Last updated 03 July 05. The latest version of this document can always be found at www.enjolrasworld.com. See last page for legal & © information.

Additions? Corrections? Contact Richard J. Arndt: rarndt39@hotmail.com.

The Warren Magazines

The Warren magazines are the big cheese in the black & white horror magazine boom for the 1960s-1970s, if only because they were there first and they lasted the longest. James Warren, the publisher of several different movie magazines, most notably ‘Famous Monsters Of Filmland’, was a long time lover of comics, particularly the EC comics of the early 1950s. He made a few tentative stabs at comics in 1964, producing a couple of stories adapting movies from the 1930s for ‘Monster World’, a sister magazine of ‘Famous Monsters Of Filmland’. In late 1964 he decided to take the plunge, producing a full-length comic anthology. It should be noted that the magazines he published were not comic books but magazines. They had to be.

The Comics Code Authority, established in 1955 to ‘clean up’ comics, had demolished the EC empire of quality horror comics as well as most of the lesser publishers of horror comics and forced those publishers who survived to water down the content to near pablum. You couldn’t use vampires, zombies, skeletons, ghouls, etc as characters in a comic book. You couldn’t show blood or horrific details. Nor could you use such words as horror or terror in titles. As the comic industry existed in 1964, a revival of EC-type comics wouldn’t have been possible.

Besides, Warren published magazines, designed to sit on stands alongside Look, Life, Sports Illustrated or Playboy. Well, maybe a few shelves over from those magazines but still in the general vicinity. Nowhere near those tawdry comic spinner racks.

Plus, the Comics Code Authority had no authority over magazines, since nobody had ever published a comic book in magazine form. EC had, in its dying days, published what they called Picto-Fiction. Prose stories dealing with crime and horror with a heavy amount of art in comic book style. However, this experiment was a failure. They also changed their humor comic, Mad, into a magazine. They promptly stopped calling it a comic, however. It was now a humor magazine.

So Warren decided to publish his comic stories in a format he was comfortable with, for a distribution system he understood and in a style that allowed him a great deal of freedom. Then he aimed those stories at the exact same audience that the regular four-color comics had targeted—12-14 year old boys. It was a smart and, as it turned out, profitable end run around the Comics Code.

The Warren run can be split up into five distinct eras. The first was The Goodwin Era, which ran from 1965-1967. Obviously this era was marked by the work of Archie Goodwin, who edited the line and wrote most of the stories for this period. It’s hard to overemphasize how important Goodwin’s work here is. He not only provided a foundation for Warren Publications to grow and succeed, but he also provided a template for other comic writers and future writers of horror prose.

The success of Warren, a major portion of which can be laid at Goodwin’s door, gave Marvel, DC & Charlton the desire to reenter the horror field, which helped spark the changing of the comics code and directly lead to the horror boom that comics went through from 1971-1975. Warren artist Joe Orlando became an editor at DC and, for at least 1968-1973, provided a truly good horror line. Charlton revitalized its own horror line and provided a home base for Steve Ditko, Pat Boyette, Rocco Mastroserio and other Warren artists. Marvel blantantly copied Warren when it began its horror line in 1969. Its horror hosts for Tower Of Shadows & Chamber Of Darkness looked and sounded a great deal like Uncle Creepy and the style of story was modeled much more after the Warren stories than EC’s sardonic brand of horror. Later, Warren artists such as Mike Ploog, Gray Morrow and Tom Sutton became major forces in creating Marvel characters such as Frankenstein’s Monster, Werewolf By Night, Man-Thing, Morbius, and Ghost Rider.

Recently, while reading a collection of Al Sarrantonio’s stories (a strong writer and probably the major editor in the horror field today), I was pleasantly shocked to recognize that his major influence appeared to be the Archie Goodwin Warren stories. In fact, there wasn’t a story in that collection that would not have fit handsomely in a Warren magazine circa 1965-1967. I suspect that Stephen King read Warren comics during this period. I know he read the Skywald books in the early 1970s.

But even beyond the solid foundation and literary influence that Goodwin built were his rock solid stories month after month. This, along with the respect, care and extra effort that every artist seemed to strive for when working on them and coupled with the obvious joy Goodwin took in tailoring stories for their particular skills, created an extremely high quality of magazine. Re-reading this three-year stretch of stories was just a joy.

By the end of 1967 however, Goodwin and almost all of the artists he had worked with left, victims of the money crunch that forced Warren Publishing to drastically cut page rates, launching Warren into its dark age. For the next two and a half years 50% or more of every issue would be reprints. Most of the new stories were so-so at best and were greatly hampered by inferior art, with only Tom Sutton (the only Goodwin era artist to regularly contribute during this time) and Ernie Colon providing any quality work.

The end of the dark age was highlighted by the launch of Vampirella, a new comic magazine with a sexy vampiress hosting it. From 1969-1973, Warren rebuilt its position as the leading black & white horror publisher. In doing so, Warren launched an astonishing number of artists & writers’ careers into mainstream comics, including (although not limited to) Dave Cockrum, Mike Ploog, Doug Moench, Nicola Cuti, Rich Buckler, Don McGregor, Al Hewetson, Ed Fedory, Bill Black, Rich Corben, Boris Vallejo, Ken Kelly, Budd Lewis and many more.

In 1973, two events occurred that completely changed the look of a Warren comic. First, was the ‘invasion’ of Spanish artists from the S.I. Studio. Many of these artists came from the European romance field and their ability to draw startling beautiful women as well as a different brand of horror than American readers were used to was certainly a major draw. The second was a complete graphic re-design of the magazines themself by new editor Bill DuBay. During his first stint as editor (he would hold the title three different times) from 1973-1976, he was very much a hands on boss and the quality of the magazines’ stories and art greatly improved. Warren introduced color sections with coloring that was better than any of the comic companies except possibly Playboy’s “Little Annie Fannie”. They reintroduced Will Eisner’s The Spirit to readers who probably weren’t ever born when the original run ended. In addition, DuBay’s reign also seem to feature a uniform approach to the style and mood of the horror in the magazines. An approach that was as strong as, but completely different from, the approach that Goodwin used. It was certainly something that had not been reflected in the scatter-shot years from 1968-1972.

Beginning in 1976, Louise Jones, former wife of artist Jeff Jones and future wife of artist Walt Simonson, headed the editorial staff, maintaining much of the best of the innovations that DuBay introduced and pulling back into the Warren fold some of the artists that had vanished from the pages of a Warren magazine back in 1967.

After Jones left in 1980, the magazines entered a slow decline under a series of different editors. Bill DuBay came back twice, once using the non-de-plume of Will Richardson, but the quality of the magazines took a sharp dive both times. The Spanish artists largely left and were replaced by artists from the Phillipines. Mind you, these were not bad artists, but, with the notable excepations of Alex Nino, Alfredo Alcala and Vic Catan, stylistically they tended to be rather dull. By 1983, when the line collapsed, Creepy seemed to be just plodding along, while Eerie had abandoned horror completely and was a tottering shell of the fine magazine it had used to be. Only Vampirella was showing signs of life. Under the editorship of Timothy Moriarty, it was staging a comeback when the axe fell.

What caused the collapse? There were a number of different reasons. A major one being that publisher James Warren had fallen ill some years earlier and had little to do with the day to day operations of the company any longer. The independent comic shop boom had just begun with new comic companies seemingly springing up overnight. Many of Warren’s best writers and artists were gone, either working for the big two comic companies or for the new independents. The remaining writers, many of whom had delivered fine work over the years, seemed burnt out. The editorial revolving door insured that no strong hand was at the helm. The horror boom of the early 1970s was over. The newsstands, drug stores and supermarkets were dropping comic books and magazines from their inventories and the new comic shops were none too interested in the Warren books, which appeared old fashioned and tired (and didn’t fit into spinner racks!). After 18 years the line ended, not with a whimper or bang, but largely with a yawn.

For much of the 20 years since, there seemed to be few who cared. Harris Publications bought up the assets of Warren and relaunched Vampirella with some success in the 1990s. Still Vampi was never that strong of a character to begin with and the Harris version doesn’t seem to have improved her. However, in recent years there’s been a rebirth of interest in the original Warren line, with probably the most important example being The Warren Companion, complied by David A. Roach & Jon B. Cooke, which is an excellent book length expansion of the 4^th issue of the comic history magazine, Comic Book Artist. Another decent source is Stephen Sennitt’s Ghastly Terror, although there are some irritating technical art/text screwups {covers mentioned don’t appear on the appropriate page of text} and, at times, Sennitt’s opinions are often not supported by his own observations. Nonetheless, there’s a great deal of useful information in the book. In 2003, Spooky, a fine fanzine dedicated to the history of Warren Publications, debuted.

It’s my hope that this checklist is also a worthy addition to those fans and readers interested in that history. For your added pleasure, there’s an interview with Warren writer writers, Bob Toomey & Clark Dimond, at the end of the checklist. Have fun!

The Goodwin Era

Creepy

1. cover: Jack Davis (Jan. 1965)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Welcome [Russ Jones?/Jack Davis] 1p [frontis]

2) Voodoo! [Bill Pearson/Joe Orlando] 6p [story credited to Russ Jones & Bill Pearson]

3) H2O World! [Larry Ivie/Al Williamson & Roy G. Krenkel] 6p

4) Vampires Fly At Dusk! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p

5) Werewolf! [Larry Ivie/Frank Frazetta] 6p

6) Bewitched! [Larry Ivie/Gray Morrow] 6p

7) The Success Story [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p

8) Pursuit Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p

9) Creepy Ad [illustrated: Frank Frazetta] 1p

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Russ Jones. 35 cents. 48 pages. No cover date but in keeping with the dates on the 3^rd issue, this would probably have been dated Jan. or Winter 1965. Jack Davis provides several head shots of Uncle Creepy for story introductions. Bill Pearson has stated in print his displeasure over Russ Jones’ claiming of writing credit for the lead off story. Pearson insists it’s all his work. Apparently this first issue was originally intended to be an ‘all EC artists’ effort with the story ‘Bewitched’ intended to be Wally Wood’s contribution. Somehow the story was sent to artist Gray Morrow instead, making him the only non-EC artist included. The Frazetta story was his last comic art, except for two Creepy’s Loathsome Lore pages, which may have been done prior to the art for this story. The best story in this issue, Goodwin’s ‘The Success Story’, was based on an actual comic strip artist who conned his ghost penciler, inker & writer, who were unaware of each other, into doing the entire strip while the original artist claimed credit for it. Characters in the story are based on Goodwin, Williamson, Angelo Torres & Al McWilliams. All in all, a very good first issue.

2. cover: Frank Frazetta (Apr. 1965)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Archie Goodwin?/Angelo Torres] 1p [frontis]

2) Fun And Games! [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 6p

3) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Vampires! [Archie Goodwin/Bob Lubbers] 1p

4) Spawn Of The Cat People [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p

5) Wardrobe Of Monsters! [Otto Binder/Gray Morrow & Angelo Torres] 8p

6) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Werewolves! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] 1p

7) Welcome Stranger [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 7p

8) I, Robot [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 7p from the story by Otto Binder

9) Ogre’s Castle [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p

10) Creepy Ad [illustrated: Jack Davis] 1p

Notes: Goodwin is now listed as story editor. Again, no cover date but this would have been the Apr. or Spring 1965 issue. It is also the first bi-monthly issue. The ‘I, Robot’ adaptation by Otto Binder was his third attempt to present this series in comic form. The first was for EC comics in the 1950s {Orlando did the artwork for that attempt too} and a second attempt appeared in the 1964 in a fanzine. This serial would run irregularly over the next two years. Davis appears with more illos of Uncle Creepy for story introductions. The art from the Creepy ad by Davis would turn up again as the cover to the Eerie #1 ashcan edition. The Loathsome Lore pages listed here did not have official titles for the first 25 or so issues. Titles noted are actually coined by me, based on lore content. The first letters’ page featured letters from Rip Kirby artist John Prentice & Onstage artist Leonard Starr. ‘Ogre’s Castle’ is an especially good story although the art for ‘Spawn Of The Cat People’ is quite nice as well. ‘Wardrobe Of Monsters’ has Gray Morrow doing the first seven pages while Angelo Torres does the 8^th and last. The first Frazetta cover effort features a man threatened by growling black panthers. Good, but a long ways from what he was soon to show readers. Frazetta’s Creepy paintings are sometimes listed as his first horror paintings but he was doing Ballantine’s paperback EC collections at the same time. The first EC collection appeared at roughly the same time as Creepy #1. All four of these paperbacks had knockout horror covers. Another solid issue.

3. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1965)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Ghouls! [Archie Goodwin/Jack Davis] 1p [frontis]

2) Swamped! [written: Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p

3) Tell-Tale Heart! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

4) Howling Success! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p

5) Haunted! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p

6) Incident In The Beyond! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p

7) Return Trip! [Arthur Porges/Joe Orlando] 8p

8) Uncle Creepy Ad [Jack Davis] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: Frazetta’s cover depicts a ghoul entering a castle. Again no cover date but this would be the June issue. A very good issue with ‘Swamped!’ and the ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ adaptation holding the honors for best stories. The art is at a high level throughout with a special tip of the hat to Crandall’s Poe adaptation. Morrow employs very different art approaches for his two stories. Orlando’s art appears to be channeling Johnny Craig’s at certain points. The Loathsome Lore segment featured Jack Davis’ only comic art for Warren. The letters’ page featured a reprint of a three panel ‘Bullwinkle’ comic strip featuring Uncle Creepy, illustrated by Al Kilgore.

4. cover: Frank Frazetta (Aug. 1965)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Corpses! [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 1p [frontis]

2) Monster Rally! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p

3) Blood And Orchids! [Archie Goodwin/Al McWilliams] 7p

4) The Damned Thing! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p from the story by Ambrose Bierce

5) Moon City! [Larry Englehart/Al McWilliams] 6p

6) Curse Of The Full Moon! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p

7) The Trial Of Adam Link! [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 7p from the story by Binder

8) Creepy Ad [Angelo Torres] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: Goodwin is now listed as editor. The magazine increased to 56 pages but most of that is given over to Captain Company ads. No cover date but this is the Aug. 1965 issue. Frazetta’s cover is his best yet--a man is confronted by a werewolf while traveling over the moors. Just beautiful and the first true classic Warren cover. ‘Monster Rally’ reveals the origin of Uncle Creepy. Art honors go to Al McWilliams for two very good jobs—making one wish he had done more for Warren. The best is ‘Blood And Orchids’. Crandall’s art job is also quite nice and illustrates the best story for this issue.

5. cover: Frank Frazetta (Oct. 1965)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Zombies! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 1p [frontis]

2) Family Reunion! [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 8p

3) Blazing Combat Ad [John Severin] 1p

4) Untimely Tomb! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p [title is credited to Anne T. Murphy]

5) Creepy Fan Club Ad [Frank Frazetta & Angelo Torres] 1p [Torres art is a reprint, Frazetta’s

art is a B&W repo of the Uncle Creepy portrait which was one of the fan club’s

offerings.]

6) Sand Doom [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p

7) The Judge’s House! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Bram Stoker

8) Grave Undertaking [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

9) Revenge Of The Beast! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 7p

Notes: Frazetta’s vampire cover is ok, but not his best work. The interior, however, is an absolute blast! Williamson’s best art job for the early Warren issues, Toth’s debut and solid efforts from Orlando, Torres, Crandall & Morrow make this an art fan’s delight. Shoot, even the ads have great art! Severin’s Blazing Combat ad has the same art as Blazing Combat’s #1’s frontis. All of the stories are by Goodwin and there’s not a clinker in the lot, with high points probably going to his Stoker adaptation. Anne T. Murphy was Goodwin’s wife.

6. cover: Frank Frazetta (Dec. 1965)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Mummy’s Curse! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis]

2) The Thing In The Pit! [Larry Ivie/Gray Morrow] 8p

3) Thumbs Down! [Anne T. Murphy/Al Williamson] 6p

4) Adam Link In Business! [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 7p from the story by Binder

6) The Cask Of Amontillado! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan

Poe

6) Eerie Ad [Angleo Torres] 1p [Uncle Creepy is featured.]

7) The Stalkers [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

8) Abominable Snowman! [Bill Pearson/John Severin] 6p

9) Gargoyle [Archie Goodwin & Roy G. Krenkel/Angelo Torres] 8p

Notes: Frazetta’s gargoyle cover was laid out by Roy G. Krenkel. Krenkel did this for several other Frazetta covers. In fact, he did quite a lot of work in the background for Warren but rarely appeared front & center for a solo art job. Much of his cover layouts were printed for the first time in the EC fanzine Squa Tront #7 in 1974. Size increase to 64 pages. Anne T. Murphy does her only story for Warren and it is quite good, with snazzy Williamson art. The Poe adaptation is the high point for this issue, both storywise & artwise. Future comic pro Frank Brunner has a letter published. A rubber Uncle Creepy mask is used on the back cover for an ad.

7. cover: Frank Frazetta (Feb. 1966)

1) The Duel Of The Monsters! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p

2) Image Of Bluebeard! [Bill Pearson/Joe Orlando] 7p

3) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Werebeasts! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] 1p

4) Rude Awakening! [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

5) Drink Deep! [Otto Binder/John Severin] 7p

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Frank Frazetta Profile [Archie Goodwin/Roberto Oqueli] 1p [text

article w/photo]

7) The Body-Snatcher! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Robert Louis

Stevenson

8) Blood Of Krylon! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p

9) Hot Spell! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 7p

Notes: The second classic Frazetta cover features Dracula & the Werewolf in a battle royal! The layout was by Roy G. Krenkel. Best art job was Reed Crandall’s ‘Hot Spell’ with a stunning detailed splash page. Special note should be made here of Angelo Torres’ exceptional high quality of art during the Goodwin Years. He had a story (& sometimes two) in every issue of the early Creepys’ & Eeries’ and also appeared in Blazing Combat. Each story was strongly paced and beautifully drawn. The fellow who only appeared on the fringes during EC’s run had, by the mid 1960s, developed into a damn fine artist in his own right. I don’t mean to slight the other folks here. Frazetta, Toth, Severin, Morrow & a second fine job by Crandall make this a dynamite issue for art freaks. Stories aren’t bad either. The Creepy Fan Club page debuts. This was Goodwin’s attempt (and it worked) to foster a fan base for the magazine, similar to the one that he, and Warren writers like Ron Parker, John Benson, Bill Parente, Bhob Stewart and others had done for EC’s horror comics in the 1950s. Many future pros would make their comic debuts here.

8. cover: Gray Morrow (Apr. 1966)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Vampire Traps! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 1p [frontis]

2) The Coffin Of Dracula [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 10p

3) Death Plane [Larry Ivie/George Evans] 6p

4) The Mountain [Johnny Craig] 6p [story & art credited to Jay Taycee]

5) The Invitation [Larry Englehart, Russ Jones & Maurice Whitman/Manny Stallman] 7p

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Gray Morrow Profile [Archie Goodwin/Kirk Henderson] 1p [text

article w/photo]

7) Adam Link’s Mate! [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 8p from the story by Binder

8) Vested Interest [Ron Parker/George Tuska] 6p

9) Fitting Punishment [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

Notes: With two horror magazines coming out, Frazetta was now too busy to do every cover so Gray Morrow stepped in with a fine cover for Warren’s new serial, ‘The Coffin Of Dracula’, which takes place directly after the events in Stoker’s novel. The art highpoint is Johnny Craig’s beautifully shaded pencil art for his own story. The story highpoints are the Dracula serial & Craig’s work, although none of the stories are bad. Wish I could say the same about the art. Stallman’s work is fair, at best, and Tuska’s (generally a pretty good artist) effort is pretty limp. EC great George Evans does his only horror work for Warren. It ain’t bad but that’s about the best you could say about it.

9. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1966)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Giant Man-Apes! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis]

2) Dark Kingdom! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 8p

3) The Castle On The Moor! [Johnny Craig] 6p [story & art credited to Jay Taycee]

4) Adam Link’s Vengeance! [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 8p from the story by Binder

5) Overworked! [Archie Goodwin/Wally Wood & Dan Adkins] 6p

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Alex Toth Profile [Archie Goodwin/Berni Wrightson] 1p [text article

w/photo]

7) The Coffin Of Dracula, part 2 [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p

8) Out Of Time [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

9) The Spirit Of The Thing! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

10) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p [anti-smoking ad]

Notes: Frazetta’s cover of a swordsman attacked by flying vampires is only fair although the vampires are cool. Morrow’s lead character in his story appears to be the same character he used in his ‘Edge Of Chaos’ comic for Pacific Comics in the early 1980s. The Wood/Adkins art is not very impressive but then neither is the story. Berni Wrightson makes his comics debut with a pin-up showing a man being dragged into a grave by three ghouls. The tombstone in the foreground reads “Berni Wrightson Dec. 15, 1965”. All in all, this is not a very impressive issue with even the great artists appearing to have an off day and Goodwin’s stories feeling rushed and uninspired. Best efforts are the conclusion to ‘Coffin Of Dracula’ & the Morrow story.

10. cover: Frank Frazetta (Aug. 1966)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Witchcraft! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 1p [frontis]

2) Brain Trust [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p

3) Into The Tomb! [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 8p

4) The Creepy Fan Club: Reed Crandall Profile/Fate’s Verdict/Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Old

Scratch! [Archie Goodwin, Arnold Bojorquez & Ed Lahmann/Frank Brunner, Ed

Lahmann & Brant Withers] 2p [text article/story w/photo]

5) Monster! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 8p

6) Midnight Sail [Johnny Craig] 6p [art & story credited to Jay Taycee]

7) Backfire! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p

8) Thing Of Darkness! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

9) Collector’s Edition! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

Notes: What a difference an issue makes! From Frazetta’s classic Frankenstein’s Monster cover (with a version of the monster specially designed by Frazetta) to the incredible art job by Ditko that closes out this issue there’s just one triumph after another. ‘Brain Trust’ would have been a feather in anyone’s cap & easily have been the best story in the issue except that Goodwin outdoes himself with ‘Collector’s Edition’. Joe Orlando’s art on ‘Into The Tomb’ reminds anyone who didn’t like the art or the concept of Adam Link (like me, for instance) that he was as good as anybody in the business. Frank Brunner makes his comic debut on the fan page with a nice skeleton bursting from a grave scene. The headstone therein is entitled ‘Tales From The Tomb’. Fan Ed Lahmann writes & illustrates a Creepy’s Loathsome Lore page for the fan page. It’s pretty good too! Gray Morrow has a tasty art job too but the undeniable classic here is the Goodwin/Ditko story ‘Collector’s Edition’! From the slanted splash page to the slowly closing eyes running along the bottom of each page to the character design (check out the old fat guy with one blind eye and the other obscured behind a coke-bottle lens!), this may well be Ditko’s finest hour! It’s as impressive in its own way as Krigstein’s ‘Master Race’ or Eisner’s ‘Sand Saref’. (And yes, I have seen all the Spiderman & Dr. Strange stories, thank you very much!) This is the kind of art that makes and sustains a reputation and any praise you can hand him, Ditko richly deserves. Goodwin’s story is classic Goodwin and matches Ditko every step of the way. Strong, concise and memorable.

11. Frank Frazetta (Oct. 1966)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Rochester Rappings! [Ron Parker/John Severin] 1p [frontis]

2) Hop-Frog [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

3) Sore Spot [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 7p

4) The Doorway! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 6p

5) The Black Death! [Ron Parker/Manny Stallman] 8p

6) Beast Man! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

7) The Devil To Pay! [Archie Goodwin/Donald Norman] 6p

8) Skeleton Crew! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p

Notes: Nice giant ape cover by Frazetta. The issue’s highpoint is the moody and effective ‘Hop-Frog’. Probably the best Poe adaptation Goodwin & Crandall did. Solid art and stories throughout the issue.

12. cover: Dan Adkins (Dec. 1966)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Sea Monsters! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 1p [frontis]

2) Dark House Of Dreams [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p

3) Turncoat! [Archie Goodwin/Bob Jenney] 6p

4) Maximum Effort! [Ron Parker/Rocco Mastroserio] 7p

5) Voodoo Doll! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

6) Blood Of The Werewolf! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

7) The Creepy Fan Club: Joe Orlando Profile/Tropical Twilight [Archie Goodwin & Ty Bizony/

Dick Mosso, Bill DuBay, Donna L. Austin & Jim Pinkoski] 2p [text article/story

w/photo] 2p

8) Idol Hands! [Archie Goodwin/Manny Stallman] 6p

9) Adam Link, Robot Detective [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 8p from the story by Binder

Notes: A rather ho-hum issue, with Adkins’ cover being no match for the covers that Frazetta and Morrow had been delivering. Grandenetti & Ditko’s art jobs were good and most of the stories were fair. Bill DuBay makes his comics debut on the fan page with a science fiction pin-up that was heavily influenced by Wally Wood.

13. cover: Gray Morrow (Feb. 1967)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Becoming A Werewolf! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 1p

[frontis]

2) The Squaw! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Bram Stoker

3) Early Warning! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

4) Scream Test! [John Benson & Bhob Stewart/Angelo Torres] 7p

5) Madness In The Method! [Carl Wessler/Rocco Mastroserio] 7p

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Angelo Torres Profile/Pipeline [Archie Goodwin & Geoffrey R.

Lucier/Danny Chadbourne, Barry Hoffman & Doyle Sharp] 2p [text article/story

w/photo]

8) Fear In Stone [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

9) Adam Link, Gangbuster! [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 8p from the story by Binder

10) Second Chance! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p

Notes: Morrow’s cover is just fine although that’s got to be the ugliest & skinniest werewolf I’ve ever seen! ‘The Squaw’ is the best story here while Crandall & Ditko share best art honors. Future artist Leslie Cabarga delivers a letter.

14. cover: Gray Morrow (Apr. 1967)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Magicians! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 1p [frontis]

2) Where Sorcery Lives! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

3) Art Of Horror [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

4) Snakes Alive! [Clark Dimond & John Benson/Hector Castellon] 7p

5) The Creepy Fan Club: Archie Goodwin Profile/Train To The Beyond [Archie Goodwin &

Glenn Jones/Randall Larson, Frank Brunner & Joseph J. Dukett] 2p [text article/text

story w/photo]

6) The Beckoning Beyond! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p

7) Piece By Piece [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 8p

8) Castle Carrion! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p

9) Curse Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p

Notes: Morrow’s sword & sorcery cover is probably his best Warren cover. Good stories and generally good artwork throughout, although Castellon’s art doesn’t do much for me. The voodoo king in that Dimond-Benson/Castellon was supposed to be a black man. Frank Brunner’s second appearance on the fan page depicts an ancient & vampiric Batman! Neal Adams makes his comics debut here {although he’d been doing the Ben Casey comic strip for at least 3 years}, and quite nicely too! Joe Orlando has a strong art job also.

15. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1967)

1) Thane: City Of Doom! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

2) Adam Link, Champion Athlete! [Otto Binder/Joe Orlando] 7p from the story by Binder

3) The Adventure Of The German Student! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p from the

story by Washington Irving

4) The River! [Johnny Craig] 6p

5) The Creepy Fan Club: Sink And Fade Swiftly [Archie Goodwin & Mike DeLong/Richard

Morgan, Roger Hill, John Hall & Ron Lukas] 2p [text article/story]

6) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Monsters Of Mythology! [Archie Goodwin/Gil Kane] 1p

7) The Terror Beyond Time! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 16p

Notes: Frazetta returns with one of his best covers, painted on plywood in six hours! The price goes up to 40 cents per issue. Thane was a very irregular series about a Conan-like swordsman. The character appeared only four times between 1967-1979 and was unique in that he never had the same artist twice. His physical appearance was also quite different from story to story. The Adams/Goodwin story was the longest tale that Warren had published to date. The best art & story, however, is the Goodwin/Grandenetti adaptation. Some of Grandenetti’s best work. Adam Link appears for the last time, his series apparently a victim of the upcoming money crunch that would deal a near fatal blow to the Warren comics line.

16. cover: Frank Frazetta (Aug. 1967)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Spirits! [Archie Goodwin/Gil Kane] 1p [frontis]

2) A Curse Of Claws! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 6p

3) Frozen Fear! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p

4) Thane: Angel Of Doom! [Archie Goodwin/Jeff Jones] 6p

5) The Frankenstein Tradition! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 8p

6) There Was An Old Lady [Daniel Bubacz & Archie Goodwin/Sal Trapani] 6p

7) The Creepy Fan Club: Rocco Mastroserio Profile/A Stroke Of Genius [Archie Goodwin & Tim

Stackline/Dan Gosch, Louie Estrada & Philip Marcino] 2p [text article/story w/photo]

8) Haunted Castle! [Archie Goodwin/Donald Norman] 6p

9) The Sands That Change! [Clark Dimond & Terry Bisson/Steve Ditko] 8p

Notes: Frazetta’s classic cover features a largely naked blonde with glowing eyes surrounded by a pride of leopards and a single black panther. Jeff Jones makes his comics (and possibly professional) debut here. Adams & Crandall’s art jobs were noticeably lackluster. Clark Dimond mentions that Steve Ditko didn’t really like ‘The Sands That Change!’ but turned out a professional job nonetheless. Mastroserio takes the art honors here.

17. cover: Frank Frazetta (Oct. 1967)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Werewolves! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] 1p [frontis]

reprinted from Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

2) Zombie! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 6p

3) Thundering Terror! [Clark Dimond & Terry Bisson/John Severin] 6p

4) Mummy’s Hand [Russ Jones/Joe Orlando] 7p [story is credited to Orlando alone] from the

1940 Universal movie, reprinted from Monster World #2 (Jan. 1965)

5) Heritage Of Horror [Archie Goodwin/Donald Norman] 6p

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Goodwin’s Departure/”Miaow” Said The Pussycat [Archie Goodwin,

James Warren & Richard Mills/R. David Duvall, Robert Sankner & Craig Thorton] 2p

[text article/story]

7) Image In Wax! [Archie Goodwin/Tom Sutton] 6p

8) A Night’s Lodging! [Rhea Dunne/Maurice Whitman] 7p [Lodging is misspelled in the title]

9) The Haunted Sky! [Archie Goodwin/Roger Brand] 6p

Notes: Frazetta’s classic cover depicts an executioner holding a bloody axe. This would be his last cover for two years. The money crunch that nearly crippled Warren begins to show its effects as Goodwin’s departure is announced. (Although he’s not listed as the editor of Eerie #12, he clearly had a hand in it & I’ve decided that issue is the final Goodwin Era title.) Other effects include the massive use of reprints, which begin in this issue, as well as the near-devastating loss of Goodwin’s stories, and the mass exodus of artists due to page rate cuts. In fact, all of the original artists introduced during Goodwin’s run would leave, with the noticeable exceptions of Rocco Mastroserio {who died in 1968} & Tom Sutton. Russ Jones, Creepy’s first editor and the adaptor of ‘Mummy’s Hand’, routinely had his credits dropped or erased by James Warren after he and Warren had the falling out that led to his departure from Warren Publications. ‘Thundering Terror!’ was originally entitled ‘Buffaloed’ {a title actually used for another Severin story in 1974} and was retitled by Archie Goodwin.

Warren’s Dark Age

18. cover: Vic Prezo (Jan. 1968)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Giant Man-Apes! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis]

reprinted from Creepy #9 (June 1966)

2) Mountain Of The Monster Gods! [Ron White/Roger Brand] 8p

3) The Rescue Of The Morning Maid! [Raymond Marais/Pat Boyette & Rocco Mastroserio] 10p

[art is credited solely to Mastroserio.]

4) Act, Three! [Johnny Craig] 8p

5) Footsteps Of Frankenstein! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Eerie #2 (Mar.

1966)

6) Out Of Her Head! [Clark Dimond & Terry Bisson/Jack Sparling] 8p

Notes: Editor: James Warren, although Clark Dimond states that both this and Eerie were ghost edited during this time by an editor friend of Jim Warren’s at Gold Key. This came out a month late but, actually, this isn’t too bad of an issue. The amount of content vs. ads is clearly down but the new material here is quite good. Raymond Marais’ story is easily the best story so it’s too bad he only wrote one other script for Warren. He did do quite a number of stories for DC’s mystery books. The Boyette/Mastroserio art team was a good combo as well. Most of the stories were leftovers from the Goodwin Era since Warren had initiated a freeze on buying new stories or art until his finances became less shaky. However, the Dimond/Bisson was purchased by the nameless Gold Key editor. The headless woman named Rachel in that story was based on Dimond’s fiancé! Terry Bisson would edit the Warren rival Web Of Horror in 1969-1970 and later would become a major award-winning science fiction writer. Cover artist Vic Prezio had done a number of covers for Famous Monsters Of Filmland and would be the main cover artist during the Dark Age. Future comic writer Tony Isabella sends in a letter stating he “was less than wildly enthusiastic about Tom Sutton’s art while noting that he was a talented newcomer”.

19. cover: Vic Prezo (Mar. 1968)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Mummy’s Curse! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis]

reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

2) The Mark Of The Beast! [Craig Tennis/Johnny Craig] 9p from the story by Rudyard Kipling,

reprinted from Christopher Lee’s Treasury Of Terror (Sept. 1966)

3) Carmilla [John Benson/Bob Jenney] 20p from the story by Sheridan Le Fanu

4) Monsterwork! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 6p reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

5) Eye Of The Beholder! [Archie Goodwin/Johnny Craig] 6p reprinted from Eerie #2 (Mar.

1966)

Notes: Prezo’s cover for the Kipling story is one of his best. Magazine size reduced to 48 pages. This is largely a reprint issue. ‘Carmilla’ was the longest stand alone story that Warren would publish for many years and was originally intended for the never published second collection of Christopher Lee’s Treasury Of Terror, packaged by Warren’s persona non grata former editor, Russ Jones. All the stories from that paperback collection were reformatted for the larger magazine size.

20. cover: Albert Nuetzell (May 1968) reprinted from Famous Monsters Of Filmland #4 (Aug. 1959)

1) Thumbs Down! [Anne T. Murphy/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

2) Inheritors Of Earth [Hector Castellon] 8p

3) Beauty Or The Beast! [Len Brown/Dick Giordano & Sal Trapani] 8p [art credited solely to

Trapani]

4) The Cask Of Amontillado! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan

Poe, reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

5) The Damned Thing! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 8p from the story by Ambrose Bierce,

reprinted from Creepy #4 (Aug. 1965)

6) A Vested Interest [Ron Parker/George Tuska] 6p reprinted from Creepy #8 (Apr. 1966)

Notes: The first new stories since the freeze appear but neither were particularly good. The Castellon story was originally written by by Clark Dimond & Terry Bisson but Castellon didn’t understand the script and changed the story so drastically that Bisson & Dimond’s names were dropped. The Ms. Corey mentioned in the story was based on Terry Bisson’s fiancé. As the money crunch continued, it became clear that Warren had two horror magazines to publish but only enough of a budget for one, so each issue between here and early 1970 was half or more reprinted stories. The Nuetzell cover appears to be a tree-frog, with an arm growing out of one eye. Pretty dreadful image (and not in a good way).

21. cover: Gutenberg Monteiro (July 1968)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Trees! [Bill Parente/Bob Jenney] 1p [frontis]

2) The Rats In The Walls [Bill Parente?/Bob Jenney] 10p from the story by H. P. Lovecraft

3) Room With A View! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

4) The Immortals! [Ron Parker/Sal Trapani] 8p

5) The Creepy Fan Club: Bill Parente Profile/The Choice [Bill Parente & Bill Eddy/Nicola Cuti,

Steve Smith, Doyle Sharp & Louie Estrada] 2p [text article/story w/photo]

6) A Reasonable Doubt [Ron Parker/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p [all of the

Fraccio/Tallarico art done for Warren was credited to Tony Williamsune]

7) Swamped! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

8) Timepiece To Terror! [Bill Parente/Gutenberg Mondiero] 7p

Notes: Editor: Bill Parente. Parente was an EC fan (as were Goodwin, Jones, Ivie, Dimond, Benson, Parker & many other of the early writers) and his appearance as editor was a sign of growing stability for the company after several very shaky months. Like Goodwin, he would write many of the stories during his time as editor but there was only one Archie Goodwin and Parente’s stories did not have the quality of the Goodwin Era. The cover for this issue was probably the worse single cover Warren published on their comic magazines. Absolutely awful. ‘The Rats In The Walls’ is not from the Christopher Lee paperback series of adaptations so I’m assuming Bill Parente did the adaptation. New editions of Creepy’s Loathsome Lore & The Creepy Fan Club appear for the first time since Goodwin’s departure. Future writer & artist Nicola Cuti appears on the Fan Club pages. Fan Louie Estrada’s art is quite nice, both here and in future editions, and one wonders why he wasn’t offered an art assignment. The Fraccio {pencils} & Tallarico {inks} art debut as Tony Williamsune {a combo of their first names} would begin a long run of stories for Warren and although their artwork was usually sneered at by fans, on occasion they were quite good. If you accepted that all of their monsters and aliens tended to look like melted candle figures, that is.

22. cover: Tom Sutton (Aug. 1968)

1) Home Is Where… [Ron Parker/Pat Boyette] 8p

2) Monster Rally! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #4 (Aug. 1965)

3) “No Fair!” [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 6p

4) Strange Expedition [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 7p

5) The Creepy Fan Page: Ernie Colon Profile/Unseen Tenants [Bill Parente & Gary Carson/

Richard Morgan] 1p [text article/story]

6) The Judge’s House! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Bram Stoker,

reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

7) Perfect Match [Ron Parker/Sal Trapani] 8p

Notes: Very nice cover by Sutton. Sutton did beautiful painted covers for Charlton between 1972 and 1976 but only a handful for Warren during the Dark Age. Pity, as those covers he did do were all pretty darn good. The only three regular artists who contributed during the Dark Age are present here: Boyette, Sutton & Colon. I’ve already discussed Sutton. Boyette had only broken into comics a couple of years before over at Charlton. His best work seemed to be with medieval stories, a genre where he really shone. Colon was the artist for Caspar, The Friendly Ghost & Richie Rich over at Harvey. Doing Warren’s gruesome monsters must have been a welcome change!

23. cover: Tom Sutton (Oct. 1968)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Changeling! [Bill Parente/Tony Tallarico] 1p [frontis]

2) Way Out! [James Haggenmiller/Donald Norman] 10p

3) Gargoyle [Archie Goodwin & Roy G. Krenkel/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #6

(Dec. 1965)

4) Jack Knifed! [Bill Parente/Barry Rockwell] 8p

5) Quick Change! [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 7p

6) Rude Awakening! [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

7) The Creepy Fan Club: Rendered Helpless [Larry Goldin/Ed Quimby, Frank Brunner & Scott

Grenig] 1p [text story]

8) Cat Nipped [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

9) Uncle Creepy And Cousin Eerie’s Cauldron Contest [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 1p [writer’s

contest, on back cover]

Notes: Tom Sutton’s best Warren cover is a beauty. A huge moon hangs over a house on a cliff so undercut that it threatens to dump the entire dwelling into the abyss. Meanwhile a werewolf howls in the foggy valley below. New artist Barry Rockwell & Sutton share the best art honors for this issue. Frank Brunner’s third appearance on the fan page shows the head of Universal’s Frankenstein’s Monster. The Cauldron Contest offers new writers a chance to have their story illustrated and published.

24. cover: Gutenberg Monteiro (Dec. 1968)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Becoming A Werewolf! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 1p

[frontis] reprinted from Creepy #13 (Feb. 1967)

2) Black Magic [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Eerie #5 (Sept. 1966)

3) You Do Something To Me [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 6p

4) The Day After Doomsday! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar.

