ORIGINAL
ajoajajm-i
FEATURING
[THE CRYPT-KEEPER
|THE OLD WITCH
|THE VAULT-KEEPER
EC COMICS FROM THE
1950s!
u uaya
u
TERROR
_ HEH.HEH? SO YOU'RE BACK FOR MORE% EH? SO YOU LIKE HOPPOP STORIES, EH? WELL, I'VE GOT A LITTLE TALE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO UKE HOPPOP THAT will WARM YOUR COLD HEARTS' YES, ITS ME... THE CRYPT- KEEPER. YOUR HOST IN THE CRYPT OF TERROR/ COME IN? JUST DRAG OVER THAT BURLAP SACK HI IN IT ISN'T QUITE STIFF YET? COMFY? GOOD? NOW .
I
.
|ANO SIT DOWN? IT'S NICE AND SOFT.'THE CORPSE LISTEN TO THE TERROR- TALE I CALL
The hunchback cowereo before the red-hot STOVE. A BOTTLE OF ACID RAISED MENACINGLY IN HIS WARTY HAND? THE SHAGGY- HAIREO UGLY MAN MOVED TOWARD THE TERRORIZED HUNCHBACK. REACHING FOR
HU
I'M GOING TO CHOKE YOU, YOU TWISTED LITTLE
f
I
MONSTER'
SCAM/ED BY TATO
r KEEP AWAY FROM MET THIS IS ACID I HAVE? IF YOU TOUCH ME, I’LL..,
( 1
f
*
The wild looking man's strong fingers closed
HRIEKING HYSTERICALLY, THE SHAGGY ONE PLUNGED HUNCHBACKS FACE DOWN UPON THE GLOWING TOP THE RED-HOT STOVE? THE HUNCHBACK HOWLED ? A WAS HEARD AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE
ON THE HUNCHBACK'S THROAT ? SUDDENLY 1C SCREAMED IN PAIN' THE HUNCHBACK HAD FLUNG THE CONTENTS OF THE ACID BOTTLE INTO HIS FACE...
Suddenly the gory scene was BLOTTED OUT BY A FLASH OF RED
The curtains parted and the
CLAP CL
HIS FACE THEN THE SHA6GY HAIRED MAN CAME OUT, HIS FACE HORRIBLY DISFIGURED BY THE ACID BURNS' THEY
DRA VO.'MSTUPEN- r BOWED TO THE CHEERING DOUS ' __PLAY-G0ERS..
“
As THE
HUNCHBACK STEPPED FORWARD, CHARRED?
VELVET AS THE CURTAINS CLOSED? A GASP ERUPTED FROM THE SHOCKEO AUDIENCE? THEN A TUMULT OF APPLAUSE EXPLODED? -
;
^X^7^g
ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD MOVED TOWARD THE EXITS, BABBLIG... TWO AMERI CANS REMAINED THEIR SEATS- TREMENDOUS. HELL, ARTHUR? MILES? THE MOST WHAT DID /AMAZING DISPLAY THINK 0 OF HORROR I HAVE EVER SEEN?
0
I
|
Apr
”
ARE PARISIANS ANY^B DIFFERENT THAN NEW YORKERS, MILES? BROADWAY WOULD GO MAD OVER
V
THIS STUFF
?
.
SURE WE CAN ’I MAKE A DEAL WITH THEM, MILES ?OH-OH?
I’M
ARTHUR
?
THE
HORROR
EFFECTS OF THE 4 GRAND QU/GNOL ARE ALL CLOSELY GUARDED SECRETS
HERE COMES M'SIEU MATIER... THE OWNER?
I
I
\
FRENCHMAN APPOACHED THE TWO AMERICANS... I BELIEVE YOU Y THAT'S RIGHT ARE THE TWO /M'SIEU MATIER! AMERICANS A I AM MILES WHO CALLED Y ANDISH, AND ME? THIS IS ARTHUR
—
f
'
The tall, gaunt, pale-faced
COME INTO MY OFFICE, GENTLEMEN' YOU SAW THE PERFORM-
IT
WAS
.
TO BE SEATED. I AM GLAD YOUXM'SIEU MATIER? WE WOULO LIKED IT, GENTLE) MEN' NOW. WHAT /LIKE TO PRODUCE THE CAN I DO FOR GRAND 6U/6_ . YOU? .
J {TERRIFIC:
ANCE?
/
V\
mack'
-
?
The theater owner led the TWO MEN INTO A SMALL OFFICE AND MOTIONED THEM
1/V '
OH
»
YOU THINK
' WE'RE SURE OF IT< HORROR IS SWEEPING
r
THE
GRAND GUIGNOL .
k
HAVE
IT IN
COM/C
^
X At* SORRY. GENTLEMEN I DO NOT THINK WE CAN DO BUSINESS ?
THE COUNTRY BACK THERE ' THEY EVEN
WILL BE AS SUCCESS-
FUL IN AMERICA AS IT IS HERE IN PAR,S ? /38a
—4
/
.
WE CAN OFFER YOU GOOD PRICE.
)
m’sieu matier'
WHAT
P/ERRE MAT/ER! THE
METHODS
we use
ducing THE
HORRIBLE
in
pro-
EFFECTS IN OUR PLAY WERE INVENTED BY HIM, AND HAVE BEEN JEALOUSLY GUARDED EVER SINCE' ONLY X KNOW THEM' EVEN THE ACTORS HERE DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY ARE DONE'
AND THE SECRETS ARE ALL IN
,
YOUR
HEAD. M'SIEU?
IS
YOUR
OBJECTION
A
BOORS
.
THE GRAND GUIGNOL WAS STARTED BY MY FATHER.
NOES PLAYS AMERICA!
in
/A
IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE!
\
OH, NOT REMEMBERING THEM WOULD BE MUCH TOO DIFFI-
NO! THEY ARE ALL WRITTEN DOWN in A manu
CULT'
SCRIPT WHICH X KEEP IN SAFE NOW, IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME, THE ' NIGHT'S RECEIPTS i
THAT
A
/
The two Americans left the theater and moved DOWN THE NARROW TWISTING ALLEY IN THE MONTMARTRE SECTION OF PARIS WHERE THE BRAND OU/S~~ NOL THEATER IS LOCATEOWELL. MILES? V' BLASTED FRENCHMEN? YOU^ WHAT DO WE DO j CAN'T TALK SENSE JO THEM ? l NOW? THEY’RE ALL SO DARN l,
w
\
^
.
COULDN'T HAKE ME GIVE UP . ^ THOSE SECRETS? j^A
WHAT WOULD STOP ME FROM. K/LL/N6 YOU FOR THEM?
A
SENT/HENTALf
Suddenly, the two men stopped? they stood BENEATH THE STREETLAMP, STARING AT EACH OTHER.
r OUR PLANE LEAVES \
OH, COULDN'T II
MILES IF I WERE IN H/SSHOES, I'D DO THE SANE TH/N6 YOU
IN
IHE
AMERICANS TURNED AROUND AND HEADED BACK TO THE GRAND GUIGNOL...
rOJTHE RUE CHAPTAI
^
Y
r
HE WAS A FOOL FOR TELLING HURRY/ HE SAID US ABOUT THAT MANUSCR/PT/J SOMETHING ABOUT THE
THE
MORN/NQ / WE'D BE FAR AWAY BEFORE ANYONE > FOUND HIM? jgrt*
'
~T
Outs 'TSIDE THE
OFFICE OF THE GRAND
GUIGNOL, MILES
ANO ARNOLD
HESITA-
THEN SLOWLY OPENED THE DOOR? INSIDE, MONSIEUR MATIER WAS STOOPING BEFORE THE SAFE.
TED
.
'THE
'
SAFE.. IT'S
OPEN/
WE'RE
IN
LUCK/
ONSIEUR MATIER PLACEO THE METAL BOX INTO THE SAFE BESIDE THE VOLUME MARKED 'PIERRE MATIER, METHODS’? TWO SHADOWS MOVED TOWARD HIM? HE TURNED. WIDE-EYED... T I
'
=i
The gun exploded in his face? HE SLUMPED TO THE FLOOR? A HAND REACHED OUT AND REMOVED THE MANUSCRIPT FROM THE SAFE.
LET'S
BOY
.
A
P
The next morning, at le bourget airport just OUTSIDE PARIS, MILES ANDISH AND ARTHUR MACK BOARDEO A TRANSATLANTIC CONSTELLATION? MILES CLU TCHED THE PRECIOUS MANUSCRIPT UNDER HIS ARM f r Hinunro ic rurv'wr X cunTlfO ' FOUNO HIS BODY YET?/ YOU FOOL
And as the giant airliner rose gently into the SKY ABOVE FRANCE. IN THE OFFICE OF THE GRAND 6U/6N0L THEATER IN LE SUE CHAPTAL -MONTMARTRE.
I'
I
1
While on the plane.
K
i,
MILES' Y SO THAT'S
fLOOK'J HOW THEY MAKE THE VAjj J BLOOD POM OUT OF THE ,
WA bounds'
YES? AND LOOK HERE THE STABBING SCENE.' A DETAILED DRAWING OF HOW <
THE NN/EE IS CONSTRUCTED f
AJ
)
/
THERE'S THE EYE-
GOUO/N6 ACT f WELL I'LL
BE/
HERE
f
ON THIS
PAGE? THE ACID ANO BED- HOT STOVE ILLUSION/
^
WE MUSTN'T TAKE 1 THE CHANCE OF
LISTEN ? WE'RE BOTH ACTORS' WE'VE MEMORIZED WHOLE
ONE ELSE MUST EVER THESE HORROR
LETTING THIS BOOK OUT OF OUR HANDS t
SCRIPTS BEFORE' WE'LL MEMORIZE TH/S MANUSCRIPT ANO THEN DESTROY IT?
KNOW HOW
PRODUCED.'
WE'RE SET, ARTHUR' WE'Ll KNOCK 'EM
DEAD ON
r
.
THIS A SECRET, MILES? NO
EFFECTS ARE
)
I
A BROADWAY' }
J BOOD IDEA' THEN WE WON'T LEAVE OURSELVES OPEN TO THE KINO OFTHING POOR J |
M'SIEU MATIER DID ?
^A
'
when the transatlantic airliner LANDE0 AT IDLEWILD AIRPORT IN NEW YORK - CITY t..
And
BACK
so.
IN
PARIS.
r IT SAYS-./CLOSEO BECAUSE OF DEATH OF OWNER'? AH? ZAT IS TOO BAD,
WHAT OOES IT CHARLES?
—
I
YOU 00 TO YOUR HOTEL ROOM AND START MEMORIZING THE MANUSCRIPT, ARTHUR? X'LL SEE ABOUT HIRING A THEATER?
A WEEK
LATER.
IN
NEW YORK-
WELL, ARTHUR? I'VE 1 0000 ? FINISHED MEMORIZING/NOW LET'S THE MANUSCRIPT,
^^
1
1
)
S
The manuscript of pierre MATIER WAS THROWN INTO THE FIRE. AND THE TWO MEN WATCHED THE LEAPING FLAMES
r
IT... / TOGETHER
WELL ...THAT DOES'
(
THE GRAND 61H6 NOLS SECRETS l ARE OCRS
IT, IT.
ARTHUR* NOW ARTHUR?
\
-
'
OPEN A
IN NEW YORK, ADVANCED PUBLICITY ON THE
MACN-ANDISH HORROR THEATER BROUGHT LINES OF PEOPLE TO THE
STOLEN.'
MON ~
^
DIEUf
IN
WEEN'
JHB bur
OPENING OF THE
BOX OFFICE.. I've READ about the GRAND GU/6NOL IN PARIS.' y
gone/ MA TIER’S BODY HAS BEEN
—
sr destroy
roof
^
And then, the night of the premier performance rolled arouno? in a dressing ROOM, ARTHUR AND MILES NERVOUSLY APPLIED THEIR MAKE-UP...
THEY SAY THIS ^HEY'RE^" .
FAR ( SOLD OUT HOR- FIVE WEENS
WILL BE
MORE
RIBLE.'
'
IN ADVANCE.'
REMEMBER, ARTHUR? WHEN
X THROW THE YOUR FACE.
ACID
IN
SCREAM'S
DON'T
WORRY? AND
WHEN X PLUNGE YOUR FACE ON THE REDHOT STOVE ...YOU LET OUT A BLOOD-CURD LER, TOO.'
T HE
AUOIENCE STARED IN HORROR AS THE TWO FIGURES SHRIEKED IN LOOKS SO REAL /
IT...IT
I
DON'T
J WAIT/
FEEL SO SOME) GOOD' J THING'S
A MEMBER OF THE CAST RUSHED TO THEM ? THEY LAY WRITHING ON THE STAGE
Arthur, his face horribly distorted BY THE BURNING ACID, SUDDENLY RELEASED HIS HOLD ON MILES. •WHOSE CHEEK LAY SIZZLING AGAINST THE RED-HOT STOVE' BUT AS THE CURTAIN
PAIN...
WRONG.*
CLOSEO... THEY CONTINUED
SCREAM'
|
r
...
ri
=
y
-y
OWWW***'
GOOD LORD/ THEIR RACES/ THEY RE REALLY BURNED
TO
Yaaaaaoh^X
THE PAIN... p k t-^~WHAT'S
HE EXCLAMATION CARRIED THROUGH THE ORAWN CU RTAIN TO THE HOR RIFIED AUDIENCE OUTSIDE
THEY'RE
DID YOU
DYING /
THAT?
HEAR WAS -
IT
REAL'
Y
MY LET'S 1 GOD/J GET OUT I OE HERE.A]
The
panicky auoience rushed for the exits... SHOUTING. ..PUSHING — SHOVING' BY MISTAKE, SOMEONE OPENED THE CURTAIN' ARTHUR AND MILES LAY PROS-
^
LOOK THEY’RE DEAD / -
)(
v
HURRY?
STOP PUSHING' WE'LL BE
r
TRAMPLED
.
