MAN'S PLANT.. _ 1 ‘ OF COURSE, UNCLE 'v GOT TO START AT THE ALEX? I UNDERSTAND? BOTTOM, SON? SOMEDAY I WANT TO LEARN THIS PLANT WILL BE ."
—
.
J
CORA'S.
..
AND YOU'LL
HAVE TO RUN
IT...
J
Yes? the next few months had been tough on
Wanted
it' ralph had hated it? hated every ABOUT IT.' AND THEN IT HAD COME TO HIM? THE PERFECT SOLUTION.../OF COURSE? WHAT A FOOL I'VE J .
THING
A
XJW
BEEN?
WHY
RALPH? HE HAD HAD TO BE ON CORA WASN'T EASY.../""
—
...AND
'THEN, IN FRONT OF THE MEN, , HE INSULTED ME ...CALLED ME INCOMPETENT ... help him’ , ^TOiasiiH *wy A NUMSKULL.' 1 ...
WHY WAIT TILL
^
]
/JmaW jdfidiNa the old geezer dies? why not
(
.
Mmt
TAKEN PATIENCE. I CAN'T UNDER STAND HIS ACTIONS? REALLY CAN'T? )
I
CALLED ME A
GOLD-y
DIGGER .' ACCUSED ME OF MARRYING YOU
J
>
*
OH, RALPH, DARLING? I'M
SO SORRY?
I'LL.. .I'LL
TO
HIM...
^
SPEAK
YES? AND THEN HE SAID CUT YOU OUT OF HIS i HE ACCUSED YOU OF THE SAME THING.. f LET HIM? THAT ALL YOU - •i HE'S NOTHING CARED ABOUT WAS BUT A BITTER ’ HIS MONEY.' I CROTCHETY OLD SKINFLINT? .
"S.
FOR YOUR INHERITANCE /]
-T
.
A PUSHOVER. ..THAT'S WHAT CORA HAD ALWAYS BEEN AT FIRST SHE HAD VIOLENTLY OBJECTED, BUT SOON .. SHE HAD RELUCTANTLY AGREEO..
.
WHY NOT? IT'S YOUR MONEY, RIGHTFULLY? HE'S OLOf HE'S
LIVED 7
HIS LIFE? IT'LL
BE EASY...
r—
.
ALL RIGHT.' ALL R/6HT/ WE'LL KILL
/
HIM?
J
-~-T
And so, one night, as old uncle alex weatherby HAD BEEN STROLLING NEAR T HE POND ON HIS VAST ESTATE...
—
<
.
Later that night they had
r
IT'LL LOOK LIKE^C HE FELL STRUCK HIS HEAD.. AND 1 .
DROWNED
)H.
RALPH?
]
SOB... I'M .
AFRAID.
'ml
CALLED THE POLICE... YES? HE WENT OUT^ ABOUT THREE HOURS ’AGO... AND HASN'T— ^COME BACK ? J
Yes, THEY'D GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT? CORA INHERITED THE MONEY BUT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO HERfPERHAPS IT WAS HER CONSCIENCE BOTHERING HER? AN YWAY.SHE'D BEGUN TO BROOD... LOSE WEIGHT AGE RAPIDLY..
•
She had grown nervous. ..frightened? she'd jump AT EVERY SOUND? THEN SHE'D HAD HER HEART ATTACK.. SHE'S A SICK WOMAN, RALPH? ANOTHER ATTACK WILL SURELY KILL HER ? SHE 7 MUST TAKE IT VERY jfT
'W
sasy...
And so the ioea had come to ralph? with cora OEAD, THE WEATHERBY FORTUNE WOULD BE MS... ALL OF IT? AND CORA WOULD BE A PUSHOVER... WHAT.'
'
I...I
THOUGHT
I
SAW
r
,
HIS
UNCLE ALEX'S FACE
...
AT
US...
I
FACE-!> STARING
THROUGH THE WINDOW ?
A
NO?
JOKING. WITH ME ? .
YOU'RE...
7 SOB...
wind slammed a shutter OOWNSTAIRS AND RALPH SNAPPED OUT OF HIS REVERIE.' CORA, STILL TREMBLING, WAS STARING INTO THE
The
DARKENEO HALLWAY...JP .WAS
THAT
’
'
1
<<
Ralph
smiled.' this night...the
HAD BEEN PERFECT' ‘I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN WIND... EVERYTHING
MOMENT MOMENT HER POUNDING HEART WOULD FAIL-. mr
ACTOR', HE THOUGHT' ANY NOW... ANY
~
Suddenly her eyes seemed to POP OUT OF HER HEAD' RALPH WAITED.' 'THIS
IS IT,
8UHE\ HE
THOUGHT ? SHE HEAVED A FINAL WRETGHING GASP AND DOUBLED UP.. CORA'
It CAME THROUGH THE DOOR' IT WAS BENT OVER.
The STENCH
OF GRAVE-MOLD FILLED THE ROOM.
KEEP AWAY.'
KEEP AWAY FROM MET ^
r
It stepped wto the pond...waoing out to the MIDDLE' THE POND BOTTOM WAS SOFT OUT THERE.. LIKE QUIOKSANDf RALPH'S SCREAMING WAS WILD... ALMOST ANIMAL-LIKE-
The thing stood
rigid... there in the center of THE POND-CLUTCHING THE STRUGGLING RALPH,'SLOWLY, THEY BEGAN TO SINK ...DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE SOFT MUD... j® |
PAPERCUTfa PROUDLY PRESENTS THE SORDID SECOND ISSUE OF THE ALL-NEW...