1967)

5) Room For A Guest [Bill Parente/Reed Crandall] 6p

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Who Are We? [Robbie Edwards/Brian Clifton] 1p [text story]

7) Typecast! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar. 1967)

8) A Silver Dread Among The Gold [George Hagenauer & Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony

Tallarico] 6p

9) Uncle Creepy And Cousin Eerie’s Cauldron Contest [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 1p [on back

cover]

Notes: Reed Crandall is the first Goodwin Era artist to return, indicating once again the easing of Warren’s money problems.

25. cover: Richard Conway (Feb. 1969)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Exorcists! [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 1p [frontis]

2) Keep Your Spirits Up [Bill Parente/Reed Crandall] 7p

3) Witches’ Tide [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colon] 8p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

4) Their Journey’s End [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 7p

5) It That Lurks! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 6p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Black Books!/Park Bench [Bill Parente & Joseph Alaskey/D. Cabrera]

1p [text article/story]

7) Deep Ruby! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p reprinted from Eerie #6 (Nov. 1966)

8) An Unlikely Visitor [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

Notes: Conway’s (Parente’s asst. editor) cover was interesting. He photographed a model wearing the Creepy rubber mask, dressed in a shabby Santa coat & hat—then set 12 identical poses in the form of Christmas seals. Other than that, this was a fairly average issue, with the Crandall story being the best of the new stuff.

26. cover: Basil Gogos (Apr. 1969) reprinted from Famous Monsters Of Filmland #20 (Nov. 1962)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Sasquatches! [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p

[frontis]

2) Stranger In Town [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 7p

3) Second Chance! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p reprinted from Creepy #13 (Feb. 1967)

4) The Creepy Fan Club: Demons!/The Beginning Of The End [Bill Parente, Sam Lambroza &

David Jablin/Jose Velez] 1p [text article/story]

5) Completely Cured [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

6) Untimely Meeting [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 8p

7) Backfire! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

8) Voodoo Doll! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p reprinted from Creepy #12 (Dec. 1966)

Notes: Gogos’ reprint cover depicts Lon Chaney in his 1925 role as the vampire from the film London After Midnight. The Parente/Colon story ‘Untimely Meeting’ is quite good as is the Parente/Sutton’s tale ‘Stranger In Town’.

27. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1969)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Boris Karloff [Forrest J. Ackerman/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico]

1p [frontis]

2) Collector’s Edition [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

3) Make Up Your Mind [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

4) The Coffin Of Dracula, part 2 [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Creepy #9

(June 1966)

5) Thane: Barbarian Of Fear [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 9p

6) The Creepy Fan Club: Embalming [Bill Parente/Ken Kelly] 1p [text article]

7) Brain Trust! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

8) Surprise Package [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 7p

Notes: Frazetta’s first cover in two years is a revised version of his ‘Mongul’ painting. For some reason, the second half of ‘The Coffin Of Dracula’ was reprinted without including the first half! Future Warren cover artist (and Frank Frazetta’s son-in-law) Ken Kelly makes his comics debut on the fan page. The barbarian Thane makes his first appearance in two years. He won’t appear again for another nine! Uncle Creepy & Cousin Eerie cameo in the story ‘Surprise Package’. The back cover features an ad for a 3’ tall monster poster that would border and display a photograph the readers would send in of themselves, with the surrounding art illustrated by Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico.

28. cover: Vic Prezo (Aug. 1969)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Fakirs! [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p [frontis]

2) Madness In The Method! [Carl Wessler/Rocco Mastroserio] 7p reprinted from Creepy #13

(Feb. 1967)

3) The Creepy Fan Club: Ghoul/Reuben Reid Profile [Bill Parente & Reuben Reid/David Fletcher]

2p [text articles w/photo]

4) In The Subway [Reuben Reid/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

5) The Worm Is Turning [Kim Ball/Ernie Colon] 8p

6) Grub! [Nicola Cuti/Tom Sutton] 6p

7) Valley Of The Vampires [Ron Haycock/Bhob Stewart & Steve Stiles] 6p [Haycock’s story

credited to Arnold Hayes.]

8) The Doorway! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 6p reprinted from Creepy #11 (Oct. 1966)

9) The Adventure Of The German Student! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p from the

story by Washington Irving, reprinted from Creepy #15 (June 1967)

10) Vampirella Is Coming! Ad [Bill Parente/Tony Tallarico] 1p

Notes: Cost of magazine rises to 50 cents. Reuben Reid was the Cauldron Contest winner for Creepy. Best story & art is ‘The Worm Is Turning’. Nicola Cuti makes his professional debut with ‘Grub!’. The ad at the end shows Uncle Creepy & Cousin Eerie reacting in fear to the coming of an unseen Vampirella.

Warren’s Rebuilding!

29. cover: Vic Prezo (Sept. 1969)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Ghouls! [Archie Goodwin/Jack Davis] 1p [frontis] reprinted from

Creepy #3 (June 1965)

2) The Summer House [Barbara Gelman/Ernie Colon] 8p

3) Thane: Angel Of Doom! [Archie Goodwin/Jeff Jones] 6p reprinted from Creepy #16 (Aug.

1967)

4) Spellbound [Ron Haycock/Bhob Stewart, Will Brown & Mike Royer] 7p [Haycock’s story

credited to Arnold Hayes]

5) Bloody Mary [Buddy Saunders/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

6) The Devil Of The Marsh [Don Glut/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

7) The Creepy Fan Club: So Speaks The Book [C. A. Howard/Anthony Kowalik] 1p [text story]

8) The Frankenstein Tradition! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 8p reprinted from Creepy

#16 (Aug. 1967)

9) The Last Laugh [Archie Goodwin/Ernie Colon] 4p

10) Vampirella Is Here! [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio, Tony Tallarico & Frank Frazetta] 1p

Notes: The beginning of a long period of regrowth & rebuilding begins here, even though reprints would continue for several more issues. A good cover by Prezo. Artist Jerry Grandenetti is the second Goodwin Era artist to return while Goodwin himself shows up with his only non-Vamprella original story for Warren between 1967 and 1974. Pretty darn good story too! The other story highlight is ‘The Summer House’, which, like the Goodwin story, was illustrated by Ernie Colon. The Vampirella ad features Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico’s art on Uncle Creepy & Cousin Eerie while Vampirella herself is rendered by Frazetta. The Frazetta art is the same drawing that appears as Vampirella #1’s frontis. Mike Royer makes his {uncredited} Warren debut by drawing the female heads in the story ‘Spellbound’.

30. cover: Bill Hughes (Nov. 1969)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Exorcism! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) The Mind Of The Monster! [R. Michael Rosen/Ernie Colon] 6p

3) Drop In! [Don Glut/Tom Sutton] 6p

4) The Haunted Sky! [Archie Goodwin/Roger Brand] 6p reprinted from Creepy #17 (Oct. 1967)

5) The River! [Johnny Craig] 6p reprinted from Creepy #15 (June 1967)

6) To Be Or Not To Be A Witch [Bill Parente/Carlos Prunes] 7p

7) The Creepy Fan Club: The Man In The Monkey Suit [Sam Bellotto, Jr./Brant Withers & Bill

Black] 2p [text story, Black’s art is credited to Bill Schwartz, his real name?]

8) Piece By Piece [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr. 1967)

9) Dr. Jekyll’s Jest [R. Michael Rosen/Mike Royer] 6p

10) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966) [on inside back cover]

Notes: Bill Hughes’ cover features one of the stupidest looking Frankenstein’s monsters I’ve ever seen! The Loathsome Lore section was always at its best when Sutton wrote & illoed it, and this example is no exceptation. The letters’ page features an explanation by Jim Warren about the recent price hike. The future Spanish invasion of artists is previewed here by S.I. artist Carlos Prunes’ appearance. Future comic artist & publisher Bill Black makes his comics debut on the fan page. Mike Royer, best known in comics as the inker for Jack Kirby’s 1970s & 1980s artwork, delivers a great art job for his official Warren debut {see #29 for his unofficial debut}. While his figures are occasionally somewhat stiff, his women were some of the most beautiful to ever appear in the Warren magazines.

31. cover: Vaughn Bode & Larry Todd (Feb. 1970)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Torture! [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p [frontis]

2) In The Face Of Death [Al Hewetson/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 4p

3) Telephoto Troll! [R. Michael Rosen/Roger Brand] 6p

4) A Night’s Lodging! [Rhea Dunne/Maurice Whitman] 7p reprinted from Creepy #17 (Oct.

1967)

5) Snowmen! [Tom Sutton] 8p

6) The Creepy Fan Page: The Master [Marc Rendleman] 1p [text story]

7) A Wooden Stake For Your Heart! [Don Glut/Bill Black] 6p

8) Death Of A Stranger [T. Casey Brennan/Ernie Colon] 6p

9) Laughing Liquid [Kevin Pagan/William Barry] 8p

Notes: Underground artists Vaughn Body & Larry Todd would do a number of covers for Warren over the next couple of years. This first one depicts an odd chicken-like alien, who’s apparently just ripped in half a very human looking robot. The original version of this cover was too bloody, with too many entails {making one suspect the gentleman torn in half was originally an actual human}, so before publication the original painting was amended by the Warren production department. Reprints begin to be eased out, perhaps in response to the advent of Web Of Horror, a rival B&W magazine with all original stories, which was published by Major Publications, who were also the publishers of the humor magazine Cracked. Both Eerie Publications and Stanley Publications had copied Warren’s lead in publishing B&W magazines in the mid 1960s but Warren, quite rightly, never considered them a threat as those magazines were mostly composed of pretty lousy retouched 1950s horror reprints. Web Of Horror wouldn’t last long {only three issues} but clearly their use of former Warren writers (Otto Binder & Clark Dimond) and artists {Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico {with a new penname}, Jeff Jones, Donald Norman, Roger Brand and more}, along with the brightest young turks from the fanzines {Berni Wrightson, Michael Kaluta, Bruce Jones, Ralph Reese, Frank Brunner, etc.} had an effect on Warren. In fact, a letter by one-time Warren editor J. R. Cocharan, that appeared in Canar #21-22 (May-June 1974), stated clearly that Warren’s infamous “war letter” to writers & artists that basically declared that one could either work for the B&W competition or you could work for Warren but you couldn’t work for both, was a direct result of the existence of Web Of Horror. Along with a story in the Jan. issue of Vampirella, this is future Skywald editor Al Hewetson’s professional writing debut. ‘Snowmen!’ by Tom Sutton is quite good and would win the first Warren award for best story. After several appearances on the fan pages, Bill Black makes his professional art debut on ‘A Wooden Stake For Your Heart!’ Kevin Pagan also makes his professional writing debut.

32. cover: Frank Frazetta (Apr. 1970)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Androids! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) The Story Behind The Rock God [Bill Parente?/Frank Frazetta & Neal Adams] 1p [text

article]

3) Rock God [Neal Adams] 13p from the story by Harlan Ellison

4) Death Is A Lonely Place [Bill Warren/Bill Black] 7p

5) I…Executioner [Don Glut/Mike Royer] 6p

6) A Wall Of Privacy [Nicola Cuti/Ernie Colon] 6p [art credited to David Sinclair]

7) The Creepy Fan Page: To Uncle Creepy/Brief Impulse/The Clock/The Horror At Midnight/

News Item [Michael Paumgardhen, Christopher Laube, Paul J. DeBlasio, Steve Casaw,

G. S. Boyde & Bill Parente/Kenneth Smith, George Hrycun & Ken Johnson] 2p [poems

& text stories]

8) V.A.M.P.I.R.E. [Bill Warren/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 8p

9) Movie Dissector! [R. Michael Rosen/Bill DuBay] 6p

10) The 3:14 Is Right On Time! [Ken Dixon/Billy Graham] 7p

Notes: The first all-new issue of Creepy since #16 and it’s pretty darn good too! Frazetta’s cover, which is supposed to depict Ellison’s gigantic Rock God, actually appears to be a human-size monster or troll, looking down at a European village. I’ve heard various reasons for this—both that Frazetta only had a paragraph of Ellison’s prose story to fashion his cover from (which seems likely) or that this was actually an inventory cover from 1967. I’d tend to discount the inventory cover version since it’s hard to imagine Jim Warren leaving a bought and paid for Frazetta cover sitting on the shelf for two years except for one thing. Warren actually did that with a 1971 Frazetta cover done for a proposed Warren magazine entitled POW! That cover, depicting ‘Queen Kong’, went unpublished for seven years! It should also be noted that my giving Neal Adams credit for the adaptation of Ellison’s story is taking into account that Ellison wrote his prose story with the full intent that it be adapted (specifically by Adams) for the Warren line. Not the usual state of affairs for adaptations at all. Regardless, it’s a darn fine story. Adams uses Jim Warren himself as the model for the villain of the tale. Kenneth Smith, an underground & fanzine artist makes his mainstream debut on the fan page. Brant Withers, a fan page artist, suggests on the letters’ page that an artist contest, similar to the previous year’s writer’s contest, take place but it never happens. Bill DuBay makes his professional art debut. After ‘Rock God’, the best story & art is ‘The 3:14 Is Right On Time!’ by Dixon & Graham.

33. cover: Pat Boyette (June 1970)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Mermaids! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) One Too Many [Buddy Saunders/William Barry] 6p

3) Royal Guest [Pat Boyette] 6p

4) Blue Mum Day [R. Michael Rosen/Reed Crandall] 6p

5) Dr. Jekyll Was Right [Bill Warren/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

6) I’m Only In It For The Money [Al Hewetson/Juan Lopez] 7p

7) The Full Service! [Nicola Cuti/Jack Sparling] 6p

8) The Creepy Fan Page: Pat Boyette Profile/More Poetry/Rockets To Terror/I Love Her/Message

From The Dead [Bill Parente,Joseph Westbrook, L. Alain Portnoff, David Martin, Allan

Feldman & Mark Aubry] 2p [poems & text stories w/photo]

9) Boxed In! [Tom Sutton] 6p

Notes: Boyette’s cover & interior story are quite good, as is the Rosen/Crandall tale. The best story & art, however, are from Tom Sutton’s homage to Will Eisner—‘Boxed In!’

34. cover: Ken Barr (Aug. 1970)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Makara! [Dan Adkins] 1p [frontis]

2) X-Tra…”X” [R. Michael Rosen/Jack Sparling] 7p

3) Lifeboat! [Bill Parente/Ken Barr] 7p

4) The Creepy Fan Page: The Doomed/The Movie Critic/Lost: A Life/The Search For The

Phasimara Plant [Thomas Isenberg, Steven Hart, Anthony Kowalik & John Scorfani/

Mondini Gianluigi, Gerald Colucci, Brant Withers, Scot Cassman & Carole MacKinnon]

2p [text stories]

5) The Cool Jazz Ghoul [Al Hewetson/Ken Kelly] 7p

6) Minanker’s Demons [Buddy Saunders/John G. Fantuccio] 6p

7) Forgotten Prisoner Of Castlemare [R. Michael Rosen/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

8) The Swamp In Hell! [Al Hewetson/Don Vaughn] 6p

9) Ando! [R. Michael Rosen/Syd Shores] 6p

10) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966)

Notes: Editor: James Warren. Ken Barr was a Scottish artist who did quite a lot of work for DC’s war comics as well as Warren over the next several years. He was a very good cover artist but strangely his best cover work never appeared for Warren. Instead, his Warren work often appeared muted and was overshadowed by just about everybody else’s covers. Future underground & ‘Garbage Pail Kids’ artist John Pound appears on the letters’ page. Future cover artist Ken Kelly makes his professional debut by rendering a rare comic story. It’s pretty good too! The ‘Forgotten Prisoner Of Castlemare’ was based on the Aurora model kit, regularly advertised in the back of each Warren issue.

35. cover: Kenneth Smith (Sept. 1970)

1) An Editorial To The President Of The United States And All The Members Of Congress

[James Warren] 1p [frontis]

2) Tough Costumers! [R. Michael Rosen/Tom Sutton] 6p

3) Legend In Gold [R. Michael Rosen/Roger Brand] 6p

4) Polly Want A Wizard [Howard Waldrop/Ernie Colon] 6p

5) Army Of The Walking Dead! [R. Michael Rosen/Syd Shores] 7p

6) The Creepy Fan Page: Ken Barr Profile/Rock God/The Littered Trash-Can Of Humanity/The

Fool’s March [Archie Goodwin?, Bradley Burke, Jessica Clerk & Ted Dasen/Winsor

McNemo] 2p [poem/text article & stories]

7) Godslayer [Bill Stillwell] 6p

8) It’s Grim… [Al Hewetson/Syd Shores] 7p

9) The Druid’s Curse [Buddy Saunders/the Bros. Ciochetti] 6p

10) Gunsmoke Charly! [Alan Weiss] 8p

11) Justice! [Pat Boyette] 6p

Notes: Archie Goodwin returns, listed as Associate Editor. Cost of the magazine goes up to 60 cents. This issue was a brief experiment with all stories/no ads format, usually suggested as a response to the first issue of Skywald’s rival B&W magazine, Nightmare. But Nightmare’s first issue is cover dated Dec. 1970 so it was more likely that this was in reaction to Major’s Web Of Horror magazine, which had that format (although the magazine itself had been recently cancelled) than to the upcoming Nightmare or Skywald. Warren’s anti-war editorial was the first in only two attempts to use his magazine line as a bully pulpit. The fact that he was confident in being blatantly anti-war in the editorial underscores the massive changes the country had undergone socially and politically in the four years since conservative elements had forced Blazing Combat off the stands. Future gonzo SF writer Howard Waldrop makes his professional writing debut, while fan artists Bill Stillwell and Alan Weiss also make their mainstream debuts. A good, solid issue.

36. cover: Kenneth Smith (Nov. 1970)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Body Snatchers Who Stole A Giant! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) One Way To Break The Boredom [James Haggenmiller/Jack Sparling] 9p

3) Weird World [Nicola Cuti/Tom Sutton] 7p

4) The Creepy Fan Page: Creepy Poems/Tunnel Of Terror/Doomsday Monsters [Harry Balmforth,

Paul E. King & Rodney E. Hammack/Larry Dickison] 2p [poem & text stories]

5) Frankenstein Is A Clown [Bill Warren/Carlos Garzon] 8p

6) On The Wings Of A Bird [T. Casey Brennan/Jerry Grandenetti] 7p

7) Forbidden Journey! [Greg Theakston/Rich Buckler] 7p

8) If A Body Meet A Body [R. Michael Rosen/Jack Sparling] 7p

9) Frozen Beauty [Richard Corben] 6p

Notes: Price decrease to 50 cents. Rich Buckler makes his professional art debut while major underground artist Richard Corben makes his mainstream debut with a very good story. Best art is by Corben and Jerry Grandenetti. Best story honors go to Corben, Bill Warren & T. Casey Brennan.

37. cover: Ken Barr (Jan. 1971)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: I Was Buried Alive! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) The Cadaver [Chris Fellner/Bill Stillwell] 8p

3) King Keller [Nicola Cuti/Syd Shores] 7p

4) I Hate You! I Hate You! [Bill Warren/Mike Royer] 9p

5) Tender Machine 10061 [Ernie Colon] 6p

6) The Creepy Fan Page: To Fill A Bottle Of Blood/The Anniversary/Ghouls Power/The Ape Man

[Paul E. King, Jr., Brad McEwen, Howard Williams & Jim Erskine/Tony Boatwright, Jim

Erskine & Charles Jones] 2p [text stories]

7) Coffin Cure [Doug Moench/Don Brown] 7p

8) The Castle [Pat Boyette] 8p

9) The Cut-Throat Cat Blues [T. Casey Brennan/Ernie Colon] 7p [last page on inside back cover]

Notes: The first use of interior color appears on the last page of ‘The Cut-Throat Cat Blues’. Chris Fellner makes his professional debut. ‘I Hate You! I Hate You!’ is a pretty good story which dealt with an early treatment of child abuse. Pat Boyette’s ‘The Castle’ is also nicely done.

38. cover: Ken Kelly (Mar. 1971)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Killer Plants! [Clif Jackson] 1p [frontis]

2) Wooden Cross! [Steve Skeates/Rich Buckler] 6p

3) The Vengeance Of The Hanged! [Chris Fellner/Syd Shores] 8p

4) Sticks And Stones To Break Their Bones [Stu Schwartzburg/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 5p

5) The Way Home! [T. Casey Brennan/Mike Royer] 8p

6) Sleepwalker! [Gerry Conway/Mike Royer] 7p

7) Secret Of The Haunted Room [Bill Warren/Ernie Colon] 9p

8) The Creepy Fan Page: Alpha 3 [Dan Thost/John Cornell, Gary Kaufman, Loper Espi, Jim

Pinkoski & Steve Leialoha] 2p [text story]

9) The Cosmic All [Wally Wood] 8p

Notes: Warren publishes new artist Gary Kaufman’s submission letter on the letters’ page and previews his art on the fan page. Future Marvel editor & writer John D. Warner also sends in a letter. A fine art job by Ernie Colon enhances ‘Secret Of The Haunted House’. Mike Royer & Syd Shores also contribute some nice art. Like Phillipe Druillet, Loper Espi was a professional artist whose submissions, for unknown reasons, were printed on the fan pages next to amateur submissions. Fan artist Jim Pinkoski also appears on this issue’s fan page, as does future comic artist Steve Leialoha, making his comics debut. The big news, though, was the return of Wally Wood with an excellent little SF number.

39. cover: Basil Gogos (May 1971)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Evil Eye! [Richard Grose/Clif Jackson] 1p [frontis]

2) Uncle Creepy: Where Satan Dwells… [Al Hewetson/Sal Trapani] 8p [gueststars Cousin Eerie]

3) C.O.D.—Collects On Death! [Dave Wood/Dave Cockrum] 8p

4) The Water World! [Buddy Saunders/Pablo Marcos] 6p

5) Death Of The Wizard [Pat Boyette] 6p

6) Harvest Of Horror! [Phil Seuling/Frank Brunner] 7p

7) The Dragon-Prow! [Steve Skeates/Richard Bassford] 7p

8) Puzzling Monsters: Who Drew What? [?/Carlos Garzon, Pat Boyette, Tom Sutton, Jack Davis,

Jerry Grandenetti, Bill Fraccio--Tony Tallarico, Syd Shores, Ernie Colon, Billy Graham,

James Warren & William Barry] 2p [match the artist page]

9) The Creepy Fan Club: The Lesson/The Gravekeeper/The Year 2,000/The Voice Of Death/

Little Miss Muffet [Billy Rand, Danuta Kwapisz, Mark Rone, William Buchanan & John

Leho/Harry Glienke, Edgar Maggiani, Daniel Smeddy, Sam Park & Randy Williams] 2p

[text stories & poems]

10) Mad Jack’s Girl [Gary Kaufman] 8p

Notes: When the Uncle Creepy story was first announced, Ernie Colon was listed as the artist. The art there is so much better than Trapani’s usual stuff that it might just be Colon pencils with Trapani inks. Dave Cockrum makes his professional debut while Pablo Marcos makes his North American one. Although ‘Dual Dragon’ was supposed to be Kaufman’s professional debut, ‘Mad Jack’s Girl’ actually appeared first. Richard Bassford makes his professional art debut here after many years in the fanzines. The Who Drew What page features partly new & partly old illos with the readers encouraged to guess ‘who drew what’.

40. cover: Larry Todd & Vaughn Bode (July 1971)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Loch Ness Monster [Al Hewetson/Clif Jackson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Fade-Away Walk [Don McGregor/Tom Sutton] 12p

3) The Impersonation! [Steve Skeates/Pablo Marcos] 6p

4) Swamp Demon [Dave Cockrum] 7p

5) Disintegrator [Nicola Cuti/Ken Barr] 7p

6) Lost And Found [Steve Skeates/George Roussos] 5p

7) The Creepy Fan Page: The Last Tomorrow [?/?, Scott Rogers, Kenneth Tutton, Tony DeSensi

& R. Goodwin] 2p [text story, author/artist for the story didn’t sign his name]

8) Annual Warren Awards At The New York Comicon… [Martin Greim/Ernie Colon] 2p [text

article] reprinted from Martin Greim’s Comic Crusader #10 (1970)

9) Dual Dragon [Gary Kaufman] 7p

Notes: Billy Graham becomes editor and turns in a pretty solid issue. In an artistic slight-of-hand, the muzzle of the gun on the cover seems to follow you no matter where you are in the room, which is, well—let’s fact it, pretty creepy. Don McGregor makes his professional debut. Nice art & story work from Dave Cockrum and Gary Kaufman. The first Warren Awards gave ‘The Ray Bradbury Award’ for best story to Tom Sutton for ‘Snowman’ from Creepy #31, ‘The Frank Frazetta Cup’ for best illustrated story to Neal Adams for ‘Rock God’ from Creepy #32, ‘The Jack Davis Cup’ to Frank Frazetta for best cover from Eerie #23, a special award to Harlan Ellison for ‘Rock God’, best all-around artist to Ernie Colon, best all-around writer to Nicola Cuti and an honorable mention for artwork to Billy Graham. There is a bizarre mention in the Award article where James Warren says he wrote his anti-war editorial of the previous year for business reasons! Seems every time there was a riot or violent anti-war demonstration in an area, sales in surrounding stores plunged, including Warren magazines sales!

41. cover: Kenneth Smith (Sept. 1971)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Hangman Of London [Richard Bassford] 1p [frontis]

2) The Thing In Loch Ness [Bruce Jones] 8p

3) Skipper’s Return! [Ernie Colon] 6p

4) The Final Ingredient! [Bill DuBay] 7p

5) Prelude To Armageddon [Nicola Cuti & Wally Wood/Wally Wood] 12p

6) Extra Censory Perception [Steve Skeatess/Gary Kaufman] 5p

7) The Creepy Fan Club: Gary Kaufman Profile/Poem/The Duplicating Machine/Blood River!

[Gary Kaufman, Darrell McKenney, Steven Semiatin & ?/Gary Kaufman, William

Fugate, James Boehmer & Martin Greim] 2p [text article/stories & poem]

8) A Tangible Hatred [Don McGregor/Richard Corben] 10p

Notes: Future Marvel editor & writer John D. Warner sends in a letter. Bruce Jones makes his Warren debut. The lead character in Don McGregor’s ‘A Tangible Hatred’, police detective Dave Turner, would appear in two more McGregor scripted stories over the next three years. Fanzine writer Martin Greim & fanzine artist Bill Fugute do illos for the fan page. Pretty impressive issue with good (although not great) art and stories from everyone involved.

42. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1971)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Captain Kidd! [T. Casey Brennan/Ken Kelly] 1p [frontis]

2) The Quaking Horror [Gardner Fox/Rafael Auraleon] 6p

3) A Change Of Identity! [Don Glut/Dave Cockrum] 6p

4) The Amazing Money-Making Wallet [Steve Skeates/Joe Staton] 6p

5) Spacial Delivery [R. Michael Rosen/Larry Todd] 7p

6) A Chronicle! [Steve Skeates/Jorge B. Galvez] 4p

7) Escape From Nowhere World [T. Casey Brennan/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

8) The Creepy Fan Page: Jerry Grandenetti Profile/The Demon/The Old Lady And The Cats/The

Problem [Jerry Grandenetti, Jim Fadler, Randy Kirk & Robert Nason/Donald

MacDonald] 2p [text article/stories]

9) Ice Wolf [Gary Kaufman] 10p

Notes: Although it wasn’t completely apparent from this issue, the Spanish invasion of artists had begun a couple of months earlier in Eerie, which resulted in most of the American artists being driven from the Warren pages. The professional artists and writers’ debuts, which had highlighted the previous two years also began to dry up. The sorceress in Sanjulian’s first Creepy cover was largely naked and while an effort was made to cover up her breasts with a yellow bra overlay, the technique used clearly didn’t work. ‘Escape From Nowhere World’ was a sequel to the earlier ‘On The Wings Of A Bird’ from #36. Brennan says he wrote the original story but the version here is not that story. His original script was apparently rewritten by various Warren staffers. Ernie Colon has a letter reprinted from the New York Times while future writer/artist Frank Miller also contributes to the letters’ page. ‘Ice Wolf’ is the best story.

43. cover: Ken Kelly (Jan. 1972)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Golden Sun Disk Of The Incas [T. Casey Brennan/Richard

Corben] 1p [frontis]

2) Three-Way Split [Dennis P. Junot/Jorge Galvez] 8p

3) The Mark Of Satan’s Claw [Fred Ott/Jaime Brocal] 10p

4) The Men Who Called Him Monster [Don McGregor/Luis Garcia] 14p

5) 1971 Comicon Awards Go To Frazetta And Goodwin… [?/?] 3p [text article w/photos]

6) Quest Of The Bigfoot [R. Michael Rosen/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

7) Creepy’s Fan Club: Richard Corben Profile/The Last Vampire/Now I Know/Friend Or

Fiend?/The Realm Of The Mind/Wanted: A Husband/Unwelcome Visitor [Richard

Corben, David Yeske, Rich Cook, Joe Letts, Christopher Caliendo, James Olcott, L. T.

Simon & Wayne Carter/Richard Corben, Atherton, Steven Assel, Solano Lopez, Ramiro

Bujeiro & Tim Boxell] 2p [text article/stories]

8) Mirage [Gerry Conway/Felix Mas] 8p

Notes: The highlight of this issue is Don McGregor’s script and Luis Garcia’s {in his Warren debut} artwork for ‘The Men Who Called Him Monster’. The story may also have featured the first inter-racial kiss in comic history. The lead character is physically modeled after actor Sidney Poitier. The 1971 Warren Awards went to Frank Frazetta for best cover from Vampirella #7, best script to T. Casey Brennan for ‘On The Wings Of A Bird’ from Creepy #36, best art to Jose Gonzalez for ‘Death’s Dark Angel’ from Vampirella #12, best all around writer to Archie Goodwin for his work on Vampirella and best all around artist to Wally Wood. Solano Lopez was already a South American professional when his sample work ended up on the fan page. The fan page also undergoes a slight retitling while Tim Boxell, who would do quite a lot of underground and alternative comics, makes his comics debut there.

44. cover: Vincente Segrelles (Mar. 1972)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Stars [T. Casey Brennan/Richard Corben] 1p [frontis]

2) With Silver Bells, Cockle Shells And… [F. Paul Wilson/Irv Docktor] 6p

3) Something To Remember Me By! [Tom Sutton] 9p

4) A Certain Innocence [Steve Skeates/Nebot] 6p

5) The Last Days Of Hans Bruder [T. Casey Brennan/Frank Bolle] 8p

6) Like A Phone Booth, Long And Narrow [Jan Strnad/Jose Bea] 8p

7) The Ultimate High! [Steve Skeates/Martin Salvador] 6p

8) Creepy’s Fan Club: Jan Strnad Profile/A Bullet For The Wolf/The Mausoleum/Nightmare/

It’s In The Bag! [Jan Strnad, William S. Groginsky, John Ayella, Benjamin Williams &

David Michelinie/Gregory R. Suriano] 1p [text article/stories]

9) Dorian Gray: 2001 [Al Hewetson/William Barry] 8p

10) Sleep [Kevin Pagan/Mike Ploog] 8p

Notes: Size & price increase to 72 pages & 75 cents. New Uncle Creepy intro faces by Richard Corben appear. Steve Skeates explains his story ‘A Chronicle’ to a reader on the letters’ page, leading to a short-lived feature, ‘The Story Behind…’, where writers explained the origins of their stories. Future comic writer David Michelinie makes his comics debut on the fan page. Kevin Pagen & Mike Ploog contribute the best story with ‘Sleep’. The Strnad/Bea story is quite good too.

45. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1972)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Chiklil Tablets! [Bill DuBay] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy Comments/The Story Behind ‘The Men Who Called Him Monster!’ [J. R. Cochran &

Don McGregor] 1p [text articles on the letters’ page]

3) What Rough Beast [Jan Strnad/Frank Brunner] 8p

4) Targos [Jack Katz/Jack Katz & Nebot] 10p

5) And Horror Crawls…From Out Of The Sea! [Kevin Pagan/Tom Sutton] 8p

6) For The Sake Of Your Children! [Ed Fedory/Jaime Brocal] 11p

7) Dungeons Of The Soul [T. Casey Brennan/Felix Mas] 8p

8) Creepy’s Fan Club: Jose Bea Profile/Remember Yesterday/The Cold Earth/Hybrid Of Hell/The

Viewer/Out Of The Sea/The Gift/Stare [J. R. Cochran, Tony Boatright, Edgar Dejesus,

Randy Williams, Jerome Herskovits, Kevin Schaffer, Barry Aydelotte & Jerry Bradman/Jose Bea, R. Taylor & Surn Iil Oh] 2p [text article/stories]

9) The Picture Of Death [Jose Bea] 11p

Notes: Editor: J. R. Cochran. A short article entitled ‘Creepy Comments’ appeared on the letters’ page, as did the official beginning of ‘The Story Behind…’ series. A ‘Little Orphan Annie’ strip from Dec. 1971, featuring a Prof. Creepy (who looked nothing like Warren’s Uncle Creepy) is reprinted on the letters’ page. Future artist R. G. Taylor could be the R. Taylor on the fan page. A pretty good issue with nice work from Frank Brunner and Tom Sutton, and interesting stories from Jan Strnad, Jack Katz, Ed Fedory & Kevin Pagan. Best story though is Jose Bea’s ‘The Picture Of Death.’

46. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (July 1972)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Undertaker’s Model [Jack Butterworth/Luis Garcia] 1p

[frontis]

2) Inside 46/The Story Behind The Story: Like A Phone Booth, Long & Narrow [J. R. Cochran &

Jan Strnad] ½p [text articles on letters’ page

3) Cross Of Blood [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 10p

4) Behold The Cybernite! [Rich Margopoulos/Tom Sutton] 8p

5) On The Ninth Day Of Satan [Kevin Pagan/Felix Mas] 8p

6) I, Invisible [Jose Bea] 6p

7) Spellbound [Lynn Marron/Luis Garcia] 8p

8) Night Watch [Ed Fedory/Jorge Galvez] 7p

9) Creepy Book Reviews: The Panic Boardcast/The Great Radio Heroes/All In Color For A Dime

[Doug Moench] 1p [text articles]

10) Creepy’s Fan Club: Lynn Marron Profile/Instant Replay/After Nightfall/The Spice Of Life/

Perpetual Search/The Story Behind The Story: Something To Remember Me By!/

Creepy’s Catchall [Lynn Marron, John C. Salzano, Chris Monzert, Lee Breakiron,

George B. Evans, Tom Sutton & J. R. Cochran/Tom Sutton, Terry Harrison & Jack

Davis] 2p [text articles/stories w/photos]

11) Friedheim The Magnificent [Greg Potter/Richard Corben] 8p

12) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Monsters Of The Id! [Clif Jackson] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: Behind a second rate cover was a decent issue. Best stories were from Doug Moench, Lynn Marron, Ed Fedory and Greg Potter while best art was from Esteban Maroto, Luis Garcia and Richard Corben. Fedory’s story had originally appeared as a fan page submission. J. R. Cochran liked it enough to encourage Fedory to rework it into a comic script. To my knowledge, this is the only time that a fan page story directly led to a professional writing career. Rich Margopoulos makes his professional debut with Tom Sutton (again!) doing the debut art honors.

47. cover: Ron Cobb (Sept. 1972) reprinted from Famous Monsters #43 (Mar. 1967) [miscredited to

Manuel Sanjulian]

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Not Sherlock by A Long Shot [Doug Moench/Jose Bea] 1p

[frontis]

2) Inside 47/The Story Behind The Story: The Picture Of Death [J. R. Cochran & Jose Bea] ½p

[text articles on the letters’ page]

3) The Land Of Bone [Buddy Saunders/Esteban Maroto] 8p

4) Mark Of The Phoenix [T. Casey Brennan/Reed Crandall] 8p

5) The Law And Disorder [Dennis Junot/Luis Garcia] 6p

6) The Eternity Curse [John Thraxis/Martin Salvador] 6p

7) Creepy’s Fan Club: Reed Crandall Profile/The Scarlet Knife/The Shrinking Man/A Moment!/

Grin At The Grim Reaper [J. R. Cochran, Jody Gilmore, Terry W. Cloud, Horace Heard

& Steve Clement/Reed Crandall, Marc Bilgrey & Pat Boyette] 2p [text articles/stories]

8) Point Of View [Steve Skeates/Luis Dominguez] 6p

9) This Burden—This Responsibility! [Steve Skeates/Jerry Grandenetti] 10p

10) Futurization Computation! [Bill DuBay] 3p

11) Creepy Book Reviews: Dick Tracy/Horror Comics Of The 1950s/The Comix [Tom Sutton,

Bill DuBay & Greg Potter] 1p [text articles]

12) The Beginning! [Steve Skeates/Tom Sutton] 6p

Notes: Manuel Sanjulian’s cover came in too late for this issue, resulting in it not appearing until Eerie #123, nine years later. Cobb’s reprinted cover was a last minute substitute. Reed Crandall returns after almost three years, but his art had sadly deteriorated a great deal since his last appearance. ‘The Land Of Bone’ by Saunders & Maroto is the best story & art. The Skeates/Sutton work is also good.

48. cover: montage/back cover: Jack Davis (Oct. 1972) front cover reprints 12 covers from different eras

of Creepy while the back cover is reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan. 1965)

1) What Can You Say About An Eight-Year Old Creepy? [J. R. Cochran] 1p [text article, frontis]

2) The Coffin Of Dracula [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 16p reprinted from Creepy #8 & 9

(Apr. & June 1966) [2 pages edited out from the second part]

3) The Castle On The Moor! [Johnny Craig] 6p reprinted from Creepy #9 (June 1966)

4) Moon City! [Larry Englehart/Al McWilliams] 6p reprinted from Creepy #4 (Aug. 1965)

5) Swamped! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

6) Thumbs Down [Anne T. Murphy/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

7) The Cosmic All [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Creepy #38 (Mar. 1971)

8) Drink Deep! [Otto Binder/John Severin] 7p reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

9) The Adventure Of The German Student! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p reprinted

from Creepy #15 (June 1967)

Notes: The Creepy Annual now becomes part of the regular numbering.

The DuBay Era, Take 1

49. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1972)

1) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: No (Horse) Laughing Matter [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 1p

[frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Inside 49/The Story Behind The Story: ‘Behold—The Cybernite!’ [Bill DuBay & Rich

Margopoulos] ½p [text articles on letters’ page]

3) Buried Pleasure [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 10p

4) The Severed Hand [Fred Ott/Rafael Auraleon] 12p

5) The Third Night Of Mourning [James Stenstrum/Jaime Brocal] 12p

6) The Accursed Flower [Jose Bea] 10p

7) Creepy’s Book Reviews: The Pulps/Superman/Batman/Mandrake [Doug Moench, Greg Potter

& Tom Sutton] 1p [text articles]

8) Creepy’s Fan Club: James Stenstrum Profile/Hour For Rest/Mr. Grave’s Giant Step/End Of The

Corridor/Murder Is Not A Fun Game!/Who Can Say? [Jim Stenstrum, George Acevedo,

George Hennessey, Calvin L. Cox, Allen Sliwinski, Jack Hennigar/Jim Stenstrum, Victor

Kally & Esteban Maroto] 2p [text article/stories w/photos]

9) Wedding Knells [Doug Moench/Jose Gual] 8p

Notes: Editor: Bill DuBay. The DuBay era starts with a great issue! Sanjulian’s cover is top notch and its cover story within, ‘The Third Night Of Mourning’, is even more impressive—especially considering that this was author Jim Stenstrum’s professional debut (but second story--#50’s ‘Forgive Us Our Debts’ was his first sale). Brocal’s artwork is exactly right for the story’s French Revolution setting, as well. Jose Bea’s bizarre ‘The Accursed Flower’ is almost as good as the Stenstrum/Brocal entry and the remaining tales are more than satisfactory. The Spanish invasion of artists and their artistic takeover of Warren’s magazines was now complete, with most of the American artists, with rare exceptations, gone to greener pastures.

50. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1973)

1) Odd Worm! [Al Hewetson/Rafael Auraleon] 1p [frontis]

2) Inside 50/The Story Behind The Story: ‘Futurization Computation’ [Bill DuBay] ½p [text

articles on letters’ page]

3) Forgive Us Our Debts [Jim Stenstrum/Esteban Maroto] 18p

4) Frog God! [Ed Fedory/Adolfo Abellan] 7p

5) The Critic’s Crypt: Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon: Water World/Flash Gordon: Ice Kingdom/

Terry & The Pirates [Bill DuBay & Al Milgrom] 1p [text articles]

6) Side-Show [Fred Ott/Jose Bea] 8p

7) Sum Of Its Parts [Doug Moench/Reed Crandall] 10p

8) Creepy’s Fan Club: Esteban Maroto Profile/One Of Our Policemen Is Missing/Good Morning/

The Quarry/Guilty, Guilty, Guilty… [Bill DuBay, Sandra Chaney, Douglas W. Justice,

Don Robers & Nathan Garmon/Bill DuBay, Esteban Maroto, Leslie Fish & Michael

Arman] 2p [text article/stories]

9) The Climbers Of The Tower [T. Casey Brennan/Felix Mas] 7p

Notes: After the high quality of the previous issue, this one was a big let-down, especially for a special 50^th anniversary issue. The Sanjulian cover shows Uncle Creepy, Cousin Eerie, Vampirella, the moronic version of Dracula {currently appearing in Vampirella} and Frankenstein’s monster along with other various creepy characters sitting around a 50^th birthday cake with skull frosting. It was a nice idea that just doesn’t work. After Stenstrum’s powerhouse debut the previous issue, this issue’s ‘Forgive Us Our Debts’ comes off as long and unfocused, although the Maroto art was nice. With one exception, the remainder of the stories are rather lame, with Brennan’s philosophical story in particular showing he had run into a creative corner. The exception was Moench’s ‘Sum Of Its Parts’, a good story which suffered from Crandall’s art. It wasn’t so much that the art was bad as that it was so far below the quality of the art Crandall had routinely delivered in the 1960s that it made the story look slightly foolish. Fans noticed the drop in quality for the entire issue and heavily critized this issue, pointing out Crandall’s art and Brennan and Stenstrum’s stories in particular. The series’ title ‘Creepy’s Loathsome Lore’ is dropped from the frontis story.

51. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Mar. 1973)

1) Possessed From Beyond The Grave [Fred Ott/Rafael Auraleon] 2p [frontis & on inside back

cover]

2) Déjà vu [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 9p

3) Star-Slaughter [Rich Margopoulos/Ramon Torrents] 8p

4) Death Wish! [John D. Warner/Adolfo Abellan] 8p

5) Package Deal [Martin Pasko/Jose Bea] 7p

6) Dracula Ad [Esteban Maroto] 1p [color]

7) The Viyi [Esteban Maroto] 6p [color]

8) Dracula Ad [various] 1p [color]

9) His Brother’s Grave [Kevin Pagan/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

10) The Critic’s Crypt: Horror Times Ten/Masters Of Horror/Warlocks And Warriors/Wizards

And Warlocks [Chuck McNaughton?] 1p [text articles]

11) Creepy’s Fan Club: John D. Warner Profile/Monster/Image In A Puzzle/A Very Lovely

Ghost/Him [John D. Warner, J. C. Bartholomew Del Galzo, Paul G. Ellis, Randall Holmberg & L. R. Slater/Chad Draber] 2p [text article/stories w/photo]

12) Bed Of Roses [Doug Moench/Felix Mas] 9p

Notes: Price increase to $1.00 & size increase to 80 pages. A much better issue that the previous one. The first color section appears, reprinting Maroto’s ‘The Viyi’ story from the Dracula color collection. The Dracula color album was 120 pages of horror stories that had been previously published in the Europeon magazine entitled Dracula. The reprint book was heavily advertised by Warren for several years. This particular color section also appeared in Vampirella, the only time the color sections were repeated. The ads show only Maroto and Jose Bea artwork. The best story & art in this issue is easily Doug Moench’s and Esteban Maroto’s ‘Déjà Vu’.

52. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Apr. 1973)

1) The Story Behind The Story: ‘Forgive Us Our Debts’/’Climbers Of The Tower’/’The Accursed

Flower’ [Jim Stenstrum, T. Casey Brennan & Jose Bea] ½p [text articles on the letters’

page]

2) A Most Private Terror [Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 12p [story miscredited to Doug Moench]

3) The Last Hero! [Steve Skeates/Ramon Torrents] 10p

4) Halve Your Cake And Eat It Two [Doug Moench/Adolfo Abellan] 10p

5) Them Thar Flyin’ Things! [Greg Potter/Jose Bea] 7p

6) The Man With The Brain Of Gold [George Henderson/Reed Crandall] 6p from the story by ?

7) The Killer [Steve Skeates/Felix Mas] 8p

8) Creepy’s Catacombs: Steve Skeates Profile/What’s News!/Fanzine Reviews: Comic & Crypt/

Rockets Blast Comicollector/The Creative Adventure [Steve Skeates, Bill DuBay &

Chuck McNaughton?/Steve Skeates] 1p [text articles]

Notes: Back to 75 cents & 72 pages. DuBay continues to revamp the magazines, dropping the fan page, and with it, fan participation, replacing them with a feature page {in this case, titled Creepy’s Catacombs} which focused on reviews, profiles and mini-editorials. Unlike the fan pages, which were unique to each magazine, the feature page was the same in Creepy, Eerie or Vampirella. The magazines also upped their frequency to 9 issues per year. Budd Lewis makes his professional debut with a great story, easily the best in the issue, only to have it miscredited to Doug Moench! Maroto’s art for Lewis’ icy winter tale is spot on! Crandall delivers a much better art job than in #50, wrapped around an interesting story adaptation, the first one Warren had done in some time.

53. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (May 1973)

1) A Scream In The Forest [Greg Potter/Esteban Maroto] 12p

2) The Stone Of Power! [Steve Skeates/Ramon Torrents] 8p

3) Freedom’s Just Another Word [Bill DuBay/Adolfo Abellan] 13p

4) The Creature Of Loch Ness! [Doug Moench/Jose Bea] 10p

5) The Night The Creatures Attacked [Fred Ott/Rafael Auraleon] 2p

6) It! [Tom Sutton] 9p

7) Creepy’s Catacombs: Gerry Boudreau Profile/What’s News!/Fanzine Reviews: Phase/Comic

Reader/Heritage [Gerry Boudreau, Bill Dubay & Chuck McNaughton?/Reed Crandall] 1p

[text articles]

Notes: A great Sanjulian cover of a corpse rising from the swamp {with an odd teddy bear in the foreground}, that would have been just as much at home over at Skywald’s Horror-Mood. ‘A Scream In The Forest’ has great artwork. Bill DuBay’s ‘Freedom’s Just Another Word’ is a decent story marred by poor artwork and a somewhat troubling use of racial slurs, especially when one considers some of the stories dealing with African-Americans that DuBay would write in the future. ‘It!’ by Tom Sutton was a fine story that would spawn a series, beginning in Eerie #56.

54. cover: montage of interior panels (July 1973)

1) A Guest Editorial By Phil Seuling [Phil Seuling] ½p [text article on letters’ page]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Jaime Brocal Profile/What’s News/Fanzine Reviews: File

Forty/Remember When/Maxor [Bill DuBay & Chuck McNaughton?/Jaime Brocal] 1p

[text articles]

3) The Slipped Mickey Click Flip [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 10p

4) This Graveyard Is Not Deserted [Don McGregor/Reed Crandall] 13p

5) Descent Into Hell [Kevin Pagan/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

6) Dead Man’s Race [Jack Butterworth/Martin Salvador] 10p

7) Little Nippers! [R. Michael Rosen/Tom Sutton] 8p

Notes: Possibly as a cost cutting measure or perhaps because the increase in frequency had left them short on covers, Creepy & Vampirella had montage covers composed of interior panels. The response must not have been too good as this was never repeated. ‘The Slipped Mickey Click Flip!’ is a great humorous story. Richard Corben who, up to this point, had done some great work in the undergrounds and respectable work for Warren, now gives fair warning to the eye-opening, legendary artwork that would be coming out in the next few years. Den, Mutant World, Jeremy Brood, A Boy And His Dog, Banner, The House On The Borderlands, etc. are all clearly forecast by the exceptional work he’d be doing for Warren over the next three years.

55. cover: montage of 12 previous covers (Aug. 1973)

1) The Creepy-Crawley-Castle Game! [Bill DuBay] 3p [game; frontis, one interior page & on

inside back cover]

2) Brain Trust! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

3) Welcome Stranger [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 7p reprinted from Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

4) Act Three! [Johnny Craig] 8p reprinted from Creepy #18 (Jan. 1968)

5) Thundering Terror! [Clark Dimond & Terry Bisson/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Creepy

#17 (Oct. 1967)

6) Incident In The Beyond! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June

1965)

7) Prelude To Armegeddon [Nicola Cuti & Wally Wood/Wally Wood] 12p reprinted from

Creepy #41 (Sept. 1971)

8) The Law And Disorder [Dennis P. Junot/Luis Garcia] 6p reprinted from Creepy #47 (Sept.

1972)

Notes: The 1973 annual. $1.00 price and 80 pages.

56. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Sept. 1973)

1) The Creepy Monster Match [Bill DuBay] 2½p [game; frontis, interior page & on inside back

cover]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Paul Neary Profile/What’s New/Fanzine Reviews: The Collector/Graphic

Story World/Menomonee Falls Gazette [Bill DuBay & Chuck McNaughton?/Paul Neary]

1p [text articles]

3) In My Father’s House! [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

4) Innsmouth Festival [John Jacobson/Adolfo Abellan] 12p

5) Consumed By Ambition [Jack Butterworth/Martin Salvador] 9p

6) Lycanklutz [Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) The Way Of All Flesh [Doug Moench/Jose Bea] 10p

8) The Bell Of Kuang Sai [George Henderson/Isidro Mones] 8p from the story by ?

Notes: Decent issue with the humorous ‘Lycanklutz’ having the best story & art. Isidro Mones’ art was credited to Munes for his first dozen or so appearances. The Henderson/Mones’ adaptation is quite good as well. Bill DuBay is finally listed as editor {previously his credit had been managing editor}.

57. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1973)

1) Werewolf! The Exciting Game Of Detective Skill! [Bill DuBay] 2p [frontis & on inside back

cover]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Bruce Bezaire Profile/The Editor’s Box/Fanzine Reviews: Barney’s

Comix/Rocket’s Blast/Etcetera [Bill DuBay & Chuck McNaughton?/Rich Buckler] 1p

[text articles]

3) The Destructive Image [Don McGregor/Ramon Torrents] 11p

4) The Hope Of The Future [Doug Moench/Jaime Brocal] 8p

5) The Bloodlock Museum [Jack Butterworth/Martin Salvador] 5p

6) The Low Spark Of High Heeled Noise! [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) The Red Badge Of Terror [Doug Moench/Jose Bea] 7p

8) Sense Of Violence [Doug Moench/Isidro Mones] 8p

Notes: Buckler’s artwork on the feature’s page is from the story ‘Snow’which wouldn’t appear until 1975. The sample panel that we see is clearly inked by Buckler as well, although the actual story has inking by Wally Wood. Brocal’s art is reproduced from his pencils and it’s very classy looking. Moench & Corben go for another humorous horror story but come up a bit short. None of the stories really jump out at you but all are good, solid tales. A Brad Bird (the future movie director?) sends in a letter.

58. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Dec. 1973)

1) The Old School [Steve Skeates/Vicente Alcazar & Bill DuBay] 2p [frontis & on inside back

cover]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Manuel Sanjulian Profile/Preview: 3 New Warren Series/Fanzine

Reviews: Imagination/Fright & Fantasy/Wonderworld [Bill DuBay & Chuck McNaughton?/Manuel Sanjulian] 1p [text articles]

3) Change…Into Something Comfortable [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 8p

4) An Excuse For Violence [Don McGregor/Adolpho Abellan] 10p

5) Shriek Well Before Dying! [W. Eaton/Jose Bea] 8p

6) Soul And Shadow [Gardner Fox/Reed Crandall] 10p

7) The Waking Nightmare! [Don McGregor/Isidro Mones] 12p

8) Two Vampirella’s Stun 5,500 At 1973 Comic Art Convention [Gerry Boudreau] 1p [text

article w/photos]

Notes: Future comic writer/artist Fred Hembeck & current Warren writer Greg Potter send in letters. Moench & Corben deliver a great Halloween tale! The Fox/Crandall fantasy is quite nice. The Vampirella text page featured stripper Angelique Trouvere, who did quite of lot of costume work for 1970s era conventions and 14 year old (!) Heidi Saha, daughter of fantasy editor Arthur Saha, in Vampirella costumes! Both ladies looked quite nice although Vampi’s skimpy costume on a very young girl is rather disturbing. The Saha writeup was the beginning of a rather bizarre publishing venture by Warren Publications in which James Warren published a B&W photo fan magazine and a life-size wall poster of the teen-aged Heidi Saha dressed in quite revealing costumes. Saha’s cover & poster shot featured her dressed as Sheena of the Jungle. One wonders whether the target audience for such a product might have been the dirty old men brigade.

59. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1974)

1) A Few Words And Pictures About Our Brand New Comic Magazine [Bill DuBay/Will Eisner

& Bill DuBay] 2p [color text article, frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Destiny’s Witch [John Jacobson/Ramon Torrents] 12p

3) A Dark And Violent Place [Don McGregor/Adolfo Abellan] 14p

4) Spare That Tree! [Jack Butterworth/Martin Salvador] 7p

5) Bless Us, Father… [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 7p [color]

6) Curiosity Killed The Cat [Doug Moench/Paul Neary] 8p

7) Not A Creature Was Stirring [Don McGregor/Tom Sutton] 13p

8) Creepy’s Catacombs: W. R. Mohalley Profile/Warren Magazines Questionnaire [Bill DuBay]

1p [text articles w/photo]

Notes: Price increase to $1.00. The killer Santa cover began something of a tradition for Warren, which ran several of these as covers for their Christmas specials over the years. I suspect that the controversial batch of killer Santa Claus movies that provoked protest lines in the early 1980s were directly inspired by these Warren covers. The new magazine mentioned on the frontis is The Spirit. It’s also advertised on the back cover. W. R. Mohalley was Warren’s head of production and his appearance on the features page marked the first time the background staffers were profiled. The best story & art belong to Bill DuBay & Richard Corben’s inspired Christmas tale of a lonely police officer and an crazy Santa Claus killer (well, what did you expect?). It was top notch, even though the reproduction caused the color pages to appear quite muddy. But even that worked to the story’s advantage, making the grim, dingy city seem even more ugly. The parallel storyline, with half of each page (separated cheerfully by mistletoe & candy canes!) telling the separate tales of the cop & the kook until they combine tragically (?) in the finale, clearly inspired many future comic writers, including Alan Moore. The rest of the issue is pretty good too, with solid stories from everyone and another excellent one from Don McGregor & Tom Sutton. ‘Not A Creature Was Stirring’ is a great story with top notch art. It was also the third and last story to feature police detective Dave Turner.

60. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Feb. 1974)

1) The Exorcist [Bill DuBay] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Ramon Torrents Profile/You’re Paying More For Warren Magazines This

Month. We Think You Ought To Know Why/Fanzine Reviews: Dark

Fantasy/Quintessence/CPL [Bill DuBay & Ramon Torrents/Ramon Torrents] 2p [text articles w/photo]

3) Slaughter House [Rich Margopoulos/Adolfo Abellan] 16p

4) A Most Precious Secret [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gual] 12p

5) The Hero Within [Steve Skeates/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

6) Monsieur Fortran’s Hoax! [John Jacobson/Martin Salvador] 6p

7) The Other Side Of Hell! [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

8) Presenting The 1973 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: The $1.00 price is made permanent. A rather disappointing issue, with only the Skeates/Corben stories being particularly memorable. Gonzalo Mayo makes his Warren debut. His artwork was quite beautiful, although often overwrought. The 1973 Warren Awards go to Manuel Sanjulian for best cover, Esteban Maroto for best art on ‘A Scream In The Forest’, Bill DuBay for best story with ‘Freedom’s Just Another Word’, best writer/artist to Richard Corben for ‘Lycanklutz’, best all around artist to Ramon Torrents, best all around writer to Steve Skeates, and special awards for excellence to Enrich Torres and Richard Corben.

61. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Apr. 1974)

1) Child Of Hell [Bill DuBay] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Isidro Mones Profile/The Return Of Archie Goodwin/Fanzine Reviews:

Sword And Fantasy/Funnyworld/European Cartoonist [Bill DuBay, Archie Goodwin &

Chuck McNaughton?] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) A Stranger In Eternity [T. Casey Brennan/Adolfo Abellan] 9p

4) Advent Of The Scrap-Heap! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gual] 10p

5) The Ghouls! [Carl Wessler/Martin Salvador] 6p

6) Terror Tomb [Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) The Blood-Colored Motorbike [Jose Bea] 8p

8) Twisted Medicine [Steve Skeates/Leo Summers] 7p

9) Encore Ghastly [Tom Sutton] 6p

Notes: Archie Goodwin, fresh from his landmark DC editorial turns on Detective Comics & various war comics, returns as editor for a short-lived stint. ‘A Stranger In Eternity’ is a sequel to ‘A Stranger In Hell’ from Eerie #38. Richard Corben’s latest attempt at a humorous horror story is considerably better than his last. The highlight of the issue is the controversial ‘Twisted Medicine’ from Skeates & Summers (in his Warren debut). Apparently readers disliked the notion of using a maimed Vietnam vet as a cornerstone to a gory fantasy tale. Tom Sutton turned in some of his best work on ‘Encore Ghastly’, a sort of valentine to EC artist Graham ‘Ghastly’ Ingels.

62. cover: Ken Kelly (May 1974)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Archie Goodwin/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Martin Salvador Profile/Alcazar, Corben, Mayo, Mones, Severin,

Summers And Wrightson!/Fanzine Reviews: Le Beaver/Exotic Fantasy/The Comic

Crusader [Archie Goodwin & Chuck McNaughton?] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) The Black Cat [Berni Wrightson] 12p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

4) Buffaloed [Larry Herndon/John Severin] 8p

5) Firetrap [Jack Butterworth/Vicente Alcazar] 8p

6) Judas [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) Survivor Or Savior! [Steve Skeates/Gonzalo Mayo] 7p

8) The Maze [Steve Skeates/Leo Summers] 8p

9) The Demon Within! [Steve Skeates/Isidro Mones] 7p

Notes: Behind a gory Ken Kelly cover {depicting the hatcheted head of the gal from ‘The Black Cat’} were clear signs that Archie Goodwin was back in control. Strong stories {with the exception of the rather weak ‘Judas’}, the return of John Severin from the Goodwin era, and the arrival of Berni Wrightson, fresh from his fabled run on DC’s Swamp Thing, make up an excellent issue. Hard to complain about anything, really. Just a fine fine issue. Sign of trouble ahead—Bill DuBay is listed as senior editor, over Goodwin.

63. cover: Ken Kelly (July 1974)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Archie Goodwin/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Vicente Alcazar Profile/What Do They Have In Common?/1974 New

York Comic Art Convention Ad [Archie Goodwin/Vicente Alcazar & Berni Wrightson]

1p [text articles]

3) Jenifer [Bruce Jones/Berni Wrightson] 10p

4) A Touch Of Terror [Rich Margopoulos/Adolfo Abellan] 12p

5) …A Ghost Of A Chance [T. Casey Brennan/Vicente Alcazar] 6p

6) Demon In The Cockpit [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) Fishbait [Larry Herndon/Leo Summers] 9p

8) The Clones! [Martin Pasko/Jose Gual] 9p

Notes: A study in contrasts! ‘Jenifer’ is one of the undeniable classics of this period, with a great Bruce Jones story and top drawer Wrightson art. Yet it’s stuck behind a sub-par Kelly cover, with, at best, fair to downright poor stories surrounding it {please note that the art is generally pretty good in all of these stories}. In fact, ‘The Clones’ ranks as one of the worst stories Warren would ever publish. To be fair, the Alcazar and Corben stories weren’t too bad, although the color on ‘Demon In The Cockpit’ seemed to be all of a rather ghastly yellow hue.

64. cover: Larry Todd & Vaughn Bode (Aug. 1974)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Archie Goodwin/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Fernando Fernandez Profile/The Face That Launched An Issue Of

Creepy!/1974 New York Comic Art Convention Ad [Fernando Fernandez & Archie

Goodwin/Fernando Fernandez] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) Forgotten Flesh [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcazar] 8p

4) Mates [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

5) High Time [Steve Skeates/Paul Neary] 7p

6) Only Losers Win! [Rich Margopoulos/Howard Chaykin] 8p

7) One Autumn At Arkham [Tom Sutton] 8p

8) To Sleepy Hollow…Returned [Jeff Rovin/Leo Summers] 8p

9) Hard John Apple: An Angel Shy Of Hell! [Jim Stenstrum/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

Notes: The first of Warren’s themed specials—this one centered around the Todd/Bode cover, which had been done two years prior. Each of the stories (with one exception) had a character who ended up looking like the cover painting. The exception was ‘Forgotten Flesh’, which was substituted at the last minute when the Archie Goodwin/Jim Starlin story, ‘Avenger!’, missed its deadline. That story wouldn’t see print until Eerie #128, 8 years later! This is Goodwin’s last issue as editor, as he leaves for Marvel, after alleged tension between him and Bill DuBay. The best stories are ‘An Angel Shy Of Hell!’ and ‘One Autumn At Arkham’, both in story & art. However, all the stories are good, not a clinker in the bunch. Hard John Apple would return in a series for Eerie, beginning in #83 (May 1977). Goodwin writes a lengthy reply on the letters’ page to Micheal Oliveri’s complaint about Warren’s increasing reliance on gore in general and on the stories ‘Twisted Medicine’ & ‘Bless Us, Father…’ in particular. Price increase to $1.25 and page increase to 80 pages.

65. cover: Ken Kelly/back cover: Albert Michini (Sept. 1974)

1) The Land Of Bone [Buddy Saunders/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Creepy #47 (Sept.

1972)

2) Star-Slaughter [Rich Margopoulos/Ramon Torrents] 8p reprinted from Creepy #51 (Mar.

1973)

3) The Men Who Called Him Monster [Don McGregor/Luis Garcia] 14p reprinted from Creepy

#43 (Jan. 1972)

4) Tell-Tale Heart [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p [color] reprinted from Creepy #3 (June

1965)

5) The Quaking Horror [Gardner Fox/Rafael Auraleon] 6p reprinted from Creepy #42 (Nov.

1971)

6) Bed Of Roses [Doug Moench/Felix Mas] 9p reprinted from Creepy #51 (Mar. 1973)

7) The Accursed Flower [Jose Bea] 10p reprinted from Creepy #49 (Nov. 1972)

8) A Chronicle! [Steve Skeates/Jorge B. Galvez] 4p reprinted from Creepy #42 (Nov. 1971)

9) The Third Night Of Mourning [Jim Stenstrum/Jaime Brocal] 12p reprinted from Creepy #49

(Nov. 1972)

Notes: Size increase to 96 pages. Editor: Bill DuBay. The 1974 Creepy Annual.

66. cover: Ken Kelly (Nov. 1974)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Gonazlo Mayo Profile/In Defense Of A Name!/The Creative Man—Ken

Kelly: Doodling Cover Artist! [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo & Ken Kelly] 1p [text

Articles w/photo]

3) Desecration [Doug Moench/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Portrait Of Death [Budd Lewis/Vicente Alcazar] 8p

5) Solitude! [Archie Goodwin/Martin Salvador] 10p

6) Pinball Wizard! [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 7p

7) Relatively Axe-Cidental [Greg Potter/Adolfo Abellan] 12p

8) Nightmare! [Gerry Boudreau & Isidro Mones/Isidro Mones] 8p

Notes: $1.00 cover price, with 72 pages. Kelly’s clumsy cover shows an executioner chopping off a head {with an axe movement that would have split the guy’s head in half, not chopped off his head}, an image for which Kelly forgets to paint the rest of the victim’s body! The cover art & the interior story from Potter & Abellan closely resembles {even down to the page count} Jim Stenstrum & Jaime Brocal’s much better story ‘The Third Night Of Mourning’ from Creepy #49, which had just been reprinted the previous issue. Due to scheduling problems Archie Goodwin hadn’t had a story of his own appear during his short run as editor. The first of them shows up now and it’s a beaut of a Western werewolf story! One of Martin Salvador’s best art efforts as well. ‘Pinball Wizard’ by Moench & Corben is also quite good. Jose Ortiz makes his Warren debut.

67. cover: Ken Kelly (Dec. 1974)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Once Upon A Time At Warren…/Controversy In The Comics/The

Creative Man—Gerry Boudreau: Portrait Artist? [Bill DuBay/Gerry Boudeau] 1p [text

articles]

3) Excerpts From The Year Five! [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) The Haunted Abbey [Budd Lewis/Vicente Alcazar] 10p

5) The Happy Undertaker [Carl Wessler/Martin Salvador] 7p

6) Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven [Richard Corben] 8p [color] from the poem by Edgar Allan

Poe

7) Holy War [Budd Lewis/Adolfo Abellan] 11p

8) Oil Of Dog! [Jack Butterworth/Isidro Mones] 8p from the story by Ambrose Bierce

Notes: More scheduling problems. The Ken Kelly cover was supposed to illustrate the interior color section story ‘Bowser’ by Jan Strnad & Richard Corben. However, that story was skipped {it eventually appeared in Vampirella} in favor of Corben’s solo adaptation of E. A. Poe’s ‘The Raven’. Ironically, the feature page profiled the production staff, including Sherry Berne, future editor Louise Jones (nee Simonson), Michele Brand & Bill Mohalley. For all the mixups however, this is a very good issue. Budd Lewis shows off his writing chops with an excellent ‘Excerpts From The Year Five!’ as well as ‘The Haunted Abbey’. His ‘Holy War’ is an uncredited adaptation of the song ‘One Tin Soldier’. Corben’s adaptation of ‘The Raven’ is gorgeous, with truly beautiful artwork. However, the best work here is Jack Butterworth & Isidro Mones’ adaptation of Ambrose Bierce’s sly masterpiece ‘Oil Of Dog’. This was my first encounter with that gleefully savage story of abortion, family ties and salesmanship. I looked everywhere to find the original, but it took me years in that pre-internet day. Much to my satisfaction, the original story and the Butterworth/Mones’ adaptation are pure horrific black humor, watered down nary a bit! This adaptation’s never been reprinted and that’s a damn shame!

68. cover: Ken Kelly/back cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1975)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Creepy’s Catacombs: Berni Wrightson Profile/Accept No Substitutes! [Bill DuBay] 1p [text

articles w/photo]

3) The Stars My Salvation [Doug Moench/John Severin] 11p

4) Christmas Eve Can Kill You [Gerry Boudreau/Vicente Alcazar] 8p

5) Reflections In A Golden Spike [Gerry Boudreau/Martin Salvador] 8p

6) Anti-Christmas [Gerry Boudreau/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) A Gentle Takeover [Budd Lewis/Adolfo Abellan] 8p

8) Christmas Visit [Budd Lewis/Isidro Mones] 8p

9) The Christmas Gnome Of Timothy Brayle! [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

Notes: One of Creepy’s nastier covers, with a howling Santa and his elves placing chopped off parts of what looks to be a child into Christmas stockings. Lots of intestines. The back cover wasn’t much cheerier—a very long nail is stuck through a bloke’s neck—the sharp end covered in blood. This was the first totally Christmas themed special. Price was $1.25 for 80 pages. The Wrightson art on the frontis is reprinted from an earlier ad for the New York Comicon. Perhaps reflecting on the imminent collapse of Skywald, caused by Marvel’s flooding of the market with horror B&W magazines, a tactic which was also hurting Warren, this month’s editorial pleads with readers to stay the course and keep buying Warren magazines. The non-holiday Moench/Severin story was a last minute substitute for the DuBay/Ortiz Christmas tale ‘Once Upon A Miracle’, which missed the deadline for this issue. That story eventually appeared in Creepy #77. The trouble with a Christmas themed issue was that the stories tended to cancel each other out. Even if they were good, and most of these are, the repetition of the holiday theme blunted the horror of the situations. Best story & art go to Boudreau & Corben’s ‘Anti-Christmas’ with ‘Reflections In A Golden Spike’ also being quite a good story. More fine art was provided by Vicente Alcazar and Isidro Mones.

69. cover: Ken Kelly (Feb. 1975)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: The Story [Bill Dubay] 1p

[text article]

3) The Pit And The Pendulum [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 10p from the story by Edgar Allan

Poe

4) Premature Burial [Rich Margopoulos/Vicente Alcazar] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

5) The Fall Of The House Of Usher [Rich Margopoulos/Martin Salvador] 8p from the story by

Edgar Allan Poe

6) The Oval Portrait [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

7) Ms. Found In A Bottle! [Rich Margopoulos/Leo Summers] 10p from the story by Edgar Allan

Poe

8) Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar [Rich Margopoulos/Isidro Mones] 8p from the story by

Edgar Allan Poe

Notes: Back to a $1.00 price and 72 page length. Strnad writes in to wonder what happened to his ‘Bowser’ story for #67. The reply states that the printer confused the two different color sections—not hard, I suppose, as both were by Corben. This was a special Edgar Allan Poe issue. Since Al Hewetson at Skywald had mentioned several times that Skywald planned to do a EA Poe magazine, perhaps this was Warren’s attempt at heading them off, as they did with Eerie Publications by rush publishing the Eerie ashcan edition in 1965. Whatever, this was a pretty good issue, with interesting adaptations and great art. As noted in the reply to Strnad’s letter, Corben’s story ‘The Raven’, that mistakedly appeared in #67, was originally intended as a color section for this issue. As it turned out, no color section appeared. Best art is from Richard Corben & Leo Summers, with Corben showing a quite subtle blend of airbrush and pen & ink work that really helped the storyline. All the adaptations are by Margopoulos and he does a fine job. As a whole, this special worked much better than the Christmas special. The usual feature page is dropped for a series detailing how a Warren magazine is put together.

70. cover: Ken Kelly (Apr. 1975)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: Lettering [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

3) The Murders In The Rue Morgue [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 12p from the story by Edgar

Allan Poe

4) Man Of The Crowd [Rich Margopoulos/Luis Bermejo] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

6) The Cask Of Amontillado! [Rich Margopoulos/Martin Salvador] 8p from the story by Edgar

Allan Poe

7) Shadow [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

8) A Descent Into The Maelstrom! [Rich Margopoulos/Adolfo Abellan] 10p from the story by

Edgar Allan Poe

9) Berenice [Rich Margopoulos/Isidro Mones] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

Notes: Another remarkably gory cover, with the orangatang from “Murders In The Rue Morgue’ slashing a very deep cut across the largely naked bosom of a young lady. The second and last of the Poe specials although leftover Poe adaptations would appear over the next year. Very nice artwork by Wrightson for the frontis. This issue is even more impressive than the previous one. Sterling adaptations by Margopoulos, particularly on the lesser known Poe stories ‘Man Of The Crowd’, ‘Shadow’ and ‘Berenice’ with great art jobs from all concerned. Bemejo’s Warren debut desplays gorgeous, delicate penwork. Just a fine, fine job from all concerned.

71. cover: Ken Kelly (May 1975)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Room For One More [Doug Moench/Luis Bermejo] 11p

3) But When She Was Bad [Gerry Boudreau/Luis Bermejo] 10p

4) His Name Was John! [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 12p

5) The Song Of Alan Bane [Gerry Boudreau/Luis Bermejo] 12p [poem]

6) The Minotaur [Rich Margopoulos/Luis Bermejo] 10p from the story by Nathaniel Hawthorne

7) Presenting the 1974 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: Another excellent themed issue! This time the spotlight was on the artist Luis Bermejo and he delivers in all respects. Beautifully rendered artwork enhancing each story. The best was probably ‘The Song Of Alan Bane’ or ‘The Minotaur’ but everything here is good. This year’s Warren Awards went to Manuel Sanjulian for best covers, Jose Gonzalez for best art on ‘Sultana’s Revenge’ {the voters must have been visited by that shrieking Santa from a few issues earlier}, Budd Lewis for best story for ‘Excerpts From The Year Five’, Berni Wrightson for best writer/artist, Jose Ortiz for best all around artist, Budd Lewis for best all around writer & a special award for Ken Kelly.

72. cover: Ken Kelly (July 1975)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: The Art [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

3) Vendetta [Rich Margopoulos & Gerry Boudreau/Jose Gual] 12p

4) Malocchi! [Don McGregor/Jose Gual] 11p

5) Like The Sky Red [Doug Moench/Jose Gual] 9p

6) It: The Terror-Stalked Heiress! [Carl Wessler/Jose Gual] 10p

7) The Bite [Jeff Rovin/Jose Gual] 7p

8) Labyrinth [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Gual] 6p

Notes: Another issue centered around an artist—this time, Jose Gual. It didn’t work as well as the previous issue simply because, while Gual was a good artist, he just wasn’t in Bermejo’s league. Best story is the two year old ‘Malocchi!’. The dead guy called It moves back from Eerie for his finale. Great, tender cover of a lost looking robot by Ken Kelly.

73. cover: Ken Kelly (Aug. 1975)

1) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: Production [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

2) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p

3) Playpen Of A God! [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 4p [framing story]

4) The Argo Standing By! [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 10p

5) A Beast Within! [Budd Lewis/John Severin] 12p

6) Unprovoked Attack On A Hilton Hotel [Jim Stenstrum/Richard Corben] 8p

7) Purge! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 8p [color]

8) Last Light Of The Universe [Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 17p

Notes: Yet another special issue—this time centered on science fiction. Price increase to $1.25 and size increase to 80 pages. The Lewis/Maroto story is a takeoff on Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Masque Of The Red Death’. Stories are pretty much on the grim side, except for the extremely funny and beautifully done ‘Unprovoked Attack On A Hilton Hotel’. Where Stenstrum had been for the last year, I don’t know, but his return was much appreciated. Corben’s art was also right on target.

74. cover: montage of interior panels (Oct. 1975)

1) Vampires Fly At Dusk! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan.

1965)

2) Curse Of The Full Moon! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Creepy #4

(Aug. 1965)

3) The Cask Of Amontillado! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan

Poe, reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

4) Hot Spell! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

5) The Beast On Bacon Street [Budd Lewis/Reed Crandall] 7p [color] art reprinted from Eerie

#24 (Nov. 1969)

6) Hop-Frog! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe, reprinted

from Creepy #11 (Oct. 1966)

7) The Squaw! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Bram Stoker, reprinted

from Creepy #13 (Feb. 1967)

8) Frozen Fear! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Creepy #16 (Aug. 1967)

9) Keep Your Spirits Up [Bill Parente/Reed Crandall] 7p reprinted from Creepy #25 (Feb. 1969)

[story miscredited to Archie Goodwin]

Notes: The 1975 Creepy Annual & a Reed Crandall Special. Budd Lewis wrote a new script for ‘The Beast On Bacon Street’, replacing the original Bill Parente script entitled ‘Wrong Tennant’ from Eerie #24. Crandall’s art here is so strong and vibrant that it’s somewhat heartbreaking to see the decline that occurred in his work throughout the 1970s.

75. cover: Ken Kelly (Nov. 1975)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Escape Chronicle [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 18p

3) Phantom Of Pleasure Island [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Toth] 8p

4) Snow [Bruce Bezaire/Rich Buckler & Wally Wood] 7p

5) Death Expression [Jim Stenstrum/John Severin] 10p

6) Thrillkill [Jim Stenstrum/Neal Adams] 8p

Notes: Down to 64 pages for $1.00. This is the first issue since #67 not to be a special of some sort. The letters’ page is cut to one page. The horror magazine wars had concluded with Skywald gone and Marvel canceling all of its horror magazines {although they retained a place on the B&W shelves with The Savage Sword Of Conan and a few non-horror books}. Warren had survived, but the cost was steep. The beneficial compitition with Skywald was gone, the threat from Marvel was gone and Warren, the cutting edge of horror comics for so long, began to slowly stagnate. Still, much of that was in the future. Even with cost-cutting measures clearly beginning to show up here, remarkably, this issue was probably the best single issue Warren had published since the heady days of 1967. Alex Toth & Neal Adams return, along with new work from John Severin & Wally Wood. Rich Buckler & Jose Ortiz provided good work as well. Powerful stories from all concerned. ‘Snow’ had been previewed almost two years earlier on the features page with Buckler than supplying the inks but Wood’s inking was a great addition to the story. ‘The Escape Chronicle’ was apparently quite popular with readers as a sequel was done for it. A special essay could be written about ‘Thillkill’ all on its own. It is as powerful and influencial in its own way as any story ever published in comics. If DuBay’s ‘Bless Us, Father…” was the prototype for parallel storylines in comics than ‘Thrillkill’ was the first fully realized engine. Every writer, every artist who’s used that particular story technique owes this story, as well as Jim Stenstrum & Neal Adams, a debt of graditude. In one storyline, a young man sits on a highrise roof, eating an apple while calmly picking off the people in the streets below with a high-powered rifle while the other storyline shows a neighborhood priest, after the fact, attempting to explain to a reporter why the ‘nice young man’ would have done such a thing. And it’s not just the storytelling technique that’s a triumph, the story itself is great. Stenstrum’s script is one of the most powerful narratives in comicdom--violent, grim, disturbing, poignant and oddly tender. It provides no clear answers or solutions but will stay, as any great story should, in your memory for years. Dynamic and shocking art by Adams—some of the best of his career. For years I thought the young killer was physically modeled after writer Harlan Ellison but Adams recently confirmed that the model was artist Paul Kirchner, at the time an assistant of Wally Wood’s. A beautiful story and a great issue.

76. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1976)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Walt Simonson & Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Goodbye, Mr. Lincoln [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 12p

3) Ensnared [Rich Margopoulos/Alex Toth] 7p

4) A Flash Of Lightning [Gerry Boudreau/John Severin] 9p

5) My Monster…My Dad [Jan Strnad/Martin Salvador] 8p

6) In Darkness It Shall End! [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcazar] 9p

7) The Imp Of The Perverse! [Rich Margopoulos/Luis Bermejo] 8p from the story by Edgar

Allan Poe

8) 1976 Warren Calendar Ad [Manuel Sanjulian] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: Although the issues were smaller, for a time this actually seemed to increase the quality of the stories. Sanjulian delivers a striking cover of a colonial clad skeleton galloping on a stallion while holding a headless female corpse. There are no great stories in this issue but no poor ones either. The best art could be split between Alcazar & Severin while the best stories were probably the Poe adaptation and Boudreau’s ‘A Flash Of Lightning’. Toth did at least three or four different splash pages for ‘Ensnared’ before he settled on the published version. The Poe adaptation was clearly intended for a possible third all-Poe special. There were several more of these adaptations scattered over the next year. The first Warren calendar consisted of reprinted covers.

77. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Feb. 1976)

1) Santa Claus’ Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Once Upon A Miracle [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 10p

3) Tibor Miko [Alex Toth] 6p

4) The Final Christmas Of Friar Steel [Budd Lewis/John Severin] 8p

5) Clarice [Bruce Jones/Berni Wrighton] 5p [poem]

6) The Believer [Budd Lewis/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) First Snow, Magic Snow [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 6p

8) Final Gift [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p

9) The Final Christmas [Budd Lewis/Isidro Mones] 8p

10) Uncle Creepy’s Catacombs [Louise Jones?] 1p [questionaire]

Notes: An all Christmas story special. Face it, there’s nothing like seeing Santa shotgunned in half on the roof {in living color!} to build Christmas cheer. $1.25 price and 80 pages in length. Future comic artist Brent Anderson sends in a letter. The story ‘Once Upon A Miracle’ was originally intended for Creepy #68. The title for ‘Tibor Miko’ does not appear on the actual story. It is on the titlepage, however. The Jones/Wrightson poem ‘Clarice’ is the most effective narrative here. It’s quite a haunting effort.

78. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Mar. 1976)

1) The Horseman [Bruce Bezaire/Miguel Quesada] 10p

2) Unreal! [Alex Toth] 6p

3) Creeps [Archie Goodwin/John Severin & Wally Wood] 8p

4) Lord Of Lazarus Castle [Gerry Boudreau & Carl Wessler/Jorge Moliterni] 6p [miscredited to

Claude Moliterni]

5) The Nature Of The Beast [Budd Lewis/Martin Salvador] 10p

6) God Of Fear [Jeff Rovin/Vicente Alcazar] 7p

Notes: Back to 64 pages and $1.00. The cover was a little static but all in all, a very good issue with one great urban paranoia story by the superb team of Goodwin/Severin/Wood. ‘Creeps’ leaves the reader feeling every bit of the urban rot the story deals with. ‘The Horseman’, one of Bezaire’s last stories for Warren, is pretty good but the Quesada art doesn’t really do it justice. Martin Salvador turns in one of his best jobs for Budd Lewis’ ‘The Nature Of The Beast’.

The Louise Jones Era

79. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (May 1976)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 1p [frontis]

2) As Ye Sow… [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 10p

3) Kui [Alex Toth] 6p

4) The Super-Abnormal Phenomena Survival Kit! [Jim Stenstrum/John Severin] 8p

5) The Shadow Of The Axe! [Dave Sim/Russ Heath] 6p

6) Visitation At Pliny Marsh [Gerry Boudreau/Martin Salvador] 8p

7) The Pit In The Living Room Floor! [Budd Lewis/Joaquin Blasquez] 8p

8) Presenting The 1975 Warren Awards! [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: The Louise Jones’ era begins with one of Creepy’s best single issues! With DuBay gone, there is no actual editor listed, rather James Warren is listed as editor-in-chief while Jones is still listed as associate editor. In fact, Warren was nervous about promoting Jones to the editor’s position and she challenged him to let her do the job secretly for a time in order to convince him. She is actually functioning as the editor here. Sanjulian turns in his best cover for Warren Publications, depicting a lovely young blonde standing in front of a gravestone, clutching a bloody, severed hand tightly to her bosom. All the stories are good but two of them are easily ranked among the top twenty Warren stories. ‘The Super-Abnormal Phenomena Survival Kit!’ by Stenstrum & Severin was a very funny spoof of the sort of ads that Warren itself, among others, ran in the back of their magazines. In fact, this spoof reportedly bothered Jim Warren somewhat for its lampooning of those ads until someone pointed out that readers who enjoy the story might just check out the ads a little more closely. John Severin was the perfect choice to illustrate this story, as he’d done hundreds of comic spoofs for the likes of Mad, Cracked or Sick! Stenstrum’s script is spot on and actually rather savage in raking the often silly ads over the coals. It must have been a very popular story for both the writer and readers as from this point on, Stenstrum’s scripts tended to be more humorous than serious. The other great story, and my personal favorite of all Warren stories, was ‘The Shadow Of The Axe!’. Again, the perfect artist was chosen for this grisly tale of a late 19^th century axe-murderer, his wife and their young son. The son slowly becomes aware that something is seriously wrong with daddy, while mom appears to be wasting away with the same knowledge. Russ Heath was the perfect choice for illustrating this story, rapidly establishing the locale, characters and living conditions appropriate for the time period. In a mere six pages you got an accurate depiction of the family, the chores, the daily life of a 19^th century farm and town and the son’s slow dawning of awareness regarding the circumstances surrounding a serial killer’s rampage, all the while still telling a clear story that left no doubt in the reader’s mind what was happening, when it was happening and why. Sim, the future Cerebus writer/artist, was then just starting out {his professional debut was just the year before in a Skywald magazine} but you’d never know it from the witty, clever script. This, along with ‘Gamal And The Cockatrice’ and ‘Thrillkill’ are probably the best three scripts that Warren ever bought. The last three panels of the story take everything you expected from the story and give them, not so much an O. Henry twist, but rather a subtle tweak. Delicious and thoroughly satisfying. The 1975 Warren Awards went to Ken Kelly for best covers, Berni Wrightson for best art with ‘The Muck Monster’, best writer/artist to Fernando Fernandez for ‘Good-Bye, My Love, Good-Bye!’, best story to Jim Stenstrum for ‘Thrillkill’, best all around artist to John Severin, best all around writer to Bruce Bezaire and special awards for excellance to Manuel Sanjulian and Alex Toth.

80. cover: Ken Kelly (June 1976)

1) Benjamin Jones And The Imagineers [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 6p

2) Second Genesis [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p

3) The Fable Of Bald Sheba And Montebank The Rogue! [Bill DuBay/Jose Bea] 6p

4) Proof Positive [Alex Toth] 8p

5) Ain’t It Just Like The Night [Doug Moench/Martin Salvador] 8p

6) The Axe-Man Cometh [Gerry Boudreau & Carl Wessler/Jorge B. Galvez] 5p

7) The Last Chronicle [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

Notes: ‘The Last Chronicle’ was a sequel to ‘The Escape Chronicles’ from Creepy #75, but it had none of the impact that story did. The title for Toth’s ‘Proof Positive’ is not located on the story itself but is listed on the titlepage. It also has the best story & art in the issue. It was also printed sideways. A good cover by Ken Kelly graces this issue but storywise this is somewhat of a disappointment after the previous issue. ‘Second Genesis’ wastes Maroto’s skills and he must have agreed as his art seemed phoned in anyway. Bermejo’s art is nice but the rest of the contents are rather mediocre. ‘Benjamin Jones And The Imagineers’ began a series of unconnected stories from Warren, usually written by DuBay, with rather Victorian sounding titles, although the contents were often not Victorian at all.

81. cover: Ken Kelly (July 1976)

1) Warren Publishing Company Will Pay A $500 Reward… [James Warren/Jack Davis] 1p [text

article/frontis]

2) Brannigan’s Gremlins [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 10p

3) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Wings Of Vengeance [Bill DuBay & Esteban Maroto/Esteban Maroto] 8p

5) The War! [Roger McKenzie/Paul Neary] 8p

6) Close Shave [Roger McKenzie/Martin Salvador] 6p

7) Battle Rot [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p

8) Billicar And The Momblywambles Of Glass [Steve Clement/Isidro Mones] 8p

Notes: Louise Jones is listed as Senior Editor with Bill DuBay listed as contributing editor. Joe Brancatelli, a longtime fan writer, begins his opinion page on the state of the comic industry. Nice artwork by Severin & Maroto in a rather average issue. The frontis article is Jim Warren’s response regarding the matter of counterfeit copies of the Eerie Ashcan #1 being sold to collectors for big bucks.

82. cover: montage of interior panels (Aug. 1976)

1) Forgive Us Our Debts [Jim Stenstrum/Esteban Maroto] 18p reprinted from Creepy #50 (Jan.

1973)

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) A Most Private Terror [Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 12p reprinted from Creepy #52 (Apr.

1973)

4) Deju Vu [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color, one page edited out] reprinted from

Creepy #51 (Mar. 1973)

5) Relatives! [Bruce Bezaire/Esteban Maroto] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #35 (Aug. 1974)

6) A Scream In The Forest [Greg Potter/Esteban Maroto] 12p reprinted from Creepy #53 (May

1973)

Notes: The 1976 Creepy Annual. An Esteban Maroto special issue. $1.25 price & 72 page length. Edited for this issue only by Bill DuBay, perhaps because this issue was done before his departure from the editor’s chair.

83. cover: Frank Frazetta (Oct. 1976) reprinted from Creepy #15 (June 1967)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Louise Jones/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Strange, Incurable Hauntings Of Phineas Boggs [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 9p

3) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Process Of Elimination [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 10p

5) Country Pie [Bruce Jones/Carmine Infantino & Berni Wrightson] 6p

6) In Deep [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p [pgs 2-9 in color]

7) Harvey Was A Sharp Cookie [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 9p

8) Now You See It… [Bruce Jones/Al Williamson] 8p

9) The Last Super Hero [Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino] 7p

Notes: Price increase to #1.50 and size increase to 80 pages. A Richard Corben cover was done to accompany his story ‘In Deep’ but not used, possibly due to deadline problems. It surfaced as the cover to #101 in 1978. The apparent last minute substitution of Frazetta’s cover started a trend of reusing his classic covers over the next several years, presumably to pump up sales at the newsstand. Some fans liked this but a very vocal minority did not. Outside of the old cover, this was a very good issue with strong stories from Bill DuBay & Bruce Jones, along with great art from Severin, Infantino, Heath, Wrightson, Corben, Ortiz & Williamson. Infantino makes his first comics appearances outside the DC books since his firing from his publisher’s position there in January 1976. Best story & art here was probably the Jones/Heath tour de force of ‘Process Of Elimination’ but Jones also scored with the terrifying ‘In Deep’, graced with beautiful Corben art as well as the fun ‘Now You See It…’, featuring Al Williamson’s welcome return to Warren with a story originally intended for Marvel’s cancelled Unknown Worlds Of Science Fiction. DuBay’s funny ‘Phineas Boggs’ was jauntily illustrated by John Severin, and Jose Ortiz’s work on ‘Harvey Was A Sharp Cookie’ was quite good, although his sharply styled artwork was a bit of a contrast to all the American artists. The Infantino/Wrightson artwork on ‘Country Pie’ was a good combination.

84. cover: Ken Kelly (Nov. 1976)

1) Hitter’s Wind! [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Walt Simonson] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Tarzan’s Travails [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Mummy’s Victory [Roger McKenzie/Richard Corben] 5p

4) Till Hell Freezes Over! [Steve Englehart/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 11p

5) Home Stretch [Roger McKenzie/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

6) Menace, Anyone…? [David Michelinie/Carmine Infantino & Al Milgrom] 9p

7) Relic [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & John Severin] 8p

Notes: An all-sports special, apparently inspired by DC’s Strange Sports Stories title. Gene Day sends in a letter rooting for his good buddy Dave Sim’s stories. Infantino pencils four out of six stories in this issue. In fact, there have been suggestions that the Spanish artists’ domination of Warren magazines began to wane as the direct result of Infantino’s speed in completing artwork. Clearly Roger McKenzie was the go to guy for this issue’s stories. This is a good issue, but not great.

85. cover: Ken Kelly (Jan. 1977)

1) 1977 Warren Calendar Ad [Enrich Torres] 1p [frontis]

2) Like Icarus, Quickly Falling [Roger McKenzie/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

3) The Comics Books: One Down… [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Hide And Go Mad [Budd Lewis/Carmine Infantino & Walt Simonson] 6p

5) The Thing In The Well [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

6) Orem Ain’t Got No Head Cheese! [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 9p

7) The Terrible Turnip Of Turpin County [Roger McKenzie/Martin Salvador] 9p

8) A Way In The Woods [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 10p

Notes: Billed on the cover as a monster special, although from the stories you’d be hardpressed to notice it since about half the monsters were the human, psycho kind. I remember back in 1976 when my mom picked up this issue, flipped to ‘Orem Ain’t Go No Head Cheese’, started to read it and then asked me with some concern (and a certain amount of fear, I suspect) if I honestly thought reading a story about eating human brains was what I called entertainment. Believe me, there’s just no good way to go with a question like that. The Orem story may be the first in an apparent effort by Warren, headed by Bill DuBay in particular, to write extreme gross-out horror stories. The 1977 calendar, like the 1976 one, were reprints of covers. Only this time, the covers were all of and from Vampirella.

86. cover: Ken Kelly (Feb. 1977)

1) A Noggin At Mile End [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

2) The Comic Books: Less Is More [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Dick Swift And His Electric Power Ring! [Bill DuBay/Carmine Infantino & Berni Wrightson]

9p

4) The Greatest Christmas Of All [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

5) Mother Knows Best [Bruce Jones/Al Williamson] 8p

6) Bloodstone Christmas [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & John Severin] 8p

7) Season’s Grievings [Bruce Jones/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

8) A Gift For Momma [Roger McKenzie/Luis Bermejo] 8p

Notes: Future writer/artist Fred Hembeck sends in a letter. The third Christmas special is priced at $1.50 & is 80 pages in length. Kelly’s cover is noticeably less grisly than in previous years. Although there is no full color section, both ‘Mother Knows Best’ and ‘Bloodstone Christmas’ are colored in red. Best story here is the delightful ‘Dick Swift And His Electric Power Ring!’ from Bill DuBay while best art is from Al Williamson on ‘Mother Knows Best’. Gonzalo Mayo displays a slightly different, less elaborate, art style on his story which also seems to enhance his storytelling abilities. All the stories are decent and the art is quite nice. A superior issue.

87. cover: montage of interior panels [from Berni Wrightson] (Mar. 1977)

1) Four Classic Martians [Berni Wrightson] 1p

2) A Warped Tale [Al Sirois/Gray Morrow] 8p

3) A Martian Saga [Nicola Cuti/Berni Wrightson] 6p [poem]

4) Those ‘Orrible Passions Of ’78 [Bill DuBay/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p

5) The Last [Roger McKenzie/John Severin] 8p

6) They Come Out At Night [Bruce Jones/Martin Salvador] 8p

7) Warmonger Of Mars [Wally Wood/Ralph Reese] 7p

Notes: $1.25 & 72 pages. Nicola Cuti guest edits this Science Fiction special issue. ‘Warmonger Of Mars’ had been done several years previously and was probably intended for an underground comix. That this was an older story can be seen by the re-appearance of Reese’s early detailed rendering style—which by this time had been replaced by a pallid version seemingly styled after Dick Giordano {as may be obvious, I much prefer his earlier style., which seemed influenced in equal parts by Gil Kane & Wally Wood}. Gray Morrow hadn’t been in a Warren magazine since 1967 yet his return went oddily unheralded. Wrightson’s art is quite beautiful, however the best story & art go to the DuBay/Infantino/Giordano story ‘Those ‘Orrible Passions Of ‘78’, which tied in with the then-recent Viking I & II spacecrafts’ visit to Mars and the strange, human-looking face formed by hills and shadows that was photographed on the Martian surface. This was, perhaps, the first use of that odd formation in a fiction tale.

88. cover: Steve Hickman (May 1977)

1) Castles Made Of Sand [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 8p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Eye For Eye, Fang For Fang [Doug Moench/Carmine Infantino & Ernie Chan] 8p

4) Do You Believe In Sinsigs! [Gerry Boudreau/Luis Bermejo] 8p

5) Temple Of Seilos [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

6) Iron Man [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 6p

7) Second Childhood [Bruce Jones/Ramon Torrents] 8p

Notes: Hickman’s only cover for Warren is quite lovely. Cover priced at $1.50. Ken Meyer, Jr. sends in a letter. A fairly average issue for this period. Good but not great.

89. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1977) reprinted from Blazing Combat #1 (Oct. 1965)

1) Blood Brothers [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Windmill [Lou Rossin/Leopoldo Duranona] 5p

4) Angel Of Jaipur [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p

5) The Hungry Dragon [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Alex Nino] 8p

6) The Door-Gunner [Larry Hama & Cary Bates/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

7) Coggin’s Army [Roger McKenzie/Martin Salvador] 9p

Notes: Warren begins its irritating use of reprinted covers on a regular basic. Except on Vampirella, almost all the reprinted covers were Frazetta’s. Although fans of the Warren books may dispute it, this marks the first real signs of the long decline & fall of the Warren books. This was an all-war stories special. Still $1.50 but the page count drops to 64 pages. Best story & art here is the nifty ‘Angel Of Jaipur’ by DuBay & Severin.

90. cover: Enrich Torres (July 1977)

1) Warrior On The Edge Of Forever [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 9p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Wash Out [Bruce Jones/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

4) The Search [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

5) Please…Save The Children [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 10p

6) The Sacrifice [Jose Toutain/Rafael Auraleon] 4p

7) Dollie [Roger McKenzie/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

Notes: The first issue not listed as a special of some sort in quite a while. Enrich’s cover of a young girl holding a vampire dollie while blood dribbles down her neck is quite effective. Back up to 72 pages. The story ‘Warrior On The Edge Of Forever’ was a leftover for the previous issue’s war special. The story ‘Dollie’ was a leftover from the Christmas special. The odd pairing of Infantino & Mayo on ‘The Search’ was surprisingly good and provided the best art for the issue. Best story honors go to Bill DuBay for ‘Please…Save The Children’.

91. cover: Frank Frazetta (Aug. 1977) reprinted from Vampirella #11 (May 1971)

1) Nightfall [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 8p reprinted from Eerie #60 (Sept 1974)

2) The Comic Books: The Worst And The Dullest [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Creeps [Archie Goodwin/John Severin & Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Creepy #78 (Mar.

1976)

4) Phantom Of Pleasure Island [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Toth] 8p reprinted from Creepy #75 (Nov.

1975)

5) Benjamin Jones And The Imagineers [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 6p reprinted from Creepy

#80 (June 1976)

6) Cold Cuts [Berni Wrightson/Jeff Jones] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #34 (June 1974)

7) Thrillkill [Jim Stenstrum/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Creepy #75 (Nov. 1975)

8) Gamal And The Cockatrice [Bruce Bezaire/Rafael Auraleon] 12p reprinted from Vampirella

#47 (Dec. 1975)

9) The Shadow Of The Axe! [Dave Sim/Russ Heath] 6p reprinted from Creepy #79 (May 1976)

Notes: The 1977 Creepy Annual. $1.50 price with 88 pages. If Warren had reserved their use of reprinted cover to the annuals it would have made a great deal more sense. This particular issue is one of the best buys of a Warren magazine you can make. Not a single dud story, exceptionally fine artwork and at least six geninue classics {‘Nightfall’, ‘Creeps’, ‘Thrillkill’, ‘Gamal And The Cockatrice’, ‘Cold Cuts’ & ‘The Shadow Of The Axe!’} appear here. The other two stories are simply very good. Great value for your dollar (and a half)!

92. cover: Frank Frazetta (Oct. 1977) reprinted from Eerie #23 (Sept. 1969)

1) A Toast To No Man’s Memory [Len Wein/John Severin] 8p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Mrs. Sludge And The Pickled Octopus Raid [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 9p

4) Instinct [Nicola Cuti/Richard Corben] 7p

5) Towards High Places [Bruce Jones/Ramon Torrents] 10p

6) The Executioner [Russ Heath & Cary Bates/Russ Heath] 8p

7) Goddess In A Kingdom Of Trolls [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p

8) Everybody And His Sister [Jim Stenstrum/Leopold Sanchez] 8p [art miscredited to Jose

Sanchez]

9) The Generations Of Noah [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

Notes: With this issue, at least, an attempt was made to justify the Frazetta cover reprint, namely by ordering up a new story, ‘Towards High Places’ {and it’s a pretty good story, too!} to accompany it. Cover price was $1.75 (just 10 years previously it had been 35 cents!) for 96 pages. The story ‘Instinct’ was an inventory story done in 1970. Since 1975 Warren had been making an effort to insure that the late summer issue of new stories would be a special one. This one was no exceptation. Very good stories appeared from the teams of Wein/Severin, Jones/Torrents, Bates/Heath and Boudreau/Maroto but all the stories were of generally high quality.

93. cover: Don Maitz (Nov. 1977)

1) The Replacement [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 2p [text article]

3) The Return Of Rah [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & John Severin] 6p

4) The Great Black Cheese [Bill DuBay/Carmine Infantino & Alfredo Alcala] 9p

5) Elixer [Roger McKenzie/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

6) Running Wild [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Alex Nino] 9p

7) Cold Blooded Murder [Bill Mohalley & Nicola Cuti/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

Notes: Noted SF & Fantasy artist Don Maitz makes his Warren debut. This was the second all-sports special. A third was planned for 1978 but abandoned at some point and the stories were scattered among the three main Warren titles. Price back down to $1.50 with 72 pages. The story ‘The Return Of Rah’ was a sequel to ‘The Mummy’s Victory’ from Creepy #84.

94. cover: Don Maitz (Jan. 1978)

1) 1978 Warren Calendar Ad [Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Etran To Fulsing [Nicola Cuti/Dick Giordano] 8p

3) The Comic Books: Superman Versus Soccer [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Bad Tommy [Roger McKenzie & Nicola Cuti/Martin Salvador] 9p

5) Bad Ada [Bill Pearson/Alfredo Alcala] 8p

6) Bessie [Gerry Boudreau/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

7) Sacrifice [Roger McKenzie/Luis Bermejo] 8p

8) Backwaters And Timing Circles [Budd Lewis/Alex Nino] 9p

Notes: For the first and only time the Warren Calendar featured new artwork from Rafael Auraleon, Luis Bermejo, Richard Corben, Leopoldo Duranona, Jose Gonzalez, Russ Heath, Esteban Maroto, Jose Ortiz, John Severin, Ramon Torrents, Alex Toth & Berni Wrightson. Wrightson’s calendar art was from his upcoming Illustrated Frankenstein volume. Corben’s would later appear as the cover to The Odd Comic World Of Richard Corben. The Toth & Heath contributions are particularly nice. Nicola Cuti is listed as editor for this issue only while Jones remains senior editor. This is an all-weird children’s special. Maitz’s cover is quite attractive. For some reason, at this time, the price of an issue of Creepy began to jump all over the place, in this instance down to $1.25. Bill Pearson returns with a story for the first time since the mid 1960s. The best story is ‘Sacrifice’ by McKenzie/Bermejo. When someone pointed out that ‘Backwaters And Timing Circles’ had the same plot as Ray Bradbury’s famous ‘A Sound Of Thunder’, Warren rather lamely explained the story was a “tribute” to Bradbury’s original.

95. cover: Don Maitz (Feb. 1978)

1) The Star Saga Of Sirius Sam [Nicola Cuti/John Severin] 8p

2) The Laughing Man [Bruce Jones/Berni Wrightson] 6p

3) Murder On The Vine [Cary Bates/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

4) The Empire Of Chim-Pan-Zee [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 8p

5) The Comic Books: Patent Medicine Profits? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

6) The Oasis Inn [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 10p

7) The Old Ways [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

Notes: An all-apes special. Cuti is again listed as assistant editor. $1.75 price. ‘The Laughing Man’ was Wrightson’s last illustrated story for Warren, although he did do some incidental work for them for future issues. It was also the best story of the lot. ‘Murder On The Vine’ was a decent Tarzan spoof, marred by dreadful coloring.

96. cover: Kim McQuaite (Mar. 1978)

1) Predation [Bruce Jones/Rudy Nebres] 10p

2) The Comic Books: Kiss And Tell [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Trilby And The Star Rovers [Budd Lewis & Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 6p

4) Bonga And Me [Nicola Cuti/Esteban Maroto] 8p

5) Alien! [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 9p

6) The Green [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 6p

7) Alien Strain [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: McQuaite’s cover looked as if it had wandered over from Famous Monsters or a Star Wars style movie magazine. With the horror boom of the early 1970s over and Star Wars mania in full force, Warren began to lean more and more on covers with science fiction themes. This was the Alien Encounters special. $1.25 cover price. The story ‘Bonga And Me’ was originally intended for Eerie #78.

97. cover: Frank Frazetta (May 1978) reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

1) Momma Is A Vampire [Nicola Cuti/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Safe At Home? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Wax Werewolf [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 8p

4) Black Death [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

5) Snaegl or How I Conquered The Snail That Ate Tokyo [Nicola Cuti/Martin Salvador] 8p

6) Dragon Lady [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

7) Sisters [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p

8) Presenting The 1977 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/Frank Frazetta, Bruce Jones, Bill DuBay,

Alex Nino & Ramon Torrents] 2p [text article]

Notes: This issue is of slightly higher quality than usual. ‘Momma Is A Vampire’ is the best story with Maroto’s art on ‘Dragon Lady’ being the highpoint on the illustration front. Duranona has some excellent pages here as well. The 1977 Warren Awards went to Frank Frazetta for best cover on Eerie #81; best story to Bruce Jones for ‘Yellow Heat’, Russ Heath for best art on ‘Yellow Heat’, best cover artist to Richard Corben, best all around writer to Bruce Jones, best all around artist to Alex Nino and special awards for excellance to Ramon Torrents as well as Bill DuBay & Luis Bermejo for the Rook.

98. cover: Attilla Hejje (June 1978)

1) The Alien Factor [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Classics Illustrated: R.I.P. [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Helen Horror Hollywood [Gerry Boudreau/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

4) Graveyard Shift [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 11p

5) Starlet, Starlet, Burning Bright [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p [art

miscredited to Ramon Torrents]

6) The Image Makers [Nicola Cuti/Jose Ortiz] 8p

Notes: An all-media horror special. Cover price $1.50

99. cover: Bob Larkin (July 1978)

1) An Old Game [Nicola Cuti/Pepe Moreno] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Still More Kiss [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Ssshh! [Cary Bates/Joe Vaultz] 8p

4) Brothers [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 10p

5) A Slight Case Of Overkill [Bill DuBay/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

6) There Shall Come A Great Darkness [Bob Toomey/Alfredo Alcala] 8p

7) One Hell Of A War [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

Notes: Disaster special. Cover price $1.25. ‘A Slight Case Of Overkill’ was an overflow story from Creepy’s all-ape issue. Rather average issue with the sole bright spot being the Warren debut of Pepe Moreno, a fine Spanish artist.

100. cover: Bob Larkin (Aug. 1978)

1) The Pit At The Center Of The Earth! [Gerry Boudreau/Pablo Marcos] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Death By The Numbers [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Professor Duffer And The Insuperable Myron Meek! [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p

4) Tale Of A Fox [Nicola Cuti/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) Nobody’s Home [Cary Bates/Joe Vaultz] 5p

6) Winner Take All! [Len Wein/Luis Bermejo] 8p [color]

7) Hell Hound [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 10p

8) Wisper Of Dark Eyes [Gerry Boudreau/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

9) They’re Going To Be Turning Out The Lights [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 9p

Notes: Cover price at $1.75 with 88 pages. An effort was made to make this a very special anniversary issue but, although it’s considerably better that the lackluster #50, most of this issue seems…well, a little bit tired. It’s better than the average issue, but for Creepy’s 100^th issue, you were hoping for something a little more kickass. From the cover to the last story, there’s nothing like that here. The best story is Cuti’s ‘Tale Of A Fox’, which became a series starting with Vampirella #95. ‘Hell Hound’ is beautifully drawn and the story ain’t bad but it seemed a little familiar. The rest of the issue was simply ok. ‘They’re Going To Be Turning Out The Lights’ is printed sideways.

101. cover: Richard Corben (Sept. 1978)

1) In Deep [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Creepy #83 (Oct. 1976)

2) In Deep, part 2 [Bruce Jones/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

3) A Boy And His Thing [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 10p

4) Waterbabies [Louise Jones/Pablo Marcos] 8p [color]

5) The Seven Sisters Of The Sea [Gerry Boudreau/Alfredo Alcala] 9p

6) Alternate Paths [Chris Adames/Pepe Moreno] 8p

Notes: You’ve got a great cover, a really great cover, that was intended to be the cover for #83. It was meant for a story so vivid that you couldn’t possibly use that cover to highlight any other issue or story without it being very apparent that you screwed up two years earlier. What do you do? Well, you reprint the story, ask the writer to pen a sequel and cross your fingers that nobody says nothin’. Unfortunately you picked Leopoldo Duranona to follow Rich Corben. Both fine artists but about as incompatible as any two artists you could look at. Best art on an original story goes to Alex Nino for ‘A Boy And His Thing’. $1.50 cover price.

102. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Oct. 1978)

1) Pantomime At Sea [Cary Bates/Joe Vaultz] 10p

2) The Comic Books: What Hath Congress Wrought? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Almost Shangri-La [Bruce Jones/Leopoldo Duranona] 11p

4) The Thing In The Haunted Forest [?/Abel Laxamana] 7p

5) Killer Claw [Mark Lasky/Walt Simonson & Klaus Janson] 10p

6) Night Eyes [Bruce Jones/Alfredo Alcala] 10p

7) Fair Prey [Bruce Jones/Isidro Mones] 10p

Notes: An all-monster issue. Another lack-luster issue with the best work done by Bruce Jones & Alfredo Alcala on ‘Night Eyes’. Isidro Mones returns with a new art style. $2.00 cover price.

103. cover: Walt Simonson & Kim McQuaite (Nov. 1978)

1) Thane: Angel Of Doom [Archie Goodwin/Jeff Jones] 6p reprinted from Creepy #16 (Aug.

1967)

2) Bookworm [Gerry Conway/Richard Corben] 7p reprinted from Eerie #32 (Mar. 1971)

3) The Comic Books: Roll Over, Brancatelli [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) On Little Cat Feet! [John Jacobson/Rafael Auraleon] 11p reprinted from Vampirella #38

(Nov. 1974)

5) Thumbs Down! [Anne T. Murphy/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

6) Lucky Stiff [Gerry Boudreau & Carl Wessler/Ramon Torrents] 5p reprinted from Vampirella

#38 (Nov. 1974)

7) The Black Cat [Berni Wrightson] 12p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe, reprinted from

Creepy #62 (May 1974)

Notes: The 1978 Creepy Annual. $1.50 cover price. This issue borne all the signs of being assembled by someone just picking up random issues from the file shelves. Not a single story from Creepy’s 1976-1977 run. In fact, most of the stories didn’t even appear in Creepy. This was, at least, the third go around for the Williamson story and the second for the Thane tale. Only the reprinting of Wrightson’s adaptation of ‘The Black Cat’ was really worthy of an annual placement. Great cover by Simonson & McQuaite, though.

104. cover: Ken Kelly (Jan. 1979) reprinted from the back cover of Eerie #63 (Feb. 1975)

1) The Games [Roger McKenzie/Pablo Marcos] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Caretaker [Bob Toomey/Alfredo Alcala] 8p

4) Mother Park [Roger McKenzie/Jose Ortiz] 10p

5) Wolfer O’Connel: In The City Of Gold [Budd Lewis/Pepe Moreno] 10p

6) Holocost [Steve Englehart/Terry Austin] 6p

7) Keep Kool [Bob Toomey/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: $1.25 cover price. Kelly’s reprinted cover features Exterminator One. This is an all-robot stories special. Wolfer O’Connel’s previous story was in Eerie #76 (Aug. 1976). This story is also the best one in the issue.

105. cover: Esteban Maroto (Feb. 1979)

1) Shrivel [Bob Toomey/Val Mayerik] 8p

2) The Comic Books: The Party [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Night Life [Bob Toomey/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

4) Dime Novel Hero! [Nicola Cuti/Russ Heath] 8p

5) Always Leave ‘em Laughing! [Len Wein/Alex Nino] 8p

6) The Sign [Roger McKenzie/Pepe Moreno] 8p

7) Visit To A Primitive Planet [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p

8) The Summoning [Bruce Jones/Gonzalo Mayo] 11p

Notes: Great cover from Maroto, which also appeared as the cover to a later issue of Heavy Metal. $1.50 cover price. This is a very good issue with some great stories in it! ‘Shrivel’, by Toomey & Mayerik, is an amusing little jape. The delightful ‘Dime Novel Hero!’ by Cuti & Heath was a rewrite & expansion of a two-pager Cuti wrote & published in July 1973 for The Monster Times. That version, entitled ‘Werewolf Goes West’, was illustrated by Frank Brunner. The final page has a nifty and oh-so-obvious-that-I-should-have-thought-of-it-myself story twist that leaves you with a big grin on your face. About half the horror stories I’ve seen involving clowns have some variation on the ‘Always Leave ‘em Laughing’ title. Very much a cliché, as is this story itself. ‘The Sign’ is a neat Christmas story and a definite nod to the old Warren Christmas specials. The DuBay/Severin story was a triumph of subtle storytelling while the Jones/Mayo team delivered a fine little shocker. In fact, the Bruce Jones/Gonzalo Mayo story/art team delivered some of Warren’s best stories during 1978-1979.

106. cover: Romas Kukalis (Mar. 1979)

1) Quimby The Barbarian [Bob Toomey/Pablo Marcos] 9p

2) The Comic Books: Going For The Bucks [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Fangs [Laurie Sutton/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

4) Swords In The World Series [Ken Gale/Jim Starlin & Joe Rubinstein] 8p

5) Primal Equation [Budd Lewis & Jon Sinsky/Isidro Mones] 6p

6) Sudden Death Playoff [Bob Toomey/Pepe Moreno] 8p

7) The Art Of Killing [Larry Hama/Val Mayerik] 10p

Notes: This is cover artist Romas Kukalis’ professional debut. Both ‘Swords In The World Series’ and ‘Sudden Death Playoff’ were originally intended to be part of the third all-sports stories special, probably intended for Creepy #102. That special issue was cancelled and the stories parceled out over different magazines for the next couple of years. The best story here is the Hama/Mayerick samurai story ‘The Art Of Killing’, clearly inspired by the long-running Japanese series ‘Lone Wolf & Cub’, which hadn’t been seen by the general U.S. public when this story came out. This is a quite good tribute, with Mayerick’s art seeming to take a giant leap of quality from the often lumpy-looking art he’d been doing for Marvel. This story led to a series for the young samurai warrior that appeared in Eerie.

107. cover: Romas Kukalis (May 1979)

1) The Rubicon [Budd Lewis/Pepe Moreno] 10p

2) The Comic Books: The Inevitable Superman Story [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Family Ties [Bruce Jones/Val Mayerik] 10p

4) Presenting The 1978 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/Ruby Nebres, Leopoldo Duranona, Jordi

Penlavi, Kim McQuaite, et al] 2p [text article]

5) The World From Rough Stones [Jean Michel Martin/Joe Vaultz] 4p

6) Stainless Steel Savior [Len Wein/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

7) Quirks [Bob Toomey/Walt Simonson & Terry Austin] 8p

8) Mindquake [Jim Stenstrum/Garcia Pizarro] 9p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

9) The Rook Ad [Rudy Nebres] 1p [color, on inside back cover]

Notes: Due to an error, all credits were missing from the actual stories. The credits were given on the letters’ page of #110. Best story here probably belongs to Bruce Jones’ ‘Family Ties’ while ‘Quirks’ had the best art. The story ‘Stainless Steel Savior’ was overflow from Creepy #104’s all-robot stories special. The 1978 Warren Awards went to Jordi Penlava for best cover from Eerie #96, Bruce Jones for best story for ‘Hell Hound’ from Creepy #100, best art to Rudy Nebres for ‘Predation’ from Creepy #96, best cover artist to Richard Corben, best all around writer to Bruce Jones, best all around artist to Leopoldo Duranona, and special awards of excellance went to Gonzalo Mayo & Kim McQuaite.

108. cover: Terrence Lindall (June 1979)

1) Hole In The Head [Frank Salvatini/Alex Nino] 9p

2) The Comic Books: So Much For Traditions [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Camelot Crosstime [Jean Michel Martin/Val Mayerik] 8p

4) Sultana [Budd Lewis/Pepe Moreno] 10p

5) Going By The Book [Kevin Duane/Alfredo Alcala] 8p

6) House Of Magic [Gerry Boudreau/Pablo Marcos] 8p

7) Hell’s Playground [Jean Michel Martin/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

Notes: This was Terrence Lindall’s professional debut and his gruesome medieval-styled art caused quite a bit of controversy when it first appeared. Myself, I quite liked it. Lindall also contributed a self-portrait on the letters’ page. Cover price is $1.75. ‘Sultana’ had very good artwork by the always impressive Pepe Moreno and a fine story by Budd Lewis. In addition, Alex Nino contributed a superior artjob and ‘House Of Magic’ was also well done.

109. cover: Jim Laurier (July 1979)

1) Vampire Dawn [Archie Goodwin/Pepe Moreno] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Organizer [Bruce Jones/Leopoldo Duranona] 10p

4) The Ravenscroft Affair [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 6p

5) Alien Affair [Cary Bates/Val Mayerik] 12p

6) Heart Of Darkness [Bill Mantlo/Luis Bermejo] 8p

Notes: Jim Laurier’s spaceship cover looked a lot like a repainted hair dryer or perhaps a flashlight or a lady’s pleasure toy. What it didn’t look like was an actual working spaceship. Cover price at $1.50. Between editing jobs at Marvel, Archie Goodwin returns to Warren and will contribute ten or so stories over the next year and a half. ‘Vampire Dawn’ was a welcome and strong return and has easily the best story and art of the issue. ‘The Ravenscroft Affair’ was also quite good. Luis Bermejo contributed probably his worst art job for Warren with the dreary and heartless ‘Heart Of Darkness’.

110. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Aug. 1979)

1) Snapper [Bill Kelly/Leopoldo Duranona] 10p

2) The Comic Books: The Corporate Mad [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Sunset Farms [Gerry Boudreau & Alex Southern/Rudy Nebres] 8p

4) Take Your Child, Please! [Cary Bates/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) The Demon Hater [Nicola Cuti/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

6) Horror Is A Highrise [Archie Goodwin/Leopoldo Duranona] 10p

7) A Knightmare To Remember [Cary Bates/Joe Vaultz] 6p

8) The Clockmaker [Bob Toomey/Jesus Blasco] 9p [story credited to Gary Null and art

miscredited to Jesus Blasquez]

Notes: Patrick Woodroffe’s tight closeup of Pan’s head was the most striking cover image Creepy had seen since Corben’s excellent cover to #101. Price bounced up again to $1.75 with 80 pages of story. The rest of the issue didn’t hold up to the promise of the great cover but ‘Snapper’ would have fit right in with the stories from the Goodwin Era, while Goodwin’s own story is quite good. Joe Vaultz’s airbrush art was quite crude when he tried to draw human beings but with the right subject matter it was often quite effective and ‘A Knightmare To Remember’ is actually well worth remembering. ‘The Clockmaker’ is an unacknowledged rewrite by Toomey of a Europeon adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’. This was celebrated European artist Jesus Blasco’s Warren debut but he would never receive credit for his work as he was always miscredited as former Warren artists Jesus Blasquez or Jaime Brocal. I don’t know why this confusion happened. Their artwork really looks nothing like Blasco’s. Perhaps Blasco was ghosting art for for the two? Toomey would use the penname Gary Null for European stories that he provided rewrites for—perhaps the same reason Jim Stenstrum began to use the penname Alabaster Redzone.

111. cover: Duane Allen (Sept. 1979)

1) Dreams Of Grandeur [Budd Lewis/Val Mayerik & Klaus Janson] 10p

2) The Comic Books: Still Collecting After All These Years [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) A Stiff Named Sczynsky [Bob Toomey/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

4) Heart Of The Warrior [Bill DuBay/Alejandro Sanchez] 8p

5) Blood-Lust [Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 12p

6) Night Wind [Masanabo Sato & Gary Null/Masanabo Sato] 9p

7) A Switch In Dime [Nicola Cuti/Leopoldo Duranona] 11p

Notes: Another good cover from a newcomer, although this would be Duane Allen’s only Warren appearance. This is a fair-to-middlin’ issue. Nothing particularly notable or awful.