Soon, the theater was emptied' ONLY A LONE FIGURE SAT IN THE DESERTED HOUSE... STARING UP AT THE TWO DEAD ME N ON THE STAGE
...AND AS WE CLOSE IN. WE SEE THAT THE FIGURE IS SMILING AS HE STARES UP AT THE STAGE WITH GLAZED EYES' IT IS THE CORPSE OF M'SIEU MATIER...
HEH.HEHf THAT WAS A HOT ONE, EH? I HOPE YOU LIKED THE PERFORMANCE? THE STORY CERTAINLY HAD A SIZZLING CLIMAX EH? ARTHUR AND MILES WERE ALL BURNED UP ABOUT IT? TOO BAD THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO SAVE RACE / YOU CAN SAVE BACK ISSUES! OF MY MAD MAG, THAT IS? READ MY COLUMN, .
THE CRYPT
,
KEEPER ‘S
'•
'
CORNER FOR INFO ON HOW TO GET YOURS AND NOW, WHY NOT TURN TO THE VAULT KEEPER FOR ANOTHER
WARMING TALE?
Y
in a cemetery For the beginning of our story, let's look in on a pathetic scene a funenal AS the group of black-clad mourners gathered arouno the sobbing widow watch ...the coffin “OF THE RECENTLY DECEASED IS LOWERED INTO THE YAWNING BLACK PITf SAD, ISN'T IT? FEEL SONNY FOR THE POOR WIDOW? DON'T.' NOTICE THE NEAT LINE OF GRAVES BESIDE TH E NEW ONE? COUNT THEM 1 YES, THERE ARE 5/K OTHERS' THIS POOR WOMAN IS BURYING HER SEVENTH HUSBAND.' IS THERE ANY WONDEN IVE CHRISTENED HER 'MAD AM BLUEBEANO’ AFTER ALL. SHE KILLED THEM ALL .
NOON TERESA' I DON'T SEE HOW SHE'S STOOD UP UNDER THESE EMOTIONAL SHOCKS/
SEVEN HUSBANDS IN SEVEN YEANS..
.
.
ALL ACCIDENTALLY KILLED.'
f
.
OH. YESf THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE BELIE YES .' THAT TERESA'S SEVEN HUSBANDS ALL DIEO ACCIDENTALLY' EVEN HER HUSBANDS BELIEVED IT... THAT IS. ALL EXCEPT FREDDY THE ONE THEY'RE BURYING NOW' HE KNOWS DIFFERENT f OR X SHOULD SAY 'KNEW DIFFERENT? AH, BUT 1*1 GETTING AHEAD OF MY STORY... POOR r 'POOR'P THAT'S A \ GIRL? 'laugh ' SHE'S LOADED.' HER SEVEN HUSBANDS' > ESTATES AMOUNT TO A TIDY SUM' WHY... J
WHY
IF
P
I DIDN'T^
WAS A
JINK...
< HOW DID THEY
MARRY HER MYSELF.' BUT PROBABLY , END UP LIKE ALL THE OTHERS... I'D
DIE?
ro in
SOME
'WELL, LET'S SEE f EARL WAS HER FIRST* IT HAPPENED
THE
OTHERS
THINK TERESA
-» J
FREAK
ACCIDENT
.
'HOWARD, TERESA'S SECONO, FELL OFF A CLIFF WHILE THEY
WERE HONEYMOONING TRAILER...*
ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER THEY WERE MARRIEO? EARL HAD PROBABLY FALLEN ASLEEP WHILE FISHING? HIS BOAT DRIFTED INTO THE RAPIDS AND HE WAS KILLED GOING OVER THE FALLS..
IN
A
'[JOUGLAS, NUMBER THREE, WAS KILLED ON A HUNTING GUN EXPLODED IN
TRIP? HIS HIS FACE...'
'NEAL, THE FOURTH, FELL FROM HIS OFFICE WINDOW..
FOURTEEN
STORIES.:.
'WARREN, TERESA'S FIFTH. WAS KILLED WHEN THEIR CAR WAS STRUCK BY A TRAIN f TERESA WAS THROWN CLEAR AND SUFFERED ONLY MILD BRUISES...'
f
"HEN PETER. HUSBAND NUMBER
SIX.
WAS
ELEC-
A BATH? A RADIO HE WAS LISTENING TO FE LL INTO THE TUB OF WATER..'
TROCUTED WHILE TAKING
X MEAN? SEE HOW THEY ALL BELIEVE THE DEATHS WERE ACCIDENTS ? ACCI- *
SEE WHAT DENTS.
EYE/
MY BLOODSHOT
THEY WERE EACH
COLD, CALCULATED
MURDER TAKE POOR EARLS DEATH, .
I
AND, OF COURSE YOU
KNOW HOW POOR FREDDY was KILLED ?
OH, SURE EARL FELL ASLEEP WHILE FISHING' BUT HE ANEW A80UT THE RAPIDS ANO THE FALLS OOWNSTRE AM, SO HE WAS VERY CAREFUL TO TIE UP THE BOAT TO AN OVERHAN6/NG BOUGH BEFORE TAKING HIS SNOOZE' ONLY...
YES' well' TERESA'S
Ji
â&#x20AC;¢WllSM
AND AS FOR HOWARO... WELL, HE WAS INSIOE THE TRAILER WHEN TERESA STOPPED IT AT THE CLIFF ED6Ef WHEN SHE SCREAMED. HOWARD CAME
OUT
OF THE TRAILER DOOR
FULL -SPEED...
FOR INSTANCE ...
AND DOUGLAS, HUSBAND NUMBER THREE. MET FATE BECAUSE AFTER CLEANHIS GUN. HE LEFT IT AROUND WHERE
MS UNTIMELY /N6
TERESA COULD GET AT IT' SHE POURED MOLTEN LEAD INTO THE BARREL. BLOCKING IT UP-.
Neal, number four, was LEAN/N6 out of WINDOW, LOOKING FOR THE NEW CADILLAC TERESA CLAIMED WAS PARKED BELOW, WHEN TERESA YANKED THE SCATTER RU6 OUT FROM BENEATH HIS FEET. HIS OFFICE
AS FOR WARREN, HUSBAND FIVE? HE'D MADE THE MISTAKE OF FALLING ASLEEP WHILE TERESA WAS 0RIVIN6 HOME FROM A PARTY? SHE'D JUST STOP PEO THEIR CAR ON THE GRAOE CROSSING, STEPPED OUT, AND WAITEO..
AND PETER. WHO LOVED MUSIC, ERRED WHEN HE TOOK HIS BATH WITH HIS BACK TO THE DOOR? HE NEVER SAW TERESA OPEN IT, REACH THE STICK IN, AND KNOCK THE RADIO OFF THE SHELF ABOVE THE TUB
^hua'k YES, THEY'D ALL BEEN MURDERED? BUT THEY NEVER KNEW IT? ONLY FREDDT... TERESA'S SEVENTH HUS-
KNEW?
ONE DAY, WHILE HE WAS UP. TERESA STRUNG A STRONG WIRE... TAUGHT... ABOUT TWO HIGH... ACROSS THE RUN
AND WHEN FREDOY CAME FOR A LANDING.
IN
.
FEET
BAND.../^" FREDDY WAS A FLV/NG BUG. ..OWNED HIS OWN PLANE? HE'D HAO A RUNWAY LEVELED AT ONE
END OF TERESA'S VAST ESTATES? EVERY DAY HEt) TAKE OFF... FLY AROUND. AND LAND.
0UT FREDDY WASN'T
KILLED IN THE CRASH? WHEN HE CRAWLED FROM THE WRECKAGE. TERESA WAS FORCED TO FINISH THE JOB...
w
So YOU SEE WHY
I'VE CHRISTENED TERESA 'MADAM BLUEBEARD ‘f WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY? SHE MUST
NUTS? 0£C0UHS£ SHE 'S HUTSf IT STEMS BACK TO HER BE
CHILDHOOD. WHEN HER FATHE R WALKED OUT ON TERESA AND HER .
And
.
Teresa's mother had been EMBITTERED BY HER HUSBAND'S LEAVINB f SHE'D BROUGHT UP DAUGHTER TO HATE MEN I
f
MEN ARE BEASTS,
TERESA 1 THEY'RE NOTHING
her so, on the first ANNIVERSARY MOTHER'S DEATH EARL, TERESA'S FIRST HUSBAND,
IS FILLED IN.' THE NEAT LINE LIES SILENT UNDER THE DARKENING SKY ' EARL, UNDER THE FIRST' HOWARD, BENEATH THE SECOND' DOUGLAS UNDER THE THIRD MOUND' NEAL BELOW THE FOURTH' WARREN IN THE FIFTH' AND PETER, THE SIXTH' EACH PEACEFUL IN DEATH... EACH IGNORANT AND IN THE FRESH GRAVE... FREDDY... WHO KNOWS AND AS THE WINO COMES UP. RUSTLING THROUGH THE BARE TREES, SWEEPING ACROSS THE GRAVESTONES, WHISTLING PAST THE ROW OF SEVEN GRAVES, IT SEEMS TO SOUND LIKE A WHISPER... LIKE SOME-
AND SO THE SEVENTH BRAVE
f
TERESA CROSSES THE ROAD
On over the frozen mounds
AND ENTERS THE CEMETERY, THE SEVEN WREATHS IN HER
SHE MOVES — TO THE NEAT ROW OF SEVEN GRAVES...
ARMS... n-
—
She stoops and places a WREATH UPON EACH GRAVE
FOURTEEN A DOLLARS ' THE a
BeAST...
THEN TERESA TOSSES HER FACE TOWARO THE DARKENING SKY ANO 8EGINS TO LAUGH' BUT HER LAUGH IS CUT SHORT BY A RUMBLE BENEATH HER FEET? SHE STARES DOWN HORRIFIED' THE SEVEN GRAVES ARE EACH ...
CRACKING OPEN..
The rotted hand reaches up from beneath THE FROZEN EARTH... GRASPING TERESA'S ANKLE IN A DEATH-LIKE GRIP' SHE CANNOT RUN' SHE CANNOT MOVE' SHE CAN ONLY WATCH... AS THE CORPSES RISE FROM THEIR GRAVES ' WATCH... ANO SCREAM...
AND AS TERESA'S SCREAMS END IN A CHOKING COUGH... SILENCE ONCE AGAIN DESCENDS UPON THE GRAVE YARD? THE WIND WHISPERS ACROSS THE CEMETERY, CARESSING THE NEAT LITTLE ROW OF GRAVES' ONLY NOW. THERE ARE E/6HT GRAVES INSTEAD OF SEVEN' AND ON THE EIGHTH GRAVE — LIE SEVEN SOILED WREATHS...
SO HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOTHER' THAT'S A LOVELY GIFT THOSE MENBEASTS GAVE you' x hope HEH, HEH'
YO l/RE GRATEFUL OH, BY THE WAY, FIENDS' YOU'LL BE GRATEFUL WHEN YOU RECEIVE
AN ORDER OF BACK ISSUESI GET ALL OF MINE OR CRYPT OR HAUNT. OR JUST GET THEM ALU DONT FORGET THE OTHER EC T1TLESI TO FIND OUT MORE, READ THE CRYPT-KEEPER'S
CORNER
IN THIS ISSUE' THE OLD BUZZARD GIVES FULL PART/CULARSf bye, now'
REMEMBER? 'CREMATED CORPSES NEVER JUST BLAZE DIE'
THEY AWAY''
.
m writing to teFyou how great your comics are. Everyday j before go to sleep have to read one or two stories. love I
cl
I
I
my
will
tread the boarde In
And quit reading comics
I
your comics. You can print
"Top
In class!
Billing,”
VAULT
28.
—CK
Even mined
address.
You are the coolest dead person alive, am starting my Superior 1 729 subscription to your comic. think The Old Witch Is a fratChicago, IL 60622 knocker The Vault-Keeper Is just a pain In the @$$. want to know lT"you~guys are going to have a fan club. I, sometimes. But liked his story In CRYPT #10. liked your have a favorite episode from "Crypt" series, called "The»»story "Drawn and Quartedl". Do you like girls? (Not The House of Horrors" (and another one called "What's Old Witch. She's not a girl.) Could you please send me CRYPT #1 2 or 3? Please, I'm begging you! Please! Best Cooking?"), and want to know what Issue are you going to: Friends For Life (Or death), put It In so can purchase It. Are there going to be any special editions like Halloween annuals and all that? £ac g a e Saginaw, Ml I
W
Orlando Qarcla
I
I
I
I
r
.
I
B
1
I
t
|
Phillpe Saralla
El
TX
Paso.
You’re right, The Old Witch hates fraternities. You can get any of my back Issues, or any EC title. See the end of this column. CK
of Horror” (singular) ran In CRYPT 6; get our back Issue. But It ran originally In HAUNT 1 ; get our back Isauel The house ao nice they ran It twice! Inquire after our "Annuals,” they collect each title under one cover about five Issues a whack. CK
"House
—
love your < lies. love them so much I couTd die. I ams dressing up the Crypt-Keeper and I don't know what to! What should wear? I
—
I
,.
I
\
couple days ago
Dave Hamm
I
Forng^TXJ
When shed my blue robe, I’m partial to a white sport coat and a pink carnation. CK I
—
sent you a letter last Issue butt didn't get it printed. I really liked Crypt 10, my favorite story was "Drawn and Quartered!". If you print my letter, could you please send me an autographed picture of yourself? Your #1 fan & I
tjj
'•
friend,
Ashley Robinson, 12
Lockhart,
SC
— CK
Sorry, got no auto'd photos. See below.
"Drawn and Quartered!", in Issue #f(5, is the best story read yet! It BURIED all the others from Vaulty and The Witch. (6 feet underground, that is!) Your best fan. I've
Frank Relder
’
Can you send me
the recipe for ghoulash?
:
MA
North Beach.
Bryan Kortle
m
.
Arrow,
E c comics?
Seems everyone „ comic and
w
your
story
Salesmen!
coll.ct you,
I
every Saturday
"Loved to I
like
the
I
Mini, card,
I
..led
read
also
Deathl!'
TV
version of
...