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO WILLIAM M. GAINES, AL FELDSTEIN, REED CRANDALL, JOHNNY CRAIG, JACK DAVIS, WILL ELDER, GEORGE
GRAHAM INGELS, JACK KAMEN, HARVEY KURTZMAN, JOE ORLANDO, MARIE SEVERIN, AL WILLIAMSON, AND WALLY WOOD. EVANS,
"THE TENANT"
FRED VAN LENTE WRITER
NEIL KLE1D
WRITER
MR. EXES
STEVE MANNIOI' ARTIST
ARTIST
MARK LERER
MARK LERER
LETTERER
LETTERER
THE CRYPT-KEEPER
GHOULUNATICS SEQUENCES JIM
SAUCRUP WRITER
RICK PARKER
ARTIST/TITLE LETTERER
MARK LERER LETTERER STEVE MANNION COVER ARTIST CARICATURES DRAWN BY STEVE BRODNER AT THE 2005 MOCCA ART FEST.
2007. Published bimonthly by Papercutz. 40 Exchange
ifember
Agent, luced, >le s
in- Chief; Martin S.
Printed in Canada.
www.papercutz.cor
Inc.
The EC logo
or posted
ond places
In
is
a registered trademark of William
on the Internet or fiction
lenton. Soles
in
chat groups
and semi-fiction
must accompany submissions.
Is
in
whole
c
purely colncidento
Terry Nontier,
CEO ond
Manager; Martha Samuel, Traffic Manager.
Publis
HI fn
30
1 FROM /
C_
:wi
30071
FEATURING
THE CRYPT-KEEPER
SvltiLttK'SCi
A
\
THE
WELCOME TO MY “ OPEN CRYPT," BOILS AND GHOULS! SINCE SHIPPING OUT THE OLD WITCH AND THE VAULTKEEPER I’VE BEEN LOOKING TO RENT OUT MY TOMB-WITH-A-VIEW!
MY ONLINE POST ON CRAZED’S US HAS GOTTEN TERRIFIC RESULTS! JUST LOOK AT ALL THESE APPUCANTS DYING TO RENT SPACE IN MY COZY CRYPT! _3_ REMINDS ME OF A *T£La TALE CALL... I
NUMBEP
S13 ISEP AVENUE HAS seen 8ETTEP DAYS,
THPOUSH CPIMY WINDOWS, ITS TENANTS WATCH SNOWFLAKES COVEP THE STREETS WITH A FINE, WHITE COAT, KNOWINS THAT THE SNOW HEPALDS A COLD THAT WON'T BE HELD BACK BY SHODDY INSULATION AND IPPESULAP BLASTS OF HEAT.
YES, LIFE AT G13 ISEP AVENUE IS
HAPD
IF
YOU ASK
ANYONE...
EXCEPT OAMES WINCHELL,
ANYONE
ITS
CHEAPSKATE LANDLOPD.
'
'BY!
WHEN YOU
SONNA
^
FIXXA HEAT?
BEEN WOPKIN' FOP DAYS'
AIN'T
w
,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TWO-YEAP^ LEASE AND YOU WANT TO PAISE US BY THtPTY PBQ-
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k.
you put oup MONE y into youp POCKETS INSTEAD OF BACK INTO THE BUILDINS WHICH NEEDS
IT
MOPE
THAN EVEP.
h*.
MPS. WILKES IN S>-8 IS EISHTY-TWO. HEP HEAT HASN'T WOPKED IN A WEEK.'
V
^WHILE yOU'PE^ LIVINS LAPSE, SHE'S FPEEZINS v TO DEATH'
WELL, SHE CAN
for WAPM HEPSELF WITH V KNOWLEDGE
^
k
A
i
THE THAT By KEEPING THE HEAT LOW SHE'S SAVINS ME MONEY AND HELPINS PAY FOP M FAMILY'S HOLIDAY ' SIFTS .
V
MOVED BY THE TESTIMONy AND 613 ISEP, HANDS DOWN A SENTENCE TO JAMES WINCHELL, CHEAPSKATE LANDLORD. THE JUDSE,
PHOTOS OF SPECIAL-
WINCHELL IS OPDEPED TO LIVE IN ONE OF HIS PPOPEPTIES FOP AN ENTIPE MONTH TO UNDEPTENANTS.
STAND WHAT HE'S DONE TO
HIS
AS BAD AS 613 ISEP AVENUE IS, THE 8UILDINS DOESN'T COMPAPE TO NUMBEP 666 COLT STPEET. POOPLY MANASED, THE TWO-EAMILY BPOOKLYN
HOME
IS
BPOICEN AND
NEGLECTED— ftfea.
—
INCLUDINS THE ADJACENT CEMETEPY FOPSOTTEN BY SUSY PELATIVES AND AVOIDED BY LOCAL GANGS.
THE SUILDINS IS CUPPENTLY EMPTY, AND JAMES WINCHELL IS PPOUD THAT HE CONVINCED THE COUPT TO INSTALL HIM IN HIS ONLY PPOPEPTY THAT HAS NO TENANTS.
