Tales from the crypt 024 (r),tales from the crypt v2 002 (2007),tales from the crypt v2 003 (2007)

33m-H

®*ta LE from the no.24

33033

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™ 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-

^

cbntp

y

T

MISTEP

WAITIN'

WEEK.'

iftv.c

tflNfflC,

nv'L

.

^

WE BEEN ONNA NEW

WINCHELL'

^ FPIDSE FOP A

.

.WHAT?

HP come r OOWNyou HEPE IN YOUP 1

^

FANCY CAP AND HAVE THE NEPVE TO OVEPCHAPSE US FOP BPOKEN FLOOPS AND FAULTY HEAT, jk

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,

~

you SOT TENANTS .THAT SOT NEEDS.

.

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

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& 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!

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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

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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

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Ste. 1308,

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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

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LOOK— DUG UP ONE OF THE CRYPTI

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!

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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 ^

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WOPLD,

IN

^

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COMICS,

JUSTICE CAN L.

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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,

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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

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-

!:!-

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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!