People who Live
It
liked
"Drawn"! "EC” stands
on the cover
Television Terrorl
,
,
I
Oakland. CA.
's it going in the CriticaiCrypt? Not much here n school right now. and we're watching a stupid idiotic n't think really watching. think you
:
anyone's guys are the best thing that has ever come out of hell. Phantom; have a Idea for a story: It would rule If you did I
'
"
e Opera"
story.
William Walchle
FT Wayne,
IN]
for
—‘!5 CK
‘seals.’
Thanx ,for or pnmlng printing my letter etler ln In ^ CRYPT mrl #1U those las last, #10, but lno8e w0 |(nes WERENT mlne Yoo mu9 mlxed up my letter and someone else's. don't even watch "Tales From The Crypt-Keeper" (too juvenile). The guy who really wrote those lines is probably steaming 'cause you didn't give hi ,
In
,
1
Tucker Claypool
OK)
i love CRYPT comics, the stories are good and scary. One of the stories I liked was "Drawn and Quarteredl". The comics have neat pictures, too! Why are the comics called
lyhrjsFelber^^^^^^^^^Mendha^
e Ishmael. (One part ghoul, one part hash.)
Barry McCollum
.
.
.
Do you know every scary story there Is to know? you do! want to get the talking Crypt-Keeper doll.
There were 7 Issues of RCP CRYPT, and 5 each of RCP VAULT and HAUNT. Ail still available. Write for list and prices! Buy, nowl Heh, hehl — CK
think
I
I
I
love
scary things! Like youl Justin
Winkelman
Soulx
IaB
City,
just got
I
— CK
Like— or ae?
ter.
my copy ot CRYPT 9. and see you I
And you’ve d one
mistake! You really enjoy reading
your corhlc books, but you should
take The Crypt-Keeper tell more stories ther people have their own books. isa
because
all
that
And
I
I
1
Tony Martinez, age 17
have to go brush my
o
the coffin. So,
6041
S California AV
little
e diting. And
B has a
did Itfl
k-Onp
am your
furry fan that lives
but they are hard to
my
let-
you made a
my
Please print
like
I
years old
I'm
1 1
How
old are
I
Baton Rouge, LA
Ill
girl and want your comics.
a 14 year old
Recently got the [hardback] Complete CRYPT and In several issues it stated that there were photos ol the three GhouLunatlcs. was writing to see If those photos are still available, and If so, how much do they cost? Your fan,
your comics
I
Bobby Harris.
':'
60629
Chicago, IL
printed
think
I
point!
the gutter.
in
come
I
Any fan can
I
a
IMBI^A last name printed. Did you do
™
by you? watch you on tv also. like you better than the VaultKeeper and the Old Witch, Could you tell me were can get a lot of your comics because the stores are always out of comics? What Is your phone number? Your fan.
I
I would love to receive letters from other EC” fans from around the world, so please print my address. write to me In Spanish. English, Italian, or French. I'll enjoy it a lot. since I like foreign languages.
By the way,
for listening. CK, ol’ buddy.
thlnk
Jason Parker
Hi! i'm'tony Martinez, a big fan But you can call me "Skele"-Tony. am a faithful reader of CRYPT, VAULT and HAUNT. can read them over and over, and never tire.
Thanks
1
(new) address.
CT
—CK
Make—or let?
left
on purpose or accident?
the
Glastonbury.
Michavd
a
I
gore
children '
I
In
who
cope with the
why there
to knot
I
I
can't
Isn’t
because of the sight of blood, of course
you don't want to give the poor babies nightmares,
guess what I'm trying to say Is It's ok to put more violence In your comics. If those pansy parents and children can t '' readers and real fans stand It. let them cry about here to support you. Like the saying goes If you can't'take the heat stay out of the Incinerator. ,
address unknown
Adam Owens
'
~
have a few questions for you, could you get the V.K. mag? Could Mr. Cochran reprint the 1950s photos of the GhouLunatlcs? Will the Pre-Trend and New Dlrectioni comics, as well as PANIC and MAD, be reprinted In regular format? would like to have a pen-pal so please print my full address. Your pal. '
of your
Ashtabula,
Seminole Arnold
I
OH
is it that In most of your tales you never show the faces of the half eaten bodies? would also like to know if! you could make the stories more scary. When say more scary mean make them similar to the TV series on HBO. love your comics and won't stop reading them.
Why
I
POB 1 201
John Brown
I
I
I
That’* what It would taka to offer photos like Adam Owens (and Ashley Robinson, see above) ask about— reprinting the 1950s photos. Maybe we will. Lotsa other EC comlo titles are soheduled for this series,
no maybe to
I
Leletla
Besides,
for your viscera. We go we eat the faces first.
for
your mind.
—CK
VWbeerT doing some research and found that the first Issue of CRYPT was named INTERNATIONAL COMICS I
issue #6 when It was renamed INTERNATIONAL CRIME PATROL. At #7 was shortened to CRIME
I
like
Moreno Vly.CAl
Reed
TV goes
— CK
it)
I'm collecting your comics. I'm also getting VAULT and HAUNT. couldn't chose just one. they're all great. Do you
until
being the Crypt-Keeper? Your scary fan.
it
CassleMootz
Peebles.
OH| PATROL
ronr ntinn these theeo first f r*at reprinting
cool! Please print
1 1
R 6
Fpstnrinn V Yours, YOlirS Issues? Festeringly
first
|
Pittsburgh.
Nathaniel Wilson
1
was
your It
just 1
story
Is
It
wanted to tell you dudes that the stupid, boring story ' ! 1 7 by The Vault-Keeper. ''Voodoo Death!", dumb. But don’t worry, because think he made up for It In Issue 9 [with] "Judy, You're Not Yourself Today!”, that I
up to Issue *16. Then at *17 (which
was CRYPT OF Issue of CRYPT In this run of reprints) TERROR for 3 Issues. At the sacred Issue of 20 became TALES FROM THE CRYPT! My question Is will you ever be
—CK
Beets unemployment!
PA
The first, say, 5 alghU of this lineage would remind you of period NPP (DC) comics, think. Not until the advent of Craig A Feldstein would you commence to see any EC-ness, not until the last two Issues would you see MEI You can see the CRIME PATROL issues
my address.
I
31 Budd
Joshua Keane, 12
Mount
ST
NJ 08060
Holly,
—CK
Beat VK can hope for: To break event
in
love your mag!
I
1
have seen
all
shows
I
am
CRYPT 8.
1
like
of your re
the
WAR AGAINST CRIME/CRIME PATROL
-CK
The Complete EC Library
going to the tale
1
set of
'
love your stories I'm 13 years old, but I'm going crazy over CRYPT. loved your story "Death Must Come!". You ought to make more stories about eternal life. I
looked in my video store. cannot find the "Tales from the Crypt" movie. Maybe you could tell me where can get a ol It. And did you make more than 6 RCP 64-page I
I
I
copy
ECs? Patrick Burkett
'
Two
stories from your
The
first is
TV show
got
"Korman's Kalamlty." Is that what your
the program.
Terre
second was "Yellow,"
starring
I
me in a CRYPT mood looked at the office
office looks like?
Kirk
In
The
Douglas and Dan
,
Myra
DEAR' GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE' IS JIM WITH YOU? HAL,
IT'S
nodded sadly and
HUNGUP'
HAL. ..HAL FORREST JIM'S P A RTN ER...WAS HOME
WITHOUT J/Mf MYRA
flung
HERSELF ON THE SOFA AND BEGAN TO SOB...
‘HAL FORREST MAO BEEN BEST MAN AT JIM AND MYRA'S WEDDING' THAT HAD BEEN OVER EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO ? THE THREE OF THEM HAD DRIVEN UPSTATE TO A JUSTICE OF THE
PEACE— YOU? WHERE
The j. p.'s home had been a lovely little PLACE. THE KIND OF HOUSE MYRA'D READ ABOUT IN BOOKS? IT WAS WHITE SHINGLE, COVERED H CLIMBING ROSES AND IVY. iND
X NOW PRONOUCE
ARE
(
TEN MORE MILES, KIDS? THEN... OOPS ?
Hal had planted the best man's traditional KISS ON MYRA'S CHEEK, AND THEN ANNOUNCED... WELL, KIDS' HAVE A NICE TIME ON YOUR
TRAIN T TOUT BUT YOUR
HONE YMOONY I'VE
YOU MAN AND WIFE' d
CART
GOT A TRAIN TO CATCH'
UH-UH? YOU TAKE THI CAR f DRIVE UP SOMEPLACE AND ENJOY YOURSELVES ' S'LONG?
SO LONG,
\DREAM. THANKS LOADS. KID
?
I
LATER, AS
JIM
AND MYRA SPED ALONG ...f
hal? TO LEND US I GUY? WE FLEW TOGETHER THE CAR, WASN'T IT, J DURING THE WAR ' WE'RE GOING INTO
BUSINESS
j
outfit.
.
IT’LL
BUT JIM HAD INSISTED THAT IT WAS THE ONE BREAK THEY’D NEEDED.' AND SO. AFTER TWO MONTHS OF MARRIAGE, JIM AND MYRA WERE PARTED. t~ .
A
TEAR WENT
8Y...A
you'
And
then, for a MONTH, myra’d
heard NOTHING..NOTA MONO. from PANAMA' THEY STOPPED THERE
*\to RE-FUEL f
The MONTHS HAD dragged on with no word from
SOON
.
_ —4WBMB
I
TIt-S
EVERT DAT
JIM'
\
baby' just as soon as i can, i’ll send
rfOR
f
PLEASE, JIM? DON'T 60 I’M AFRAID IT’S SO £-r far away
ONLY BE FOR A
UTTLE WHILE,
mm
.
Af
.
YEAH.ONLY THERE S
CATCH / rr’s with t SOUTH AMERICAN
YEAR SINCE JIM HA
^
WHY DON’T YOU WRTTE? what's
, 1
V MRON09
MyRA’D BEEN AFRAID TO THINK THE WORST. THAT SOMETHING HAO HAPPENED TO JIM? THEN, ONE NIGHT ..THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER JIM HAO LEFT FOR SOUTH AMERICA. wu’ r-rnuiunr iu«r'V ..
.
JIM.'
MYRA ' DARLING')
WE'RE TOGETHER AGAIN ' THAT'S
Myra had flung herself INTO JIM'S STRONG ARMS
.
ALL THAT .1
..
j
4
MATTERS.'
WAS AFRAID) SH-HflJ
OU WERE.
IT'S
BEEN
SO
LONG...
SO LONG'
% HONEY'I
They'd clung to each other... not speaking^
COME' YOU MUST BE TIRED' WHY DIDN'T YOU WRITE. JIM? YOU PROMISED.'
/
^
I COULDN'T, MYRA' I WOULD HAVE IF I COUL D.' YO U KNOW THATf
And SO. THEY'D BEEN TOGETHER AGAIN... IN EACH OTHERS' ARMS' BUT MYRA'S JOY WAS SHORT-LIVED... FOR THE NEXT MORNING,. \6ONE ' JIM'S
GONEf
^
OH, DARLING' I
IT'S
TO HAVE YOU
SO
GOOD TO BE HOME. MYRA'
IT'S
GOOD
HOMEf
_
-—f
She'd found the note... ] MYRA DEAREST, WRITING THIS IS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE. I HAVE TO GO AWAY AND JUST CAN’T FACE YOU TO SAY GOOO-8YE. BELIEVE ME, DARLING, SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER FOR KEEPS. ..AND I'LL NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE YOU AGAIN. TILL THEN. REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YOU. rM '
,
HAD LEFT NO FORWAROING
'
ADORESS... JUST THE NOTE? SOON
ANOTHER THREE MONTHS HAD SLIPPED AWAY? MYRA'D BEGUN TO FEEL ILL? SHE'O HAD HEADACHESDIZZY SPELLS. ..ATTACKS OF NAUSEA. '
THE DOCTOR WILL 1
^SEE YOU NOWJMA'AM?
^OW, MYRA LAY SOBBING ON THE COUCH, WAITING FOR HAL FORREST, JIM'S PARTNER? SUDDENLY THE CHIMES SOUNOED? MYRA ORIEO HER EYES AND OPENED THE DOOR... r HAL' WHY DID YOU COME
ALONE WHY BRING
DIDN'T YOU
I
COULDN'T, MYRA! JIM'S ... DEADf
JIM BACK
Myra
W
SIX MONTHS I WILL, DOCTOR? OR SO? YOU'D Br-r THANK YOU? -r BETTER BE ~ TAKING IT EASY? f 'lT ,~u |
Y^TR /=â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
THE SYMPTOMS YOU DESCRIBE ARE NOT UNCOMMON TO SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BECOME A MOTHER, , hg MYRA? OOCTOR? ARE YOU SURE? ^ WHEN?
I
stared at hal' she couldn't believe her
EARS ... NO? NO? IT CAN'T BE ? I. f M GOING TO HAVE A
BABY' WHEN JIM
I
SAW
THREE MONTHS AGO-
WITH YOU'
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'IMPOSSIBLE'?) OUR PLANE CRACKEO UP FOUR HUNDRED MILES SOUTH OF J/M WAS HERE. .MS. SPENT THE NIGHT... THREE MONTHS AGO.' PANAMA... IN THE JUNGLE.' JIM WAS KILLED INSTANTLY.' IT TOOK ME FtF TEEN MONTHS '
TO CRAWL OUT OF THAT GODFORSAKEN PLACE... BACK TO CIVILIZATION?