DESPITE OPDEPS NOT to imppove the ppopepty, he MOVES IN WITH STATE-OP-THE-APT SADSETS AND SEVEPAL SPACE HEATEPS, AND AS SUCH HIS FIPST FEW DAYS APE A 6PEEZE.
I
SHOULD 6£ HOME
M y TUG. ..SIS .
IN
STEAK...A
GOTTLE OP
WINE...
^
...GUT
INSTEAD
^
I'M HEPE TPyiNS
TO FIX THE HEAT IN "MONSTEP HOUSE''/
^
ONLy TWENTySEVEN MOPE DAyS-
.
WHOAAH&GH'
..OWCH.
STUPID FLASHLIGHT.
WHEBE ABE YOU? OKAy, ^MATCHES, THEN.
^
Ni^
:
i
SEPIOUSLY^,
WHEPE'S THE SUPEP WHEN /OU NEED him?
LEMME if you
know
FIND HIM.
SOTTA
I
COMPLAINT
ASOUT THE .
NOISE.
.
CELL PHONE? WHEPE'S My CELL? I CAN'T SEE IN THE DAPK AH' HEPE'S THE PHONEâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;' I'LL k fch^CALL THE COPSf^fr
^
SEPIOUSLy,
~
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.
THE POLICE.' THE POLICE WILL .
SAVE
ME...
.
.NO DIAL TONE.
CELL PHONE.
WHEPE DID
I
PUT IT?
- JAMES WINCHELL = NEVEP FINDS HIS PHONE. NOP DOES * HE SET A WINK OF SLEEP.
NEW "TENANTS" KNOCK AT HIS HIS
DO OP, EACH WITH HIS OP HEP UNIQUE COMPLAINT.
.THE
KNOCKINS STOPS.
THE KNOCKINS SPOWS LOUDEP AND WINCHELL SHIVEPS IN THE DAPKNESS, AFFECTED QY THE COLD AND TEPPOP, AND IN THE MOPNINS... j-t iy*-] |
DOWN HEPE, DEAP... DO STOP DAWDLINS OP WE'LL
—IT'S OUST
^ OH, NOTHIN©^ A HOT TEA WON'T FIX, s.
MISTEP
^
NEVEP SET THEPE. I'M
^
THE SAME CAN'T BE SAID FOP THE CONDITIONS I’M LIVINS IN, THOUSH.
k
ALONS AND ^COMEshow you.
I'LL
NOT
7 WOPPIED ABOUT ~ THE COLD, MISTEP WINCHELL...TPUTH BE TOLD, THE BROKEN HEAT NEVEP
J
WINCHELL.
k
j.
A
BOTHERED ME.
^
^
but i WON'T ABIDE
FILTHY LIVINS CONDITIONS,.. >
& §
-o' 'c> 60 y
EVEN IF I'M DEAD.
^
you AIN'T DONE. 50 ME PUNK PAINTED OVEP My HEAD5TONE AND TUPNED UP THE DIPT. IT'S FPEEZIN'
IfK.
M PS. WILKES' SAID FIXED HEP PLOT I'D 6E LEFT ALONE.'
WHAT P GUT IF I
IN THEPE.'
SHE SAID THAT SHE'LL LEAVE .
you ALONE. NOeODy SAID ANYTHIN© ASOUT US.
^
EITHEP
^
SET TO N fWOPK OP WE'LL HAUNT YOU ALL NISHT, EVEPy NISHT UNTIL YOU FINALLY AIN'T L THE LANDLOPDJ
r ...guT ^ ONE OP US
HEPE...
TENANTS.
TOO BAD WiNCHELL DIDN’T HAVE A CONSIDERATE TENANT LIKE MINE! ^
k.
^
r SEE, HE’S EVEN A HEAD .IN THE RENT!
WHAT THE WERTHAM
—
THESE BOXES ARE TO BE RETURNED TO SENDER. SORRY ABOUT HITTING YOU, THE REGULAR GUY’S OFF TODAY, I’M THE BACK-UP L A ^^^£>R/VER. SIGN HERE, PLEASE^^^^^
^
THERE’S NOTHING
WORSE THAN A HIT-ANDPUN DRIVER!
KNOWN
V
RID
SHOULD’VE COULDN’T GET
I
I
OF THOSE TWO THAT EASY!
r MAYBE RICHARD HAS BETTER LUCK FINDING PARADISE IN THIS TERROR-TALE
^
I
CALL...
u
SATE WHEN YOU OPEN IT. POP SOME PEASON THIS PACT LEAPS OUT AT YOU AS SOON AS yOU APPIVE, THE
DOESN'T
DOESN'T CQEAbC
IT,
PICHAPO?
THE HINSES APE WELL OILED, A PPESH COAT OP PAINT GLISTENS,
AND THEPE'S NOT A SPOT OP PUST ON IT.
THE SWEETNESS OP WILOFLOWEQS BOBBINS IN THE SUN TICKLE yOUP NOSE, THE CHIPPINS OF TINy SONGBIQDS COMFOPTS yOUP EAPS. THE TPEE BOUSHS, THEY DPOOP WITH FPUIT...