112. cover: Richard Corben (Oct. 1979)

1) The Homecoming [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 9p

2) The Comic Books: The Comic-Book Gravevine [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Warrior’s Ritual [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 10p

4) Nobody’s Kid [Bob Toomey/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

5) Relic [Bob Toomey/Walt Simonson] 8p

6) Beastslayer [John Lakey/Val Lakey] 10p

7) Sunday Dinner [Larry Hama/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

8) The Rook Ad [Pablo Marcos] 1p

9) Thane: The Last Sorcerer [Archie Goodwin/Alex Nino] 12p

Notes: $2.00 cover price with 88 pages. A spectacular Corben cover of the Phantom Of The Opera leads off the last truly great issue that Warren would produce. There’d be some good ones done down the line but none that hit this level of quality. Much of that quality can be attributed to one man—Archie Goodwin, who contributed three stories here, the most he’d had in any one issue since 1967. All three of them are gems. ‘The Homecoming’ had originated from a script by Bruce Jones but Williamson, who had completed the art, decided he didn’t like the script and asked Goodwin to write a new one. Jones was (and is) a good writer but Goodwin’s SF script is so good that one would have a hard time imagining a better version. The last appearance of Thane {three previous stories had appeared from 1967-1969} also graced this issue and it too is a winner, taking the Conan-like Thane and giving him a send off story that was considerably better than most of the Marvel sword & sorcery adaptations of that time. And I say that despite the fact that I quite enjoyed Roy Thomas’ work on Conan. Alex Nino’s art is also impressive on this story. The cream of the crop here, however, is the impressive ‘Warrior’s Ritual’ with great artwork by John Severin. This French Foreign Legion story is about as good a horror takeoff on Beau Geste as you could ask for. Good as the artwork for all three Goodwin stories were though, the best art this issue belongs to Val Lakey’s Warren debut with ‘Beastslayer’. Her retouched photos & artwork combo was very impressive. I don’t know if John Lakey was her brother or husband {she later appeared in Heavy Metal with a different last name} but his story was quite good as well. ‘Relic’ is a sequel to #107’s ‘Quirks’and it’s just as good a tale as the first. I also like ‘Nobody’s Kid’ which had a good story & fine artwork by the team of Toomey & Duranona. The only story I didn’t like was the rather rancid ‘Sunday Dinner’. Just a fine, fine issue.

113. cover & titlepage: Berni Wrightson (Nov. 1979)

1) The Muck Monster [Berni Wrightson] 7p reprinted from Eerie #68 (Sept. 1975)

2) The Comic Books: Lies Our Forefathers Told Us [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Laughing Man [Bruce Jones/Berni Wrightson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #95 (Feb. 1978)

4) The Pepper Lake Monster [Berni Wrightson] 10p reprinted from Eerie #58 (July 1974)

5) Clarice [Bruce Jones/Berni Wrightson] 5p reprinted from Creepy #77 (Feb. 1976)

6) Cool Air [Berni Wrightson] 7p from the story by H. P. Lovecraft, reprinted from Eerie #62

(Jan. 1975)

7) Country Pie [Bruce Jones/Carmine Infantino & Berni Wrightson] 6p reprinted from Creepy

#83 (Oct. 1976)

8) A Martian Saga [Nicola Cuti/Berni Wrightson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #87 (Mar. 1977)

Notes: The 1979 Warren Annual. A Berni Wrightson issue. $1.50 cover price with 64 pages. Very nice reprint issue.

114. cover: Kirk Reinhart (Jan. 1980)

1) Rats [Bob Toomey/Pepe Moreno] 10p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Charnel Combat [Pierce Askegren/Danny Tallerno] 6p

4) Heat [Gerry Boudreau/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

5) Small War [Roger McKenzie/Jim Starlin & Pablo Marcos] 8p

6) The Reaper [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 10p

7) An Android Affair [Mark Laskey/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

Notes: 72 pages. Nice cover and nice solid issue with a chilling story from Archie Goodwin and interesting work from Gerry Boudreau and Bob Toomey. Best art was Pepe Moreno on ‘Rats’ with good work from Alex Toth, Jim Starlin, Pablo Marcos & Leopoldo Duranona.

115. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Feb. 1980)

1) Gabriel’s Horn [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 16p

2) The Comic Books: Some Thoughts On What Has Gone Before [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text

article]

3) 1979 Warren Awards Ballots [Chris Adames] 1p [text article]

4) The Last Labor Of Hercules [Budd Lewis/Delando Nino] 10p [art credited to A2-120]

5) Cyrano [Bob Toomey/Michael Saenz] 8p

6) Rapid Fire Angel [Gerry Boudreau/Axel Laxamana] 8p

7) Et Tu Brutus [Nicola Cuti/Val Mayerik & Rudy Nebres] 8p

8) War Children [Gerry Boudreau/Val Mayerik] 8p

Notes: $1.75 cover price with 80 pages. Sanjulian’s first cover since #79 was clearly intended as a ‘Beastworld’ cover for Eerie. New Berni Wrightson art adorned the letters’ page for this issue only. For the first time, the Warren Awards were open to voting & nominations by the readers. Saenz provided the best art while Roger McKenzie’s ‘Gabriel’s Horn’ is the best story.

116. cover: Terrence Lindall (Mar. 1980)

1) Endangered Species [Gerry Boudreau/Fred Carrillo] 10p

2) The Comic Books: Building A New Marvel [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Highway [Nicola Cuti/Val Mayerik & Rudy Nebres] 8p

4) Day Of The Locust [Jordan Black/Masanabu Sato] 6p

5) The Greatest Editor Alive! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino & Delano Nino] 11p [DuBay’s story

credited to Will Richardson]

6) Graduation Day [Bruce Jones/Val Mayerik & Jeff Easley] 11p

7) Never Again [James Warren] 1p [text article, on back cover]

Notes: 72 pages. For only the second time in Warren history, James Warren penned a political editorial, this time denouncing revolutionary Iran for taking over the U.S. embassy. The accompanying photo showed two Iranians carrying garbage in an American flag. This was the last appearance of Joe Brancatelli’s column. At this point Bill DuBay began using the penname Will Richardson, which would appear for the next several years. Best story & art goes to ‘Graduation Day’ by Jones/Mayerik/ Easley.

The Decline & Fall

117. cover: Ken Kelly (May 1980)

1) Scream [Bob Toomey/Leopoldo Duranona] 19p

2) A Noble Gesture [?/Adolfo Abellan] 7p

3) The Beast [Michael Fleisher/Isidro Mones] 10p

4) Nightmare Highway [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Steve Leialoha] 10p

5) The Silkie [Nicola Cuti/Val Mayerik & Jeff Easley] 10p

Notes: DuBay, as Will Richardson, returns as editor while Louise Jones {nee Simonson} heads off to Marvel. The logo changes to a new, more modern lettering. Kelly’s cover originally appeared as a T-shirt design in 1976. The letters’ page claims that Enrich Torres was the cover artist for Creepy #115 but it certainly appears to be Sanjulian’s work. ‘Scream’ seemed to end quite abruptly, without an actual climax. It was originally intended to be a ‘Gary Null’ story.

118. cover: Enrich Torres (June 1980)

1) Nursery School [Bob Toomey/Leopoldo Duranona] 15p

2) Epitaph [Len Wein/Joaquin Blasquez] 7p

3) The Curse Of The Binderwoods [Mark Laidlaw/Isidro Mones] 8p

4) Junior Was A Momma’s Boy [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Jorge Benuy] 13p

5) Process Of Elimination [Bob Toomey/Val Mayerik & Pablo Marcos] 10p

Notes: Enrich’s best cover in some time highlights a solid issue. Good work from just about everybody here. ‘Nursery School’ was intended to be one of Toomey’s ‘Gary Null’ stories. Duranona, who wrote the original story, was reportedly astounded at Toomey’s rewrite.

119. cover: Jim Laurier (July 1980)

1) A Boy And His Thing [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 10p reprinted from Creepy #101 (Sept. 1978)

2) Eerie Ad [Esteban Maroto] 1p

3) Keep Kool [Bob Toomey/Alex Nino] 8p reprinted from Creepy #104 (Jan. 1979)

4) Always Leave ‘em Laughing! [Len Wein/Alex Nino] 8p reprinted from Creepy #105 (Feb.

1979)

5) Sisters [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p reprinted from Creepy #97 (May 1978)

6) Backwaters And Timing Circles [Budd Lewis/Alex Nino] 9p reprinted from Creepy #94 (Jan.

1978)

7) Alien Strain [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p reprinted from Creepy #96 (Mar. 1978)

8) The 1979 Warren Awards! [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: Warren begans having multiple reprint issues during a given year. Previously, only the annual had featured reprints. For Warren, this was a sure sign of trouble behind the scenes. This was an Alex Nino special. The Warren Awards went to Kirk Reinert for best cover on Creepy #114 {cover dated Jan. 1980}, Archie Goodwin for best story for ‘The Night Willa Jane Gornley Went Home’ from Vampirella #82, Val Lakey for best art on ‘Beastslayer’ from Creepy #112, Patrick Woodroffe for best cover artist, Bob Toomey for best all around writer, Abel Laxamana for best all around artist and special awards for excellance to Terrence Lindall and Lee Elias.

120. cover: Jeff Jones (Aug. 1980)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Deathwatch [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

3) The Rook Ad [Jordi Penalva] 1p [cover to The Rook #3]

4) Hell House [Jim Stenstrum/Jesus Blasco] 6p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone, art

miscredited to Jaime Brocal]

5) Black Rainbow [Budd Lewis/Rueben Yandoc] 8p

6) One Mind, Closed For Alterations! [Gerry Boudreau/Jess Jodloman] 8p

7) A Taste For Heroes! [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Pablo Marcos] 10p

8) Winterbeast [Budd Lewis/Val Mayerik] 8p

9) Black Snow [Jeff Rovin/Herb Arnold] 8p

Notes: Jones’ cover was done in 1975 and was originally intended for Seaboard/Atlas’ magazine Weird Tales Of The Macabre. By this point most of the Spanish artists from SI had left the three horror titles, with the notable exceptions of Jose Ortiz, Jose Gonzalez and Rafael Aurleon, and had been replaced by Flipino artists. The Flipino artists tended to be more conservative in story layouts (except for Alex Nino) and their depictions of nudity. Not to say the Flipino artists didn’t use nudity, they actually used it quite a bit, but the SI artists from Spain could draw naked women in a sexy manner and the majority of the Flipino artists just drew naked women. There’s a difference. That said, this was a darn fine issue, from the snazzy Jones cover to the generally very good stories within. ‘Deathwatch’ had the best story, while Duranona, Mayerik & Arnold shared honors for best art. ‘A Taste For Heroes!’ was probably done in 1978 and originally intended for the never published 3^rd all-sports stories special for Creepy.

121. cover: Jim Laurier (Sept. 1980)

1) A Toast To No Man’s Memory [Len Wein/John Severin] 8p reprinted from Creepy #92 (Oct.

1977)

2) The Strange, Incurable Hauntings Of Terrible Phinneas Boggs! [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 9p

reprinted from Creepy #83 (Oct. 1976)

3) The Star Saga Of Sirius Sam [Nicola Cuti/John Severin] 8p reprinted from Creepy #95 (Feb.

1978)

4) Battle Rot [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Creepy #81 (July 1976)

5) Professor Duffer And The Insuperable Myron Meek! [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p reprinted

from Creepy #100 (Aug. 1978)

6) Angel Of Jaipur [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Creepy #89 (June 1977)

7) Visit To A Primitive Planet [Bill DuBay/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Creepy #105 (Feb.

1979)

8) Warrior’s Ritual [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 10p reprinted from Creepy #112 (Oct. 1979)

Notes: The 1980 Creepy Annual. A John Severin special. Two of the last three issues had been all reprints. A new Uncle Creepy head by Berni Wrightson appears on the letters’ page.

122. cover: Lee Katz (Oct. 1980)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) The Killing! [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona & Alex Toth] 12p

3) The Watcher [Bob Toomey/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

4) The Perfect Specimen [Budd Lewis/Steve Gan] 5p

5) Midnight In Chinatown [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Alfredo Alcala] 8p

6) Routine [Carl Wessler/Martin Salvador] 4p

7) Magic Man [Gerry Boudreau/Fred Carrillo] 8p

8) Roomers [Bruce Jones/Mike Zeck] 10p [miscredited to Budd Lewis]

Notes: Katz’s cover had originally been intended for Eerie, probably for the ‘Samurai’ serial. Another solid issue. The art team of Duranona & Toth was a surprising success and provided the best art in the issue. “Routine’ featured Uncle Creepy drawn onto the splash page, something that hadn’t happened since 1974 or thereabouts so this story may have been an inventory story from that period. Bruce Jones wrote a prose version of ‘Roomers’ that appeared in his short story collection ‘Twisted Tales’ in 1986 so I believe the Budd Lewis writing credit on that story to be incorrect.

123. cover: Ken Kelly (Nov. 1980)

1) Kiss Of The Plague! [Doug Moench/Leo Summers & Alex Toth] 6p

2) Hands Of Fate [Carl Wessler/Martin Salvador] 7p

3) They Don’t Make Movies [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Alfredo Alcala] 10p

4) The Slave [Jim Stenstrum/Jesus Blasco] 5p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone, art

miscredited to Jaime Brocal]

5) Harriman’s Monsters! [Greg Potter/Dan Adkins] 8p

6) Always Leave Them Laughing [Michael Fleisher/Val Mayerik & Rudy Nebres] 8p

7) Jelly [Nicola Cuti/Herb Arnold] 4p

Notes: 64 pages. Best story and art goes to Doug Moench, Carmine Infantino & Alfredo Alcala for ‘They Don’t Make Movies’. ‘Harriman’s Monsters!’ was written years earlier when writer Potter was a regular at Warren and was to have been illustrated by Alex Toth. Toth either never finished or never started the story and it was finally illustrated by Adkins for its appearance here. ‘Always Leave Them Laughing’ was another clown story with the same clichéd title. This one, at least, was a bit more original in its storyline.

124. cover: Vicente Segrelles (Jan. 1981)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Malphisto’s Illusion [Nicola Cuti/Romeo Tanghal & Alex Toth] 8p [Tanghal’s pencils

credited to Alexis Romeo]

3) Cult [Archie Goodwin/Martin Salvador] 11p

4) Paydirt [Roger McKanzie/Carmine Infantino & Alfred Alcala] 8p

5) Mayhem Museum [Carl Wessler/Aldolpho Buylla] 8p

6) The Prometheus [Rich Margopoulos/John Garcia & Rudy Nebres] 6p

7) A Slight Case Of Madness! [Bill DuBay/Herb Arnold] 8p [story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: Segrelles’ cover had been done in 1976 as part of the presentation art for the never published magazine Yesterday, Today…Tomorrow. ‘Mayhem Museum’ gives the impression of having been done years earlier. ‘The Prometheus’ has the identical plot & layout to #126’s ‘Hot Bob’ story. Although Creepy would never reach the dreary levels of boredom that the latterday Eerie sank to, the tired stories, even from old established favorites, and the lack of variety in the artwork {the Filipino artists, with the notable exceptions of Alex Nino, Vic Catan & Nestor Redondo, often tended to layout and illustrate their stories in very similar fashions} ensured that the glory days of Warren were behind them.

125. cover: Ken Kelly (Feb. 1981)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Once Upon A Christmas Eve! [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 12p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

3) His Own Private Demon! [Roger McKenzie/Anton Caravana] 9p

4) Top Dog! [Roger McKenzie/Alex Nino] 8p

5) Jacque Couteau’s Circus Of The Bizarre [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Alex Toth] 5p

6) The Tempered Sword! [Manuel Auad/Alfredo Alcala] 6p

7) Living Death Camp! [Roger McKenzie/Rafael Auraleon] 7p

8) Knight Errant [Roy Kinnard/Michael Saenz] 8p

Notes: Kelly’s Christmas-themed cover was a shot of nostalgia for the old Christmas specials. However, it’s noticeable that the cover is nowhere near as violent or gory as the mid-1970s versions. The best art was from Michael Saenz. The stories, however, were at best so-so.

126. cover: Ken Kelly (Mar. 1981)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Parasite [Budd Lewis/Martin Salvador] 9p

3) Nevada Moon [Steven Grant/Bill Draut] 8p

4) …And God Created Woman! [Bruce Jones/Anton Caravana] 12p

5) Ragged Man [Budd Lewis/Romeo Tanghal & Alfredo Alcala] 10p [Tanghal’s pencils credited

to Alexis Romeo]

6) Dreamer! [Nicola Cuti/Fred Carrillo] 8p

7) Hot Bob [Budd Lewis/Herb Arnold] 6p

Notes: $2.00 cover price for 72 pages. Kelly’s cover instantly invoked visual memories of the great DuBay/Wrightson story, ‘Nightfall’ from 1975, as well as Windsor McKay’s ‘Little Nemo In Slumberland’ comic strip. The accompanying story, ‘Dreamer’, was also the best story this issue, although certainly not in either of those stories’ league. The best art belonged to Romeo Tanghal & Alfredo Alcala for ‘Ragged Man’. As noted above, ‘Hot Bob’ had the same plot & layout as ‘The Prometheus’ from #124, but this version was better scripted & drawn.

127. cover: Terrence Lindall (May 1981)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Chris Adames/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Hoodoo The Magnificent! [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 6p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

3) Forbidden Fruit! [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 13p

4) Prism Second Generation Blues [Gerry Boudreau/Noly Panligan] 9p

5) Daddy Is A Werewolf [Nicola Cuti/Fred Carrillo] 8p

6) Wind [Roger McKenzie/Val Mayerik] 8p

7) Escape [Steven Dietrich/Herb Arnold] 7p

Notes: Chris Adames becomes the editor. Lindall’s cover is certainly a nasty little torture cover. The best art is by Val Mayerik although Noly Panligan also delivers a nice job.

128. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1981) reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Chris Adames/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Whatever Happened To Orem? [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 10p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

3) Outcast Of Euthanasia [Bill DuBay/Bill Draut] 10p [story credited to Will Richardson]

4) Old Man At The Morgue [Mark Lasky/Fred Carrillo] 7p

5) Frankenstein Invades The Universe [Budd Lewis/Romeo Tanghal & Alfredo Alcala] 12p

[Tanghal’s pencils credited to Alexis Romeo]

6) Abelmar Jones: Lord Of The Flies [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 8p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

Notes: ‘Whatever Happened To Orem?’ was a sequel to ‘Orem Ain’t Got No Head Cheese’ from Creepy #85. Abelmar Jones moves from Eerie, where he was last seen in Eerie #95. An attempt to justify the reprinted cover was made by commissioning the story ‘Frankenstein Invades The Universe’ to link with that cover.

129. cover: Jeff Easley (July 1981)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Chris Adames/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) The Terrible Truth About Danny! [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 10p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

3) The Saga Of Popeye Jackson! [Gerry Boudreau/Paul Neary] 8p

4) Working Class Hero [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Alfredo Alcala] 8p

5) The Last Voyage Of Sinbad [Budd Lewis/Fred Carrillo] 8p

6) He Who Lives! [Budd Lewis/Danny Bulanadi] 6p

7) Strategic Retreat [John Ellis Sech/Herb Arnold] 8p

130. cover: Richard Courtney (Aug. 1981)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Chris Adames/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) The Vampire On The Hill [John Ellis Sech/Martin Salvador] 7p

3) Dual Nature [Laura Buscemi/John Lakey & Val Lakey] 8p [Val Lakey credited as Artifact]

4) Screaming In The Rain [Don McGregor/Alfredo Alcala] 8p

5) Mythologia [Nicola Cuti/Fred Carrillo] 9p

6) Missing Love [Brian Jacobs/Pepe Moreno] 7p

7) Small Dreams [Maggie Pierce/Herb Arnold] 8p

Notes: The original logo returns. Richard Courtney was a good find for Warren, delivering some of the best of their latterday covers. ‘Dual Nature’ was the best written & illustrated story. Good work was also delivered by Pepe Moreno, Herb Arnold and Don McGregor.

131. cover: Frank Frazetta (Sept. 1981) reprinted from Creepy #4 (Aug. 1965)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Chris Adames/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) The Nut [Budd Lewis/Delando Nino] 10p

3) Son Of The Nut! [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 7p [story credited to Will Richardson]

4) Lycanthropist [Budd Lewis/Bill Draut] 8p

5) Possession Is Nine Pounds Of The Soul [John Ellis Sech/Danny Bulanadi] 6p

6) Bella Donna [Nicola Cuti/Fred Carrillo] 8p

7) Mindwar [John Ellis Sech/Noly Panaligan] 13p

132. cover: Richard Corben (Oct. 1981) reprinted from Eerie #90 (Feb. 1978)

1) A Tangible Hatred [Don McGregor/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Creepy #41 (Sept.

1971)

2) Bright Eyes! [Doug Monech/Richard Corben] 7p reprinted from Eerie #43 (Nov. 1972)

3) A Woman Scorned [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie #90 (Feb. 1978)

4) Bowser [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #54 (Sept. 1976)

5) The Pest! [Al Hewetson/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie #33 (May 1971)

6) The Mummy’s Victory [Roger McKenzie/Richard Corben] 5p reprinted from Creepy #84

(Nov. 1976)

7) The Butcher: Forgive Us Our Trepasses [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie

#62 (Jan. 1975)

8) The Butcher: Bye-Bye, Miss American Dream [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted

from Eerie #64 (Mar. 1975)

Notes: $2.25 cover price with 80 pages. The 1981 Creepy Annual, a Richard Corben special. Great buy if you like Corben.

133. cover: Jeff Easley (Nov. 1981)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Junior [Bill DuBay & Timothy Moriarty/Abel Laxamana] 12p [DuBay’s contribution credited

to Will Richardson]

3) The Dead Remember [Bruce Jones/Martin Salvador] 10p

4) Kobold [Budd Lewis/Romeo Tanghan & Alfredo Alcala] 8p

6) Bring On The Clowns! [Michael Fleisher/Fred Carrillo] 9p

7) Savage Cargo! [Jim Stenstrum/Paul Neary] 8p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

Notes: Chris Adames leaves for Archie Comics and Bill DuBay returns as the editor with Timothy Moriarty as managing editor. $2.00 for 72 pages

134. cover: Ken Kelly (Jan. 1982)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 1p

2) Guardians Of The Universe! [Budd Lewis/Delando Nino] 8p

3) Hear The Organ Grinder Play [Mark Willard/Martin Salvador] 7p

4) Soul Sucker! [Gerry Boudreau/Fred Carrillo] 8p

5) Wreck Of The Vendigo Shafter! [Rich Margopoulos/Gene Day & Rudy Nebres] 9p

6) Nefites [Bruce Jones/Jun Lofamia] 10p

7) Orson Who? [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Wayne Howard] 4p

8) War Is Hell! [Roger McKenzie/Val Mayerik] 6p

9) The City Of God [Budd Lewis/Steve Gan] 4p

Notes: This was Ken Kelly’s last cover for Warren but, like the contents of the magazine itself, it was a pale shadow of his work during Warren’s prime. The best story here was probably Bruce Jones’ ‘Nefites’, although it revisited themes that he’d explored before. ‘War Is Hell!’ might have been a pretty good story except that McKenzie has the U.S. Marines landing on Omaha Beach. The artwork is pretty drab throughout. One wishes that Gene Day had been able to ink his own pencils.

135. cover: Richard Courtney (Feb. 1982)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Rafael Auraleon] 1p

2) The Wedding Gift! [Budd Lewis/Fred Carrillo] 10p

3) …For We Have Sinned! [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 8p

4) Angel Hair Wine! [Gerry Boudreau/Jun Lofamia] 8p

5) Strange In A Stranger Land! [Rich Margopoulos/Peter Hsu] 10p

6) Morbid Love Story [Michael Fleisher/Rafael Auraleon] 11p

7) Yonder Star [Budd Lewis/Steve Gan] 7p

Notes: “…For We Have Sinned!’ is a sequel to the far superior Christmas story ‘Bless Us, Father…’ from Creepy #59 (Jan. 1974). ‘Strange In A Stranger Land’ copies the opening sequence of ‘The Iron Man’ {better known by its movie title, ‘The Iron Giant’}, where the Iron Giant crash-lands out to sea, only to rise up out of the water by a fishing boat.

136. cover: Richard Courtney (Mar. 1982)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Timothy Moriarty/Rafael Auraleon] 1p

2) All The Time In The World! [John Ellis Sech/Fred Carrillo] 8p

3) Never Say Die! [Gerry Boudreau/Martin Salvador] 9p

4) The Consumers [Gerry Boudreau/Jun Lofamia] 6p

5) Day of The Cliché [Greg Potter/Nebot] 9p

6) Eyewitness News [Gerry Boudreau & Rich Margopoulos/Carmine Infantino & Pablo Marcos]

8p

7) Mother Zenobia And The Satan Glass! [Gerry Boudreau & Rich Margopoulos/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

8) Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting [Steven Grant/Joe Staton] 8p

Notes: Timothy Moriarty becomes editor with David Allikas as his assistant. Courtney’s cover is very colorful. ‘Never Say Die!’ & ‘Eyewitness News’ were both sports/horror stories, probably done in 1978 for the never published third all-sports stories issue of Creepy.

137. cover: Rudy Nebres (May 1982)

1) Al Williamson Biography [Timothy Moriarty/Al Williamson] 1p [text article, Williamson’s

art from interior panels.]

2) H2O World! [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson & Roy G. Krenkel] 6p reprinted from Creepy

#1 (Jan. 1965)

3) The Success Story [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan. 1965)

4) Welcome Stranger [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 7p reprinted from Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

5) Sand Doom [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

6) Now You See It… [Bruce Jones/Al Williamson] 8p reprinted from Creepy #83 (Oct. 1976)

7) Mother Knows Best [Bruce Jones/Al Williamson] 8p reprinted from Creepy #86 (Feb. 1977)

8) The Homecoming [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 9p reprinted from Creepy #112 (Oct.

1979)

Notes: For the first time, Creepy sported a pen & ink illustrated cover rather than a painted one. An Al Williamson special. $2.00 for 64 pages. Although Creepy was coming out ten times a year at this point, in reality it was largely a bi-monthly, since the additional three or four issues tended to be reprints.

138. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (June 1982)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Timothy Moriarty/Berni Wrightson] 1p

2) Lamb To The Slaughter [John Jacobson/Delando Nino] 13p

3) Derelict! [Danielle DuBay/Fred Carrillo] 8p

4) Fools And Kings! [Gerry Boudreau/Martin Salvador] 8p

5) Dreamworld [Gerry Boudreau/Jun Lofamia] 8p

6) The Cry Of The Glipins [Dan Hallassey/John Garcia & Rudy Nebres] 9p

139. cover: Rudy Nebres (July 1982)

1) Creepy’s Capacious Caucus [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Daddy And The Pie [Bill DuBay/Alex Toth] 8p reprinted from Eerie #64 (Mar. 1975)

3) The Monument [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

4) Grave Undertaking [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

5) Rude Awakening! [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

6) Survival! [Alex Toth & Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #3

(Apr. 1966) [Toth’s story contribution is uncredited]

7) Phantom Of Pleasure Island [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Toth] 8p reprinted from Creepy #75 (Nov.

1975)

8) Unreal! [Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #78 (Mar. 1976)

Notes: Another pen & ink cover illo, this one featuring Pie. An Alex Toth special. The letters’ page is dropped in favor of a feature’s page that was identical in all Warren comic magazines.

140. cover: Richard Corben (Aug. 1982)

1) Creepy’s Capacious Caucus [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Timothy Moriarty/Rafael Auraleon] 1p

3) The Big Itch! [Roger McKenzie/Delando Nino] 9p

4) The Silver Stallion Conspiracy [Gerry Boudreau/Fred Carrillo] 15p

5) There Is No Werewolf [Mark Willard/Martin Salvador] 7p

6) Mummy, Jr. [Gerry Boudreau/Jun Lofamia] 3p

7) One Good Turn… [Victor de la Fuente] 5p

8) Spidership Season [Bob Toomey/Peter Hsu] 8p

Notes: Among other Warren tidbits listed on the feature’s page, it was announced that Creepy would serialize A. E. Van Vogt’s story ‘Space Beagle’ in five parts. Unfortunately, that never happened. The adaptation did appear complete in the last issue of Eerie. ‘The Big Itch!’ is a homage to Will Eisner’s ‘The Spirit’.

141. cover: Richard Corben (Sept. 1982)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Timothy Moriarty/Rafael Auraleon] 1p

2) I Created The…Gargoyle! [Danielle DuBay/Delando Nino] 10p

3) The Pupper Master [John Ellis Sech/Fred Carrillo] 8p

4) The Check-Out Counter [Timothy Moriarty/Alfonso DeLeon] 7p

5) Covering All Bases [Kevin Duane/Martin Salvador] 9p

6) Candle In The Wind [Gerry Boudreau/Jun Lofamia] 9p

7) Moral Blood [Don McGregor/Al Sanchez] 11p

Notes: $2.25 for 72 pages. The letters’ page returns. McGregor’s ‘Moral Blood’ was at least an attempt at forceful storytelling but the cookie-cutter art tended to undercut the story’s effectiveness.

142. cover: Richard Courtney (Oct. 1982)

1) Creepy’s Capacious Caucus [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Monster Rally! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #4 (Aug. 1965)

3) One For De-Money [E. Nelson Bridwell/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Eerie #2 (Mar.

1966)

4) The Duel Of The Monsters! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #7

(Feb. 1966)

5) Brain Trust! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

6) The Swamp God! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Eerie #5 (Sept. 1966)

7) Howling Success! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

8) Untimely Tomb! [Anne T. Murphy & Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from

Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965) [Anne T. Murphy’s title credit is dropped.]

9) Soul Of Horror! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

10) Skeleton Crew! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Creepy #11 (Oct. 1966)

11) Night Drop! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Blazing Combat #4 (July

1966)

12) Kasserine Pass! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres & Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from

Blazing Combat #2 (Jan. 1966) [Williamson’s credit is dropped.]

Notes: Courtney’s best cover for Warren graces an excellent reprint issue. $2.75 for 96 pages. The letters’ page vanishes again. The 1982 Creepy Annual and an Angelo Torres special with beautiful art and great Archie Goodwin {mostly} stories. Well worth collecting.

143. cover: Tony Roberts (Nov. 1982)

1) The Spectator Who Wept [Don McGregor/Isidro Mones] 26p

2) Creepy’s Capacious Caucus [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

3) Moral Blood, part 2 [Don McGregor/Al Sanchez] 10p

4) Welcome Home Stranger! [Gerry Boudreau/Martin Salvador] 13p

5) The Continuing Story Of H. G. Wells’ The Invisible Man [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: $2.50 for 72 pages. The ‘Invisible Man’ story is a sequel to the H. G. Wells’ novel. McGregor’s ‘The Spectator Who Wept’ is a good SF tale, told mostly in full page panels.

144. cover: Frank Frazetta (Jan. 1983) reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

1) The Noxious Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Forgotten Flesh [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcarar] 8p reprinted from Creepy #64 (Aug. 1974)

3) For The Sake Of Your Children! [Ed Fedory/Jaime Brocal] 11p reprinted from Creepy #45

(May 1972)

4) It! [Tom Sutton] 9p reprinted from Creepy #53 (May 1973)

5) In Darkness It Shall End! [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcazar] 9p reprinted from Creepy #76

(Jan. 1976)

6) The Ghouls! [Carl Wessler/Martin Salvador] 6p reprinted from Creepy #61 (Apr. 1974)

7) Berenice [Rich Margopoulos/Isidro Mones] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe, reprinted

from Creepy #70 (Apr. 1975)

8) It: The Terror-Stalked heiress! [Carl Wessler/Jose Gual] 10p reprinted from Creepy #72 (July

1975)

Notes: $2.25 for 80 pages. An all-reprint ‘Graveyard And Ghosts’ special. The feature’s page announces the departure of Forrest J. Ackerman from Famous Monsters and the cancellation of The Goblin.

145. cover: Jose Mirelles (Feb. 1983) reprinted from Nightmare #9 (Oct. 1972)

1) The Noxious Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Timothy Moriarty/Rafael Auraleon] 1p

3) Moral Blood, part 3 [Don McGregor/Al Sanchez] 28p

4) All Of Them Must Die! [Gerry Boudreau & Randy Palmer/Martin Salvador] 10p

5) The Iceman Killeth [Michael Fleisher/Delando Nino] 8p

Notes: Final Warren issue. $2.25 for 64 pages. The cover is reprinted from a Skywald magazine! A number of unpublished stories are discussed on the feature’s page, including ‘The Last Recess’, a series intended for Creepy that was to be written by Carlos Trillo; ‘Moonstone’ a serial by Bill DuBay & Rudy Nebres that was intended for Vampirella and ‘Jan And The Triad’, a serial by David Allikas & Pablo Marcos, also intended for Vampirella. To my knowledge, none of these stories were published. Based on the feature’s page announcement, the cancellation of the magazines and Warren’s shutdown was a last minute decision {although it had been in the cards for at least a year}. The letters’ page returns for a farewell.

146. cover: Richard Corben/titlepage: Bill Wray/back cover: Frank Frazetta (Summer or Fall 1985) back

cover reprinted from Vampirella #11 (May 1971)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Welcome [Tony Dispoto/Bill Wray] 1p [frontis]

2) Sex Kitten [S. K. Pierce/Bill Wray] 9p

3) Creeps [Archie Goodwin/John Severin & Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Creepy #78 (Mar.

1976)

4) Yellow Heat [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #58 (Mar. 1977)

5) …The Dump Man [Stephen Perry/Eric Shanower] 8p

6) Too Many Termarrows [Timothy Moriarty/Vic Catan] 9p reprinted from 1994 #28 (Dec.

1982)

7) Dead Run [Jeff Jones] 2p reprinted from Vampirella #32 (Apr. 1974)

8) A Base And Nasel Hunger [Stephen Perry/Steve Bissette] 2p

9) Sacrifice [Roger McKenzie/Luis Bermejo] 8p reprinted from Creepy #94 (Jan. 1978)

10) Grave Undertaking [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

11) To Kill A God! [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #12 (Jan. 1971)

12) The Super-Abnormal Phenomena Survival Kit! [Jim Stenstrum/John Severin] 8p reprinted

from Creepy #79 (May 1976)

13) Werewolf! [Larry Ivie/Frank Frazetta] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan. 1965)

14) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Mummy’s Curse! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p reprinted

from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

15) The Machinations Of Lust [S. K. Pierce/Mike Harris & Greg Theakston] 10p

16) No (Horse) Laughing Matter [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 2p reprinted from Creepy #49

(Nov. 1972)

Notes: Publisher: Stanley R. Harris. Editor: Tony Dispoto. Harris Publications acquired the titles and film from the bankrupt Warren Publications in an auction in August 1983. They attempted one issue each of Creepy & Vampirella in the original black & white magazine format, continuing the original numbering. I’ve included the single issue of Creepy they published since it does continue from the original magazine and includes a great many Warren stories. $2.95 for 96 pages. Uncle Creepy is featured on both the cover & titlepage. There was a second issue intended with at least two original stories mentioned. The first was Alan Moore & Bill Wray’s ‘Come On Down!’, which actually appeared in Taboo #1 in 1988. On the coming attractions page the title was given as ‘The Most Shocking Game Show On TV’. The second story was ‘Looking For Something Different’ by Stephen Perry & Joe Brozowski, which appears to have an S&M theme, based on the single panel of art reproduced. They also listed the Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo story ‘As Ye Sow’ as an intended reprint.

Eerie Ashcan Edition

1. cover: Jack Davis (Sept. 1965) reprinted from Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

1) Image Of Bluebeard! [Bill Pearson/Joe Orlando] 7p

2) Death Plane [Larry Ivie/George Evans] 6p

3) The Invitation [Larry Englehart, Russ Jones & Maurice Whitman/Manny Stallman] 7p

Notes: Publisher James Warren. Editor: Archie Goodwin. This is technically the first issue of Eerie, rushed into print overnight by Warren, Goodwin & letterer Gaspar Saladino to foil Eerie Publications from ‘stealing’ the title of Warren’s second horror magazine. Only 200 copies were printed, with the stories included all intended for either Creepy #7 or #8. The magazine was never actually distributed. Copies were dropped off at newsstands so that Warren could point them out to lawyers (one would guess) and say “See, we’ve already got a magazine called Eerie on the stands!” The cover comes from an ad that ran in Creepy. In 1978, bootleg editions of this issue were released into the fan collector market. Warren ran several ads condemning the practice and offering a $500.00 reward for the arrest of the culprits but they were never caught.

Blazing Combat

1. cover: Frank Frazetta/frontis: John Severin (Oct. 1965)

1) Viet Cong [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 7p

2) Aftermath! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p

3) Flying Tigers! [Archie Goodwin/George Evans] 6p

4) Cong View! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p

5) Cantigny! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p

6) Combat Quiz [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 1p

7) Mad Anthony! [Archie Goodwin/Russ Jones, Tex Blaisdell & Maurice Whitman] 6p

8) Enemy! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin]

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Archie Goodwin. 35 cents. 64p issue. This series is Archie Goodwin’s crowning glory. Everything that Harvey Kurtzman’s Two-Fisted Tales & Frontline Combat were in terms of timeliness, art & story, Blazing Combat matches and, at times, surpasses. Frazetta’s covers were the best of his Warren career. The artists were great and Goodwin’s scripts were inspired. Probably the best war comic ever published. I should state right here that I’ve never read or seen a copy of #1. This magazine {along with Vampirella #3 & Eerie #17} is one of the hardest to obtain issues in the Warren canon. At least for a price I can afford. My opinion is based on the three issues I do have and the one story from #1, ‘Viet Cong’, that I’ve read. A very controversial series. Combat Quiz was exactly what it sounds like, a quiz with spot illos.

2. cover: Frank Frazetta/frontis: Gray Morrow (Jan. 1966)

1) Landscape [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 7p

2) Saratoga [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p

3) Mig Alley [Archie Goodwin/Al McWilliams] 6p

4) Face To Face! [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 6p

5) Kasserine Pass! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres & Al Williamson] 6p

6) Lone Hawk [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

7) Combat Quiz [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 1p

8) Holding Action [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 7p

9) Eerie Ad [Angelo Torres] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: ‘Landscape’ is easily the best story to appear in Blazing Combat. In fact, if one were to compile a collection of the best stories comics have ever produced, ‘Landscape’ would be in the top five. {For the record, I’d put Al Feldstein/Bernie Krigstein’s ‘Master Race’, Alan Moore/David Lloyd’s ‘V For Vendetta’, Jim Steranko’s ‘Who Is Scorpio?’ and Will Eisner’s ‘Sand Saref’ as the other top four. Just my opinion, mind you.} The story concerns an old Vietnamese farmer who finally understands the economics of war. Goodwin’s script, which clearly owes a debt to Kurtzman’s EC war stories, still stands on its own two feet and is devastating. Orlando employs a very different art style from his usual approach (so different, that letter hacks questioned whether he had actually done the artwork!) and the softness of his pencil work contrasts sharply with the horror that those pencils depict. However, the story also killed the series. According to Warren, the American Legion began a quiet campaign among distributors, many of whom belonged to the organization, to let the magazine set on distributor shelves rather than be sent to the buying public. There were also problems from the armed forces (then, as always, a major purchaser of B&W comic magazines), who began to refuse to sell Blazing Combat on their bases or PX’s, due to its perceived ‘anti-war’ stance. Political hawks couldn’t have too thrilled with the rest of the book either. Frazetta’s grim cover was one of his most violent. An American soldier bayonets a German, with the bayonet bursting out the German’s back, while another American soldier lies dead in the foreground, a bullet hole smoking through his helmet, while blood covers his face and the ground beside him. While some of the stories within could have appeared anywhere, ‘Kasserine Pass’ is about an American defeat, ‘Face To Face!’ uses four panels to show a US soldier beating a Spanish soldier to death with a rock, sound effects showing exactly how the head changes from solid to pulp under severe battering, while ‘Holding Action’ is about soldiers who mentally crack under the stress of combat. Hardly the sort of thing military brass would like 18-19 year old recruits reading just before they shipped out to Vietnam. Or the sort of thing members of the Legion might like 16-17-18 year olds reading before they considered enlisting. Famed artist Milton Caniff sends in a letter.