HEH.HEH? I SEE YOU'RE SURPRISED THAT'S THE SPIRIT f WHATS
THAT YOU ASK? HOW SHOULO X KNOW? ASK MTRA/FUHWt THING ABOUT MYRA AND JIM? WHEN THEY FIRST MET MYRA DIDN'T THINK SHE HAD A GHOST OF A CHANCE WITH HIM? Pig 'll WELL, NOW IT'S ,|\jlME FOR YOU TO * BE REVOLTED ,
Si THE OLD Lw/rcHfetss I
Ifc, RIGHT'
m
f
NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD YOUR CHILLIN6 APPETIZERS FROM MY FELLOW GHOULUNATICS, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO SERVE YOU THE MAIN COURSE / SO COME INTO THE HAUNT OF FEAR? MY CAULDRON BUBBLES ANO GURGLES/ IT S EVIL BREW IS JUST ABOUT READY/ YEP/ IT'S ME AGAIN/ THE OLO WITCH HEE, HEE/ HUNGRY? GOOD / THEN OPEN YOUR LITTLE LEERING MOUTHS AND XXL STUFF IN THE TASTY TERROR-TALE I CALL .
HORROR! HEAD...
IT OFF!
The year was ires/ the place was
france^^^
DURING THE BLOODY DAYS KNOWN AS 'THE REIGN OF TERROR , FOLLOWING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION/ IN PARIS? SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE GREY SKT STOOD THE NOTOR^ IOUS GUILLOTINE.' AS ITS GLEAMING BLADE WAS HOISTED, THE GATHEREO CROWD SHOUTED AND CATCALLED/ FROM SOMEWHERE CAME THE OMINOUS ROLL OF A SNARE DRUM/ THE BLADE FLASHED DOWNWARD.. AND .ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE OOOMEO ARISTOCRACY MET \ HIS END AS HIS HEAD DROPPED INTO THE WAITING BASKET J 1
1
A
,
FAR ACROSS PARIS... AWAY FROM THIS BLOODY SCENE TWO FIGURES MAOE THEIR WAV SLOWLY THROUGH A CROOKED STREET ! ONE MAN WAS TALL, WELL-BUILT, BUT C RIPPLED f THE OTHER WAS SHORT AND SOUAT! THE CRIPPLED ONE MOVED PAINFULLY... FIRST STEPPING, THEN DRAGGING HIS HELPLESS CLUB FOOT 'HURRY.' MASTER! ( 1 AM. ..GASP. COMING, WE ARE ALMOST LOUIS! I CAN'T WALK... THERE.' AS- FAST AS YOU!
^
IT
CREAKED OPEN..
COME TO BUY... SOME A flowers! .i
,
T
FLOWERS?
WHAT K/ND
ANXIOUSLY f FINALLY,
'
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The obese man behind the 'DOOR PEERED OUT at THEM...
OF FLOWERS?
SOON THE STRANGE TWOSOME CAME TO A DARK f THEY TURNED IN, STOPPING BEFORE A BATTERED OOOR* THE SMALL ONE KNOCKEO ALLEY
(
^OU ARE MOST KIND*
The fat man closed the DOOR BEHIND THE TWO VISI TORS AND TURNED. TO THEM.
V IT
DOES NOT MATTER! IS THE
MARQUIS i nr ROCHE onr ucMON un ajt DE Tfr Ir SERVANT.
.THIS
L
>m his
LOUIS
^
f
The fat one counted the GOLD AND THEN SMILED... \Z AM yT LUGERE? ' ) HENRI YOU ARE THE. )LOC£R£, DUKE OE AT YOUR l, LUGERE? A SERVICE ? '
THAT
IS
CORRECT? 7ah?
^
YOU WILL BE READY TO LEAVE AT MID- ’ NIGHT? A COACH ff C GO NOW, WILL BE AT THE JL MASTER, j IS BEFORE X ALLEYWAY?
M'SIEU*
X HAVE DEDICATED / LE DUKE? MYSELF TO HELPING ( THIS IS A
FELLOW MEMBERS\ NOBLE OF MY CLASS THIN 6 i ESCAPE THE )> YOU DO? IF ^ OJILLOTINE^A it WERE l tr “**V N0T F0R J my club Bfgpfc toot J 1
‘
Y AM MISSED! [GOOD LUCK
?
}
After
louis, ’
,
^
the m arqui s oe rochemonts
5ERVANT, LEFT...
—
T HERE IS NO NEED? HE WAS^ ONLY MY SERVANT? THE DOES NOT
^
GUILLOTINE
THIRST
..FOR HIS HEAD? ONLY ^rv MINE.
—
That night, a coach drew up to the alleyway? the CLUMP. .DRAG.. .CLUMP. DRAG FOOTSTEPS OF THE FUGITIVE MARQUIS APPROACHED BON VOYAGE, MARQUIS J GOOD-BYE, M'SIEU LE AND.. GOOD LUCK ? 'DUKE? THANK YOU? MAY . YOU CONTINUE TO HELP OTHER UNFORTUNATES ^ LIKE ME
'
AS THE COACH CLATTERED"OFF
INTO'THE DARKNESS, HENRI... THE FAT DUKE DE LUGERE
SMILEO TO HIMSELF... ^ ^ DO NOT WORRY. M’SIEU LE MARQUIS? X will CONTINUE f rr PAYS me WELL. AND MY HEAD REMAINS ON MY fj i_
T
-g,
SHOULDERS
—
@9 ^ ^ Jpgfe^l
WHAT ,
IS
THE
MEANING 4 OF THIS ?
|
J
IT
MEANS, M'SIEU LE MAR-
V.
THAT YOU ARE UNDER ARREST IN THE NAME OF ^ FRENCH REPUBLIC f j
QUIS,
' 1
THE f
TOMORROW, THE GUILLOTINE AWAITS...
^
M
(
Soon, back at the house of henri, duke de lugere„ ^YES, LUGERE* WE STOPPED HIS COACH BEFORE THE WEST GATE AGAIN, YOUR COOPERATION PROJECTS YOU FROM THE i
'WELL, CAPTAIN.* THAT
I
And so the next day, before THE JEERING MOB, THE MAROUIS DE ROCHEMONT LIMPEO UP THE i STEPS OF THE GUILLOTINE. fO
'-'Of.
Lat er...
captain.*
there is^
mmgr a man outside/ he
HAS COME TO CLAIM THE MAROUIS DE A ROCHEMONT'S REMAINS. HE WAS HIS SERVANT.'
IS
OUR ARRANGEMENT.' I TURN THEM OVER TO YOU. AND SAVE MY NECK, EH ?
T SAVE
YOUR NECK
NO AS THE GLEAMING BLADE HOISTED SKYWARD, THE
»S
IS
RIGHT, LUGERE.' IF IT
NOT FOR THIS LITTLE SERVICE YOU PERFORM, WERE
{
YOUR HEAD
HAVE WWOULO LONG AGO'
ROLLED
f
GUILLOTINE/
{
The crowd roared as the blade! PLUMETTED DOWN WARD/ BUT IN ITS MIDST, ONE MAN DID NOT CHEER'
1
HIS FACE WAS GRIM.' IT
WAS
SHORT,
\
The next
day. louis
SH-H-H.' YOU FOOL.' DO NOT,
stopped
HENRI LUGE RE ON THE-STREET..^''aH, ,
LOUIS? I
AM
CALL ME LE
'(yes, M'SIEU LE
DUKE'
SORRY.' I HEARD /DUKE.' MY MASTHE SAD NEWS' / TER. ..WAS 8EV r' HEADEO YESTER)
DAY
J
ri...X MUST BE GOING'
'WHY NOT? EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? I
i
HAVE LEARNED THE TRUTH ... V
V
MYSELF.'
>
A
-'
niEMARKET^ HAVE YOU EVER BOUGHT A CHICKEN HERE, M'SIEU LUGERE? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN -rf
HOW THEY/T/Z/ THEM? LOOK?
SOMETIMES A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CHOPPEO OFF LIVES FOR MANY HOURS? KNOW OF A CASE WHERE ONE LIVED FOR ALMOST A MONTH.' IT ONLY DIED BECAUSE THE FARMER WHO OWNED IT ALLOWED THE WINDPIPE TO GROW
X
IF * j
^
A
CHICKEN CAN LIVE ON HEAD REMOVED.
WITH ITS
THEN LUGERE WHY NOT A HUMAN BEING? /
M'SIEU
.
(
YOU'RE
MAD' YOU'RE
'TRYING TO FRIGHTEN ME ? BAHfFOOLISH-
NESS'
f
'
Louis SCURRIED OFF, LAUGHING.. WHILE HENRI THE PERSPIRATION FROM HIS FACE' THAT NIGHT, AS HENRI LUGERE SAT
I
j <
HOUSE...
% W..WHAT WAS THAT?
9S7 THE
IOIOT'
IF
IT ...it
SOUNDED LIKE ..FOOTSTEPS'
HE THINKS HE
CAN SCARE ME.
.
Suddenly henri heard an unmistakable sound: THEN SOMETHING DRAGGING... THEN A CLUMP-THEN THE DRAGGING NOISE.. J FIRST, A CLUMP...
»
HE'S...
|
LIKE A MAN... WITH A
CLUB-FOOT .'
^ CLUMPING, DRAGGING SOUNDS CAME FROM THE ALLEY OUTSIDE ' HENRI RUSHED TO X HE
|
|
rTHE DOOR... AND SLID THE BOLT
CLOSED
...
j
*T
A
,,
•
HE- HE'S AFTER ME< r.THE .MAROU/S...
'As HENRI WATCHED HORRIFIED^ Then the CLUMP... DRAG. THE DOORKNOB TUR NED SLOWLY' [CLUMP.. DRAG... FADED AWAY ’THEN IT RATTLED? SOMEONE 'OOWN THE ALLEY... OUTSIDE WAS TRYING TO GET wjjttjwHE .HES GO/NGJ A WAT.' HE...
*
A
A
OH. LORD... PROTECT
ME' THANK
60D.
T
BOLTED /T IN T/ME.'M
SUDOEI
HENRI CURSI
WHAT
_
Mf A
A FOOL X STUP/D
FOOL f OF COURSE .' .
..AT HE'S
ME'
)
7
WAS LOU/S OUT THERE'
HENRI FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR AND PEERED OUT! THEN HE GASPED' THE TRACKS IN THE DIRT WERE UNMISTAKABLE' ONE SET WAS THAT OF A SMALL man' THE OTHERS WERE STRANGE. IF THE PERSON MAKING THEM DRAG6ED
TRYING TO FR/6HTEN v AS WHO EVER HEARD OF A /
BEHEADED MAN L/V/N6 \
Mfi
A... A...
CLUB-FOOT
non o/eu
^
the. ,[»(
here '
T”?m 'lockedT^ ' ifcp
OUT
.
.
|
i
MHO...
.
YOU
[To THE CHEST..
LOUIS f IT'S ISH'T IT 9
YOU...
.
^
*
NOT IT CAM' _ BE ? , ,-1
W you... you're MAnd then, the whole
^
1
figure
r trying to... moved into the light AND IT F-FR/OHTEN ME?) HAD HO HEAD... '.
AREN'T you ?
I
LOUIS
SURE
SURPRISED?' FACT HE LOST HIS HEAD' THEY FOUND HIM THE NEXT MORNING M/THOUT IT' HIS BODY WAS
'heF, HEE
Louis was behind the horribl^thino-JSuioino it.. NO.' KEEP amay: just a little further. JUST A LITTLE ' YAAAAAa,
Ho?
^
MHO'S THERE*
LOUIS * IS THA T
'
A PAIR OF LEGS MOVED INTO THE SQUARE OF LIGHT THAT STREAMED FROM THE LAMP ABOVE THE DOOR' ONE OF THE LEGS HAD A CLUB FOOT ' STEP... DRAO...STEP... drao.
Then it came again ' thoseAsounos ' CLUMP DPAO .... CLUMP... DPAO ? THEY MOVED TOWARD HENRI FROM THE DAHKNESS OF THE ALLEY... ^ .
,
rw
Tf
?
?
Henri spun around' the door SLAMM ED SHUTBEHIN^jlM^^^
'
YES-SIREE
'
HENRI WAS
IN
>
\ [WAS LYING BESIDE THE MARQUIS DE ROCHE 1 \mOHT'S / THEY MADE QUITE A PAIR.1 IN FACT IF l IT WEREN'T FOR THE MARQUIS' CLUB -FOOT, YOU I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL THEM APART / MHY? OH, COME, COME' USE YOUR HEAD.' WHAT / HAPPENED TO HENRI'S HOW SHOULO / KNOW’ 1 WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF THE HEADS THAT ROLLED DURING 'THE REIGN OF TERROR'? HMMM f \ \ SOUNOS LIKE STORY MATERIAL THERE f I'LL HAVE '
)
TO LOOK INTO
IT'
OH. BY THE WAY' ALL MY
I
1 BACK ISSUES ARE AVAILABLE' THE CRYPTKEEPER'S CORNER TELLS YOU HOW TO GET YOURS.y
THAT WINDS
IT UP,
KIDDIES' I
HUNGER
S
HOPE YOUR
IS SATISFIED.'
WE'LL ALL SEE YOU NEXT in
(
1 ,
THE VAULT OF HORROR!' 'BYE FOR
NOW?
.
TALES FROM THE
CRYPT
FEATURING
THE CRYPT-KEEPE1
THE OLD WITCH
THE VAULT-KEEPER
S3.95US
71896 45306
HEY, OLD WITCH,
LONG
V
IS
HOW
THE CRYPT-KEEPER
OH, LET HIM BE,
VAULT-KEEPER!
GOING TO KEEP READING HIS FAN MAIL? A,
IT KEEPS HIM FROM TELLING THOSE INSUFFERABLE YARNS OF HIS! NOW IF HE WERE AS GOOD AS MY FAVORITE HORROR WRITER, VICTORIA PRICE, WOULDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MIND! TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, THIS TALE OF GREED AND BETRAYAL ENTITLED... I
.
ALWYN IS A SMALL COLLEGE IN
THE BERKSHIRE
MOUNTAINS OF MASSACHUSETTS. IT'S QUIET,
PICTURESQUE AND VERY OLD. MOST OF THE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS TALK ABOUT THE USUAL THINGS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE TALK ABOUT....
THESE BOYS ARE LIKE SO IMMATURE.' j
WHICH BRINGS US TO THE DORM OF TWO ROOMMATES, SALLY "SYBIL" MILLS AND TINA "TANITH" BENSON, WHO Anc TAI l/IU£ AOl~ll IT TUCTO CMlArtlTC ill in. 1C./-T
HEY, CHECK
.IT OUT'
DAYS LATEP AT THE LOCAL BOOKSTOPE.