_____
you took the eus to youp New HOMe.
yOU PACKED LIGHTLY POP TH6 TPIP.
i
i
|
JUST HOLD STILL, PICHAPD--
-AND I'LL TAKE CAPE OF THAT CPICK IN
yOUP NECK FOP you/
NO
r WHAT
APE YOU
DOINSP STOP' you WOPK FOP ME.'
Iâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; I COMMAND you TO STOP//
DIDN'T THINK SO!
I
IT'S
EVEN
1
THOUGHT
I
YOU
MOPE PAINFUL THAN yOU WAS SOINS TO 8£, WHICH
IT
DIDN'T THINK POSSIBLE.
OA SSED GLASS CUTTING, SLICING, TEAPINS...
youe THPOB8IN G FEET SUP AND SLIDE AND SKID ON THE SUDDEN SUCKNESS OF THE PLOOP.'
youe pupsueps, howevep, APE NOT SO HINPEPEP.
THIS IS
NO
TIME TO CATCH
youe 8PEATH,
PICHAPD.'
you
CAN HEAP THE CPUNCHINS OF THEIP HEAVY BOOTS ON THE SLASS PISHT 6EHINP YOU!
KEEP PUNNING,
PICHAPD.'.'
youp New friends, who you met on-line.. .liiye-minoeo people who were oust as DISSATISFIED AS YOU WITH THE COPPUPTION OF THE WESTEPN WORLD, THE MINDLESS PURSUIT OF POWER... LUST... MATERIAL STATUS SYMBOLS WHEN you MET THEM FACE-TO-FACE, THEy
MADE yOU AN OFFEQ you SIMPLy COULD NOT PEFUSE!
youu. ee rewarded with a LUSH ©ARDEN, RICHARD, COMPLETE WITH BEAUTIFUL MAIPS... EVERY SERVANT YOU COULD k THINK OF, TO WAIT ON yOU HAND AND FOOT/
...ALL THE WAy UP TO THE POLITICIANS AND THE ©ENEPALS, THEIP HANDS DPIPPIN© WITH THE BLOOD OF INNOCENTS...
...THE
PUPVEYOPS OF
SMUT THAT PASSES FOP ENTERTAINMENT THESE
DAYS...
...YOU TOLD THEM ALA IN YOUP VIDEO, DIDN'T YOU, PICHAPD? YOU TOLD THEM THE COMMITMENT YOU HAD MADE. '
1
SO YOU COULDN'T LET YOUPSELF BE ARRESTED, NOW COULD YOU, BEFORE YOUP TASK WAS COMPLETED? WITH THAT VIDEO AS CONCPETE EVIDENCE OF YOUP FAILURE THE HUMILIATION WOULD BE WOPSE THAN ANYTHIN© YOU COULD IMASINE
—
I
— THE SHAME THAT YOU HAD BOTCHED THE
I
ONE, SIMPLE OUTY YOUP NEW PPIENDS, YOUP FELLOW WARRIORS HAD ENTPUSTED YOU WITH-
Tliawr incredible/ the
J
j/
wounds on youR peeT â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they SOON AS yOU QECEIVEO THEM.
HEALED ALMOST AS
BUT THEN, PERHAPS, ..THAT
WOULD STAND TO QEASON. APTER ALL, NO ONE CAN D/E IN THE AFTEQLIFE.
THE CRYPT-KEEPER'S CORNER Why, we want our demon graphics to appeal to all demo-
Heh, heh! Greetings,
welcome
kiddies,
a
to
a
tion called...
actually bought our premiere Papercutz rnonsterpiece...
LETTERS
PAGE. Nowadays, get in the mail are
all
we To See Tales From The Crypt Is Back.... From The Dead Hey all, I must say I was ecstatic to hear that Tales From The Crypt was being resurrected for a whole new Subject: Great
bills
and ANTHRAX! Back in the day, fans sent let-
opining on our terror
ters
and ranked which
yarns,
and open for
back
of initial
Bilgrey
and Mr.
all
can say
I
is,
am not commenting on the writing, as me from taking the time to read any of
I
nal
who have
poorly imitated numerous times over.
knowing
I
tured, after
and
if this
you go
some
is
hard to look
you have
arcist that
the best
to the
"real"
you can come up with 1
Con and try Tomb Tales put out
artist.
EC
real
interior pages that were hit
miss.
and
artists
It
and
was a mas-
sive failure.
but
do well with your product, you are counting on true EC fans to buy this you will probably be disappointed unless you
can't say if you will if
stuff,
invest in better art.
and the
great
coming from
Lockport.IL
colorist
The
current art
too childish
is
should be painting circus wagons.
Horror can be funny, but
it
Thanks, Pat, for your kind thoughts!
fea-
San Diego Comic
horror
a similar product.... covers by
I
It's just
stories
the Crypt-Keeper. Keep up the good
have
I
being in the comics business for decades....
suggest
going to be new
is
Pat
in contact with the origi-
of the F.C FanAddicts
all
feel that this stuff is really
have only seen the one
to hire
there
my favorite ghoul,
reprints.
Regardless....
at.
come
never
comics and
was only
I
work!
Perhaps you are trying to market this to young
it.
kids
heard from
run.
anyone had read yet. Whereas with the reprints nothing was new and exciting anymore because it had been
new
examples for your
after seeing the art
the art kepr
initial
why when I picked up my first issue of Talcs From The Crypt I had a gleam of hope in my eye. I was going to read a Tales From The Crypt that hardly
Exes...
from the Crypt comic,
"OUCH!"
being a child of the 80's, was
I,
not able to enjoy the Crypt's
That's
of "Body of
TFTC art!?