3. cover: Frank Frazetta (Apr. 1966)

1) Combat Quiz [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 1p [frontis]

2) Special Forces [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Joe Orlando] 8p [art credited solely

to Orlando]

3) Foragers [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p

4) U-Boat [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 7p

5) Survival [Alex Toth & Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

6) The Battle Of Britain! [Wally Wood/Dan Adkins & Wally Wood] 7p [art credited solely

to Wood]

7) Water Hole! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 5p

8) Souvenirs! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 6p

Notes: Another great Frazetta cover showing a US soldier standing above a pile of dead Viet Cong. Best story and art goes to ‘Survival’ but every story here is well written and illustrated. A fine, fine issue. Publisher & comic fan Richard Kyle appears on the letters’ page.

4. cover: Frank Frazetta (July 1966)

1) Combat Quiz [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 1p [frontis]

2) Conflict! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 7p

3) How It Began! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Evans] 2p

4) The Edge! [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

5) Give And Take [Archie Goodwin/Russ Heath] 6p

6) ME-262! [Archie Goodwin/Ralph Reese, Wally Wood & Dan Adkins] 7p [art credited to

Wood]

7) The Trench! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 6p

8) Thermopylae! [Reed Crandall & Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p

9) Night Drop! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p

10) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from

Eerie #3 (May 1966)

Notes: Blazing Combat’s final issue shows no compromise with commercial demands. ‘Conflict’, ‘Give And Take’ and ‘Night Drop’ are all powerful, hard-hitting tales. Someone may have noted the dynamic art quality of DC Comics’ wash tone “paintings’ on their war titles, as five of the stories within are done in total or in part with wash tones. Particularly effective is Torres’ work on ‘Night Drop’. However, the best art job is Russ Heath’s striking ‘Give And Take’. The American soldiers in that story all look alike because Heath posed for the pictures himself. It may be odd to see so many look alikes in one squad but in the context of the story it works quite well. Goodwin’s story seems based on or inspired by a Bill Mauldin WWII cartoon that appeared in his book ‘Up Front’. It concerns a rare bottle of wine that a US soldier is willing to protect at any cost. Fan Ed Lahmann (who would contribute to the Creepy Fan Club page) warns Warren about the dangers lurking for publishers who depict war too close to real life and reminds him about the controversy that EC endured for publishing similar hard-hitting stories. He’s right on the mark but it’s too little, too late as this is the end.

Eerie

2. cover: Frank Frazetta (Mar. 1966)

1) Welcome To Eerie [Archie Goodwin/Jack Davis] 1p [frontis]

2) Footsteps Of Frankenstein [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p

3) One For De-Money [E. Nelson Bridwell/Angelo Torres] 7p

4) Flame Fiend [Archie Goodwin/Johnny Craig] 6p [art credited to Jay Taycee]

5) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 1: Werewolf [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 1p

6) To Pay The Piper [Larry Ivie/Gene Colan] 6p

7) Vision Of Evil [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

8) Ahead Of The Game [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Bill Draut] 8p

[art credited to Joe Orlando]

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Archie Goodwin. 35 cents. The first actual magazine issue, this was intended to be the actual #1. See the notes for the ashcan issue for total details. Artist Jack Davis did several head illos of Cousin Eerie for story introductions. During this time artist Jerry Grandenetti ghosted pencils for several Orlando stories, all of which were credited solely to Orlando. When Grandenetti started receiving his own credits those ghost pencils stopped. There’s nothing in this issue to make one sit up and take special notice, but it is a competent, solid work, well-written & drawn. The Frazetta cover painting of a wizard and a demon is particularly good.

3. cover: Frank Frazetta (May 1966)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Archie Goodwin/Jack Davis] 1p [frontis]

2) Soul Of Horror! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p

3) The Lighthouse! [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p

4) Room With A View! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p

5) Monsterwork! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 6p

6) Under The Skin! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Joe Orlando] 7p [art credited solely

to Orlando]

7) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 2: The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Johnny Craig] 1p [art credited

to Jay Taycee]

8) The Monument [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p

9) Full Fathom Fright [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

10) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p [anti-smoking ad on

inside back cover]

Notes: A strong issue leads off with Frazetta’s cover depicting an undersea monster and a diver. All of the art jobs are good but particular note should be given to Angelo Torres, Steve Ditko and Alex Toth. My favorite story is ‘Room With A View’ because when I was a kid, the first Warren comic I read was a coverless Eerie #42, which reprinted this story. It was the first story I read and the one that gave me nightmares for several days after. Sharp art by Ditko with a simple but compelling story by Goodwin. The anti-smoking ad by Goodwin & Frazetta was publisher Jim Warren’s reaction to cigarette companies offering him high paying advertising to target his 14-18 year old readers. It effectively stopped the offers. It should be noted that Warren stuck to his guns on this issue, even during the dark age years from 1967-1969 when he could have easily caved in and rescued his magazines with cigarette ad revenues.

4. cover: Gray Morrow (July 1966)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 3: Zombies! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis]

2) House Of Evil [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Joe Orlando] 8p [art credited solely to

Orlando]

3) Hatchet Man [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

4) Gnawing Fear! [Ron Parker/Rocco Mastroserio] 7p

5) Shrieking Man! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 7p

6) Undying Love! [Archie Goodwin/Donald Norman] 6p

7) Island At World’s End! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 10p

8) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966)

Notes: Particularly nice art here from the Grandenetti/Orlando team and from Gray Morrow, but the highlight is Gene Colan’s wash work on ‘Hatchet Man’, a story that foretells Warren’s horror slant of the 1970s as there’s nary a monster in sight, except for the human serial killer kind. ‘Shrieking Man’ was reprinted in the 1980s as ‘The Incredible Shrieking Man’, which was possibly its original title and thus a homage to Richard Matheson’s 1950s novel ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’. Underground cartoonist Jay Lynch writes in to praise Warren for its anti-smoking ad. Good issue.

5. cover: Frank Frazetta (Sept. 1966)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 4: The Mummy! [Archie Goodwin/Wally Wood & Dan Adkins]

1p [frontis]

2) The Mummy Stalks! [Roy G. Krenkel & Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p

3) The Jungle [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p

4) Black Magic [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

5) A Matter Of Routine! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

6) Dr. Griswold’s File! [Carl Wessler/Rocco Mastroserio] 7p

7) The Swamp God! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p

8) Vampire Slayer! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Joe Orlando] 8p

Notes: Frazetta’s dinosaur cover is a nice companion piece to Torres’ interior story. Torres’ art is not a sharp as usual but is pretty good. Goodwin & Krenkel’s mummy story really evokes the early Universal & Hammer films. Crandall’s art is just right. Also good work from Ditko (a return to Dr. Strange style mystic art) and Mastroserio. Another solid issue.

6. cover: Gray Morrow (Nov. 1966)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 5: The Man-Made Monster! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 1p

[frontis]

2) Cave Of The Druids [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p

3) Deep Ruby! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p

4) Running Scared! [Archie Goodwin/Mark Ricton] 8p

5) The Curse Of Kali! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p

6) Trial By Fire! [Johnny Craig] 6p [art & story credited by Jay Taycee]

7) Point Of View! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 6p

8) The Changeling! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

Notes: Striking cover by Morrow for the interior ‘Cave Of The Druids’ story. That story also features strong artwork by Reed Crandall. Torres’ artwork is in the same style of the story in the previous issue. ‘Druids’ and ‘Deep Ruby’ are the best stories. An average issue for this period, which means its pretty damn good!

7. cover: Frank Frazetta (Jan. 1967)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 6: The Hydra! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 1p [frontis]

2) Witches’ Tide [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

3) It That Lurks! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 6p

4) Hitchhike Horror! [Archie Goodwin/Hector Castellon] 8p

5) The Defense Rests! [Johnny Craig] 8p

6) Fly! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p

7) The Quest! [Archie Goodwin/Donald Norman] 6p

8) Cry Fear, Cry Phantom [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 7p

Notes: Frazetta’s famous ‘Sea Witch’ painting is the cover here. Roy Krenkel provided layouts for it. At this point, simply by not have any mediocre stories or art jobs, Eerie was actually surpassing Creepy in quality. Craig, Ditko, Grandenetti, Colan & Norman are all well represented here. Castellon goes cross hatching crazy! But the best story and art is Goodwin & Adkins’ dinosaur tale ‘It That Lurks’.

8. cover: Frank Frazetta (Mar. 1967)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 7: Demon! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 1p [frontis]

2) Oversight! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

3) Dark Rider! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 6p

4) Typecast! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

5) The Day After Doomsday! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p

6) The Covered Bridge! [Archie Goodwin/Bob Jenney] 6p

7) Wolf Bait! [Buddy Saunders & Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 8p

8) Demon Sword! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

Notes: Frazetta’s cover of a demon & a swordsman fighting in front of a giant brain is actually rather blah although most artists would be quite happy with it. Filmmaker John Carpenter may have swiped his script for ‘They Live’ from the Goodwin/Colan story herein as it shows a man who is accidently given a special pair of glasses that lets him see that monsters live among us. Adkins outdoes himself with a striking art job on ‘The Day After Doomsday!’ In fact, he’s rarely been so good since. This was Texan writer & comics distributor Buddy Saunders’ professional debut. Based on the credits I’d guess that Saunders sent this story for the Creepy Fan Club in prose form and Goodwin liked it enough to adapt it for the comics. Regardless, it’s a good story, well rendered by Mastroserio. Ditko turns in his usual work, which, for Warren, was always spectacular. Best story and art here however is on ‘Dark Rider!’ by Goodwin & Severin, another story that turned up in that coverless Eerie #42. A spooky, macabre and, well, eerie western tale set in the snowy Rockies that brilliantly evokes the quiet terror that one can experience, for no particular reason, in gray winter woods.

9. cover: Dan Adkins (May 1967)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 8: The Cyclopses! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p

[frontis]

2) Fair Exchange [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p

3) Rub The Lamp! [Allan Jadro/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

4) Terror In The Tomb! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 7p

5) The Wanderer! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p

6) Isle Of The Beast! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p

7) An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge! [Archie Goodwin/Bob Jenney] 6p from the story by

Ambrose Bierce

8) Experiment In Fear! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

Notes: Beneath a tame Adkins cover was some pretty good work. Adams’ debut in Eerie had him experimenting with a different panel layout on every page. Ditko presented a very good werewolf tale and Gene Colan’s tale of a Nazi concentration camp doctor’s terrifying end was nerve-wracking. Some letter writers apparently had never heard of Ambrose Bierce and accused Goodwin of ripping off a Twilight Zone episode that also adapted Bierce’s story. Krenkel’s work on the Monster Gallery one-pager is particularly nice work.

10. cover: Gray Morrow (July 1967)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 9: The Wendigo! [Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis]

2) Warrior Of Death! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p

3) The Slugs! [Bill Pearson/Joe Orlando] 8p

4) It! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p

5) Voodoo Drum! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p

6) House Of Fiends! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

7) For The Birds! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p

Notes: The monster in Adkins’ story is swiped from the film ‘Five Million Years To Earth’. Given Ditko’s striking work on the sword & sorcery stories that he did for Warren, one wonders why he never got the chance to work on Conan for Marvel or on any other S&S series (unless you count Shade, the Changing Man). ‘Voodoo Drum!’ is the art & story fave for this issue. Adams’ art, reproduced from his pencils, is very moody and his work is matched by the Goodwin script. ‘The Slugs’ is also a rather horrible little story {and I mean that in a good way}.

11. cover: Joe Orlando (Sept. 1967)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery No. 10: The Minotaur [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 1p [frontis]

2) Witch Hunt! [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 6p

3) To Slay A Dragon! [Archie Goodwin/Jeff Jones] 6p

4) The Mummy [Russ Jones/Dan Adkins & Wally Wood] 7p from the 1932 Universal

screenplay, reprinted from Monster World #1 (Nov. 1964) [story & art credited to Wally

Wood]

5) Berenice! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

6) The Blood Fruit! [Johnny Craig] 8p

7) The Monster From One Billion B.C. [Tom Sutton] 8p

8) Big Change! [Ron Whyte/Larry Woromay] 6p

9) First Blood [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 6p

Notes: The money crunch that led to Warren’s Dark Age begans to appear with the introduction of reprints in the magazines. Jones’ credit is erased from the reprint of the Mummy. See notes on Creepy #17 as to reasons why. Sutton’s story was originally done for Famous Monsters Of Filmland (and was reprinted very shortly in those pages) but appeared in Eerie due to a deadline crunch regarding his story ‘Image In Wax’ which appeared in Creepy #17. A note here on Sutton. It’s my belief that Tom Sutton is probably the most underrated of all the Silver Age artists. He worked for all of the major publishers--Marvel, DC, Charlton, Warren and Skywald and regularly appeared in fanzines, but never really had a long run on a superhero title, partly because he didn’t particularly like superheroes. What he did like was horror and science fiction. He was able to employ a remarkable variety of art styles and was best when left alone to illustrate (and on occasion, write) the scripts in his own unique way. He was certainly capable of hackwork—his Star Trek work is mind-numbingly average, largely because that’s what the client and the publisher wanted. He technically retired from regular comic work in 1994, although he continued to occasionally work in the field and his final days were spent drawing grotesque porn comics for Fantagraphic’s Eros line. Yet he was also capable of absolutely breathtaking artwork, as for instance, on Marvel’s Future History Chronicles, the many short horror & war tales he did for Charlton, First Comics ‘Squalor’ series, the oddball Frankenstein series he did for Skywald and the Warren work recorded here. He came in at the tail end of the Goodwin Era and I suspect if he’d shown up sooner he’d be a good deal more appreciated. His influence shines on every time Bruce Timm draws the monster of Frankenstein or Steve Bissette or John Totleben apply pencil and pen to paper. This was Goodwin’s last issue as editor but I’ve included the next issue in the Goodwin Era as he clearly wrote & assembled the artists for much of the contents. Best art here was Jerry Grandenetti’s work on the Poe adaptation.

12. cover: Dan Adkins (Nov. 1967)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Zombies! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis] reprinted

from Eerie #4 (July 1966)

2) The Masque Of Death [Archie Goodwin/Tom Sutton] 6p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

3) Vampyrus! [Archie Goodwin/Jeff Jones] 7p

4) …Nor Custom, Stale… [Johnny Craig] 8p

5) Escape! [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 7p

6) Portrait Of Satan! [Archie Goodwin/Ric Estrada] 8p

7) The Past Master [Craig Tennis/Al McWilliams] 10p from the story by Robert Bloch, reprinted

from Christopher Lee’s Treasury Of Terror (Sept. 1966)

Notes: Editor: James Warren?. According to Clark Dimond, Warren wasn’t actually the editor, rather a friend of Warren’s at Gold Key did the actual editing. Goodwin’s absence was immediately noticeable as the story credits aren’t listed for any story here. This was the last largely original Eerie issue for quite some time as Warren placed a freeze on any new stories or artwork for at least seven months. Including this issue, Goodwin left enough stories in inventory for possibly three issues (and that might be stretching it) so Warren was forced to resort to all reprint issues for Eerie & largely reprint issues for Creepy. He also raided the paperback horror book ‘Christopher Lee’s Treasury Of Terror’ and its unpublished sequel for stories to print, beginning with this issue. The cover by Dan Adkins was clearly intended for the previous issue’s Mummy reprint. Not a bad issue but nowhere close to the strength in story and art that Eerie had displayed in the previous 10 issues. Sadly, it was a strength that Eerie would not recapture.

Warren’s Dark Age

13. cover: Vic Prezio (Feb. 1968)

1) Wentworth’s Day [Russ Jones/Russ Jones & Frank Bolle] 9p from the story by H. P.

Lovecraft & August Derleth, reprinted from Christopher Lee’s Treasury Of Terror (Sept.

1966)

2) Ogre’s Castle [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

3) Tell-Tale Heart! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe,

reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

4) Voodoo! [Bill Pearson/Joe Orlando] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan. 1965)

5) Spawn Of The Cat People [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Creepy #2

(Apr. 1965)

6) The Success Story [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan. 1965)

Notes: There were four months between issues here, reflecting Warren’s shaky status. Size reduction to 48 pages. Russ Jones’ name was dropped from ‘Wentworth’s Day’ which he did work on but was still included on ‘Voodoo!’ which he did not. An all-reprint issue.

14. cover: Vic Prezio (Apr. 1968)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Mummy [Archie Goodwin/Wally Wood & Dan Adkins] 1p

[frontis] reprinted from Eerie #5 (Sept. 1966)

2) The Stalkers [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

3) Pursuit Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1

(Jan. 1965)

4) Howling Success! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

5) Untimely Tomb! [Anne T. Murphy & Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from

Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

6) Curse Of The Full Moon! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Creepy #4

(Aug. 1965)

7) Blood And Orchids! [Archie Goodwin/Al McWilliams] 7p reprinted from Creepy #4 (Aug.

1965)

Notes: All reprint issue.

15. cover: Vic Prezio (June 1968)

1) The Graves Of Oconoco! [John Benson/Pat Boyette & Rocco Mastroserio] 7p

2) Wardrobe Of Monsters! [Otto Binder/Gray Morrow & Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

3) The Demon Wakes [Archie Goodwin/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

4) Under The Skin! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Joe Orlando] 7p reprinted from

Eerie #5 (Nov. 1965)

5) The Doll Collector! [Dave Kahleer/Gutenberg Mondiero] 8p

6) A Change In The Moon! [Clark Dimond & Terry Bisson/Jeff Jones] 8p [story credited solely

to Dimond.]

Notes: The first issue since #12 to feature new stories. The Fraccio/Tallarico (they always used the penname Tony Williamsune for Warren) art was new but the original Archie Goodwin story was probably a leftover from his tenure. According to Clark Dimond, at this point artist Jeff Jones hadn’t been paid for his last three Warren stories and Jones apologized to Dimond for the quality of the artwork on ‘A Change In The Moon!’.

16. cover: Barry Rockwell (July 1968)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Number 13! [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p

[frontis]

2) Dracula’s Guest [E. Nelson Bridwell/Frank Bolle] 7p from the story by Bram Stoker, reprinted

from Christopher Lee’s Treasure Of Terror (Sept. 1966)

3) Big-Time Operator [E. Nelson Bridwell/Ric Estrada] 8p

4) Sara’s Forest [Roger Brand/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

5) Evil Spirits! [Archie Goodwin/Johnny Craig] 10p

6) Eerie Fanfare: In Memoriam, Rocco Mastroserio 1927-1968 [Bill Parente/Richard Corben,

Rocco Mastroserio & Bruce Jones] 1p [text article]

7) The Monument [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

8) Ahead Of The Game [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Bill Draut] 8p reprinted from

Eerie #2 (Mar. 1966)

Notes: Editor: Bill Parente. Size increase to 56 pages. A quite good issue! Cousin Eerie’s head is obviously pasted over original host Christopher Lee’s in the opening story. The Goodwin/Craig story is an unpublished story from 1967. Richard Corben & Bruce Jones make their comics debut on Eerie’s first fan page, although Corben may have been working on his first underground work, Tales From The Plague, prior to this. Although Jones is known primarily today as a writer, he started off as a quite good artist in the Al Williamson mode. The fan page also announced the death of Warren and Charlton artist Rocco Mastroserio. Best stories are ‘Evil Spirits’ and ‘Big-Time Operator’.

17. cover: Tom Sutton (Sept. 1968) [miscredited to Barry Rockwell.]

1) The Final Solution [Raymond Marais/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 8p

2) The Mummy Stalks! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Eerie #5 (Sept.

1965)

3) Eerie Fanfare: Tom Sutton Profile/Back Pay [Bill Parente & Bill Mantlo/Tom Sutton, Dean

Sindork & Mike Whelan] 1p [text article/story]

4) To Save Face [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 6p

5) Dressed To Kill! [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 6p

6) Demon Sword! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar. 1967)

7) The Death Of Halpin Frayser [Craig Tennis/Frank Bolle] 7½p from the story by Ambrose

Bierce, reprinted from Christopher Lee’s Treasury Of Terror (Sept. 1966)

Notes: Eerie #17 is one of the hardest Warren issues to find, apparently due to a James Warren experiment of non-returnable distribution for this issue. Tony Isabella writes a letter that reveals the actual artists behind the Tony Williamsune pen-name to be Charlton mainstays Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico. The fan page debuts future comic writer Bill Mantlo and future SF cover artist Michael Whelan.

18. cover: Tom Sutton (Nov. 1968)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Zombies! [Archie Goodwin/Roy G. Krenkel] 1p [frontis]

reprinted from Eerie #4 (July 1966)

2) Hard Luck [Bill Parente/Sal Trapani] 6p [story miscredited to James Haggenmiller]

3) Cry Fear, Cry Phantom [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from Eerie #7

(Jan. 1967)

4) A Change Of Pace! [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 6p

5) Eerie Fanfare: Barry Rockwell Profile/Fish Story [Bill Parente & Thomas Prehoda/Greg

Volpert & Gary Meyers] 1p [text article/story w/photo]

6) The Jungle [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Eerie #5 (Sept. 1966)

7) Vampire Slayer! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti & Joe Orlando] 8p reprinted from Eerie

#5 (Sept. 1966)

8) Trial By Fire! [Johnny Craig] 6p reprinted from Eerie #6 (Nov. 1966)

9) Side Show [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

10) Uncle Creepy And Cousin Eerie’s Cauldron Contest [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 1p [on back

cover]

Notes: See Creepy #23 for Cauldron Contest information.

19. cover: Alan Willow (Dec. 1968)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Castle Of The Frankenstein! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Tomorrow’s Reminder [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p [Title misspelled as

‘Tommorrow’]

3) Dark Kingdom! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 8p reprinted from Creepy #9 (June 1967)

4) Dark House Of Dreams [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #12 (Dec.

1966)

5) Monstrous Mistake [Bill Parente/Barry Rockwell] 6p

6) The Squaw! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Bram Stoker, reprinted

from Creepy #13 (Feb. 1967)

7) Unfeeling Heart… [James Haggenmiller/Ernie Colon] 6p

8) Eerie Fanfare: Abracadabra/The Glass Prison [Bill Parente & Roxanne Collier/Bill Black {aka

Bill Black} & Brian Clifton] 1p [text article/story]

Notes: Cover artist Willow was the first European artist to appear in a Warren magazine. Bill Parente starts a Satan’s Grimore section on the fan page, starting with the letter ‘A’, with alternate sections appearing in both Creepy and Eerie. The series is never finished, ending with the letter ‘G’. Future artist Bill Black makes his second appearance on the fan page.

20. cover: H. B. Harris (Mar. 1969)

1) Round Trip [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

2) A Cloak Of Darkness [Bill Parente/Reed Crandall] 6p

3) Eerie Fanfare: Candles/A Shrewd Deal [Bill Parente & Gordon Mathews/P. Zimelman &

George Meyers] 1p [text article/story]

4) Cave Of The Druids! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Eerie #6 (Nov.

1966)

5) The Fall Of The House Of Usher [Tom Sutton] 11p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

6) Dark Rider! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar. 1967)

Notes: Sutton’s Poe adaptation is prose heavy but beautifully drawn.

21. cover: Vic Prezo (May 1969)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Lucifer’s Legions [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Point Of View [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 6p reprinted from Eerie #6 (Nov. 1966)

3) Eerie Fanfare: Cauldron Contest/Once There Was A Planet [Bill Parente & Roger Solberg/

Mike Kersey & James King] 1p [text article/story]

4) Miscalculation [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

5) Terror In The Tomb! [Archie Goodwin/Rocco Mastroserio] 7p reprinted from Eerie #9 (May

1967)

6) Fatal Diagnosis [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 6p

7) Warrior Of Death! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Eerie #10 (July 1967)

8) House Of Fiends! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p reprinted from Eerie #10 (July

1967)

22. cover: Vic Prezo (July 1969)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Minotaur [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 1p [frontis] reprinted

from Eerie #11 (Sept. 1967)

2) H2O World! [Larry Ivie/Al Williamson & Roy G. Krenkel] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan.

1965)

3) Family Curse [T. Casey Brennan/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 8p

4) The Devil To Pay! [Archie Goodwin/Donald Norman] 6p reprinted from Creepy #11 (Oct.

1966)

5) Permanent Members! [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 7p

6) Eerie Fanfare: Familiars/The Finish [Bill Parente & Mike Raab/Len Wein] 1p [text article/

story]

7) Scooped! [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 8p

8) The Spirit Of The Thing! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #9 (June

1966)

9) Vampirella Is Coming Ad [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p

Notes: Size increase to 56 pages. Prezo’s cover of a bikini clad diver confronted by sea monsters at an undersea wreck is quite good. The story ‘Permanent Members’ appears to have been intended for, or perhaps inspired by, the cover to Creepy #22 from a year earlier. T. Casey Brennan makes his professional debut here. Future comic writer Len Wein makes his comics debut on the fan page as an artist. The Vampirella ad features both Uncle Creepy & Cousin Eerie, but not Vampirella.

Warren’s Rebuilding

23. cover: Frank Frazetta (Sept. 1969)

1) Beyond Nefera’s Tomb [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 8p

2) The Dragon’s Tail [Kim Ball/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 8p

3) An Occurance At Owl Creek Bridge! [Archie Goodwin/Bob Jenney] 6p from the story by

Ambrose Bierce, reprinted from Eerie #9 (May 1967)

4) Eerie Fanfare: Hades/Total War/Cauldron Contest Winner: Edward French [Bill Parente &

Timothy Boertlein/Bruce Jones] 2p [text article/story w/photo]

5) Soul Pool [Edward R. French/Tom Sutton] 7p

6) Fair Exchange [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Eerie #9 (May 1967)

7) Space Age Vampire [James Haggenmiller/Mike Royer] 8p

8) Vampirella Is Coming Ad [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p

9) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966)

Notes: Although reprints would continue for another 8 months or so, this issue, along with Creepy #29 and Vampirella #1, mark the beginning of Warren’s rebuilding from the quality quake of the previous two years. Size increase to 64 pages. Frazetta’s cover, ‘Egyptian Princess’, is one of his most famous paintings and justly so. A dynamic use of lighting and shadow (along with some nicely done near-nudity) make this cover a real eye-opener. The accompanying cover story ‘Beyond Nefera’s Tomb’ also displays a remarkable amount of nudity for a 1969 comic. Even a black & white one. Bruce Jones makes his second fan page appearance, only a few months before his professional debut in the rival horror magazine Web Of Horror.

24. cover: Vic Prezo (Nov. 1969)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: …Perchance To Dream! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Head For The Lighthouse! [Bill Parente/Mike Royer] 8p

3) Pursuit Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan.

1965)

4) The Immortality Seeker [James Haggenmiller/Tom Sutton] 7p

5) Eerie Fanfare: Epilogue [Donald Lauzon/Joe Kovacs] 1p [text story]

6) Checkmate [Ron Parker/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 8p

7) Scavenger Hunt [Don Glut/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

8) Demon Dictionary [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p [text article]

9) Dracula’s Guest [E. Nelson Bridwell/Frank Bolle] 7p from the story by Bram Stoker, reprinted

from Christopher Lee’s Treasury Of Terror (Sept. 1966)

10) Wrong Tennant [Bill Parente/Reed Crandall] 7p

25. cover: Jim Steranko (Jan. 1970)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Vampire! [Bill Parente/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 1p [frontis]

2) Isle Of The Vrukolakas [Don Glut/Ernie Colon] 6p

3) Mistake! [Buddy Saunders/Bill Black] 6p

4) Hijack To Horror [R. Michael Rosen/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

5) To Pay The Piper! [Larry Ivie/Gene Colan] 6p reprinted from Eerie #2 (Mar. 1966)

6) Southern Exposure [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 5p

7) The Thing In The Cave [R. Michael Rosen/Mike Royer] 6p

8) Eerie Fanfare: I Gave Him Life!/To The Ends Of Inner Space [Paul E. King & Tom O’Boyle/

David Hubb] 1p [text stories]

9) House Of Evil! [Archie Goodwin/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p reprinted from Eerie #4 (July 1966)

10) Hex Marks The Spot [R. Michael Rosen/William Barry] 6p

Notes: Steranko’s sole contribution to Warren is nice, but gives the appearance of having been done for the gothic paperback lines of the time rather than as an original painting done for the Warren line.

26. cover: Basil Gogos & Vaughn Bode (Mar. 1970)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Body Snatchers! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) I Wouldn’t Want To Live There! [Bill Parente/Jack Sparling] 7p

3) Southern Exposure, part 2 [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 7p

4) In The Neck Of Time [Al Hewetson/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 8p

5) Eerie Fanfare: Al Hewetson Profile/Death After Dark/Three Feet From Exit Four/Traitor’s

Reward [Al Hewetson, Mark Aubry, Mark Hatfield & Dennis Goza/Ernie Colon &

Steven Muhmel] 2p [text stories w/photo]

6) Spiders Are Revolting! [Bill Warren/Tom Sutton] 9p

7) The Scarecrow [Nicola Cuti/Frank Bolle] 7p

8) Tuned In! [Ken Dixon/Dick Piscopo] 7p

9) Cyked-Out! [Ken Dixon/Jack Sparling] 8p

Notes: First issue since #10 to have all-original stories. The cover is quite ugly, yet strangely, was reprinted in the early 1980s! Future artist Ronn Sutton sends in a letter. Best story and art is the Warren/Sutton story ‘Spiders Are Revolting!’

27. cover: Vaughn Bode & Jeff Jones (May 1970)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Golem! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Journey Into Wonder [Bill Parente/Ken Barr] 10p

3) Amazonia [Gardner Fox/Miguel Fernandez] 7p

4) Eerie Fanfare: Neal Adams Profile/Poetry Corner/Surprise/The Forwarned [Bill Parente, Brad

Linaweaver, Gary Schnoebeden, Cathy Hill, Allen Arnold & Susan Wylie/Dale Stuckert

& ?] 2p [text article & stories, poems]

5) The Machine God’s Slave [Buddy Saunders/Ernie Colon] 6p

6) Swallowed In Space! [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 7p

7) Enter…Dr. Laernu! [R. Michael Rosen/Dick Piscopo] 6p

8) All Sewed Up! [Buddy Saunders/Mike Royer] 6p

9) Face It! [Nicola Cuti/Jack Sparling] 7p

Notes: In contrast to the previous issue, this Bode/Jones cover is quite lovely. Gardner Fox’s character Amazonia would reappear in Vampirella, illustrated there by Billy Graham. The best story here is easily Buddy Saunders’ ‘The Machine God’s Slave’ with art honors shared by Ernie Colon and by Mike Royer for his work on ‘All Sewed Up!’.

28. cover: Pat Boyette (July 1970)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Saucerians! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) The Hidden Evils! [James Haggenmiller/Dan Adkins] 9p

3) The Beast In The Swamp! [Bill Warren/Billy Graham] 8p

4) Eerie Fanfare: The Horror Of Biscayne Gardens/The Man On The Hill/By The Moon/Who Is

In The Shadows?/Poem/A Dragon’s Tale [mike Petit, Jeff Kadish, Peter MacKenzie,

Steven Teal, Danny Massoni & Brad Linaweaver/Mike Jasinski, Tony Bishop, Greg

Theakston & Arvell Jones] 2p [text stories & poems]

5) The Rescue Party! [Buddy Saunders/Jack Sparling] 7p

6) Follow Apollo! [R. Michael Rosen/Tom Sutton] 6p

8) Ice Scream [R. Michael Rosen/Bill DuBay] 7p

9) Pit Of Evil [Al Hewetson/Dick Piscopo] 7p

10) The Last Train To Orion! [Pat Boyette] 6p

11) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966)

Notes: Editor: James Warren. Interesting cover & story from Pat Boyette but the best story is Bill Warren’s & Billy Graham’s ‘The Beast In The Swamp!’ This sword & sorcery effort (as well as the Amazonia stories in Vampirella) makes one wonder why Graham never got a chance to draw Conan. He’d have been great at it!

29. cover: Ken Kelly (Sept. 1970)

1) An Editorial To The President Of The United States And All The Members Of Congress

[James Warren] 1p [text article, frontis]

2) Loophole! [Nicola Cuti/Jack Sparling] 7p

3) The Fiend Planet [Buddy Saunders/Dan Adkins] 6p

4) The Bloodstaff [Rich Buckler] 7p

5) Gallery Of Horror [Buddy Saunders/Carlos Garzon] 7p

6) The Vorpal Sword [Nicola Cuti/Tom Sutton] 7p

7) Eerie Fanfare: The Tomb Of Ankh-Ra/Headsman [Virginia Jenkins & Don Allen/Phillippe

Druillet & Frank Frazetta] 2p [text stories] Frazetta’s art from the cover of Creepy #17

8) Strange Gateway! [T. Casey Brennan/Jack Sparling] 8p

9) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966)

10) Snow Job! [Doug Moench/Jack Sparling] 7p

Notes: Archie Goodwin is listed as Associate Editor. Doug Moench’s professional comics debut. Famous French artist Phillippe Druillet makes his only Warren appearance on the fan page!?!

30. cover: Basil Gogos (Nov. 1970)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: BEM [Dan Adkins] 1p [frontis]

2) The Entail [Pat Boyette] 6p

3) October Weir: Mirror, Mirror [Nicola Cuti/Frank Bolle] 10p

4) Life Species [Bill DuBay] 4p

5) Eerie Fanfare: The Prophetic Dream/Escape Claws/Nuts To You!/The Mistake [Carmen

Minchella, David O’Dell, Rodney Schroeter, David E. Bruegel/Arthur Suydam & Gray

Morrow] 2p [text stories]

6) I, Werewolf [Ken Barr] 9p

7) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966)

8) In Close Pursuit [Gordon Matthews/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

9) The Return Of Amen-Tut! [Don Glut/Jack Sparling] 8p

10) The Creation [Doug Moench/Carlos Garzon] 8p

Notes: Price increase to 60 cents. Behind a not particularly good cover is a quite good issue! The BEM in Eerie’s Monster Gallery is old science fiction slang for ‘bug-eyed monster’. Future artist Tony Meers sends in a letter. Pat Boyette’s story ‘The Entail’ is not only quite good, but quite gruesome as well. Psychic detective October Weir had only two appearances. Pity, as his stories were good and Bolle was perfect as the artist. ‘Life Species’ by DuBay is the kind of story that stays with you all your life. A classic SF tale. Future artist Arthur Suydam makes his comics debut on the fan page.

31. cover: Richard Corben (Jan. 1971)

1) Point Of View [Buddy Saunders/Tom Sutton] 9p

2) The Drop [Chris Fellner/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

3) The Devil’s Hand! [Bill DuBay] 6p

4) The Alien Plague! [Billy Graham] 10p

5) The Oasis [Buddy Saunders/Carlos Garzon] 8p

6) October Weir: Lady In Ice [Nicola Cuti/Frank Bolle] 7p

7) Eerie Fanfare: I, The Nightwatchman/Poem/The Pact/Down In Cannery Dough [Ed Fedory/

Danny Massoni, Michael Darrah & Craig Hill/Jeff Jones, ?, Greg Theakston & Arvell

Jones] 2p [text stories & poem]

8) The Killer Slime [Steve Skeates/Carlos Garzon] 8p

9) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966) [on inside back cover]

Notes: Corben’s first Warren cover is quite good with hairy, faceless monsters rising from a dead body and pointing directly at the reader. Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico’s art is quite good on the drug story ‘The Drop’. At the request of future editor J. R. Cochran, Ed Fedory would later rework his text story from the fan page into a comic strip that would appear in Creepy #46. The final October Weir story appears.

32. cover: Richard Corben & [in insert] Tom Sutton (Mar. 1971) [Sutton’s art is from an interior story]

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Creature From…Beyond Ultima Thule! [Clif Jackson] 1p

[frontis]

2) Superhero! [Steve Skeates/Tom Sutton] 6p

3) The Warning Of The Hawk! [Gardner Fox/Clif Jackson & Syd Shores] 6p

4) The Wailing Tower [Larry Herndon/Frank Bolle] 7p

5) Bookworm [Gerry Conway/Richard Corben] 7p

6) I Fell For You [John Wolley/Jack Sparling] 7p

7) Eerie Fanfare: The Misunderstanding/Reversal/Ain’t It Not Funky Now Brother/Your Last

Child Is Leaving [Clayton Fox, Michael Carlisle, Craig Hill & Ken Haubrock/Kevin

Schaffer, Craig Hill, Steve Leialoha & Robert Monahan] 2p [text stories/poems]

8) Soul Power! [Don Glut/Mike Royer] 6p

9) Ice World [Bill DuBay/William Barry] 7p [art miscredited to DuBay]

Notes: While a mainstay nowadays of such comics as Astro City, Steve Skeates’ ‘Superhero!’ was the first comic story to link up a night time Batman-like superhero with the vampire mythos. Pretty good story, too. Best story and art goes to the Conway/Corben ‘Bookworm’. Steve Leialoha makes his second appearance on the fan page, along with an announcement that he’s ready to work for any comic publisher that wants him.

33. cover: Larry Todd (May 1971)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Minotaur [Clif Jackson] 1p [frontis]

2) A Trip In Time! [Steve Skeates/Jack Sparling] 6p

3) 243 Blank Pages! [Steve Skeates/George Roussos] 7p

4) Whom The Gods Would Destroy [Marv Wolfman/Ken Barr] 11p

5) Escape Into Chaos [Steve Skeates/Ernie Colon] 7p

6) Starvisions [Larry Todd] 6p

7) The Pest! [Al Hewetson/Richard Corben] 8p

8) Eerie Fanfare: Dave Cockrum Profile/The Vampire/Wolf Star/From Beyond The Grave

[Dave Cockrum, David Nowicki, Jack L. Bannow & Harry Feinzig/Mike Roberts, R. Goodwin, Pat Broderick, Gerald Colucci, Mark Wallace & Rick Bryant] 2p [text stories/

poem w/photo]

9) The Painting In The Tower! [Gardner Fox/Pat Boyette] 7p

Notes: ‘The Pest!’ by Hewetson & Corben is the best story although Ernie Colon’s experimental art and Pat Boyette’s efforts are also worthy of note. Future artists Pat Broderick and Rick Bryant appear on the fan page.

34. cover: Boris Vallejo (July 1971)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Man Who Played God! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Parting Is Such Sweet Horror! [Tom Sutton] 7p

3) Eye Of Cyclops! [Buddy Saunders/Jaime Brocal] 7p

4) He Who Laughs Last…Is Grotesque! [Al Hewetson/Mike Royer] 7p

5) Food For Thought [Steve Skeates/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 5p

6) The Vow Of The Wizard… [Ernie Colon/Ernie Colon & Frank McLaughlin] 7p

7) The Sound Of Wings [F. Paul Wilson/Carlos Garzon] 6p

8) Eerie Fanfare: Oh, To Be A Bat/The Mutant!/The Face Of Death! [Edgar Ellington, Robert J.

Hurris, Josheph Wiltz/Pat Broderick, Joseph Wiltz, Mitchell Brown & Tony Desensi] 2p

[text poem/stories]

9) Lair Of The Horned Man [Alan Weiss] 9p

Notes: Vallejo’s second Warren cover gets a good deal more respect than his first did for Vampirella, even though his barbarian swordsman looks somewhat disjointed. His harpy is quite terrifying. The fullscale Spanish Invasion of artists begins in Eerie with the debut of Jaime Brocal. Al Hewetson delivers a story that would have fit right at home in the Horror-Mood of Skywald. SF writer F. Paul Wilson makes his comics (and perhaps his professional) debut with ‘The Sound Of Wings’. Pat Broderick makes his second appearance on the fan page.

35. cover: Enrich Torres (Sept. 1971)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Monster Sightings! [John Cornell] 1p [frontis]

2) Retribution [Gardner Fox & Steve Englehart/Steve Englehart] 6p

3) The Comet’s Curse! [Buddy Saunders/Frank Brunner] 6p

4) The Tower Of The Demon Dooms! [Gardner Fox/Mike Ploog] 9p

5) I Am Dead, Egypt, Dead [Doug Moench/Victor de la Fuente] 8p

6) Cats And Dogs [Bill DuBay/Jerry Grandenetti] 7p

7) Eerie Fanfare: Sanho Kim Profile/Changing Sands/The Rats/The End [J. R. Cochran, John D.