VICTORIA
PRICE
WIN AN EVENING WITH THE QUEEN OF HOPPOP, VICTOPIA PPICE, AT HEP MANSION.^
W ^OH,
I'M
50^
COINS TO WIN iw
^
THIS.'
I
KNEW
^ â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
COINS TO COLLECE WOULD
f L
^
A MONTH LATEP.,.
victopia pace's wee SITE IS ANNOUNCINC THE
^ .
CONTEST WINNEP
TWO
SECONDS..
IN
^
.
r
IT CAN'T it's me.'
ee..! I
^
WON'
.
EVENTUALLY PAY OFF.
,
^
'
HMM...WHAT
r
IP
TANITH WAS TOO WICKED SICK TO GO? NAH, THAT
WOULD GO EVEN IF SHE HAD PNEUMONIA AND A TEMPEPATUPE J OF no.
WITCH '
yâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;
WHAT TANITH HAD
IF
SOME
KIND
OP ACCIDENT OP EVEN WOPSEP 6UT WHAT APE OF THAT
-THE CHANCES
HAPPENING?
J
HMM... MAYBE I COULD 6IVE FATE A PUSH? MAYBE EVEN A SPEAT BIG , SHOVE?
LITTLE ,
^
I
CAN ALWAYS
^
SET ANOTHER FRIEND, BUT MEETING MY FAVORITE WRITER IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. WHAT IF TANITH SUDDENLY JUST 'VANISHED'? 7 BUT WHAT WOULD IDO B WITH HEP BODY?
P I KNOW,
I
KNOW.'
IT'S PERFECT.' IT'S
SO OBVIOUS -t
I
CAN'T
BELIEVE I DIDN'T THINK OF THIS
V-»
r
SOONER' /wlT
LIKE I COULD FOPSET ABOUT THAT? C'MON, LET '5 SO TO OUP SPECIAL PLACE AND CELEBPATE.' ^
FINALLY..
^ SO EXCITED, TOMOPPOW IS
I'M
THE BIS DAY!
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WELL, KIDDIES,
^
I’VE BEEN READING ALL YOUR WRETCHED FANG MAIL AND DECIDED WE SHOULD EMBARK ON A DARKER, SCARIER NEW DIRECTION! READ ALL ABOUT IN THE CRYPT- KEEPER’S CORNER AND BE SURE TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
‘
Hidee-ho, honor-fans!
Welcome
Crypt-Keeper.
LESS PRAISE hear
Let’s
the
,
It’s
me again,
to
more
for our previous inconsistent
itfar the
FEARLESS FANS willing to inconect
this politically
letters
more
like
brave
lilted
die
column
is
way
it
season
looked back then.
fifties,
like the
I
’cause
I
I
really didn't
only saw that art on the
I
DVD. But keep up the good work on
the comics; also
becoming INFAMOUS!
I
although die ait needs to look
the old comics from the
read the old comics, first
how much
FROM THE CRYPT" comics. Okay,
"TALES
like the stories,
issues.
BITING WIT and CUTTING COMEBACKS
far which
Okay, just wanted to say
the original ol’
CONDESCEND-
mixed in with a dollop ofMIND-
ING CRITICISM,
/
maybe
stay widi the tradition of
those comics.
Now,
kiddies, this
ofyour
results
#4, but the still
is
on
votes
where I’d normally reveal the
SHOCKING TRUTH
haven’t received any! So,
you think about
last
it’s
still
at presstime
is,
United States,
ROTTING READERS
this is
an
Ethan
we
up in the air what
TERROR TALES —
issue’s
“CRYSTAL CLEAR” by Don McGregor and James Rornberger and “Extra Life” by Neil Kleid and Chris Noeth. For you
Your Fan,
FROM THE CRYPT
TALES
election year, so
living in the
it’s
your
know what you think of our most recent Has the artwork taken a turn for the
Let us issues,
Ethan.
WORSE or are you DIGGIN’ the NEW DIRECTION
newcomer Noeth,
the ever-popular Mr. Exes have taken?
I
love Tales
already collected
“CRYSTAL CLEAR” and
FF.AR-FAIil.F.S into paperback tions entitled
CRYPT
collection,
You’ll
FROM THE CRYPT #2, THE CRYPT #1
to
though!
love the comic.
was wondering where
Mona I
for a painting of a
along with
TALES FROM
“Ghoub Gone Wild!” should be on
of better BOOkstores now.
I
zombie
Lisa? Can’t wait for the next issue!
Can
order a copy of issue #1 from you?
other
But TALES
was
I I
Sean Clagg
collec-
wait far the
entitled “Zombielicious” for
“Extra Life" to be collected,
shelves
hardcover
have
Crypt!!!!
Hi, you deadheads!
SC
Myrtle Beach,
TALES FROM THE CRYPT #2 “CAN
YOU FEAR ME NOW?” third
and
from the
reading issue 43 and
you got the idea
FRIGHTENING fourth the PENNY-PINCHERS over at Papercutz have
Ifyou somehow missed our issue,
rotten ol’ Rornberger,
and even Subject:
DUTY
VOTE! Well give you one more chance, but when TALES FROM THE CRYPT #6 hits the stands, the voting on #4 will be OFFICIALLY OVER! to
Sorry, Sean,
but we’re
FROM THE CRYPT #1 back or hardcover
SOLD OUT of TALES .
You can order the paper-
collections that feature
both sto-
41. Andyou’ll have to read “A BODY OF WORK” by Marc Bilgrey and Air. Exes to learn the
ries from
SECRET behind ZOMBIE MONA!!
?
You again ? Well, we’ll need far more than one
Dear Crypt Keeper, in
the
New Zealand
reader in Lower Hutt,
thoroughly enjoyed the third
I
am
minority,
issue.
feel 1
I
my favorite. “And may make a suggestion? Do something about that hair!” Hcc, hee! How
before
we
HAUNT OF
can even think about reviving
but in the end “A
FEAR and VAUL'l OF HORROR! '
Murderin’ Idol" eventually came out as 1
many demons do you
sec
making suggestions?
have a feeling, though, that
I
it
be beaten
will
by “Slabbed!” because everybody loves comics make
about comics.
stories
it
when
appreciate
I
the insight as to
how
about
option of slabbing comics to
this latest
the comics industry feels
make them completely The blurb about #4 looks promis-
them, but
preserve
unreadable.
Looking forward
ing.
to #4,
Sir;
1
including a Gaines
inals),
ECs were and
still
are the best
Most of those
published.
known and
WAR
successful
What I
now
well-
(very valuable
Wood,
in
Davis, Ghastly
think needs to be done to be
from the
“take”
is
books ever to be
artists are
well-collected
Williamson,
cases).
Ingels, etc.
New Zealand
copy of
file
AGAINST CRIME #10 9.8. Your attempt at a revival of EC is a great challenge, lo me, the
most
Briony Coote,
Lower Hutt,
Dear
am an avid collector of most comics. I do own a complete collection of EC Comics (orig-
original format,
an “Archie” approach to your Attempt to do what the original format
rather than take
Good to hear from you again, Briony! But it looks like a while for our mad-mag to make its way to
it takes
New Zealand, voting.
which
But take
choice!) “A
causing you to miss out on the
is
heart,
any organ of your IDOL” did take top honors
(or take
MURDERIN’
brought to the media - excellent
whole
#1,
Dear Crypt Keeper,
you
looks like
It
Wertham and which
on
Dr.
of the Innocent”
his “Seduction
title. You had a visi#2 and your comment on
killed off the original
tor called
Wertham
“Slabbed”:
“Its
in
juvenile delinquents
such
as
Derrick that give comics a really bad name!” was
etc.)
makes a
a story that
reactionary? If not,
real
why don’t you
Williamson
would
and
stories.
have
a vast
BATMAN
AVLAZING FANTASY
#1,
EC
lots
of
the
original
original art.
Tty
to
Hey, A A Feldstein.
format.
out there, so
is still
1
own
is
you
to be very successful, but as of
now your books
are too tame. Granted, there
I
are
no
like
Frazettas or
the right approach
Woods out
there,
but with
you can be very successful.
Good luck.
dig at the old
think about
and
move toward
unmistakable. Are you going to go the whole hog
and have
back and horror.
this business (1
SUPERMAN
#15, are getting revenge
art
the right formula, you can bring the
sci-fi line
knowledge of
"SLABBED!”
over
revival.
Then with
Robert Metteis
Norwalk,
it?
CT
Briony Coote
Lower Hutt,
New Zealand
Back again, Briony? In
CRYPT #2, I may have
exclaimed “What the Wertham —?!” in a
TERROR, visitor
but
rest
moment of
assured (and in peace) that no
of that name has ever stepped foot in
THE
CRYPT OF TERROR!
But, Bob, do you have a copy ofPURE EVIL # I So much for this issue’s DIVISIVE DISCOURSE! Be here next issue for the story so SHOCKING we can't even reveal the
title,
as well as “Graveyard Shift
at the Twilight Gardens” by
Rob VoUmar and
Tirn
Smith 3. “Ignoble Rot” by Fred Van Lente and Steve
Mannion,
Dear Crypt-Keeper, You were asking readers
if
the
HAUNT OF
FEAR and VAULT OF HORROR revived as well. Well,
1
should be
reckon the reason the
originally scheduled for this issue, has
been rescheduled to appear in
Keep
those emails
you thought of our
CRYPT #7.
and letters comingj Tell us what
NEW DIRECTION,
which
is
FORWARD TO THE PAST. Sendyour letters to:
Vault-Keeper and Old Witch keep goofing off is
because they don’t have a comic of their
own. Therefore will is
I
think reviving those
be a good idea -
The titles
Crypt-Keeper’s Corner
40 Exchange
if you feel the readership
Place, Suite
New York, NY
strong enough.
1308
10005
Briony Coote
Lower Hutt,
New Zealand
Or editor
email your at:
RABID REVIEWS
salicrup@papcrcutz.com.
to
our elderly
YOO’Vt
€.D.
FA NS/
MITTM
YOU'M B'MAIMPf Youwe pnom.f yoo'vt
yoo'm
mmmv on Qtmmor
(Ait we're coming out with these collections
anyway .'
WCTURINO.
CRYPT-'
^
Qmco
1
COLLECTING STORIES BY BILGREY, MR. EXES, VOLLMAR, SMITH KLEID, MANNION, TODD, McGREGOR, MURASE, ROMBERGER, PETRUCHA, and HUDSON!
3,
ON SALE NOW AT BOOKSTORES EVERYWHERE!
PAPERCUT
J
PROUDLY PRESENTS THE SUPER-SCARY, SCREAM-INDUCING SIXTH ISSUE OF THE ALL-NEW...
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO WILLIAM M. GAINES, AL FELDSTBN, 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.
“JUMPING THE SHARK” ARIE KAPLAN
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ARTIST
MARK LERER LETTERER GHOULUNATICS SEQUENCES JIM i
Em
SAUCRUP WRITER
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ARTIST/TITLE
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MARK LERER LETTERER STEVE MANNION COVER ARTIST john McCarthy PRODUCTION
“A RIPPING GOOD TIME” JOE R. LANSDALE 8, JOHN L LANSDALE WRITERS JAMES ROMBERGER ARTIST MARGUERITE VAN COOK COLOR MARK LERER LETTERER
THIS ISSUE: AM AU-NEW STORY BY
IN
FEATURING
JOE
R.
JOHN
LANSDALE & LANSDALE
L.
TEXAS' TOP TERROR WRITERS!
S3
95US
WELCOME, FIENDS...
S
YouToomb
'
l
IT’S
ME— YOUR
^
FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD CEMETERY’S CRYPT-KEEPER, DOWNLOADING A DOOZY OF A SCARE-TALE!
A
>
^
IT’S ALL ABOUT LAZLO SLOAN, PRODUCER OF THE SMASH REAUTY TV SHOW...
WELCOME SACK TO •JUMPING THE SHACK'* l
SAT Wf MAGGOTS' BAT THB MAGGOTS' £AT THB MAGGOTS'
WHEN WE LAST LEFT YOU, CAITUN WAS ABOUT TO EAT THIS JAP OF A
V k
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MAN WITH THE DACK SHADES IS PCODUCEC LAZLO SLOAN. * JUMPING THE
THE SHACK*
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MAN WALKING AWAy.. WELL, THAT'S ME. I'M PHIL CAPPECTy, LAZLO'S ASSISTANT. THE
HIS 6A8y.
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NO MOPE DAN©£COUS
mm
VAIN /
^
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PHL-'
^
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SUT THIS
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nook
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Whassup, fright-fans ?
It's
the Crypt- Keeper beepin'
it
CRYPT-CRIB! Ready for another round of HORRENDOUS REVIEWS and PAINFUL PRAISE? Seems like some ofyou have noticed that were actually LISTENING and RESPONDING to you our CREEPY CRITICS! For an EERIE EXAMPLE,
HEY TERROR-LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU voted
“Queen of the Vampires, ” by Marc (with a “C”) Bilgrey and Mr. Exes, your favorite the fact that
story from
you
TALES FROM THE CRYPT if 5
all enjoyed the
Don't forget
new
FAVE story
and we'll reveal the winner in our No,
GHOULS! And the not some
very
camPAINS
never-ending
says that
DARKER art style.
to vote for you
show.
winner will be decided by
loved the
I
and YOU,
SUPER-DELICATE-TYPES!
“The Tenant” and was great.
on
FLORIDA
CRYPT ff4 poll,
TIE between
“Crystal Clear "
James Romberger and “Extra Chris Noeth.
At
counter “Hangin"’
least that’s
Chad tells
Ifyou MISERABLE our ROTTING recent
still
it
I
the “Garden.”
issue
The
to
I
didn't like the fourth issue that
be scary then the
have some
titles for
TV
I
art
like the If
loved
I
third issue
much.
artwork
the
comic
should be
future issues:
scary.