Wow, Tales
generation to enjoy.
able to read reprints and watch the television series.
with a couple
business! Let's start
responses to the online preview
Work" by Marc
Subject:
ones they liked and feared
"THE CRYPT-KEEPER'S CORNER" is
most! Well,
Now let's hear from some dead- heads who
graphics, Phil!
quaint space-filling tradi-
needs to look scary.
Subject: Tales
from
Hey and howdy.
the Crypt
wanted to shoot you a quick
Just
double thumbs up on the
Crypt Issue #1
this
wholeheartedly loved
of Tales From The
release
Loved
week.
Absolutely,
it.
me
back to the good had never gotten the opportunity' to read them when they were released "live," but I certainly picked them up when I found out about them in later years. During my formative lakes
it.
old days of the original
series.
I
educational "heyy comics are cool" years.
How much
did
review and posted
I it
love this issue?
Well,
wrote
1
a
online:
lutp://notd.permuredpress.com/index.php?/archives/
Respectfully disappointed,
37 -Tales-From- The -Crypt-Issue - -pub1
Bill
Leach, Editor/pubiisher
Horror From The Crypt
Papercutz.himl
Of Fear
Hope you like
it.
Zombie Zak So, Billy, you 're not planning Fan Club, are you?
to
join the Mr. Exes
Love us or hate
us,
thanks to everyone
time and trouble to write Subject:
Thanks
ror comics
for ruining
one of the
greatest hor-
of all time! I
was very
much
look-
ing forward to the Tales from the Crypt comic.
looked at the preview art for the book and say you destroyed any chance on I
won't be supporting
this
it
it's
I
am
up.
1
The
Now
who took
tell
us
issue.
the
what you Send your
quite angry
What demo-
graphic are you trying to cater too?? Absurd!!!!!!!
Crypt-Keeper's Corner
40 Exchange
Place, Suite
New York, NY
safe to
being redeeming.
it
and
another company didn't pick
Phil Kozla
us!
thought of our sickly sinister second letters to:
This has to be a joke, right?
1308
10005
Or email your crazed commentaries
to
our egomania-
cal editor at: salicrup@papercutz.com. That's all for
now! Don
CRYPT #3-fbr more
't
miss
TALES FROM THE and possi-
misunderstood madness
bly even.. .a lunatic letter from
YOU!
iil HORROR ACTION
ADVENTURE INTRIGUE
CRIME FICTION
High Quality Comics, Prose,
Kolchak, The Phantom Zorro,
Buckaroo Banzai
Boc Savage, The Spider The Avenger, Captain Midnight Captain Action, The Cisco Kid
moonstonebooks.com
& Graphic
Novels!
â&#x201A;¬.D.
FA NS/
you've written! YOU'VE E-MAUEO! YOU'VE PHONED! YOU'VE THREATENED US! SO HERE TT IS! THE COUECHON!
mem vmmm
COLLECTING STORIES BY MARC BILGREY & MR. EXES, ROB VOLLMAR & TIM SMITH 3 NEIL KLEID & STEVE MANNION - PLUS AN ,
ALL-NEW STORY BY DON McGREGOR & SHO MURASE!
ON SALE OCTOBER AT BOOKSTORES EVERYWHERE!
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. “SLABBED” STEFAN PETRUCHA WRITER DON HUDSON
“A MURDERIN’ IDOL”
MORT TODD WRITER STEVE MANNION ARTIST
ARTIST
DIGIKORE
DIGIKORE
COLOR
COLOR
MARK LERER
MARK LERER
LETTERER
LETTERER GHOULUNATICS SEQUENCES JIM SALICRUP
ERRY NANTIER
WRITER RICK
PARKER
ARTIST/TITLE
LETTERER/COLOR
MARK LERER LETTERER STEVE MANNION COVER ARTIST
Caricatures by Rick Parker.
.
TALES FROM THE CRYPT, Vol. NY 10005. Copyright 0 2007 used with permission.
Nothing
permission from the publisher.
assumes no Salicrup,
Printed
In
2, No. 3,
November 2007.
William M. Gaines,
may be Any
Published bimonthly by Papercutz,
Inc.
The EC logo
to real people and places
responsibility for unsolicited materials.
VP and
Agent,
reprinted, reproduced, or posted
similarity
19
a
in
fiction
40 Exchange
Place.
Ste. 1308,
In
chat groups
and semi-fiction
Return postage must accompany submissions.
is
In
York,
whole or part without written
purely coincidental.
Terry Nantier,
CEO and
Publisher Publisher; Jim
Editor-In-Chief; Martin Satryb, Art Director; Tony Shenton, Sales Manager; Martha Samuel, Traffic Manager.
Canada.
www.popercutz.com
New
registered trademark of William M. Gaines, Agent. Inc.
on the Internet or
n m-4
70
3)070
FEATURING
THE CRYPT-KEEPER
THE OLD WITCH
THE VAULT-KEEPER /.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;fj
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WASSUP WITH THE CRYPT-KEEPER?! .
