Tales from the crypt 027 (r as 11),tales from the crypt v2 005 (2008),tales from the crypt v2 006 (2

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,

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WELL, KIDDIES,

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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

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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

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—GOOD THING WE’RE JUST VIRTUAL, AS IN NOT REAL! AFTER ALL, WASN'T X

THE INTERNET INVENTED

BY A DUDE NAMED A GORE?!

Hell

nook

-

—V

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

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and hardcover collections now on sale. The third VEN-

OMOUS VOLUME, CRYPT

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an EXCLUSIVE all-new

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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,

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We hear you, scarier

Kev!

Tell us

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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!

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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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,

I/M

^ L

SCOTTSDALE S BEDROO/M.

,

A

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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

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^

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1

V

.

DEFINITELY NOT A

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NEW INVOLVEMENT

X

>

WITH THIS NICK PENNING-

TON PERSON, OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT MAY THREATEN THE a FREE WORLD.

v '

r

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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.

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^

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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?

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AT /ME?

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WHAT S X KA GODDESS

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THE

r

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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

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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

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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

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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?’?’

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CARBON

PIOXIPE.

FILLBV WITH THS GAS WOULP BE FATAL TO ANY

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V

WILL

^ we FILL THe BEPROOM WITH

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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^

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ROOM'S AS

AIRTIGHT AS S GOING TO

IT

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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

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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

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W

r

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1

HEAVy

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FOOTSTEPS ^ AS SHE STRUGGLES TO STAy UPRIGHT. AS SHE COMBS CLOSER TO THE /

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^ ^ ^ HEAR ANyTHING CAN'T yET.

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POUG, T PLEASE.

PON T L

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Mk'V

KILL

ME.

PLEA SI IM NOT l REALLT EVIL,'

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— /^PO NOT LISTEN 7

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SHE'S STARTING TO COUGH. ^

^

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j

POOR

TO HER, POUG.

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V

r POua\C4 LOVE YOU I

ase.

.

I

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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£

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^

IDEA/

^

^S, FOP CALLED IT'S MONST BP

COMPANy^.

NBISHBOPHOOP ..

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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 .

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THE SAME.

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V

APE.

V

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Nevep do ANYTHING.

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ALWAYS TAKe

I

ALWAYS TAKe

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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

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THAT YOU IF ONLY THIS WAS PEAL...

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CUPSE YOUP v

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w,

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HAVE MY

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^ PEPSONAL APMy.

^

4

^

THEy'PE

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>

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SOON A5AI

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WITH

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these have PPESH 8LOOD IN THEM, AND v PAISINS. .

yuM'

.

I

I've sot MAIL.

HAVE ANOTHEP

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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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