“DEATH
HOUSE," THE MONSTER FROM THE SWAMP,” “THE ATTIC," and “THEATER
OF THE DAMNED." ROCK!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
was a
Colby “Crypt-lover” Nclson-Bctz
Don McGregor and “ Life by Neil Kleid and by
what our
official vote-
us!
MISCREANTS issues,
it
never read the
belongs in a different comic.
meant
waiting for the
believe it or not,
I
my favorite story was
have one complaint though,
I
You ghouls For those ofyou in results
FROM THE
TALES
comic EVER!
first issue,
“Body of Work.” In the second
is
boys
to say that
the best
is
old comics and I’m not allowed to watch the
issue,
NEXT ISSUE!
here,
CRYPT
but
in this
want
Just
surreal in his
missed any of
check out the paperback
You ROCK, Colby!!!!!!!! And let us know what you think of the SCARY art in this issue. If it were any SCARIER our ancient editor would
have a
coronary!!!!!!
and hardcover collections now on sale. The third VEN-
OMOUS VOLUME, CRYPT
#3:
entitled “ TALES
ZOMBIELICIOUS”
FROM THE also
features
“Graveyard Shift at the Twilight Gardens” by Rob Vollmar tale,
and Tim Smith
3,
an EXCLUSIVE all-new
Subject:
TALES
That takes care ofOLD BUSINESS, DEAD HEADS sent us this time. .
see
what you
CRYPT, The
Hello Crypt Dwellers,
TALES let’s
FROM THE
Return
First, let
never before seen anywhere!
me say that
I
was shocked when
FROM THE CRYPT was
back.
I
I
saw
am
My first TALES FROM THE CRYPT
Subject:
too
young
of thc*I"V
was an avid fan
for the comics, but
growing up. So once
series
issue in stores,
first
bought
I
it.
I
saw the
I
feedback
What’s up? Ever since
was very
and
have to say after the
I
hooked. I
opened the book and began
I
is
was
1
people have complained that
feel
I
the lines of Ben Templesmith,
the art
The
the stories.
fits
stories
The way
anyway.
at
who
And
I
sec
and subse-
issue.
been
I’ve
I’ve
run, but
I
only seen wouldn’t
say things about the art
an
the
it,
in this
comic
has evolved to cater to audiences of 2008.
series
but
EC
samples of the original
something more modern
like to see
maybe along
looked first
hooked on Talcs From The Crypt.
being used. listen to the critics
know many
they would
to read
story
first
love the art style that
I
I
up the
quently picked excited as
the Crypt-Keeper has never looked better
are-
(deader?).
very good as well.
#4)
Life" (issue
I
especially liked the “Extra
story.
You brought
modern pop
culture in and
bought every
issue thus far
of
a part
like that.
I
I
So
and look forward
to
your
far,
pop culture
have goths,
new
(the suicide Praise aside, issue
#5 gave us the “Kid Tested,
Mother Approved” thought the
ond
read
I
art
was a
stay with
At
story.
stance that the art
the story. Just a bit rough for In short, great work.
I
rough; but after a sec-
bit
my
read
first
my
Keep up
phones, toy/comic collecting,
and you’ve even done a
Idol),
bomber
one).
can only imagine
I
where your inspiration for such
Anyway, keep up the
no soccer
moms
stories
lie.
and let's hope Wertham" on you.
great work,
try to "pull a
fits
Peter Fay
taste.
Brooklyn,
NY
the pace. Love
Thank you
the evolution of the art style.
have brushed the surface of
stories
(cell
American
story reflecting the dangerous times post 9/11
issues.
for
reviving such an entertaining comic.
Rosenbaum
Jesse
Bridgewater,
We
NJ
hate
to tell
source for
you
this,
Peter,
but our biggest
BLOOD-CURDLING story
NEWSPAPERS! We figured since the age
Hey
they weren’t called
EC for nothing!
offifty
jaw-dropping jackpot!
Dear
when
other words, beats
it
comes
I
over the no. 3,
1
TALES
learned that
first
moon
wish
it
with
joy!
I
I
was
reading
that you’re
this
Send letters
envy!
coming -
letters
it
GREENER
makes with
to:
The Crypt- Keeper’s Comer
and
new run
making them
40 Exchange
Place, Suite
New York, NY
is,
Or
email your
for kids,
but the stories you are doing are watered
and
Keep those emails
the other GhouLunaics ever
have read the
in the reprints
FROM THE CRYPT
know
I
after I
but what you have done with
they’re great,
TALES
FROM THE
from the dead,
Now,
stayed that way.
from the old comics
stories
comments
1
308
10005 to the
Old
Editor
at:
salicrup@papercutz.com
down
and lame! I’m not saying that you should stop
making from
of
to all-
REALITY!
sir,
When
CRYPT was coming back
bad.
Or in
TERROR anymore that we hit the
SCARY, nothing
out
ideas are
no one under
reads those antiquated journals
it!
comics
TALES FROM THE CRYPT. No, for And marketing to kids is okay. We need for kids.
Kids today are very smart, and
know what makes a good down yours for them.
story,
but don’t
dumb
SUBS@$W?I0NS! For a one year (six-issue) subscription to
FROM THE CRYPT, order, in US funds for
Kev
just
only,
$24.00.
Send
to:
subCRYPTions.
Scotland
PAPERCUTZ,
40 Exchange
Place.
New NY 10005. Make Suite 1308,
We hear you, scarier
Kev!
Tell us
what you think our darker,
NEW (OLD) DIRECTION!
York,
checks payable to NBM.
TALES
send a check or money
â&#x201A;¬.C.
FA NS/
YOU'VE WRITTEN! YOU'VE E-MAILED! YOU'VE PHONED! YOU'VE THREATENED US!
YOO'Vt (but we're comae our with THESE COLLECTIONS ANYWAY
*jo;oxjhh
FEATURING
FEATURING
ALL-NEW STORIES! FULL-COLOR GRAPHIC NOVEL!
FROM THE
COLLECTING STORIES BY BILGREY, MR. EXES, GNIEWEK, HUDSON, KLEID, MANNION, McGREGOR, MURASE, NOETH, PETRUCHA, ROMBERGER, SMITH 3, TODD, and VOLLMAR!
ON SALE NOW AT BOOKSTORES EVERYWHERE!
PAPERCUT0 PROUDLY PRESENTS THE ECCENTRIC EFFULGENCE THAT IS THE EIGHTH EERIE EDITION OF THE ALL-NEW...
COVER A
COVER B 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. “SHE WHO WOULD RULE THE WORLD”
“VIRTUAL HOODOO” JOE R. LANSDALE & JOHN L. LANSDALE WRITERS
CHRISTIAN ZANIER WRITER. ARTIST, LETTERS/?,
COLORIST
JAMES ROMBERGER
MARVIN MARIANO COLORIST
ARTIST
MARK LERER GHOULUNATICS SEQUENCES
LETTERER
JIM SALICRUP
MARGUERITE VAN COOK COLORIST
WRITER RICK
PARKER
ARTIST/TITLE LETTERER /COLOR
MARK LERER
TERRY NANTIER
LETTERER CHRISTIAN ZANIER COVER A ARTIST RICK PARKER COVER B ARTIST
CHRIS NELSON & CAITLIN HINRICHS
PRODUCTION
THE PUBLISHER
MICHAEL PETRANEK
IP
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT TALES FROM THE CRYPT, 10005.
Copyright
permission. the publisher.
° 2008
Nothing
Any
unsolicited materials.
Vol.
may be
2,
No. 8, September
William M. Gaines, reprinted,
similorify to
real
2008.
Agent,
Inc.
Caricatures by Rick Parker.
Published bimonthly by Paper cut z,
The EC logo
is
40
Exchange Ploce,
a registered trademark of William
14.
Sfe.
'308,
Ganes. Agent.
New it*c.
York,
NY
used with
reproduced, or posted on the Internet or in chat groups in whole or port without written permission from
people and places
in
fiction
Return postage must accompany submissions.
and semi-fiction Terry Nantier,
is
purely coincidental.
CEO and
Sotryb, Art Director; Tony Shenton, Sates Manager; Martha Samuel, Traffic Manager. Printed
Publisher
Publisher: JWn Saficrup. in
cssux.es no responsibility for
VP end Editor-in-CWef; Martin
Canodo. www.popercutz.com
PAPERCUT*
TALES FROM
NO. 8
ALL-NEW!
THE
1
of 2
COVERS
CRYPT THIS ISSUE: AN AU-NCW STORY BY
IN
JOE
R.
JOHN
LANSDALE & LANSDALE
L.
CHAMPION MOJO STORYTtUCRS!
l
YOO-HOO, IS THERE A CRYPTKEEPER IN THE CRYPT? I’LL EVEN SETTLE FOR .
A VAULT-KEEPER...?
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1 | 1
WE CAN OBSERVE THeB',
FURTHER EFFECTS OF THE PROCEDURE.
up f 4Jv
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:a -jrtT'-f.i CAN PA/ HER ROO/W
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note;
YOU RB RIGHT, ALBERT,
SHE DESERVES IT AFTER THE ORDEAL SHE HAS ©ONE THROUGH AND IT WILL HELP HER FEEL BETTER ABOUT BEING OUR LITTLE GUINBA PIG
•OKA/ AGREED SPEAK 17~> UCO A« IT IT IT AS AC TO HER ABOUT YOU TWO WALK THE PARK /-VI
AND IW SURE SHE'LL ACCEPT.”
GO ON, CATCH UP WITH HER BEFORE SHE GETS HERSELF INTO TROUBLE ON HER
FIRST OAY
OUr
ffl
•
r OH, /My
gov
,
apep?
.
you
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.GO/ME ON, SISTER,
k
yOU RE GOING
DOWNTOWN.
^
S HE JUST TOOK OFFICER O'ROURKE S GUN -AND...
.
.
/ACCORDING ^ TO WITNESSES, SHE PULLED THE GUN OUT OF ITS HOLSTER. WALKED RIGHT UP TO THE GIRL, AND SHOT HER IN THE
r
.
HEAD TWICE.
^
WE HAVE THE WITNESSES ^ READ/ TO IDENTIF/ HER ALONG WITH Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;f^OURKG
r '
HERE AS SOON AS HER APPOINTED DEFENDER ^ V^ ARRIVES. _^^B ,
...SHOT
A WO/WAN
DOWN.
WHAT IS IT. O'ROURKE
,
THAT'S ^
7
?
NOT HER?
/m
XN
SIR,
TELLING
THAT IS NOT THE WO/WAN ARRESTED. >/
TOU, .
X
I
r
I'LL
^
SET THE POOR.
r
ME?
./ALBERT.
excuse C/AN
I
HELP
you?
DO KNOW ?? I
y
X
come
NOW, HAND- ^ some, IS THAT A WAy TO GREET A FRIEND? A
'
S.
^ BUT ^
^
APEf?
^
HOW... WHAT
WAS..?
^
AREN T ^ see me? a
yOU GLAP TO
x yes of COURSE BUT. HOW PIP
W
l
r
YOU?
I
APAPTEP.
HANPSOME.
^
ISN'T THAT WHAT .THE EXPERIMENT
LWAS
ABOUT? A
T HBY ~ let you
^ go?
a
TTHEy tes. HAD r
~
THE Tney
WRONG WOMAN.
so ^orTHOUGHT. .
*
I/M
SATING.
HANc?so/vie. is
^~
THAT ITS THE ORC?ER
OF THE SPECIES SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AS ANO |^| AS DIDN'T LIKE IT. SHE WAS WEAK, WAS STRONG, s* WAS THE VICTOR.
/V\URC?eR'?
^
I
V
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ir CALL IT WHAT r /MURDER? DO you Y ARE /OU CALL A TIGRESS you
SHE WAS
'
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l
KILLING
AN
ELK,
v
I
/M/
INFERIOR.
SA / N G 1
/MURDER? DO yOU CALL A FALCON KILLING i
V
%
RODENT
A
/murder?
.J
MY GOD, YOU /MEAN yOU DID /MURDER THAT >T WO/MAN??
r
^
^AREso,SUPERIOR you ^ THEN?
you
^
SHOULD KNOW, HANDSO/ME, yOU HELPED /MAKE /ME WHAT A/M
r
.
^ k
r SILENCE. \L/ r DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK OF IT ANYMORB AND
I
NOW.
I
r
APEP
HOW CAN .
you...?
TIRED I/M GOING TO APPROPRIATE DR.
,
I/M
^ L
SCOTTSDALE S BEDROO/M.
,
A
WATCHBV HBR WALK UP THE STAIRS AND THAT WAS THE LAST TI/ME SAW HER BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED. I
I
i
I
THE NEXT /MORNING SHE WAS GONE.
,
BEHIND we
WE READ ABOUT
HER EXPLOITS IN THE NEWS. AND
r
FOUR YEARS WE SAW HER ON
LATER,
IS
T HE WHITE HOUSE.
WHERE NEWL Y APPOINTED SECRETARY OF HOMELAND
^
SECURITY FORMER US ATTORNEY
NICK PENNINGTON WITH THE ^ VGENERAL PRESIDENT. \ CONFERENCE
TELEVISION.
IS
„
IN
— HERE WE SEE NICK PENNINGTON HIMSELF WITH HIS LOVELY ^FIANCE. ^ APEP NEPHTHYS, OUTSIDE A BENEFIT GALA HELD LAST WEEK.
AS YOU ALREADY KNOW PENNINGTON WAS APPOINTED AFTER THE ^ MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF HIS
V
V
V
PREDECESSOR
SHE S BEEN MARRIED THREE IN THE LAST FOUR
TIMES
\\
^
7
1
V
.
DEFINITELY NOT A
COINCIDENCE.
WITH HER
'
NEW INVOLVEMENT
X
>
WITH THIS NICK PENNING-
TON PERSON, OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT MAY THREATEN THE a FREE WORLD.
v '
r
.
IT'S
JUST HARD TO THINK THAT I...