GLAD YOU AXED! HE’S BEEN READING THE ONLINE REVIEWS OF HIS LATEST CRYPT COMIC! HEH HEHl
^
EITHER HE’S SO
f | 1
1
^
SELF-ABSORBED THAT’S GHOULGLED HIMSELF TO DEATH OR THE REVIEWS ARE
HE’S
WAY SCARIER THAN
—HE
STORIES HASN’T BUDGED IN HOURS!
\ 1
HIS
1
OL’ C-K REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER DESPERATELY \ NEEDY NINCOMPOOP NAMED JAYSAN! HE TOO WANTED TO BE LOVED BY MILLIONS! THAT’S WHY JAYSAN HOPED TO BECOME THE POPSTAR IDOL! HERE’S A FRIGHTENING FABLE FROM MY
f
WITCH'S
CAULDRON
CALLED...
W W
W J
WELL, OLD
^-^41
WITCH, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY—
EC COME, EC GO!
^HE 1
W 1
,
THAT’LL^
LOOK GROOVY IN
MY VAULT!
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hepe at
^
THE PIPST DAY OF tpyouts fop next SEASON'S EDITION OF
POPSTAP TOOL —
.
r
OH, NO.'
WHY^
YOU WAKE UP?.' YOU KNEW WANTED TO BE
DIDN'T
ME I
THEPE, SLOPIA.'
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—AS YOU CAN ” SEE, THE CPOWD IS IMMENSE? MANY HAVE IN LINE FOP PAYS
BEEN
TO SET k
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DEJECTED GUT DETERMINED, THE POTENTIAL POPSTAP WANDERS BACK HOME... r 0ABN IT I'M CONNA SET IN LINE
LATER TONISHT TO
PREOCCUPIED WITH HIS THOUGHTS, HE DOESN'T NOTICE A LAPSE BOOK BLOCKING HIS PATH AND STUMBLES OVER IT...
LITTLE
MENT
PEAUZINS HOW TPUE HIS STATEHE FLIPS THPOUSH THE TOME...
IS,
HIDING- IN
THE SHADOWS, JAYSAN
DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT ha.' it woacep! L NOW WHAT ?!
LONS...
BEFOPE
HIS ASTONISHED EYES, THE DEAD IS CONSUMED IN FLAMES AND A STPANSE SMOKE PISES WITH AN OFFENSIVE
MOUSE
SULFUPIC SMELL/
7
AND TPUE TO THE DEMON'S PCOMISE, JAYS AN AUDITIONS SEFOPE
SLYMON eOWBLL, APAULA O'POUL, AND P£N£LL JAXON/ OH, eoy, HEPE'S @[SIVE HIM A CHANCE/]
ANOTHEP
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I AM SO INTO YOU, MY BABY LOVE, OOH V.
YEAH/
AND
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ALWAYS
HELPS***
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OH, VO/ 0LOPIA'
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INEXPLICABLE pise on thc
WITHOUT
you--.'*
show, Desprre HIS QUESTIONABLE TALENT, HE
SETS A CADPE OF SCPE AMINS PANS,,.
SIMPLY
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ON TV.'
JAYSAN' JAYSAN'
YBCCH' WHAT A NOlSBf HIS CONTINUED SUCCESS IS SUPELY THE WOPK OF THE
OAQY ACTS'
^\
WE'LL SEE HOW THE VOTINS SOES TONI&HT. \ AMEPICA CAN'T 6E SO ) STUPID AS TO MAKE /
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IF
SHOW
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THAT'S A
SAFE BBT'
THE MYSTEPY OF THE MISSINS POPSTAP CONTESTANT MAKES HEADLINES WHICH FUELS DAYS AN'S SUCCESS AS THE SHOW MUST SO ON.
S’ BACKSTASE ON THE NEXT TO LAST SHOW...
do you
V HAPPENED?
AFTEP TONISHT, ONLY T TWO OF YOU WILL 8£ LEFT/ SOOO LUCK TO / OH,
THINK THEY'LL
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PPOSA8LY COULDN'T TAKE THE HEAT AND
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ASSUPE My
VICTOPy.'
ON
THE AFTERNOON OF THE PINAL SHOW, JAYSAN APPANSES A MEETING WITH SLyMON...
^
HOO-HAH!
FINALLY A “REALITY” TV SHOW THAT’S
TRUE TO
LIFE,
AS SLYMON
WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE!
p* '
LOOK— DUG UP ONE OF THE CRYPTI
KEEPER'S RARE COMICS— IT’S
SO
GOOD LORD!
!
ENTOMBED IN PLASTIC, MUST BE VALUABLE!
IT
JUST TOSS IT IN WITH THE REST OF THE STUFF WE’RE TAKING OFF C-K’S HANDS!
THOUGHT THEY’D NEVER LEAVE! HI, BOILS AND GHOULS, LET ME TELL YOU THE TERRIFYING TRUTH BEHIND THAT COMICBOOK THOSE TWO GHOULUNATICS RIPPED-OFF . WHILE WAS LURKING IN MY i FAVORITE SCREAM-ROOM!
^
I
I
^
^ JUST LIKE WHAT YOU CALL AN OVER-PRICED COMICBOOK DE-GRADED AND
IMPRISONED IN PLASTIC, CALL THIS TERROR-TALE... I
LIKE THE WOPLD ITSELF, COMICBOOKS EMBODY THE FOPCES OF GOOO AND BtttJ A
PPIMAL, TITANIC ^
r
UNLIKE THE
WOPLD,
IN
^
WT [
DUDE
MAN, THE OLD IS WACK/
THAT'S WHY f I'VE DEVOTED MY ' LIFE TO SATHEPINS
HE TALKS LIKE A COMIC HIMSELF/
THESE FINE HEQOES W UNDEP ONE /
m.
COMICS,
JUSTICE CAN L.
PULE/
i
TO THINK THEIP COLLECTED ENEPSY INFOPMS THE VEPY SPICKS WITH AN UNEPPINS jk SENSE OF JUSTICE/
I LIKE .
V-
r UH.„Y£AH.^ YOU PAY CASH, v
PISHT?
a
is®
poof/
f
IT'S THE CONDITION I'M soppy, IT'S SEEN
PE AD
TOO OFTEN.'
1 .
NOOO! I CAN'T PICO WITH FIVE BUCKS/
SO SACK TO
WHAT AM
I
.
^ SONNA DO.?* ,
MUCH OF THE ENEPSY HAS SEEN DCAINEOf
^
^
IT'S PPACTICALLY
USELESS TO
ME/
YEAH? OUST
LIKE
youve useless TO ME/ ^ v
r
YOU KNOW,
KIDDIES, IT’S JUVENILE DELINQUENTS SUCH AS DERRICK THAT GIVE COMICS A REALLY BAD NAME! >
^
OH, NO! THIS?!
WHAT’S
THOSE THE OLD WITCH AND THE VAULT-KEEPER, TRADED THE IDIOTS,
r
MOST VALUABLE COMIC IN THE WORLD, TO GET INTO k.
ANOTHER COMIC!
V
THEY’RE
\
DOWNGRADING THAT COMIC TO TORE-MINT CONDITION!
IF SHE DROPS THAT CAR, THEY’LL HAVE TO RE-TITLE THE BOOK TRACTION COMICS!
V
OH, THE
HORROR—
THE HORROR!
^
WITH US ON THE^ COVER WE SHOULD DRIVE PRICES UP, .
UP AND AWAY!
r
SOUNDS
LIKE
>
N
YOU’VE BEEN TO THE FORTRESS OF ATTITUDE! s
V
UNLESS WE JUST DESTROYED THE COMICS INDUSTRY AGA/N-DON’T MISS THE NEXT SHOCK-FILLED, SUPER-SCAREFYING, NIGHTMARE-INSPIRING, CRITIC-BAITING, COLLECTORS ITEM ISSUE OF TALES FROM THE CRYPT!
1 ?
1
ill;
-
!:!-
ml'
IIP\immmm
Salutations,
aassmsa fed .13
you
TIONS! Time
M
Jt- i ftlM
CRAZED CONSUMERS
once again for our
phantasmaGORYcal issues! But first, here’s the SHOCKING
PUTRID PAPERCUTZ PUBLICA-
of
VICIOUS VERBAL of the
results
exchanges, regarding our previous
voting on
TALES
“THE TENANT” by Neil Kleid and Steve Mannion just
#2!
FROM THE CRYPT
narrowly beat out
“THE
GARDEN” by Fred Van Lente and Mr. Exes as BEAST, er, best story! For any ofyou FOOLISH FRIGHT-FANS who missed our first two TERROR-FILLED issues, I’ve got good news for you! Our GREEDY publishers have rushed paperback and hardcover books into print collecting most ofthose stories — they're cleverly called TALES FROM THE CRYPT # “ Ghouls Gone Wild!” and it’s on sale now at BOOkstores everywhere! There’s even an all-new TERRORTALE by Don McGregor and Sho Murase called “RUNWAY ROADKILL!” that’s to DIEfor!
Subject: Talcs It's
hard
to
from the Crypt!!
comics (and
Subject:
put into words exactly how happy
to discover that Papercutz 1
am
publishing
is
new
NOT a comic book person).
I
I
PC
was
always a huge fan of the show, but have never had the good fortune to get comics. So local
comic
managed
I
my
hands on One of the
settled for pestering the
guys at
And
I’m stoked.
1
I
compilation of “The House of
am
issue to hit the stands.
recting this
my
store (monthly) for anything similar.
to find a
Mystery,” but hungered for more. Today,
I
Hello,
was
F I
got
it.
From ate
New Tales From I
am
comicbook
efforts to revive
toned
down
ry ago. Even though
now, back
it
till
Puerto Rico
the original comics were!
What kind offickle fan are
Tales
appreci-
it
from half a centu-
Had
it
not been for the
at the time, it would have been even more visceral. Now, standards are such that you can away with putting a lot more violent content in comicbooks. By toning down the blood, you are not only abiding by standards that are over half a century old, but you are being less gory than even
get
Just until the end, Natalie?