>
YOU HAD NO IDEA WOULD HAPPEN. IT S ALMOST TOO
THIS
> AMASSING GREAT WEALTH, BUT TO WHAT END?
THIS
s.
//
DON'T
BLAME YOURSELF
W
\.
YEARS, TWO HUSBANDS MYSTER IOUSLY DIE AND ONE COMMITTED TO AN INSTITUTION. ALL LEAVING THEIR FORTUNES TO HER.
.
\
UNBELI...
^
J
^ABOUT ...WHAT YOUF.
r YOU
^
KNOW HAVE.
FIANCE?
mmsT we re going ^ VFO R A CONFERENCE IN IRAQ TO /MEET WITH THE 1
B
PRI/ME /MINISTER. /WORE,
A
ON THE NEW
TALK
OE/VIOCRACy^» FUNNY
^B
WORD IN A WORLD ^ LIKE THIS, I5N T IT? PEACE IS NOT IN HU/WAN ^1 NATURE. WENT ON AHEADj HE WILL CALL FOR L A /ME HERE IN THE _^B MORNING. ^SlfB I
r
THAT S NOT WHAT /MEANT ARE \1 IN LOVE WITH HI/M? DIP YOU EVEN FEEL I
YOU
THE/M?
FOR AN/ OF THE
IF WANTEP^V-f LOVE WOULD A COMB TO YOU. HANPSO/ME. PONT LOOK SO BASHFUL. HOW COULD NOT NOTICE THE k WAy YOU LOOK y r I
I
r HELLO
'
HANPSO/ME. CO/ME
.CAN
I
X.
IN?
I
>
—
Pm
AT /ME?
/MONEy^
r THEN
WHAT IT?
WHAT S X KA GODDESS
IS
THE
r
JWONE/?
NEED WITH ^/MONey? y ,
?^ODDESSf>
THAT'S WHAT^"-^ IS THAT WHAT ^v. yOU /MADE /ME. I/M v YOU THE /MOST POWERFUL WO/MAN >J ' IN THE WORLD THANKS TO YOU AND DR SCOTTSDALE. NOW DICTATE NICK LIFE AND DEATH. HAVE POWERS PENNINGTON. HE BBYONO NOR/MAL /MAN. IS THAT y IS SUPPOSED TO BE NOT WHAT /MAKES ^3 SOMEONE SO IMPORTANT. IN A GODDESS? CHAFGB OF KEEPING A/MERICA SAFE. BUT TO /ME HE IS ONLY A PUPPET AND PULL THE STRINGS. WITH HI/M LL HOLD THE FATE ^ IS THAT OF THE WORLD IN /My r WHAT you ARE HANDS. ^
AREX
I
I
/
^
I
I
AFTER? THE
EWORLD? ^
IS NOT ^^B W ISWHAT A GODDESS ^ /MEANT FOR? THE IT
WORLD WILL BOW DOWN TO /ME WILL yOU RULE k. AT /M/ SIDE, HANDSO/ME? .
r
you RE l
,
APEPB 1
evil^^
BAD you HADN T REALIZED THAT WHEN r you DECIDED TO HELP DR. \ SCOTTSDALE. APEp IN /M/ NATIVE LANGUAGE, IS THE VERy PERSONI FICATION OF EVIL, /M/ /MOTHER KNEW IT THE OAY HER BYBS .FIRST /MET /MINE. SHE NAMED /ME ^AT THAT VERy MOMENT WHEN / SHE WHISPERED THE ./ WORD APEP
\
^
y^
ANYWAY.
^^^B
^
NICK WILL CO/ME FOR /ME IN THE /MORNING. NEED TO REST UNTIL THEN. I/M GOING TO DR SCOTTSDALE S ROOM FOR THE NIGHT. /M/ OFFER STILL STANDS, A I
X
^S>.
HANDSO/ME
jr f
SHE IS ABSOLUTBLY
>
EVIL,
ALBERT. YOU KNOW WHAT SHE'S PLANNING TO VO?
V
r
yes
OVER HEARD I
we have TO STOP HER.
~
WE CAN TALK TO THIS PBNNING-
k TON
FELLOW.
AND SAY Xg WHATr yOU KNOW / WHAT CO/WES OVER yOU N WHEN SHE IS AROUND YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT SHE IS. SHE HAS VERy STRONG SEDUCTIVE V POWERS. NO WAy WOULD y .
7
>
THEN THE ONLy WAy BUT
F REVERSE-SURGERy > IS
HOW? SHE
PROBABLT
IS
LI/MMUNE TO ANy FORM > ANESTHESIA. .'J
I^OF
HE EVEN LISTEN to us.
X.
\
WAY&B ONLY IN a HU/MAN DOSES. HAVE A BOTTLE OF CHLOROFORM Xg IN STORAGE. IN SMALL DOSES 1 IT'LL PUT SO/VIEONE TO SLEEP BUT A HIGH DOSE WILL KILL. IF WE USE A LETHAL DOSE IT MAy TAX HER ADAPTIVE POWERS TO THE V POINT OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS, A HOPEFULLy GIVING US SOlME^ TIME TO OPERATE.
/
I
/
x
WORTH X, A TRX CAN'T BELIEVE IM SAyiNG
p r
IT'S
I
THIS, k
BUT WE CAN T
LET HER LEAVE
^
the fate
OF THE FREE WORLD
.
ALIVE.
k.
IS
AT STAKE.
.
J^***^^ OKAY, ' NOW PUT IT OVER HER FACE. LL HELP HOLD HER y DOWN.
^
I
.
DOSAGB, IT SHOULD ONLy TAKE A FEW TO TAKE
xMOMENTS
EFFECT.
^ TIGHTLY, OA/YIN
IT,
TIGHTLY!
UNGH. »/W
^
TR/1N<5,
ALBERT!
,
SHE & GETTING... ^ /ENGH... STRONGER? HER STRENGTH... UNGH... IS
.
AOAPTING TO /M. ./WATCH /MINE? CAN'T HOLV IT /MUCH LONGER?
aw,
roc*
roots?
I
^THINK you ^ you CAN KNOCK /Me UNCON SCIOUS!?.'
WAIT,
you we«e GOING TO
OPGRATG on me.
KILL
SHOULP YOU BOTH
^
STANP!
I
WHERE YOU
^
BUT
I
^
WILL NOT lowbr m/seLF
TO yOUR PATHBTIC
v
^1S
X
LeveL.
WGLL LOOK
^
THIS
WHAT yOU Re LOOKING FOR, POCTOR?
~
WAS
^
THIS PLAN s. >
B
WERE
^ ~ ?
you GOING TO SLIT PAY
THROAT
v
WITH IT?,
x
WATCH
HOW yOUR 1 FUTILe ATTempT
'
K ,
WOULP HAVE FAILGP.
J
NOW ^ GST OUT! LEAVE me to my sLumeeR. NICK WILL BE CALLING for me in THe
^ .
mORNING.
^4
V
L
MT GOP, VOUG. VIV YOU see HeR eyes? shb
t
'
,
>
IS NO LONGER HUMAN. SHE IS BBYON OUR STOPPING HER. SHS IS INVINCIBLE. WILL NOTHING > STOP HeR?’?’
^'
TT%w
CARBON
PIOXIPE.
FILLBV WITH THS GAS WOULP BE FATAL TO ANY
AVERAGE PBRSON ANP WG Neep not make contact WITH HSR TO APMIN ist br it. X,
V
WILL
^ we FILL THe BEPROOM WITH
\
' IT ANP IT LL HOPBFULLy CHOKB HBR INTO UNCONSCIOUSNCSS. HSR APAPTIVE ABILITIES , Ik WON'T KNOW WHAT /
L
IT
WORK?
HIT THEM.
yy
CN
IT IS
OUR LAST OPTION. PoesN t we WONT
if it
HAVE TO WORRy ANY LONGBR. SHB LL SURBLY KILL US ,
V
S.
THIS TIME.
HAVE A COLLSAGUe I
WHO CAN SUPPLT US TWO
TANKS. I'LL HAVE IT SBNT TO US IMMEPIATELX^
...Tne
ROOM'S AS
AIRTIGHT AS S GOING TO
IT
^
GET,
a
L
k sea ea
L
.
a
ANP
WITH CAULKING AROUNV THE OUTSIPE OF THE .
WINDOW...
ANY
> MOMENT NOW, f VOUG, THB GAS SHOULP BE FILLING THE ROOM
r OKA^ THE ^ POOR CRACK ANP THE VENTS INSIPE ARE
.
ANP SOON START TAKING BFFBCT / ON APEP
.
THERE /SHOULP 8£ ENOUGH^ r CONCENTRATION OF
AVERAGE WOULP SUREL/ fc SE PEAP. yTtfr
^
r
I
CARSON PIOXIPE INSIPE ST NOW WHERE PERSON
tf-HE
SHE IS COUGHING 1 HEAVILy NOW. CAN HEAR HER STRUGGLING TO GET OUT OF SEP CAN HEAR THE LAMP ANP FALL TO ^ CLOCK THE FLOOR. AJ I
W
r
I
^
1
HEAVy
^^B
FOOTSTEPS ^ AS SHE STRUGGLES TO STAy UPRIGHT. AS SHE COMBS CLOSER TO THE /
r
L
-
^ ^ ^ HEAR ANyTHING CAN'T yET.
k.
WAIT,
POUG, T PLEASE.
PON T L
"A
~~
Mk'V
KILL
ME.
PLEA SI IM NOT l REALLT EVIL,'
'
Jfl
— /^PO NOT LISTEN 7
^
SHE'S STARTING TO COUGH. ^
^
~
j
POOR
TO HER, POUG.
3
1
OFF HER J \FIGHT INFLUENCE^
V
r POua\C4 LOVE YOU I
ase.
.
I
WON T LISTEN?
Wr --iMtVottiLr #r * "i
line
ra v
i
1
PRO'Miseis
-YOU? THe WfiRLI: - j
^
r
QUICK.' we HAVE TO SHUT OFF TUB CARBON DIOXIPE BEFORE IT OVER TAKES US AS WELL.
^
^ ^STHERE, OFF S IT
IT
OVER NOW
THIS
IS
HOW THE
STORY ENDS.
WE WERE ABLE TO VO THE PROCEDURE WITHOUT INCIDENT.
SHE REVERTED SACK TO HER ORIGINAL STATE. THE AIDS HAD COMPLBTBLY OVER
COMB
THEN WHy DID FEEL SO BAD?
I
WAS IN LOVE WITH HER. AND MAYBB IN HER OWN TWISTED WAy SHE LOVED MB. I
HER.
IT WAS FOR THE BETTER. WE DID SAVE /MANKIND
WAS RIGHT ABOUT ONB THING.
WELL, SHE
AL/MOST TOOK HER UP ON HER OFFER TO RULE BY HER SIDE I
IT
WOULDN'T HAVE
WORKED OUT ANyWAy.
AFTER
ALL,
I
ONLy HUMAN.
FOLKS ARE ALWAYS SCHEMIN’ TO HOLD OTHERS DOWN! LET ME TELL YOU, EVEN THE CRYPT-KEEPER AND THE VAULT-KEEPER ARE PART OF A GHOULOLD BOYS CLUB THAT LOVES KEEPING A GOOD W WOMAN DOWN! AFTER ALL, THEY’VE GOT a IX, CRYPTS AND VAULTS TO KEEP -
WHAT DO
I
I
HAVE?!
NEED TO
r WHIP UP A BATCH OL’
V
OF^
DOC SCOTTSDALE’S
SPECIAL POTION! BUT I’LL NEED TWO SPECIAL A k INGREDIENTS! g|s.
BUT POWER-HUNGRY PREDATORS DON’T JUST PREY UPON WOMEN! ANYONE THEY DEEM TO BE WEAK IS FAIR ^ GAME! TAKE STANLEY POTTS, FOR EXAMPLE! ALL HE HAD WAS A SIMPLE DREAM, AND AN OPPORTUNISTIC CO-
WORKER STOLE IT’S
IT!
ALL LOVINGLY
LAID
OUT
IN...
VIlT JFL
hoodoo
'"CONSPATULATIONS, 6APT.
WHAT A SPEAT
\
HE
WHAT'S THE CELE6PATION?
r OH, SlDNEy/S
yOU WOULDN'T UNDEPSTAND.
SOLOES
A FANTASTIC
SAME
VTH£
IDEA
^
IDEA/
^
^S, FOP CALLED IT'S MONST BP
COMPANy^.
NBISHBOPHOOP .. 'WHAT.'P^ THAT'S
My
SAME.
.
DON'T 6£ > fPIOICULOUS. you
WOPK
IN THE MAIL HE'S THE SENIUS.
VPOOM.
y
WELL, IP IT ISN'T OL' SIDNEY.
you SOLD N YMONSTEP NEISH8 OPHOOD. THAT'S THE SAME I SAVE you.
y
n.
r
THAT'S
>
THE TITLE YOU L SAVE ME. J
Y PEVVED \ I've
'
IT
>
SIDNEY. I'VE SIVEN IT A NICE
UP,
PACKASE AND A PPOMOTIONAL S.
CAMPAISN.
GUT
/
I INVENTED THE SAME.
COMINS UP WITH A SAME'S NOTHINS, POPS. IT'S .
SELUNS
THE SAME.
THAT'S WHEPE THE WOPK AND THE 8PAINS
V
APE.
V
He DPINICS THe THiee. ne stols My ioeA.
I'LL
DO
i s
CHAMPASNe,
AND ^
I DPINK MILK... THAT
SMCLLS. r
NOTHING.
Nevep do ANYTHING.
X
ALWAYS TAKe
I
ALWAYS TAKe
IT.
IT.
ALL THAT
WOPK POP NOTHING' J
WHAT'S
WPONS WITH ME? THIS IS A PAPE book-what's this? hn ,
^
PENT, SPAMPS.
^
you peMeMpep what THAT IS. you'pe A MONTH LATE.
V
r
...mo
”
THAT YOU IF ONLY THIS WAS PEAL...
4
CUPSE YOUP v
<$>
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^
...WITH
POX,
THE
A
OP A
MONSTEP, OP
TAPSET.