1
may seem somewhat tame From die Crypt was con-
sidered very edgy' and gory.
resur-
be with you guys
new
in the day. Pales
atmosphere
I’ll
Comics
While
the content to such a degree, that
doesn't even resemble the horrors
Thanks so much for
Natalie Vazquez,
series.
such a quality publication,
feel that
dying (ha ha) for the next
awesome comic.
the end.
you
the Crypt
writing in regards to your
the Crypt
your
you are going about it incorrectly. You say that you want to keep true to the original, yet you’ve I
also feel thar
I
you do not understand the way Tales
from the Crypt “shock” endings work. You acknowledge and
shock
utilize
at the end,
but not in the
twist at the end,
it
has to have a social message to
“preachy”). Additionally, die end a
bloody
tive
This
surprise.
final
is
panel
typically
(a
met with
met with a narra-
is
box diat describes the gore-shock
which
it
in great detail,
gives the reader a better description
and
creates
Now, we have to mimic
about the artwork.
talk
the original to a tee, but at least give
work
new comics
in these
realisde.
looks
It
don’t
I
the realistic noir-esque panels of
expect you to
it
a shot. Your
art-
comic of
for returning the greatest
time.
Hi. I’ve been a fan of Tales from die Crypt for a
long time now. Too young For the
bunch of the
read a I
new issue
just finished the
just
totally lived
no
is
to
possibility
my
Just leaving
up
to the
and the
art
is
My only complaint is that
completely fabulous.
TFTC."
I
#2, and have to say the
originals, the stories are just as creepy,
you are going
run, but
initial
and watched the show.
reprints,
new comics completely and
there
a sense of uneasiness.
Thanks
Subject: all
way
they were intended. You can’t just have some random
get a
subscription
to
opinion, and asking
to also revive the “Vault
if
of Horror”
and “Haunt of Fear”? Thanks,
A
doesn’t even look remotely
Fan
something out of a damn
like
Nickelodeon cartoon! In closing, er
would
1
like to
ask you to please reconsid-
your new vision of rhese comics or disconrinue them
and
crypt rest peacefully while you concentrate
let the
on Nancy Drew or something.
An
What do
interesting query. A!
As for subsCRYPTtions,
US
order, in
CRYPT. / feel your pain
Subject: I’ve
ing
I
tunately. I’m stuck with
f>
TFTC Stories it’s
some of the comments about the art seemgeared more towards young children. And
EC
the last issue
kept
ir
me
me
of the
From The Crypt really enjoyed “The
Tales I
guessing
But “The Tenant” was
the stories are quite
thought rhar the} were very
I
nostalgic of die classic
comics. In
that...
-
good and very mature!
reminded
Subscriptions begin with the next issue pub-
we
lished after
your order.
receive
Keep up
Subject:
somewhat agree with
Garden,”
FROM THE
TALES
editor'.
read
like
while
/
EC
just send us a check or
funds only, for $24.00 for a one-
year, six-issue subscription to
Salicrup as
the rest of you
Fan-Addicts Lhink?
money
Nathan Wakefield
the
all
definitely
way
til
the end.
my favorite.
I’d just like to
but these are easier for
sto-
LOVE YOUR TALES
1
me
love the origi-
I still
to read (I’m 13).
The
“The Garden” though. My favorite comic so far was in issue #2 called “The Tenant.” Keep up the terror-ific work! Thank you to the people and my favorite dead-wood star, The Cryptartwork
semi-good
is
Keeper!
was
From The Crypt
good work!
say thar
FROM THE CRYPT COMICS!! nals,
1
It really
typical ‘Poetic Justice’ that
often dealt from the old dales
Hey,
tire
am
in love
defiandy the comics!
in
wirh rhe I
FI
BO
series
grew up wich them
but mosr since
parents are horror fiend-ittics! Love die comics
my and
love the gore!
CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT
Maggot
ISSUE!!
Lesley
Jeremy Seth Brauner Tustin,
CA Thanks, Lesley!
No need to
wait,
—
Jeremy
it’s
mind
here!
yet,
That’s
CRYPT Subject: smiling to you, dear
My
dear friend,
Ukrainian
I
woman, but
without love
as
watered every day. live
I
need
kisses
without sunny
as rose
and love
rays.
I
needs to be
for
—
as
Waiting
no flower for
preachy by
Aid
we
haven’t rotted your
young
will next issue!
now! Don’t miss
TALES
FROM THE
featuring virtual madness by Neil Kleid
Don
Marguerite Van
'Fell
If
maybe we all
#4
and Chris Noeth
am pretty and passionate am lonely. My heart dies
I
beau ri fill flower dies without water.
need to love and to be beloved
can’t
Kisses,
entitled “Extra Life”
and a prescient
McGregor, James Romberger and
Cook
called “Crystal Clear”!
keep chose emails and
letters
coming, kiddies!
us what you thought of this teratoid, yet transcen-
dental third issue. Send your letters to:
your
response.
The Crypt- Keeper's Corner
Josi
40 Exchange
Place, Suite
New York, NY Get back
to
spam-filter!)
me after you
die, Josi!
(Got to get a
new
Or
1308
10005
email your crazed commentaries
cal editor at: salicrup@papercutz.com.
to
our egomania-
you're
â&#x201A;¬.D. FA NS/
mmm
Yov'tft
emiuv'
YOU'M PUOUtO! YOO'M mtATtm OS!
soHmms'
tub coutcnotf
roam ounmioi
COLLECTING STORIES BY MARC BILGREY & MR. EXES, ROB VOLLMAR S TIM SMITH 3, NEIL KLEID & STEVE MANNION - PLUS AN
ALL-NEW STORY BY DON McGREGOR & SHO MURASE!
ON SALE NOW AT BOOKSTORES EVERYWHERE!