•€«e
^ DEMON. >
W 7
8UT
WHEPE
WOULD I
FIND
SOMETHING ,
LIKE
1 THAT?
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MONSTEP
NEISHfiOPH OOD.
J
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<THe WHAT ^ HELL. I'LL SIVE
V
IT
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HEP. .
USE
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OUST
>
SIVE THE SPELL
TO HEP TO v
0ELIVEP.
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^
you ^ SOT THAT, 8LOOC?y?
* i heap you, MASTEP. AND I WILL DELIVEP r
yOUP
MESSASE..
w,
^ ANS MAy8E I'LL N ATTACH A VIPUS TO IT, OUST TO MAKE IT SPECIAL. >
IT
WOPKS.
THE NEISH80PH00D. THE SPELL MAPS IT PEAL.
I
HAVE MY
OWN
^ PEPSONAL APMy.
^
4
^
THEy'PE
OUST v
LIKE I
INVENTED THEM.
>
>
SOON A5AI
CASH THIS CHECK I'M coins to euy Me a 86TT6P SPOPTS CAP, .
AND A BLONDS TO
X. GO
f AND
WITH
WITH
IT.
^4
MY \
MACIC SPSLL,
Move V
HIM
I CAN TO THe
NSICHBOPHOOD.
j
wetcoMe to THe NSICHBOPHOOD.
these have PPESH 8LOOD IN THEM, AND v PAISINS. .
yuM'
.
I
I've sot MAIL.
HAVE ANOTHEP
COMMAND POP r
IjF^ r
you.
HOPE IT'S NOTHING LIKE LAST I
^
PEALLy DIDN'T HAVE ANyTHINS ASAINST THAT
TIME. 1
POOP MAN. AND I LOST My BEST MIXINS BOWL AND
w
.
SPOON.
' My SPELL > DECIDES WHAT you do. > .
OH, DEAP.
WHy CAN'T WE ALL OUST SET ALONS?
SIDNEY'
I
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
.
coves HIM up, wOLPie.
IT DOeSN'T HAve to ee
too
Deep.
M
K \
'llff
I HOPe THAT'S all siDNey expecTs v
POP
AWHILe.
yes,
IT'S
ALL
SO...U6Ly.
yeAH, AND I esoxe A NAIL.
DID you SST My MONey? IS BAQT
OSAO?
OH, OSAQ. I'M SOQQY.
DAN6 I
k
IT.
Neeo THAT MONey....
,
WITH AT My
you SUYS 2
COMMAND
I
CAN HAVe ANyTHINC
V
NO.
1
yftwT
I WANT...
yeAH, I'LL Cive THAT
AND WHAT HAPP6N5 WHEN He ^cts TiceD OF US? .
^
SOMe ^
THOUGHT.
w;
!
YOU KNOW, IT SURE WAS NICE OF THE OLD WITCH TO INVITE US INTO THIS HOT TUB! MAYBE WE
k
MISJUDGED HER!
COULD BE MISERABLY MISTAKEN, BUT I’M STARTING TO SUSPECT THIS AIN’T NO HOT TUB! THAT L IF WE DON’T GET OUT NOW - . WE’RE SOUP! I
/
•Trnrr^i
^
LIKE ANYONE WOULD WANT A BOWL OF CREAM OF ,
CRYPT-KEEPER SOUP!
.
^
^
YOU EVERGAGGING GHOULS ARE VITAL INGREDIENTS IN MY SPECIAL POWERPOTION!
W
>GASP!< >CHOKEl<
r
AS MUCH AS LOVE TO STAY AND
I’D
>
BECOME SECRET SAUCE, WITCHIE-POO, MY PALE SKIN IS GETTING ALL PRUNEY - AND I’M
k
SURE YOU DON’T WANT
PRUNES
YOUR
IN
RECIPE!
A
SO, LET’S
fe.
r
MEET AGAIN NEXT
TIME,
>
TALES FROM THE CRYPT #9! AND REMEMBER, DON’T UPSET ANY WITCHES IF YOU WANT TO STAY OUT OF KIDDIES,
k
IN
HOT WATER HEY, DYING HERE!!
I’M
/
.
my fellow
Gruesome
greetings,
political
Crypt-Keeper,
with
Americans!
me, your non-
It’s
SHRUNKEN
a somewhat
SELECTION of TEARLESS FEEDBACK from our CREEPY CONSTITUENTS. Seems like our usually tight-lipped editorial
them
around these parts. censorship,
from
Ironic, isn’t it? In
we have
to silence
un-DYING
expressing their
FROM THE CRYPT. Congratulations and
thank you for reviving a
Johnny
admiration for their favorite
Tell
true
DEMON-ocracy
may be a column as
I mean, democracy,
letting you the
VOTE every issue for your favorite stories.
rotten readers
a
er,
here
letters
close race this
It
was
time around with “Ignoble Rot" by writer Fred
Van Lente and artist Mort Toddjust squeaking past Moonlight
Old Witch
Those two will stoop to any level to get their
to this?
mags back! And in
a
grew up on.
me, Johnny, did the Vault-Keeper or the The
putyou up
POWERS-THAT-BE around
benevolent dictatorship, we’ve always ran this
I
Bailey
FEINDISH fans
HORROR comicbook! But while the
series
Sincerely,
orderfor them to talk about
a few of our
more mature audience...?) Or maybe you could Even if you don’t, I’m still going to keep
for a
reprint originals.
buying TALES
types are eager to spout off on a topic were super-sensitive about
case you didn't know, all ofthe original
EC
comics are being reprinted as beautiful bigfull-cobr hardcover
You can buy
books by the geeks over at Gemstone Publishing
of 'TALES FROM THE CRYPT (as well as THE HAUNT OF FEAR, THE VAULT OF HORROR, and
the first few years
many more) for a mere $49.95 per volume - a than trying
to get the original
back
lot
cheaper
issues!
Sonata" by writers Joe andJohn lansdale and artist Chris Noeth.
Not much ofa
surprise really, as
ZOMBIES are hotter than ever
Keep those emails and
letters
these days.
coming - we Send
here in the Crypt ofTerror!
get so lonely
letters to:
The Crypt- Keeper’s Corner Td normally tell you all about our fifth frightful collection of TALES FROM THE CRYPT stories published in paperback and hardcover by Papercutz, but that'lljust have to wait till next time. Or you can simply check out the ad on our back cover. But if we’re going to squeeze any mail in, we better do so now.
40 Exchange
Place, Suite
New York, NY Or
email your
comments
to the
1308
10005
Old Editor at:
salicrup@papercutz.com
.
And Dear Crypt-Keeper, I
was recently
at
collectibles.
EC
walked
local mall,
straight
told
visit
papercutz.com for the
latest
1990
He
I
kinds of comic
ail
for the
to
me
buy them so bad but didn’t have the to a box of horror comics with some
wanted pointed
reprints.
I
TALES
in the center plaza
He pulled down a stack of EC originals. It was He even had THE CRYPT OF TERROR issue two.
him
money.
SUBSCHTTflONS!
snatched the only two
would be so happy
if
For a one year (six-issue) subscription to
FROM THE CRYPT,
1
though the new ones are nothing I
and
He had
up to him and asked him
comics.
amazing. 1
1
be sure to
FROM THE CRYPT news! my
was a temporary comic vendor.
like
you could
CRYPTS he had. them,
revive
I
still
Even
love them.
THE HAUNT OF
FEAR and THE VAULT OF HORROR. (Maybe even make
order,
Send
in
to:
US funds
just only,
TALES
send o check or money for
$24.00.
subCRYPTions, PAPERCUTZ,
40 Exchange
Place, Suite 1308,
New
10005. Make checks payable to NBM. Or call 1-800-886-1223. MC, VISA, and
AMEX
accepted.
York,
NY
A SPECIAL EDITORIAL BY CATHY GAINES MIFSUD we
Before
wc need
begin,
TALES FROM
I
make something
to
very
clear.
HE CRYPT is not endorsing any political We respect our readers' intelligence,
candidates or parties.
and
for those
do so
to
Nor
of you old enough to vote, wc encourage you
for the candidates
we
are
It’s
Gov. Sarah Palin,
is
to us. Also,
and
this
—
it’s
banning books from a
of Wasilla, Alaska, are true or
not.
We, of course,
certainly
that they’re indeed untrue.
possibly object to
of the hands of impressionable children.
You
1950
from
sec,
Gaines,
published
CRYPT EC line
comicbooks,
FEAR,
well
Well...
the
as
M.
FROM THE
rest
of the entire
of comics, which included THE HAUNT OF THE VAULT OF HORROR, WEIRD SCIENCE,
When we decided
CRYPT
and editors
in the field,
those comics arc
still
and even
considered to
be shining examples of some of the best comics ever created. Unfortunately, during the height of the success of the
horror
titles,
there
was
a
movement
to
EC
ban these comics,
based on the misguided notion that they were
somehow
turning children into juvenile delinquents. Just like some
blame video games and rap music for and for being a negative influence, back
politicians today try to sores of social
ail
EC
then
ills
comics were the target.There were newspaper and
magazine
articles, investigations,
was
created, a
EC
line
and
finally, a
Now,
MAD,
you actually look
if
Comics Code
which was turned into a
before.
a
Now,
new TALES
there’s certainly
that, but we decided to go with wc wanted TALES FROM THE CRYPT
we
over
are,
now
years from
We
will
still
a scary
the original
comic was launched, and
comic that wc hope
folks fifty
be talking about.
certainly understand the desire to protect children
unsuitable material, but is
be,
and artwork
fifty years after
FROM THE CRYPT
we don’t
from
banning books
believe that
the answer. As the situation exists today, both librarians
nor
children,
may be
act very' responsibly to assure that children
exposed
anything objectionable.
usually the excuse given
is
at
librarians,
to
work. As
far as
and booksellers
wc can
be behind banning books
may
that
when another agenda teachers, parents,
tell,
are doing a great job
sure children are indeed protected.
What
un-American
of making
usually seems to
an attempt to repress ideas
is
offer alternative political views.
—
Protecting
This
is
not only
blatantly violating the very concept
of
free
- but it is assuming that people arc unable to come to their own informed conclusions about controversial subjects. And how could they, if only one side of a debate is presented, speech
while literature expressing opposing views are suppressed?
Banning books represents of our fellow
and read those old
at
is
how
a
look at the hardcover collections of
tame they are by
incredibly
In
1990,
a lack
of
faith in the intelligence
citizens to think for themselves.
the
Comic Book
Legal
Defense Fund, was
incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization to fight
EC
the only thing that might actually shock you
THE CRYPT
FROM THE CRYPT
wanted
Ians
code that meant the end of almost the entire
of comics. Only
magazine, managed to survive.
comics,
TALES
Those
for all-ages, with the very best writing
and booksellers
later,
whatever
sell
be what the original comic was always meant to
possible. So, here
are
TALES, FANTASY, WEIRD SCIENCE-FANTASY, CRIME SUSPIvNS TORIES, and one called MAD. Dad hired the artists,
certainly, every
or not
nothing wrong with
comic
SHOCK SUSPENSTORI ES, TWO-FISTED
now, over 50 years
to relaunch
comic had ever gone
WEIRD
very best writers,
And
sell
always determining exactly
is
FROM THE CRYPT series that would push the boundaries of modern horror, going places no TALES FROM THE
TALES
William
father,
TALES
original
as
challenge
we’re back trying to create a
my
1956
to
the
no unsuitable material ever
sure
hands of children.
suitable for children.
Papercutz because
book banning frightening to us? Surely, wc can’t anyone keeping objectionable material out
is
isn’t
all-ages graphic novels.
to
Why
and
wirh Papcrcutz, there were fans of the original comic that
looking into
Palin,
is
were surprised that we chose a publisher known for their
back when she was the mayor
library
The
they choose.
we
very unclear
its
in the
bookseller has the right to decide to
political
truly frightening
very important,
is
whether those early reports about Sarah
hope
issue's alternate
our version of a
simply expressing our reaction whenever
hear anything about book banning
make
the responsibility to
winds up
what
attacking any candidates. This
cover, featuring
cartoon.
of your choice.
today’s standards.
Take
TALES FROM
published by Gemstone, and look closely at
censorship and defend the
book
free
amendment
speech and love comicbooks,
you consider joining
go
first
rights
of comic
professionals throughout the United States. If
support
this
to www.cbldf.org.
I
may we
noble organization? For
you
suggest
full details,
only wish they were around when
my
father could’ve used their help.
those stories, and you’ll see that you’ll be hard-pressed to find
a single drop of blood. Sure, the stories were scary
what they were intended
same way from the
who
to be.
that’s
in the
that classic fairy talcs are scary, or even stories Bible.
Usually the stories were about someone
did something wrong, and
somehow
—
But they were scary
how
their victims
were
avenged.
Now, does
that
mean we
With
all
that said,
we
still
like to believe that we’re living in
a world that recognizes that children love a
good scary story, and that if it’s told responsibly with good taste, it sparks their imaginations and they become the next generation of such amazing creators as George Lucas, Stephen Speilberg, Stephen King, and R.L. Stine
believe that every
book ever
Thank
—
all
former
EC comics readers.
You,
published should be available to any reader of any age?
Cathy Gaines Mifsud
Of
President William
course not! Certainly every bookstore and library has
M.
Gaines, Agent, Inc.
€.D. FA ns:
YOU'VE WRITTEN! YOU'VE E-IYIAILED! YOU'VE PHONED! YOU'VE THREATENED US!
iwu ommot (BUT WE’HE COMING OUT WITH COLLECTIONS ANYWAY!)
MSI
PROM THE
CRYPT
COLLECTING STORIES BY BILGREY, CABRAL, MR.EXES, GNIEWEK, HUDSON, KAPLAN, KLEID, LANSDALE, LOBDELL, MANNION, MARTINEZ, MCGREGOR, MURASE, NOETH, PETRUCHA, ROMBERGER, SIMMONS, SMITH 3, TODD, VELILLA and VOLLMAR!
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