Warner, John Ayella & David McElmurry/Robert Putnam, John Ayella, Ken Kelly &

Craig Edelblut] 2p [text stories]

8) Annual Warren Awards At The New York Comiccn… [Martin Greim] 2p [text article]

reprinted from Comic Crusader #10 (1970)

9) Money [Sanho Kim] 9p

10) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966) [on back cover]

Notes: Editor: Billy Graham. Enrich Torres makes a spectacular cover artist debut with one of the most striking covers of his career. Although it’s not generally well-known, comic writer Steve Englehart made his debut as an artist and, as is evident from the half dozen or so stories available, was not bad at all. Mike Ploog makes his comics debut, after a stint as Will Eisner’s assistant on P*S magazine. The Eisner influence is very apparent. Sanho Kim’s art is impressive, even more so compared to the often rushed looking artwork he was doing for Charlton at the time. The Ken Kelly on the fan page (and on the letters’ page) is not the cover artist. A very strong issue.

36. cover: Enrich Torres (Nov. 1971)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Atoms [T. Casey Brennan/Pablo Marcos] 1p [frontis]

2) Bad Moon On The Rise [Doug Moench/Tom Sutton] 10p

3) The Silence And The Sleep [Steve Skeates/Rubio] 7p

4) Prototype [Steve Skeates/Bruce Jones] 10p

5) Look What They’ve Done! [Steve Skeates/Esteban Maroto] 6p

6) Crocodile [Don Glut/Mascaro] 6p

7) The Trap [Greg Potter/L. M. Roca] 4p

8) Eerie Fanfare: Steve Skeates Profile/House Of Horror/Occupational Hazard [Steve Skeates,

Christopher Wolfe & Billie Fowler/Steve Skeates, Steve Lowe & Steve Cassman] 2p

[text article/stories]

9) Oh, Brother! [Steve Skeates/Dave Cockrum] 7p

Notes: Bruce Jones’ art is reproduced from pencils.

37. cover: Enrich Torres (Jan. 1972)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Air Serpent [Bill DuBay] 1p [frontis]

2) The Other Side Of Atlantis [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

3) Horror At Hamilton House [Lynn Marron/Ken Barr] 7p

4) The Ones Who Stole It From You [Don McGregor/Rafael Auraleon] 14p

5) A Rush Of Wings [Larry Herndon/Jaime Brocal] 8p

6) Eerie Fanfare: The Message!/Theory/My, Oh, My!/Final Conquerer/Interchange! [Ted Dasen,

Phill Jones, Vernon Shelton, Michael E. Tierney & Steven Taggart/Michael Gilbert,

Anthony DeSensi, Solano Lopez & James Kanhard] 2p [text stories]

7) Dethslaker [Doug Moench/Ernie Colon] 11p

Notes: Nice cover from Enrich. The best story and art is the ghoul story ‘The Ones Who Stole It From You’ by Don McGregor and Rafael Auraleon. Ernie Colon’s lettering for his story’s title is so ornate that it is impossible to read! Still, it’s one of his best (and sexiest) art jobs for Warren. Brocal’s two art jobs clearly show the difference between an artist fully engaged in the story he’s illustrating {Atlantis} and one he’s just doing for the buck {Wings}. Michael Gilbert makes his comics debut on the fan page, with a sample from a college comic strip. Solano Lopez’s sample pages again land up on the fan page.

38. cover: Ken Kelly (Feb. 1972)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Mothman Of West Virginia [Doug Moench/Jaime Brocal] 1p

[frontis]

2) Stake In The Game [Doug Moench/Jose Gual] 21p

3) The Carrier Of The Serpent [T. Casey Brennan/Jerry Grandenetti] 10p

4) 1971 Comiccon Awards Go To Frazetta And Goodwin… [J. R. Cochran?/?] 3p [text article]

5) A Stranger In Hell [T. Casey Brennan/Esteban Maroto] 7p

6) The Night The Snow Spilled Blood! [Don McGregor/Tom Sutton] 12p

7) Eerie Fanfare: Esteban Maroto Profile/The Shower!/The Night Desert/See Into The Future!/

The Brothers/The Farmer’s Friend [Bill DuBay, C. D. Stewart, Jim Erskine, Jarry

Bradman & M. Joseph Blattberg/Esteban Maroto, Brant Withers, Loper Sepi, Manuel

Sanjulian & Stephen Stanley] 2p [text articles/stories w/photo]

Notes: Ken Kelly’s cover is one of his best! A fanged humanoid struggles with a giant green serpent! Moody and dynamic! Future artist & letterer John Workman sends in a letter pleading for work! One of the longest (thus far) stories in Warren history is, unfortunately, none too good. T. Casey Brennan & Jerry Grandenetti turn in another philosophical story (something they were quite good at). Esteban Maroto turns in the best art job on ‘A Stranger In Hell’ while Don McGregor’s ‘The Night The Snow Spilled Blood!’ is the best story. McGregor’s story is also the second appearance of police detective Dave Turner.

39. cover: Ken Kelly (Apr. 1972)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Mysterious Men In Black! [Doug Moench/Richard Bassford] 1p

[frontis]

2) Head Shop [Don Glut/Jose Bea] 6p

3) Just Passing Through [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

4) The Disenfranchised [J. R. Cochran/Tom Sutton] 10p

5) Dax The Warrior [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story credited solely to Maroto]

6) Yesterday Is The Day Before Tomorrow [Doug Moench/Dave Cockrum] 7p

7) Eerie Fanfare: Pity The Stranger/House For Sale/The Coming Of Apollo/Welcoming

Committee [Greg Balke, Roy Decker, Gary Henry & Marcus Octavious/Steve Monsanto

& Jody Clay] 2p [text stories]

8) Ortaa! [Kevin Pagan/Jaime Brocal] 8p

Notes: Another fine Ken Kelly Cover! The best story & art is easily J. R. Cochran & Tom Sutton’s ‘The Disenfranchised!’ Maroto’s Dax character begins an 11 chapter run in Eerie. These stories had originally been published in Europe a couple of years earlier. For this Warren run, the stories were translated and rewritten by American writers, none of whom were credited. Apparently, each scripter got only one story to adapt so the quality of the scripts would range from quite good to so-so.

40. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (June 1972)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Dracula’s Castle [Fred Ott/Rafael Auraleon] 2p [frontis & on inside

back cover]

2) The Story Behind ‘Stake In The Game’. [Doug Moench] 1/3p [text article on letters’ page]

3) The Brain Of Frankenstein [Fred Ott/Mike Ploog] 10p

4) The Once Powerful Prince [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 13p

5) Dax The Warrior: The Paradise Tree [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story credited

solely to Maroto]

6) Deathfall [Sanho Kim] 10p

7) The Prodigy Son [Don Glut/Jose Bea] 6p

8) Eerie Fanfare: Buddy Saunders Profile/Kingdom Come/The Grim Spectre/Snow/Purtian’s

Progress/The Story Behind The Story: ‘The Night The Snow Spilled Blood!’/Paradise

Lost!/Voice Of Doom [Buddy Saunders, James Charles, Rick Cook, Joe Letts, Jerry

Bradman, ?, Don McGregor, David Yates & David A. Wasyk/Bruce Waldman, Tom Sutton & J. A. Williams] 2p [text articles/stories w/photo]

1) Pity The Grave Digger! [Buddy Saunders/Rafael Auraleon] 6p

Notes: Editor: J. R. Cochran. Price increase to 75 cents and size increase to 72 pages. Mike Ploog’s final Warren story appears to be a warm up for his excellent Frankenstein series for Marvel, which appeared about six months later. It’s easily the best art in the issue, although Maroto, Kim and Auraleon also do noteworthy jobs. ‘The Once Powerful Prince’ is a sequel to ‘The Other Side Of Atlantis’ from Eerie #37.

41. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1972)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Ghouls Of Scotland [Fred Ott/Ken Barr] 1p [frontis]

2) Inside 41/The Story Behind The Story: ‘Head Shop’ [J. R. Cochran & Don Glut] 1/3p [text

articles on letters’ page]

3) Warped [Kevin Pagan/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

4) West Coast Turnaround [John Wooley/Tom Sutton] 8p

5) Heir Pollution! [John Wooley/Jose Bea] 9p

6) The Caterpillars [Fred Ott/Luis Garcia] 8p

7) Derelict [John Thraxis/Paul Neary] 7p

8) The Safest Way! [Steve Skeates/Jose Gual] 7p

9) Eerie Fanfare: Tom Sutton Profile/The Pet Shop/What’s For Supper?/To Save A Witch/Tales

From The Crypt Review/Cat Fancy [Tom Sutton, Mark Curtis, Jay Richter, Mary

Eveland, Jr. R. Cochran, Dave Parker/Tom Sutton & Esteban Maroto] 2p [text

articles/stories w/photo]

10) Dax The Warrior: Chess [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story credited solely to

Maroto]

Notes: One of Sanjulian’s best covers graces this issue. New writer John Wooley writes several social horrors stories with the best being the LSD story ‘West Coast Turnaround’ with good art by Tom Sutton. Englishman Paul Neary makes his American debut.

42. cover: Luis Dominguez (Oct. 1972)

1) The True Story Of Eerie…How To Gain Forty Pounds Of Ugly Fat In Six Years! [J. R.

Cochran] 1p [text article, frontis]

2) The Mummy Stalks! [Roy G. Krenkel & Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from

Eerie #5 (Sept. 1966)

3) The Blood Fruit! [Johnny Craig] 8p reprinted from Eerie #11 (Sept. 1967)

4) It That Lurks! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 6p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

5) Dark Rider! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar. 1967)

6) Life Species [Bill DuBay] 2p reprinted from Eerie #30 (Nov. 1970)

7) Ogre’s Castle [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

8) Room With A View! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

9) Voodoo Drum! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Eerie #10 (July 1967)

10) I Am Dead, Egypt, Dead [Doug Moench/Victor de la Fuente] 8p reprinted from Eerie #35

(Sept. 1971)

11) The Thing In The Alley [Al Hewetson/Berni Wrightson] 1p [text story, on back cover]

Notes: $1.00 cost & 80 page issue. With this issue the Eerie Yearbook/Annual became part of the regular numbering. First squarebound issue. I’ve already mentioned that this was my first Warren purchase. However, even without the rosy glow of nostalgia, this is a pretty great issue, even for a reprint. Great stories and art from all involved. Due to a mix up at the printer, which Warren & Skywald shared for a time, the back cover for Skywald’s Nightmare #9 (Oct. 1972) was also printed as the back cover for this Warren magazine.

The DuBay Era

43. cover: Luis Dominguez (Nov. 1972)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Quetzalcoatl, Monster God! [Doug Moench/Luis Garcia] 1p [frontis]

2) Inside 43 [Bill DuBay] 1/3p [text article on letters’ page]

3) Someday [Rich Margopoulos/Jerry Grandenetti] 12p

4) Musical Chairs [Steve Skeates/Tom Sutton] 8p

5) Bright Eyes! [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 7p

6) Eerie Book Reviews: Green Lantern/The Ghouls/Hauntings And Horrors/Tales From The Crypt

[Chuck McNaughton] 1p [text articles]

7) The Hunt [Rich Margopoulos/Paul Neary] 8p

8) Showdown [Steve Skeates/Jesus Suso] 6p

9) Eerie Fanfare: Rich Margopoulos Profile/Life’s Dream/Encounter With An Artist/Cold

Shoulder!/Hate/Black Death [Rich Margopoulos, Richard D. Chase, Jeff Baenen, Bob

Hurns, Robert M. Lester & Tim McDonald/Paul Neary, Hidy & Scot Goode] 2p [text

article/stories w/photo]

10) Dax The Warrior: Let The Evil One Sleep [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Marato] 8p [story

credited solely to Maroto]

11) Eerie Monster Gallery: The Mortsafes [Tom Sutton] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: Editor: Bill DuBay. Back to 75 cents & 72 pages. Best art is Rich Corben’s ‘Bright Eyes’ although Jesus Suso gives him a run for his money. Suso, whose art seemed perfect for Warren, did only a couple of stories for them but did many more over at Skywald. He also did some work at Seaboard/Atlas.

44. cover: Luis Dominguez (Dec. 1972)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Werewolf—Fact Or Fantasy? [Fred Ott/Jerry Grandenetti] 1p

[frontis]

2) Inside 44 [Bill DuBay] 1/3p [text article w/photo on letters’ page]

3) Crazy Mazie [J. R. Cochran/Tom Sutton] 10p

4) Everlasting Mortality [Doug Moench/Jerry Grandenetti] 5p

5) Eerie’s Book Reviews: The Time Machine/The Invisible Man/The First Men In The Moon/

In The Days Of The Comet [Chuck McNaughton] 1p [text articles]

6) The Thrill Of The Hunt [Doug Moench/Martin Salvador] 10p

7) Hand Of The Discarnate [Doug Moench/Bill DuBay] 6p

8) Mervin’s Dead Ringer! [Greg Potter/Luis Dominguez] 4p

9) Tiller Of The Soul [Greg Potter/Rubio] 7p

10) Eerie’s Short-Short Shocker: The Parade! [Doug Moench/Bill DuBay] 2p [text story]

11) Eerie Fanfare: Luis Dominguez Profile/A Little Farther/Deep Sleep/The Feast/The Fatal

Dream/A Touch Of Fate/Search For The Sun [Bill DuBay. Harry E. Mongold, Victor

Olchowka, Tom Morganti, Mike Weiler, Roberto Tabaldo & Bill Hightower/Luis

Dominguez (art from when he was 14!) & Bill MacDonald] 2p [text article/stories

w/photo]

12) Dax The Warrior: Lake Of Gold! [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story credited

solely to Maroto]

Notes: Don McGregor & Jose Gual’s ‘Malocchi’ is advertised for the next issue but doesn’t actually appear until Creepy #72 in 1975! ‘Crazy Mazie’ was the best story & art here. Solid and entertaining, as is the entire issue. Bill DuBay begins to experiment with prose stories, although that didn’t last long.

45. cover: Luis Dominguez (Feb. 1973)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: Vlad The Impaler [Fred Ott/Rafael Auraleon] 2p [frontis & on inside

back cover]

2) The Mound [Tom Sutton] 10p

3) Ri, Master Of Men [Hal G. Turner/Martin Salvador] 8p

4) When Wakes The Dreamer [Don McGregor/Jesus Suso] 8p

5) A Blade For The Teacher [Bill Warren/Luis Dominguez] 7p

6) Maneater [Steve Skeates/Rubio] 7p

7) The Critic’s Crypt: King Kong {Radio}/Flash Gordon {Radio}/The Pan Book Of Horror

Stories #4/The Pan Book Of Horror Stories #5 [Chuck McNaughton] 1p [text articles]

8) Eerie’s Short-Short Shocker: Ecology Of Death! [Doug Moench/Bill DuBay] 2p [text story]

9) Doug Moench’s Confessions: Story Of A Ghost Writer!/The Mask Behind The Face! [Doug

Moench/Russ Heath] 1p [text article with 1p strip] reprinted from the Chicago Sun-

Times’ Sunday supplement

10) Eerie Fanfare: Don McGregor Profile/Afterlife/Do Not Step Outside!/Whgat, Me

Worry?/Tooth Be Or Not Tooth Be [Don McGregor, Frank Christensen, Richard Noel,

Steve Clement & Michael Carlisle/Felix Mas, Jose Gual, Moe Romulus & Marshal

Rogers] 2p [text article/stories]

11) Dax The Warrior: The Witch [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story credited solely

to Maroto]

Notes: Marv Wolfman, who worked as a story editor for Warren for four months, received his only credit here. A solid issue for story and art. Future writer Steve Clement appears on the fan page, as does future artist Marshall Rogers. Moench’s ‘Confessions’ is an article and 1 page story {combined on one page} he did for the Chicago Sun-Times’ Sunday Supplement about his work as a horror comic writer. Heath’s reprinted work is his first appearance in a Warren magazine since 1966. Spectacular art in the Dax story by Maroto.

46. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Mar. 1973)

1) Protrait Of Dracula [Fred Ott/Bill DuBay] 2p [frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Dracula Prologue & Recap [Bill DuBay] 2p

3) Dracula [Bill DuBay/Tom Sutton] 10p

4) The Things In The Dark [Fred Ott/Jimmy Janes] 7p

5) The Critic’s Crypt: Star Trek/Star Trek 2/Star Trek 3/Star Trek 4 [Chuck McNaughton?] 1p

[text articles]

6) Garganza! [Bill Warren/Paul Neary] 7p

7) The Root Of Evil [Mike Jennings/Martin Salvador] 8p

8) Planet Of The Werewolves! [Gerry Boudreau/Reed Crandall] 9p

9) Eerie Fanfare: Mike Jennings Profile/Twist Of Fate/She Has A Cat/The Old Man/Spirits Of The

Dead [Mike Jennings, Paul E. King, Jr., Terry W. Cloud, Ed J. Pahule & Kathy LaClaire/

Jose Bea, Carlos Llerena & Chris Campbell {from Jack Davis}] 2p [text article/stories

w/photo]

10) Dax The Warrior: The Giant [Esteban Maroto & Steve Englehart/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story

credited solely to Maroto]

Notes: Sanjulian’s Dracula painting here is one of his best. The Dracula serial here is technically the same dismal Dracula that appeared in Vampirella’s strip but with a reworked character design by Bill DuBay and terrific art by Tom Sutton, this Dracula was improved about 100%. The frontis series title, Eerie’s Monster Gallery, is dropped, as would the series itself in another issue. Paul Neary does a nice job channeling the manga style, well before it was a common sight in the USA. Crandall’s art was shaky but Boudreau’s story was quite good on ‘Planet Of The Werewolves’. Dax continued his grim storyline. Another solid issue.

47. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Apr. 1973)

1) The Story Behind The Story: ‘Mervin’s Dead Ringer [Greg Potter] ½p [text article on the

letters’ page]

2) Dracula: Enter The Dead-Thing! [Bill DuBay/Tom Sutton] 12p

3) Lilith [Nicola Cuti/Jaime Brocal] 19p

4) Snake Man [Greg Potter/Martin Salvador] 11p

5) The Message Is The Medium [Doug Moench/Paul Neary] 8p

6) Dax The Warrior: Gemma-5 [Esteban Maroto & Marv Wolfman/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story

credited solely to Maroto]

7) Eerie’s Delights! [same as the feature’s page for Creepy #52] 1p [text articles]

Notes: Another Dracula cover by Sanjulian, but this one is downright silly looking, looking nothing like the character in the book. In fact, he looks quite a lot like a bad actor with plastic fangs! Was this cover originally intended for Famous Monsters? Size increase to 72 pages. Both the Dracula and Lilith stories are quite good. The fan page is dropped in favor of a features page, which was the same for all Warren horror titles.

48. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (June 1973)

1) Dracula: The Son Of Dracula [Bill DuBay/Rich Buckler & Bill DuBay] 10p

2) The Mummy Walks: …And An End! [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

3) Think Of Me And I’ll Be There! [Jack Butterworth/Martin Salvador] 7p

4) Curse Of The Werewolf: On A Stalking Moonlit Night! [Al Milgrom/Rich Buckler & Bill

DuBay] 10p

5) The Resurrection Man [Jack Butterworth/Paul Neary] 7p

6) Dax The Warrior: The Sacrifice [Esteban Maroto & Len Wein/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story

credited solely to Maroto]

7) Eerie’s Delights! [same as Creepy #53] 1p [text articles]

Notes: Eerie begins its transformation to a series dominated magazine. The Dracula story ends abruptly here, unfinished, with the next promised installment to have been entitled ‘Princess Of Bathory Castle!’ Both the Mummy & Werewolf serials start out quite nicely, with Brocal providing perfectly moody art for Steve Skeates’ Mummy scripts and Al Milgrom, better known today as an artist, delivering a strong script for the Werewolf. Both of these series, however, later had sharp declines in quality—crippled by rambling, overlong storylines and writer/artist changes. The Dax story is quite good but the rest of the stories are rather bland.

49. cover: Enrich Torres (July 1973)

1) A Guest Editorial By Phil Seuling [Phil Seuling] ½p [text article on letters’ page]

2) Marvin, The Dead-Thing: One Is The Loneliest Number [Al Milgrom/Esteban Maroto] 12p

3) The Mummy Walks: The Death Of A Friend! [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

4) Curse Of The Werewolf: Midnight Prey [Al Milgrom/Rich Buckler & Bill DuBay] 8p

5) The Alien Nation: Over Population! [Rich Margopoulos/Paul Neary] 12p

6) Fear Itself! [Steve Skeates/Isidro Mones] 7p

7) Dax The Warrior: The Vampire [Esteban Maroto & Don McGregor/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story

credited solely to Maroto]

8) The Eerie Eye! [same as Creepy #54] 1p [text articles]

Notes: The cover & interior story ‘Marvin, The Dead-Thing’ spoof the Swamp Monster craze, particularly DC’s Swamp Thing & Marvel’s Man-Thing. Marv Wolfman supposedly regarded this story’s title as a jab at his short editorial stint at Warren. The secondary title has ‘loneliest’ misspelled. The feature page title is changed to ‘The Eerie Eye’. The Alien Nation story may have been originally intended as a serial.

50. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1973)

1) Escape From The Creepy-Crawley-Castle Game! [Bill DuBay] 3p [game; frontis, interior page

& on inside back cover]

2) The Mummy Walks: The Mind Within [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

3) The Eerie Eye! [same as Creepy #56] 1p [text articles]

4) Curse Of The Werewolf!: This Evil Must Die [Al Milgrom/Martin Salvador] 10p

5) Satanna, Daughter Of Satan!: Genesis Of Depravity! [Doug Moench/Ramon Torrents] 5p

6) Monarch’s Return [John Jacobson/Paul Neary] 6p

7) Lord’s Wrath [John Jacobson/Aldoma] 8p

8) The Disciple [Steve Skeates/Isidro Mones] 8p

9) Dax The Warrior: The Secret Of Pursiahz [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story

credited solely to Maroto]

Notes: After the harsh criticism of Creepy’s 50^th issue, Warren stepped up to the plate and delivered a much better 50^th anniversity issue for Cousin Eerie. Both the Mummy & Werewolf serials received their official series titles this issue. The new artist on ‘Curse Of The Werewolf’, Martin Salvador, was a capable artist but his style was completely different from Rich Buckler’s, distracting one from the storyline. Months before Marvel unveiled their Satana, Daughter Of Satan serial in their black & white magazines, Warren issued this one-shot that could almost be regarded a prologue for the Marvel character, so similar are the origins. That same short story also provides an origin for Warren’s version of Dracula. Bill DuBay began a series of horror games {later turned into board games for the ad pages}, that appeared in place of the frontis series. This game also appeared in Creepy #55.

51. cover: Manuel Sanjulian & cover montage (Sept. 1973)

1) Monster Match [Bill DuBay] 2½p [game; frontis, interior page & on inside back cover]

2) A Stranger In Hell [T. Casey Brennan/Esteban Maroto] 7p reprinted from Eerie #38 (Feb.

1972)

3) Pity The Grave Digger! [Buddy Saunders/Rafael Auraleon] 6p reprinted from Eerie #40 (June

1972)

4) The Caterpillars [Fred Ott/Luis Garcia] 8p reprinted from Eerie #41 (Aug. 1972)

5) Evil Spirits! [Archie Goodwin/Johnny Craig] 10p reprinted from Eerie #16 (July 1968)

6) Eerie #40 & Creepy #46 Covers Poster [Manuel Sanjulian] 1p [one reproduction on each side]

7) Head Shop [Don Glut/Jose Bea] 6p reprinted from Eerie #39 (Apr. 1972)

8) Vision Of Evil [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Eerie #2 (Mar. 1966)

9) The Curse Of Kali! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Eerie #6 (Nov. 1966)

Notes: The 1973 Eerie Annual. Price increase to $1.00, presumably to pay for the double-sided wall poster within. Sanjulian’s cover art is lifted from his Cousin Eerie poster, sold in the back pages ads.

52. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1973)

1) Werewolf! [Bill DuBay] 2p [game; frontis & on inside back cover]

2) The Eerie Eye! [same as Creepy #57] 1p [text articles]

3) The Mummy Walks: Ghoulish Encounter [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

4) Curse Of The Werewolf: Darkling Revelation [Al Milgrom/Martin Salvador] 10p

5) Hunter [Rich Margopoulos/Paul Neary] 10p

6) The Beheaded [John Jacobson/Aldoma] 10p

7) The Golden Kris Of Hadji Mohammed [George Henderon/Isidro Mones] 8p from the story by

Frederick Moore

8) Dax The Warrior: Death Rides This Night! [Esteban Maroto & Al Milgrom/Esteban Maroto] 8p

[story credited solely to Maroto]

Notes: Nice cover from Sanjulian. Future ‘Batman Animated’ director Kevin Altieri sends in a letter. One of Eerie’s most popular serials, ‘Hunter’, debuts. Dax’s final appearance sets the tone for almost all the Warren serials’ endings--dark, depressing and usually hopeless. The adaptation of ‘The Golden Kris Of Hadji Mohammed’ was the best story & art for this issue.

53. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1974)

1) Wart Monster Of Tennessee [Doug Moench/Rich Buckler & Bill DuBay] 2p [frontis & on

inside back cover]

2) The Eerie Eye! [same as Creepy #58] 1p [text articles]

3) The Mummy Walks: Enter-Mr. Hyde [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

4) Curse Of The Werewolf: To Save A Witch’s Soul! [Al Milgrom/Martin Salvador] 10p

5) Hunter, part 2 [Rich Margopoulos/Paul Neary] 10p

6) Schreck: First Night Of Terror! [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcazar & Neal Adams] 12p

7) Fathom Haunt: Spawn Of The Dead Thing [Tom Sutton] 9p

8) Two Vampirella’s Stun 5,500 At 1973 Comic Art Convention [Garry Boudreau] 1p [text

article w/photo]

Notes: Nice cover for the Mummy series by Sanjulian. Even top heavy with series, this was a pretty good issue. Salvador’s artwork for the Werewolf serial would have been just fine (it was strongly suggestive of the Univeral monster movies from the 1930s) except that his werewolf was remarkable non-scary. One of Sutton’s best art & story jobs appears to be the direct inspiration for French artist Andreas’ much more familiar Rork character, who has appeared in several graphic novels. The two characters are dead ringers for each other, and deal in similar mystic adventures. This Fathom Haunt debut, although clearly intended to be the start of a series, was to be his only appearance.

54. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Feb. 1974)

1) A Few Words And Pictures About Our Brand New Comic Magazine [Bill DuBay/Will Eisner

& Bill DuBay] 2p [text article, frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Eerie Eye [Warren Magazine Questionarre/Jack Butterworth Profile [Bill DuBay/Martin

Salvador] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) The Mummy Walks: Stranger In A Village Of The Insane! [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

4) Curse Of The Werewolf: To Cure This Curse! [Steve Skeates/Martin Salvador] 10p

5) Hunter, part 3 [Rich Margopoulos/Paul Neary] 10p

6) The Christmas Spirit Of 1947 [Will Eisner] 7p [color] reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec.

21, 1947)

7) The Spirit Ad [Will Eisner] 1p [color]

8) Schreck: Bright Eyes! [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcazar] 12p

9) Doctor Archaeus: The Evil That Men Do [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 9p

10) Presenting the 1973 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: Price increase to $1.00 and size increase to 80 pages. Steve Skeates takes over the troubled Werewolf serial and promptly turns him into a were-mummy! The new Spirit magazine is sampled by a Spirit story appearing in the color section. Warren finally comes up with a classic series that is totally home-grown with the Boudreau/Mones thriller ‘Doctor Archaeus’. Clearly inspired on Vincent Price’s Dr. Phibes movie, this series still managed to pack enough punch of its own in relating the tale of the twisted revenge of a hanged man against his jury to be quite memorable.

55. cover: Ken Kelly (Mar. 1974)

1) The Spirit Ad [Will Eisner] 1p [frontis]

2) The Eerie Eye [same as Creepy #60] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) Schreck: Worms In The Mind! [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcazar] 11p

4) Schreck: No Flies On Schreck! [Doug Moench/Vicente Alcazar] 14p

5) The Spirit: Bucket Of Blood [Will Eisner/John Spranger & Will Eisner] 7p [color] reprinted

from The Spirit section (June 16, 1946)

6) Dracula Ad [Esteban Maroto] 1p [color]

7) Hunter, part 4 [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 10p

8) Doctor Archaeus: The Quest Of The Golden Dove [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 10p

Notes: Size decrease to 72 pages. Both ‘The Mummy Walks’ and ‘Curse Of The Werewolf’ serials are missing in action so Schreck concludes his run with his final two chapters. Not a great serial but not bad either. The Mummy wouldn’t return until #61. Nice cover by Ken Kelly of Hunter with another tasty sampling of the Spirit in the color section. Budd Lewis takes over the Hunter serial for one episode.

56. cover: Ken Kelly (Apr. 1974)

1) The Spirit Ad [Will Eisner] 1p [frontis]

2) The Eerie Eye [same as Creepy #61] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) Curse Of The Werewolf: …There Was A Were-Mummy [Steve Skeates/Martin Salvador] 14p

4) Hunter, part 5 [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 10p

5) Wizard Wagstaff [Jack Butterworth/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

6) It Returns! [Carl Wessler/Enrique Badia Romero] 10p

7) Doctor Archaeus: The Night Of The Red Death [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 10p

Notes: Bill DuBay takes over the writing chores on Hunter. ‘It’ first appeared in Creepy #53, a year earlier. This serial skipped back and forth between Eerie and Creepy over an extended period of time, making it rather hard to keep track of events. ‘Wizard Wagstaff’ was another humorous fantasy story by Corben.

57. cover: Ken Kelly (June 1974)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Eerie Eye [same as Creepy #62] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) The Spook: Stridspider Sponge-Rot [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 10p

4) Hunter, part 6 [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p

5) The Hacker: Hide From The Hacker! [Steve Skeates/Tom Sutton] 10p

6) Child [Greg Potter/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) It: The Terror Of Foley Mansion! [Carl Wessler/Jose Gual] 9p

8) Doctor Archaeus: A Switch In Time… [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 10p

Notes: Great Ken Kelly cover depicting Hunter. Future ‘Batman Animated’ artist & director Kevin Altieri sends in a letter suggesting that Warren revive Blazing Combat (possibly because Archie Goodwin was back on board at Warren) but the idea is pooh-poohed in the editorial reply. Doug Moench & Esteban Maroto launch a new serial about a black voodoo man but both are rapidly replaced. Moench goes on record later to state that the serial’s title {which could be regarded as a derogatory racial slur} was Bill DuBay’s idea and that Moench himself was ignorant of its connotations. Regardless, it wasn’t a bad series. This is a superior issue with a strong new serial by Skeates & Tom Sutton and the debut of Child, a sort of Frankenstein’s monster in child form, in the color section.

58. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (July 1974)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Eerie Eye [same as Creepy #63 minus the Wrightson illo] 1p [text articles]

3) Enter: The Exterminator aka They Eat Babies…Don’t They? [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

4) The Spook: Webtread’s Powercut [Doug Moench/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

5) The Pepper Lake Monster [Berni Wrightson] 10p

6) Child: Mind Of The Mass! [Greg Potter/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) The Spook: Knucklebones To Fever Twitch [Doug Moench/Leopold Sanchez] 13p

8) Doctor Archaeus: Carnage In Costume [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 10p

Notes: The Spook is cover featured and has two stories within, now illustrated by Leopold Sanchez, making his American debut. There’s more fine episodes of Child and Doctor Archaeus while Bill DuBay begins a new series with the Exterminator (sort of—this Exterminator is not the one robot who would appear in the next installment). Best story & art, however, belongs to Berni Wrightson’s masterful ‘The Pepper Lake Monster’, with Wrightson at the top of his form.

59. cover: Ken Kelly/back cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1974)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto & Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Dax The Damned [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Eerie

#39 (Apr. 1972)

3) Dax The Damned: The Paradise Tree [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 7p

reprinted from Eerie #40 (June 1972) [one page edited out]

4) Dax The Damned: Chess [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

reprinted from Eerie #41 (Aug. 1972)

5) Dax The Damned: Let The Evil One Sleep [Estaban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p

reprinted from Eerie #43 (Nov. 1972)

6) Dax The Damned: The Golden Lake [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p

reprinted from Eerie #44 (Dec. 1972) [formerly entitled ‘Lake Of Gold’]

7) Dax The Damned: The Witch…The Maneater [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto]

8p reprinted from Eerie #45 (Feb. 1973) [formerly entitled ‘The Witch’]

8) Dax The Damned: Cyclops [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted

from Eerie #46 (Mar. 1973) [formerly entitled ‘The Giant’]

9) Dax The Damned: Starlight [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted

from Eerie #47 (Apr. 1973) [formerly entitled ‘Gemma-5’]

10) Dax The Damned: The Lord’s Prayer [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p

reprinted from Eerie #48 (June 1973) [formerly entitled ‘The Sacrifice’]

11) Dax The Damned: Death Rides This Night! [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto]

8p reprinted from Eerie #52 (Nov. 1973)

Notes: Price increase to $1.25 & size increase to 96 pages. The 1974 Eerie Annual. For this reprinting of the Dax stories, all were rewritten and the series retitled by Budd Lewis (sort of making them new all over again), with several receiving new titles as well. One Dax tale, from Eerie #50—‘The Secret Of Pursiahz’—was not reprinted.

60. cover: Ken Kelly/back cover: Berni Wrightson (Sept. 1974)

1) The Eerie Eye: Budd Lewis Profile/Child, Archaeus, Exterminator And The Jackassers Are

Here But Still No Coffin/The Creative Man—Dube: Inside A Big City Editor [Budd

Lewis & Bill DuBay/Bill Dubay] 1p [text articles w/photo]

2) Night Of The Jackass: 24 Hours Of Hell! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 12p

3) Nightfall [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 8p

4) Exterminator One [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p

5) Child: Childhood’s End [Budd Lewis/Richard Corbin] 8p [color]

6) The Man Hunters [Gerry Boudreau/Wally Wood] 8p [color]

7) The Unholy Creation [Steve Skeates/Leopold Sanchez] 9p

8) Doctor Archeaus: Interlude [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 10p

Notes: Back to $1.00 & 72 pages. Ken Kelly’s cover is good but the real prize is Berni Wrightson’s stunning cover painting, the only one he did for Warren. For some foolish reason, it ended up on the back cover! The best serial Warren ever ran, ‘Night Of The Jackass’ debuts. This story, which discusses the events following Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel ‘Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde’, in which Jekyll’s formula becomes a underground drug, leading to ‘Jackassing’, a sort of rave party in a blocked off, barricaded apartment building or hotel, with rape, pillage and murder as the party favors. Well thought out and way ahead of its time, this is an excellent story by Bruce Bezaire & Jose Ortiz that would make a great movie in the hands of someone like David Cronenberg. The DuBay/Wrightson horror takeoff on Winsor McKay’s ‘Little Nemo’ is a delight. Exterminator One opens its official series with a strong entry and Child ends on one. Doctor Archeaus delivers a stunning surprise in its penultimate entry. Wally Wood’s story was retitled & rewritten on orders of Bill DuBay. Needless to say, Wood was not happy. Still, this is one of Eerie’s best issues since the glory days of Archie Goodwin!

61. cover: Ken Kelly (Nov. 1974)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Eerie Eye: Real Heroes Die! Don’t They? [same as Creepy #66 except for a short article

by Bill DuBay] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) Coffin: Death Wish! [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Killer Hawk [Bill DuBay/Wally Wood] 12p [part of the Exterminator series]

5) Cotton Boy & Captain Blood! [Gerry Boudreau/Leopold Sanchez] 12p

6) The Mummies Walk: A Battle Of Bandaged Beasts [Steve Skeates/Joaquin Blazquez] 12p

7) Doctor Archeaus: Foreplay/Penetration [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 10p

Notes: After many delays, the new Western serial Coffin finally debuted. It was pretty good too. Future artist Ken Meyer, Jr. sends in a letter. Both the Mummy & the Werewolf return after a long hiatus, teamed up now in a cluttered story with new illustrator Joaquin Blazquez. Doctor Archeaus concludes his run with some rather coy titles. Let’s just say the climax wasn’t quite as powerful as the foreplay. Still a fine series.

62. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1975)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Eerie Eye [same as Creepy #67] 1p [text articles w/photos]

3) Apocalypse: The War [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Cool Air [Berni Wrightson] 7p from the story by H. P. Lovecraft

5) The Spook: Crackermeyer’s Churchyard [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

6) The Butcher: ‘Forgive Us Our Tresspasses’ [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) This Unholy Creation: Circus Of Pain [Steve Skeates/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

8) The Mummies Walk: Death Be Proud! [Steve Skeates/Joaquin Blasquez] 10p

Notes: A great new series by Budd Lewis & Jose Ortiz begins. ‘Apocalypse’ was beautifully drawn and well written throughout its run. It’s a series crying out for reprinting. Wrightson delivers a tasty adaptation of Lovecraft while Budd Lewis takes over the Spook series. In the Mummy series, Arthur Lemming, the Werewolf finally meets his death. DuBay & Corben’s ‘The Butcher’ isn’t really a horror story at all, but a gangland melodrama. Quite good one, too.

63. cover: Manuel Sanjulian/back cover: Ken Kelly (Feb. 1975)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) The Eerie Eye [same as Creepy #68] 1p [text article w/photo]

3) Night Of The Jackass: Strom Before The Calm! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Hollow Of The Three Hills [Rich Margopoulos/Esteban Maroto] 8p from the story by

Nathaniel Hawthorne

5) The Spook: Stumpful Of Grandaddies! [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

6) Exterminator One, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p [color]

7) The Mummy Walks: Insanity! [Steve Skeates/Joaquin Blasquez] 10p

8) Apocalypse: The Famine [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 12p

Notes: $1.25 & 80 page issue. Nice back cover by Ken Kelly of Exterminator One. An equally fine one by Sanjulian for Night Of The Jackass. A very good issue with a beautiful adapation of Hawthorne by Margopoulos & Maroto, fine installments of ‘Night Of The Jackass’ and ‘Apocalypse’ and, thankfully, the end of the Mummy series.

64. cover: Ken Kelly (Mar. 1975)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Night Of The Jackass: The Children’s Hour [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 10p

3) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: The Story [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

4) Exterminator One, part 3 [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p

5) The Butcher: Bye-Bye Miss American Dream [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 8p

6) Daddy And The Pie [Bill DuBay/Alex Toth] 8p

7) The Spook: The Caul [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 12p

8) Apocalypse: The Plague [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p

Notes: The Exterminator is cover featured again while The Eerie Eye feature page is dropped. The price reverts to $1.00 and the page count is at 72. Exterminator One & the Butcher conclude their series on high notes but the best story & art is on ‘Daddy And The Pie’, a story tailor-made for Toth’s type of art. This 1930s era story of a visting alien encountering prejudice and racial hatred is a real winner. It was very popular with readers and a sequel was done although neither DuBay or Toth had a hand in that.

65. Ken Kelly (Apr. 1975)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: Lettering [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

3) Night Of The Jackass: Endstorm! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) The Hacker: The Hacker Is Back [Steve Skeates/Alex Toth] 10p

5) The Spook And Crackermeyer: Coming Storm…A Killing Rain! [Budd Lewis/Leopold

Sanchez] 12p

6) El Cid And The Troll! [Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

7) Apocalypse: The Death [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 13p

8) Presenting The 1974 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

9) El Cid Ad [Gonzalo Mayo] 1p [on back cover]

Notes: The Spook picks up his only cover. There’s a new letters’ page logo. Both ‘Night Of The Jackass’ and ‘Apocalypse’ finish their runs. Both of them were great series. ‘The Hacker’ returns in his first appearance since #57 with Toth now the artist. El Cid, a fantasy look at the legendary character, is previewed with a short story before the next issue’s El Cid Special.

66. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (June 1975)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) El Cid…Our Recreated Legend! A Budd Lewis-Conzalo Mayo First! [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo

Mayo & Bill DuBay] ½p [text article on letters’ page]

3) El Cid: The Seven Trials [Bill DuBay & Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 28p

4) El Cid And The Vision [Gerry Boudreau & Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

5) El Cid: The Lady And The Lie [Gerry Boudreau & Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

6) El Cid: The Emir Of Aragon [Jeff Rovin & Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

Notes: An El Cid Special. Despite the ads telling of a book-length epic, this is actually a series of short stories gathered together. They’re not bad stories, just not great. Mayo’s artwork at this point was beautiful to look at, but his cluttered panels tended to obstruct the flow of the story.

67. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1975)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: The Art [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

3) Coffin: Death’s Dark Curse [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Hunter II [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 11p

5) The Hacker: The Hacker’s Last Stand! [Steve Skeates/Alex Toth] 10p

6) Papa Voodoo: The Man Named Gold! [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 12p

7) Merlin: The Kingmaker [Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 12p

Notes: The Western horror hero, Coffin, returns. The Hacker concludes his run—quite nicely too. Papa Voodoo was a sequel of sorts to The Spook. Hunter II and Merlin debut. In my opinion, Hunter II was a better serial than the much more popular Hunter. Merlin had fine art by Maroto but only appeared once more. Shame really, it seemed like it had potential.

68. cover: Ken Kelly (Sept. 1975)

1) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: Production [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

2) Coffin: Half Walk [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 12p

3) Hunter II: Goblin [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 10p

4) Godeye! [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 14p

5) The Muck Monster [Berni Wrightson] 7p [color]

6) Deep Brown And Jorum [Jim Stenstrum/Esteban Maroto] 12p

7) Hunter II Ad [Paul Neary] 1p [on back cover]

Notes: $1.25 & 80 pages long. One of Eerie’s best issues! A great Hunter II cover by Kelly gives a heads up to the great work within. An Exterminator robot pops up in Hunter II and remains for the rest of the series. Another good entry of Coffin, but the best stuff was new. A very funny ‘Godeye!’ managed a literary hat trick by being both cynical and warm. Wrightson’s ‘The Muck Monster’ was Frankenstein’s monster in all but name. Beautifully written & drawn, it’s basically a tone poem that foreshadows the type of work Alan Moore would do in Swamp Thing. It was supposed to be in B&W but at the last minute became a color section. Normally that would spell doom for the art but here the coloring is quite lovely. The colorist is uncredited but whoever they were did a great job. My favorite story, however, is Jim Stenstrum & Esteban Maroto’s lusty, funny, sad & poignant ‘Deep Brown And Jorum’. It tells, in one story, the entire careers of a couple of rogues, who are similar to Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser, with the first half of the story detailing their first meeting, then for four pages thereafter featuring two synopsises per page of their many adventures together while along the top of the page {ala ‘Collector’s Edition’} their last adventure takes place, concluding in the last two pages. I reread it a couple of minutes ago and that last page still chokes me up. “And together, they were LEGEND.” Damn right.

69. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Oct. 1975)

1) Hunter Pin-Up [Paul Neary] 1p [with a Berni Wrightson illo of Cousin Eerrie introducing the

annual]

2) Hunter [Rich Margopoulos [pgs 1-30], Budd Lewis [pgs 31-40] & Bill DuBay [pgs 41-

58]/Paul Neary] 58p [last 8 pages in color] reprinted from Eerie #52 (Nov. 1973)-#57

(June 1974)

Notes: The 1975 Eerie Annual.

70. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1975)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Coffin: The Final Sunrise [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 14p

3) Hunter II: Goblin Thrust [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 10p

4) Code Name: Slaughter Five: From The Cradle To The Grave [Gerry Boudreau/Leopold

Sanchez] 10p

5) El Cid: Crooked Mouth [Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

6) Oogie And The Junkers [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

Notes: As mentioned in the notes for Creepy, at this point Warren began to cut out frills. This issue is reduced to 64 pages and the letters’ page is cut in half. Coffin heads into the west (literally) and El Cid makes a return visit. ‘Code Name: Slaughter” would, from the title, seem to have been intended as a series but from the ending, I’ve no idea how they could have continued it. Apparently they couldn’t either, as this was its only appearance. Oogie begins a lengthy run. Evidently this series was fairly popular, although I’m not quite sure why. The stories are rather run of the mill SF and, with this story, Maroto departed from his own classic stylings and began using a scratchier, looser art line. This new style wasn’t to my taste and it often seemed to hurt the stories illustrated.

71. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1976)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Goblin [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

3) Hunter II: Time In Expansion [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 10p

4) Irving And The Devilpie [Bill DuBay/Leopold Sanchez] 6p

5) Pooter And The Magic Man [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 8p

6) El Cid: Demon’s Treasure [Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

7) Mordecai Moondog [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 9p

Notes: Not much series action in this issue with only Hunter II & El Cid making an appearance. The Goblin makes his first appearance in what was clearly intended as a stand alone story. The character was revived in 1982 in The Rook and then received his own short-lived magazine later that year. The best story & art, however, was the DuBay/Maroto story ‘Mordecai Moondog’.

72. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Feb. 1976)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Berni Wrightson] 1p [frontis]

2) Cousin Eerie’s Crypt [Louise Jones?] 1p [questionnaire]

3) The Demons Of Jeremiah Cold aka Daddy Was A Demon Man [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 15p

4) Hunter II: The Valley Of Armegeddon [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 10p

5) Reuben Youngblood: Private Eye!: Beware The Scarlet Combine [Budd Lewis/Howard

Chaykin & Berni Wrightson] 10p

6) The Freaks: A Thin Dime Of Pain [Doug Moench/Leopold Sanchez] 8p [color]

7) The Pie And I [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 9p

8) Tales Of Peter Hypnos: The Incredible People-Making Machines [Jose Bea] 8p

Notes: $1.25 & 80 pages. Hunter II & the Exterminator make the cover. Future artist Ken Meyer, Jr. sends in a letter as did a Stephen Perry who might be comic & book writer Steve Perry. Reuben Youngblood, like Chaykin’s character Dominic Fortune for Marvel, was clearly a revamping of his Atlas/Seaboard character The Scorpion. All three variations on the character were good. A second Youngblood story was done at this time but for some reason didn’t appear until 1982! The Chaykin/Wrightson art team was surprisingly good. After the previous issue’s lack of series, this issue made up for it by debuting three new ones. The Freaks was uninspired but Bea’s Peter Hypnos series was quite interesting. ‘The Pie And I’ was a sequel to the DuBay/Toth story ‘Daddy And The Pie’ but wasn’t nearly as good.

The Louise Jones Era

73. cover: Ken Kelly (Mar. 1976)

1) Hunter II: Death Of The Phoenix [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 8p

2) The Freaks: Carnival At Midnight [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

3) Day Of The Vampire 1992: The Tombspawn [Bill DuBay/Gonzalez Mayo] 10p

4) It!: A Grave Terror Leads To Death! [Carl Wessler/Jose Gual] 10p

5) Tales Of Peter Hypnos: Voyage To The Final Hole [Jose Bea] 11p

Notes: Hunter II and the Exterminator are again cover featured. Back to $1.00 and 64 pages with James Warren listed as editor-in-chief & Louise Jones as assistant editor during her tryout period. Hunter II’s series is concluded. It, the Dead Thing, takes his final bow. Peter Hypnos again has the best story & art.

74. cover: Ken Kelly (May 1976)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Louise Jones/Rafael Auraleon] 1p [frontis]

2) Warren Publishing Company Will Pay A $500 Reward… [James Warren] 1p [text article]

3) The Demons Of Jedediah Pan [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 8p

4) Father Creator [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p

5) Merlin: A Secret King [Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 20p

6) The Expedition! [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

7) Presenting The 1975 Warren Awards! [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: Jedediah Pan is cover featured, with a fine Kelly painting. Merlin was a new series that would only appear one more time. Too bad, as both entries were quite good. With only four stories this issue seems rather slight.

75. cover: panel from the interior story ‘Invasion’ (June 1976)

1) The Demons Of Jeremiah Cold [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 12p

2) The Freaks: The One Eyed Shall Be King! [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 6p

3) Oogie And The Worm! [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 10p

4) Invasion [Esteban Maroto/Jose Bea] 5p reprinted from Dracula Book One (1972) [story

miscredited to Bea]

5) Gillian Taxi And The Sky Pirates [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 16p

Notes: One of the crappiest looking covers Warren published. It wasn’t so much that Bea’s artwork was bad, it wasn’t. It was the bizarre choice of hot pink that surrounded the relatively small art panel, which made the cover look like an nasty Valentine card! This was the final appearance of The Freaks. Not surprising since, except for Sanchez’s art, this series was a snooze. Warren generally had some of the best art reproduction in comics at the time but the reproduction on Bea’s ‘Invasion’ was noticeably substandard.

76. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1976)

1) The Moonweavers: Deliver The Child [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Wolfer O’Connell: Highsong [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 8p

4) Oogie & The Scroungers [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 13p

5) Tales Of Peter Hypnos: The Silver Key [Jose Bea] 9p

6) Darklon The Mystic! [Jim Starlin] 8p

Notes: Louise Jones now listed as Senior Editor while Bill DuBay is listed as a contributing editor. The Moonweavers was a greatly improved spinoff from The Freaks series, with beautiful art by Sanchez. Wolfer O’Connel was a pretty good character who only appeared in two widely separated stories. The Oogie entry continued the downward tread of Maroto’s art. Best stories & art would go to Jose Bea’s Peter Hypnos entry and the debut of Jim Starlin’s Darklon. Darklon was as close to a conventional superhero story as Warren had developed up to now. The company would soon, however, be making definite motions in that direction.

77. cover: Richard Corben (Sept. 1976)

1) Within You…Without You [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p

2) The Moonweavers: The Gift [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

3) Demons Of Nob Hill [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) The Demons Of Father Pain [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 8p [color]

5) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

6) Oogie And The Lie [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

7) Cronk: Stalker In The Maze [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Wayne Howard] 6p

Notes: Richard Corben delivers a stunningly sexy cover. And it’s got dinosaurs, too! He and writer Bruce Jones’ interior story was the best of a pretty good issue as well. Priced at $1.25 and 72 pages in length. The ‘Demons Of Nob Hill’ was apparently originally entitled ‘The King Of Nob Hill!’ This was the series finale for Jeremiah & Jedediah Pan. Maroto’s art on Oogie was improved although the villain in the story appears lifted from a John Buscema villain that appeared in a Tower Of Shadows story in 1969.

78. cover: montage of interior panels (Oct. 1976)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Louise Jones/Berni Wrightson & Jaime Brocal] 1p [frontis,

Brocal’s art is from story panels]

2) The Mummy Walks: The Death Of A Fiend [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p reprinted from

Eerie #49 (July 1973)

3) The Mummy Walks: The Mind Within [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p reprinted from Eerie

#50 (Aug. 1973)

4) The Mummy Walks: Ghoulish Encounter [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p reprinted from

Eerie #52 (Nov. 1973)

5) The Mummy Walks: Enter Mr. Hyde [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p reprinted from Eerie

#53 (Jan. 1974)

6) The Mummy Walks: Stranger In A Village Of The Insane [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p

reprinted from Eerie #54 (Feb. 1974)

7) The Mummy Walks: …And An End [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 8p [color, two pages

deleted] reprinted from Eerie #48 (June 1973)

8) The Hope Of The Future [Doug Moench/Jamie Brocal] 8p reprinted from Creepy #57 (Nov.

1973)

9) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

Notes: The 1976 Eerie Annual. $1.50 & 80 pages. Pretty much a fix-up collection.

79. cover: Ken Kelly (Nov. 1976)

1) Time And Time Again [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p

2) The Comic Books: Tarzan’s Travails [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Pea-Green Boat [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

4) Darklon The Mystic: The Price [Jim Starlin] 9p

5) Third Person Singular [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 10p

6) Sam’s Son And Delilah! [Bruce Jones/Carmine Infantino & Al Milgrom] 14p

Notes: $1.25 & 72 pages. Somewhat of a companion issue to Creepy #84’s sports issue as this one also feature a Ken Kelly sports cover and an interior sports story, both probably overflow from the Creepy issue. The Jones/Corben sequel to ‘Time And Again…’ was very good. ‘The Pea-Green Boat’ was a limp new series. ‘Third Person Singular’ was also a rather limp effort, although for other reasons, as Warren explored homosexuality for the first time. Unfortunately, the story {concluded in the next issue} bordered on the idiotic.

80. cover: Ken Kelly (Jan. 1977)

1) Scallywag: The Invisible One [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

2) Darklon The Mystic: Retribution [Jim Starlin] 9p

3) The Pea Green Boat: On Moonlight Bay [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

4) Tombspawn: Pieces Of Hate [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

5) Third Person Singular, part 2 [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 10p

6) Cronk: Queen Of The Purple Range [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Al Milgrom] 8p

Notes: Steve Perry, a future comic writer, & Wayne Faucher, a future inker, send in letters. If one could pick an artist for a strip set in the orient, Jose Ortiz’s name wouldn’t be the first (or second or third) to come to mind. However, he did quite a respectable job on Scallywag. This was Cronk’s last outing, although a third story by Cuti & Infantino was started.

81.cover: Frank Frazetta (Feb. 1977)

1) And Now…Introducing Exciting Eerie No. 81! [Louise Jones/Dick Giordano, Carmine

Infantino, Bruce Jones, Leopoldo Duranona, et al] 1p [text article, frontis]

2) Goodbye, Bambi Boone [Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p

3) The Comic Books: Less Is More [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Taking Of Queen Bovine [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 8p

5) The Bride Of Congo: The Untold Story [Bill DuBay/Carmine Infantino & Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

6) You’re A Big Girl Now [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p [pages 2-9 in color]

7) Starchild [Louise Jones & David Michelinie/Jose Ortiz] 5p

8) The Giant Ape Suit [Roger McKenzie/Luis Bermejo] 8p

9) Golden Girl [Nicola Cuti/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

Notes: Frazetta’s cover, ‘Queen Kong’, was painted in 1971 and was originally intended for Warren’s never published adult comic magazine, POW! Since the cover shows a giant naked woman holding a tiny King Kong on top of the Empire State Building, all the stories deal with a giant naked woman who ends up on top of the Empire State Building. Go ahead, folks, try getting 8 good stories out of that concept. $1.50 & 80 pages in length. The frontis page includes a brief bio & art portrait for each of the writers & artists in this issue. Some of the portraits are lifted from the Warren Awards illos, some from the old features page profiles and others appear to be new self -portraits. Fred Hembeck sends in a letter. The best story is easily the Jones/Corben ‘You’re A Big Girl Now’. The rest are only fair to middlin’.

82. cover: Bill DuBay & Luis Bermejo (Mar. 1977)

1) The Rook: The Man Whom Time Forgot! [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 20p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Tombspawn: And Now: The Game Is Afoot [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Gonzalo

Mayo] 9p

4) Scallywag: Castle Of The Assassin [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) The Pea Green Boat: In A Deep Sea Tomb [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

Notes: The cover is a fixup affair, showing DuBay’s original presentation art for The Rook, with inserts of interior panel art by Bermejo. Except for Vampirella, this was Warren’s first open-ended continuing serial. Although the Rook was never a great series, it was occasionally quite good, especially in its first three or four episodes. Bermejo’s art is quite lovely here and DuBay’s story is interesting too. Later the silliness that drowned Vampi’s series began showing up in this series as well. Although Tombspawn’s ending this issue clearly signals another episode, this was actually its finale. The third and concluding entry in the Jones/Corben time travel series was supposed to appear this issue but was a no-show. From this point on horror began increasingly taking a back seat in Eerie, with more and more stories being either science fiction or adventure-fantasy {although many of these stories had horror elements}.

83. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1977)

1) The Rook: The Day Before Tomorrow [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 20p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Hard John’s Nuclear Hit Parade: Kansas City Bomber [Jim Stenstrum/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Gaffer: Temptation [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

5) Presto The Besto [Jim Stenstrum/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p

Notes: The Rook makes his second cover appearance in a row. The Hard John series is a continuation of the Hard John Apple story ‘An Angel Shy Of Hell’ from Creepy #64, way back in 1974. The first story was great. The series was fair. Gaffer is another new series and not a bad one at all.

84. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1977) reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar. 1967)

1) The Rook Contest [Bill DuBay] ½p [contest rules on letters’ page]

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Rook: Yesterday, The Final Day [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 22p

4) Hard John’s Nuclear Hit Parade: Brass Monkey [Jim Stenstrum/Jose Ortiz] 10p

5) Godeye: Goodbye, Yellow Brick Rhode [Budd Lewis/Carmine Infantino & Dan Green] 8p

6) He Who Waits In Shadow [Jim Starlin] 6p

7) Presenting The 1977 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/Bill DuBay, et al] 2p [text article]

Notes: Page count drop to 64 pages. Godeye returns, but this second story is nowhere near the delight the first one was. ‘He Who Waits In Shadow’ is a gloomy metaphysical explanation by Starlin as to why the last Darklon chapter is late. Darklon gueststars and, although this story was included in the Darklon collection put out by Pacific Comics in 1983, this is not actually part of the Darklon serial. It’s a tie-in. The Warren Awards went to Richard Corben for best cover on Eerie #77 & best art on ‘In Deep’; best story to Bruce Jones for ‘In Deep’; best cover artist to Ken Kelly, best all around writer to Bill DuBay, best all around artist to Leopold Sanchez, a special award for excellence to Jose Gonzalez and the Renaissance Man special award to Bill DuBay.

85. cover: Ken Kelly (Aug. 1977)

1) The Rook: Lost To The Land Of Nowhen [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 14p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Hard John’s Nuclear Hit Parade: Gonna Nuke Mankind Right Outa My Hair [Jim Stenstrum/

Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Gaffer: First Wish [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 11p

5) Blackstar & The Night Huntress [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Marato] 8p

6) The Pea Green Boat: Dutchman [Budd Lewis/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

Notes: Nice cover by Kelly of two of the Rook’s supporting characters. Decent enough issue, although nothing really stands out. ‘Blackstar & The Night Huntress’ would have an extremely tacky sequel five years later.

86. cover: Richard Corben (Sept. 1977)

1) Unprovoked Attack On A Hilton Hotel [Jim Stenstrum/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #73 (Aug. 1975)

2) The Comic Books: The Worst And The Dullest [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) 1984 Ad [Joe Vaultz] 1p

4) The Oval Portrait [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe,

reprinted from Creepy #69 (Feb. 1975)

5) Shadow [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe, reprinted

from Creepy #70 (Apr. 1975)

6) Pinball Wizard! [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 7p reprinted from Creepy #66 (Nov. 1974)

7) Change…Into Something Comfortable [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #58 (Dec. 1973)

8) The Slipped Mickey Click Flip [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Creepy

#54 (July 1973)

9) Friedhelm The Magnificent [Greg Potter/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #46 (July

1972)

10) Frozen Beauty [Richard Corben] 6p reprinted from Creepy #36 (Dec. 1970)

Notes: The 1977 Eerie Annual. Considering all the stories were reprinted from Creepy, this probably should have been a Creepy annual. The first 1984 ad appeared, long before the book had a title and almost a year before actual publication, apparently in response to the first successful issue of Heavy Metal, cover dated Apr. 1977

87. cover: Frank Frazetta (Oct. 1977) reprinted from Vampirella #7 (Sept. 1970)

1) The Rook: Prisoner In A Chinese Fortune Cookie or: Bad, Bad Granny Gadget! [Bill

DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 16p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Scallywag: The Black Demon’s Sword [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

4) Years & Mind Forever [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p

5) Gaffer: Second Wish [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 14p

6) The Incredible Illustions Of Ira Israel [Roger McKenzie/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

7) Hunter 3: What Price Oblivion? [Jim Stenstrum/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: $1.75 and 96 pages. The Rook’s story title is based on C. M. Kornbluth’s ‘Ms. Found In A Chinese Fortune Cookie’. The final segment of the Jones/Corbin time travel series appears six months late. Hunter 3 is a spoof of Hunter & Hunter II, not a serious continuation of nor a sequel to the first two series. Although he had contributed inks to several stories penciled by Carmine Infantino, Alex Nino makes his solo Warren debut with the Hunter 3 story, thus beginning the gradual change of the Spanish Invasion from actual Spanish artists to the Filpino artists.

88. cover: Don Maitz (Nov. 1977)

1) The Rook: Future Shock [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 12p

2) Announcing The Grand Prize Winners Of The Fabulous Warren Rook Contest! [Louise

Jones/Mark Stokes, Gary Goodman & Paul Daly] 1p [text article]

3) The Comic Books: A Matter Of Dues [Joe Brancatelli] 2p [text article]

4) Scallywag: The Key [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) Deathball 2100 A.D. [Bill Mohalley & Nicola Cuti/Dick Giordano] 8p

6) Boiling Point [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 11p

7) Junkyard Battles or Never Trust An Electric Shaver [Nicola Cuti/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

8) Runner-Ups & More Finalists! [various] 2p [text article]

Notes: $1.50 & 72 pages. As they had done in the previous year, both Creepy & Eerie sported a sports cover for their final issue of the year, although only Creepy was completely dedicated to a sports special. The Rook contest offers readers a chance to create a robot, villain & gadget for the Rook and see their creations used in a story. The villain creation--Quarb, by Gary Goodman, became an important part of the Rook’s storyline. For winning the contest, the creators got $100 and a three year subscription to Eerie. Their creations would finally appear over a year later in Eerie #98. Future comic pros appearing in the finalist segment of the Rook Contest included Dan Reed, Nancy Collins, Steve Ringgenberg & Gordon Purcell. The Scallywag series title was replaced by The Black Demon’s Sword for the duration of the series. I’ve decided to retain the original series title.

89. cover: Malcolm McNeill (Jan. 1978)

1) The Rook: Trouble In The Time Factory [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 14p

2) The Comic Books: Superman Versus Soccer [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Crystabelle! [Bill DuBay/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

4) Francesca [Bruce Jones/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

5) Scallywag: The Magician’s Tower [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 8p

6) Boiling Point, part 2 [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

Notes: New cover artist Malcolm McNeill did a number of fine covers for the Marvel B&W’s, particularly Planet Of The Apes & The Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu under the name Malcolm McN. This was his only cover for Warren and it’s a shame, really, as his dynamic art style and subtle use of shadows would have worked perfectly here. $1.25 cover price. Bermejo’s art begin looking more and more rushed and, thus, more generic, probably due to the large number of pages he was doing for Warren. ‘Francesca’ sees a return to the less ornate artstyle that Mayo had shown before. It’s quite attractive and this two-parter {with the second part skipping an issue} is a very good story. Bruce Jones, who wrote ‘Francesca’, also concluded his ‘Boiling Point’, which was an excellent little story. Looking at Ortiz’s artwork here, I wonder why no one at Marvel ever got him to contribute either inks or full artwork to the Conan series. His artwork would have been a welcome change of pace there.

90. cover: Richard Corben (Feb. 1978)

1) Carrion [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

2) The Show Must Go On! [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 6p

3) A Woman Scorned [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

4) The Fianchetto Affair or: A Matter Of Great Delicacy [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) The Comic Books: Patent Medicine Profits? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

6) The Rook: What Is The Color Of Nothingness? [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 20p

Notes: $1.50 cover price. With the exceptation of the Rook story, all the stories in this issue center around the Corben cover of a girl on a giant gila monster. An additional story appeared in Creepy at the same time. The Jones/Corben story was the best of that bunch. It’s quite a good effort although the coloring, unlike most of the Corben stories done in color, does not appear to have been done by Corben himself. The Rook story was probably the best since the first four, with dazzling artwork by Nino and a pretty sharp time travel story by DuBay. The Rook story is also printed sideways.

91. cover: Don Maitz (Mar. 1978)

1) The Rook: The Incredible Sagas Of Sludge The Unconquorable, Helga The Damned, And

Marmadrake The Magnificent! [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 20p

2) The Comic Books: Kiss And Tell [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Elijah Arnold And The Angel’s Egg [Jonathan Thomas/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

4) Francesca, part 2 [Bruce Jones/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

5) Moonshadow: Against The Sun [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 8p

6) Presenting The 1977 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/Frank Frazetta, Bruce Jones, Bill DuBay,

Alex Nino, et al] 2p [text article]

7) 1984 Ad [Richard Corben] 1p [on the back cover, a repo of #1’s cover]

Notes: One of Maitz’s best covers for Warren featured a giant troll lifting a tiny man to his mouth while a lady, very much in distress, runs for her life. $1.25 cover price. The gothic story ‘Francesca’ concludes, and quite nicely. Moonshadow, a fairly decent new series, debuts. Members of the Christian right send in letters complaining of Warren’s use of nudity, a perceived lack of morality, and a continues use of evolution as a plot device.

92. cover: Kim McQuaite (May 1978) [concept by Bill Mohalley]

1) Cold Sweat [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Safe At Home? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Rook: Strangers In The Strangest Places! [Bill DuBay/Axel Laxamana] 10p

4) Let’s Hear It For Homo Sapiens [Gerry Boudreau/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

5) Moonshadow: Suzanna, Don’t You Cry [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 8p

6) Abelmar Jones: Bad Day ‘Cross 100^th Street [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 5p

7) Gaffer: Final Wish [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

Notes: This sports cover featuring hockey and the accompanying story, ‘Cold Sweat’, may have been intended for the never published third all-sports special for Creepy. ‘Let’s Hear It for Homo Sapiens’ is an overflow story from Creepy’s all-apes special issue #95. Marvel’s Man-Thing appears in one panel on page one. Abelmar Jones makes his debut as Warren tries to get hip. The Gaffer returns for his finale, after being absent since #87. Bermejo begins taking the occasional breather from the Rook strip, with a series of different artists filling in.

93. cover: Don Maitz (June 1978)

1) The Rook: Strangers In The Strangest Places, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala [pgs 1-2] &

Abel Laxamana [pgs 3-11] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Classics Illustrated R.I.P. [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Honor And Blood [Nicola Cuti/Leopoldo Duranona] 10p

4) Moonshadow: Kingdom Of Ash [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) The Einstein Factor [Pepe Moreno & Nicola Cuti/Pepe Moreno] 10p

6) Abelmar Jones: The Slime Creature Of Harlem Avenue [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: This vampire cover was probably Maitz’s best cover for Warren. Very striking. It illustrated the fine new series ‘Honor And Blood’, with story by Cuti and art by Duranona. Easily the best work here.

94. cover: Don Maitz (Aug. 1978)

1) The Rook: The Coming Of The Annihilator [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Still More Kiss [Joe Brancatelli] 1p

3) Honor And Blood, part 2 [Nicola Cuti/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

4) Dead Man’s Ship [Nicola Cuti/Isidro Mones] 8p

5) Divine Wind [Louise Jones & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 6p

6) Don’t Drink The Water [Gerry Boudreau/Martin Salvador] 8p

7) Bruce Bloodletter Of The IRS [Bill DuBay & Fernando Fernandez/Fernando Fernandez] 8p

Notes: A good Maitz cover for a better than average issue. Future Eclipse editor Cat Yronwode sends in a letter. Vampirella & Pantha guest star in the Rook story, which takes place directly after the Vampi story published six months earlier in Vampirella #66. Fernando Fernandez’s educational tax series featuring Bruce Bloodletter had been done several years previously. Here, Bill DuBay writes an entirely new script, turning this into a science-fantasy tale. Best story is ‘Dead Man’s Ship’, although ‘Don’t Drink The Water’ is also good. Best art is Maroto’s from ‘Divine Wind’. The writer for that story is not listed. The credits I’ve given it come from the author list on the titlepage. I assume that Jones didn’t write the story on her own since at this point in her career she usually didn’t receive sole writing credit on her stories.

95. cover: Jordi Penalva (Sept. 1978)

1) The Rook: Warriors From The Stars [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Death By The Numbers [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Willie’s Super-Magic Basketball [Jim Stenstrum/Carmine Infantino & Rudy Nebres] 8p

4) Abelmar Jones: Faster Than A Speeding Whozit [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p

5) Nuts! [Nicola Cuti/Pablo Marcos] 8p [color]

6) Harrow House [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 10p

7) Mac Tavish: Caucus On Rara Avis [Jim Stenstrum/Pepe Moreno] 10p [story credited to

Alabaster Redzone]

Notes: Penalva received a huge amount of praise for his covers but I’ve never quite seen the reason why. The aura of mystery essential for a horror or mystery title just is not there. $1.50 cover price. Vampi & Pantha again guest star in the Rook strip. Vampi also shares the cover with the Rook. ‘Harrow House’ was a fine ghost story. Unfortunately, it was split in two with the second half not appearing for another six months! This started to be the norm for a Warren serial. Two or three episodes in a row, then a long wait until the concluding episodes appeared. ‘Willie’s Super-Magic Basketball’ was originally intended for the never published third all-sports stories special for Creepy. ‘Nuts’ was a rather cute story but the coloring was awful. Stenstrum often used the penname ‘Alabaster Redzone’ when he was adapting European stories into English or working from another writer’s plot. If that was the case here, the original author is unknown.

96. Jordi Penalva (Oct. 1978)

1) Fallen Angels: Revenge [Guillermo Saccomano & Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 7p

2) Fallen Angels: The Cutman [Guillermo Saccomano & Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

3) Fallen Angels: Explosive Issue [Guillermo Saccomano & Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 14p

4) The Comic Books: What Hath Congress Wrought? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

5) Mac Tavish: Hero Of Zodiac V [Jim Stenstrum/Pepe Moreno] 10p

6) The Ark [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Walt Simonson] 8p

7) The Shining Sea [Nicola Cuti/Alfredo Alcala] 10p

Notes: $1.75 cover price with 88 pages. Mac Tavis is cover featured. All three Fallen Angels episodes probably appeared in South America or Europe before their appearance here. The artwork is dated 1976. All three are quite good, reminding one a bit of Frank Miller’s Sin City stories. Mac Tavish was an average SF serial for the Star Wars period. There were no credits for this story but it’s safe to assume that Stenstrum would have been billed as Alabaster Redzone again if there were. The Cuti/Alcala story ‘The Shining Sea’ was an ok story but putting a dolphin’s head on top of a human body resulted in one of the silliest looking critters that Warren ever put into print.

97. cover: Val Mayerik (Nov. 1978)

1) Within You…Without You [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Eerie #77 (Sept.

1976)

2) Time And Time Again [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Eerie #79 (Nov.

1976)

3) Years & Mind Forever [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Eerie #87 (Oct.

1977)

4) The Comic Books: Roll Over, Brancatelli [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

5) The Terror Beyond Time! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 16p reprinted from Creepy #15

(June 1967)

Notes: The 1978 Eerie Annual. Nicola Cuti replies on the letters’ page to a previous letter by a Rick Berry, defending the science in one of his stories. $1.25 cover price & 64 pages. The nudity in the Jones/Corben time travel serial had been largely censored. Exactly why is unclear, since Warren was publishing the far more raunchy 1984 at the same time.

98. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Jan. 1979)

1) The Rook: Quarb And The Warball [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 31p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People! [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Got You On My Mind [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 12p

4) Honor & Blood, part 3 [Nicola Cuti/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

Notes: Honor And Blood, unseen since #94, concludes its run. The Rook story uses all of the Rook contest winner creations in a single story.

99. cover: Jordi Penalva (Feb. 1979)

1) The Rook: Hickey And The Pirates! [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 20p

2) The Comic Books: The Party [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Horizon Seekers [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 11p

4) The Shining Sea, part 2 [Nicola Cuti/Alfredo Alcala] 10p

5) Harrow House, part 2 [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 10p

6) A Crack In Time [Louise Jones/Pablo Marcos] 8p

Notes: The Rook is cover featured. $1.50 cover price. An ad for Eerie #110 featured art from the various stories appears on the letters’ page. A Laura Duranona from Central Islip, NY, sends in a letter praising Leopoldo Duranona. Duranona himself begins his best serial for Warren with ‘The Horizon Seekers’. ‘The Shining Sea’ is another tale of the goofy looking dolphin-headed folk. ‘Harrow House’ is a great ghost story, the best in the issue. Louise Jones gets her first solo writing credit.

100. cover: Jordi Penalva (Apr. 1979)

1) The Rook: Master Of Ti Chi [Bill DuBay/Jimmy Janes & Alfredo Alcala] 30p

2) The Comic Books: Going For The Bucks [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Presenting The 1978 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/et al] 2p [text article]

4) Gotterdammerung [Budd Lewis/Isidro Mones] 10p

5) The Horizon Seekers: In A Strange Land [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo

Duranona] 8p

6) Darklon The Mystic: Duel [Jim Starlin] 13p

Notes: $2.00 cover price & 88 pages in length. The cover depicts a number of characters who’d starred in serials in Eerie including the Rook, Coffin, the Spook, Exterminator One, Darklon, Dax & Hunter II. On the letters’ page, Bob Toomey replies to a previous Nicola Cuti letter. After not appearing in a story of his own since #79, three years previously, Darkon returns to conclude his serial. Easily the best story here, so it was too bad that it took so long to finish it off. Still, this was not a particularly great 100^th issue.

101. cover: Jim Lauier (June 1979)

1) The Rook: The Martians Are Coming, The Martians Are Coming! [Bill DuBay/Jim Starlin &

Alfredo Alcala] 18p

2) Gotterdammerung!, part 2 [Budd Lewis/Isidro Mones] 10p

3) The Horizon Seekers, part 2 [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 12p

4) The Comic Books: The Inevitable Superman Story [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

5) Hunter II: Three Flames Of The Phoenix [Budd Lewis/Pepe Moreno] 13p

Notes: $1.75 cover price & 72 pages. A quite blah cover by Lauier headlines a rather blah issue with only ‘The Horizon Seekers’ showing any real spark. Alcala’s inks erased any sense of Starlin’s pencils on the Rook strip. Moreno’s artwork on the new standalone Hunter II script is quite good but the time or desire for a sequel to the original story had long since passed.

102. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (July 1979)

1) The Rook: Terror Of The Spaceways! [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 12p

2) The Comic Books: So Much For Traditions [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Horizon Seekers: Siege [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

4) The Earthquake Stick [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p

5) Ophiophobia [Bill DuBay/Martin Salvador] 8p

6) Tracks [Roger McKenzie/Pepe Moreno] 7p

7) Neatness Counts [Jean Michel Martin/Joe Vaultz] 4p

Notes: Sanjulian returns for his first Eerie cover in 3 years but someone appears to have stripped the background out and the cover is an odd combo of Sanjulian’s earthy tones in the foreground and a flat white background. The Horizon Seekers are cover featured. $1.50 cover price. The best story here is ‘Tracks’ by the team of McKenzie/Moreno but ‘Ophiophobia’ by DuBay & Salvador is a throwback to the old horror oriented Eerie that is quite satisfying as well. The best art is by comics’ master Lee Elias on the Rook story.

103. cover: Terrence Lindall (Aug. 1979)

1) The Rook: Terror Of The Spaceways!, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 16p

2) The Comic Books: The Corporate Mad [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Open Sky: Arianne [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) The Trepasser [Don McGregor/Paul Gulacy] 8p

5) Samurai: Credentials [Larry Hama/Val Mayerik] 8p

6) The Horizon Seekers: The Damned & The Dead [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo

Duranona] 17p

Notes: Terrence Lindall’s grisly cover was for ‘The Horizon Seekers’. $1.75 cover price & 80 pages. Several of the pages in ‘The Rook’ are reprinted from the previous issue. Clearly ‘Terror Of The Spaceways!’ had been intended as a single story that had been cut in two for publication. The new serial ‘The Open Sky’ was a prequel to an earlier series, ‘Moonshadow’. The lead character in ‘The Trepasser’ is based on actor James Coburn. ‘Credentials’ is a sequel to ‘The Art Of Murder’ from Creepy #106. The Warren Companion gives the series the title ‘Samurai’ but that title doesn’t show up until #108’s titlepage and doesn’t appear on a story until #111. After its abrupt ending in Eerie #111, the series was revived in 1987-1989 {with Chuck Dixon replacing Larry Hama on scripts} for an independent comic publisher under the title ‘Young Master’. Whatever title you give it, it was a superior series.

104. cover: Kirk Reinert (Sept. 1979)

1) The Rook: The Trouble With Tin Men [Bill DuBay/Jimmy Janes & Alfredo Alcala] 11p

2) The Comic Books: Still Collecting After All These Years [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Trepasser: Dusk [Don McGregor/Paul Gulacy] 8p

4) City Of Shadows [Jean Michel Martin/Leopoldo Duranona] 6p

5) Beastworld [Bruce Jones/Pablo Marcos] 11p

6) The Rook Ad [Rudy Nebres] 2p

7) The Open Sky: Vladimir [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 10p

8) The Horizon Seekers: Temple Of The Ravagers [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo

Duranona] 10p

Notes: The new serial, Beastworld, is cover featured. It was a decent, if not profound, battle of the sexes serial. ‘City Of Shadows’ is a fumetti strip with Duranona using photos of toys & action figures for the panels.

105. cover: Jordi Penalva (Oct. 1979)

1) The Rook: Robot Fighters [Bill DuBay/Jimmy Janes & Alfredo Alcala] 16p

2) The Rook Ad [Pablo Marcos & Alfredo Alcala] 1p

3) The Comic Books: Still Collecting After All These Years [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) The Trespasser: Ruins [Don McGregor/Paul Gulacy] 6p

5) Beastworld, part 2 [Bruce Jones/Pablo Marcos] 11p

6) Mac Tavish: Demons Of The Zodiac [Gary Null & Jim Stenstrum/Pepe Moreno] 10p

[Stenstrum’s contribution credited to Alabaster Redzone]

7) The Horizon Seekers: Hunger Strike [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona]

7p

8) Samurai: Lair Of The Assassins [Larry Hama/Val Mayerik] 8p

Notes: Following this issue, the Rook moved to his own series. In what one would hope was an error, the Brancatelli column for the previous issue is reprinted in this issue. ‘The Trepasser’ concluded its run, with fine art by Gulacy & a somewhat over-wrought script by McGregor. Mac Tavis reappeared, with his second episode coming a full year after his first appearance. To celebrate, he appeared on the cover, with new supporting character Spider Andromeda. ‘Samurai’ continued to ape ‘Lone Wolf & Cub’, right up to the main villain in this story receiving an arrow wound to the same eye that the main villain in ‘Lone Wolf’ did. They’re also dead ringers for each other.

106. cover: Jose Ortiz & Walt Simonson (Nov. 1979)

1) Hard John Apple: An Angel Shy Of Hell! [Jim Stenstrum/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #64 (Aug. 1974)

2) The Comic Books: The Comic-Book Grapevine [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Hard John Apple: Kansas City Bomber [Jim Stenstrum/Jose Ortiz] 10p reprinted from Eerie

#83 (May 1977)

4) Hard John Apple: Brass Monkey [Jim Stenstrum/Jose Ortiz] 10p reprinted from Eerie #84

(June 1977)

5) Hard John Apple: Gonna Nuke Mankind Right Outa My Hair [Jim Stenstrum/Jose Ortiz] 10p

reprinted from Eerie #85 (Aug. 1977)

6) The Super-Abnormal Phenomena Survival Kit [Jim Stenstrum/John Severin] 8p reprinted

from Creepy #79 (May 1976)

Notes: The 1979 Eerie Annual. A Jim Stenstrum Special. The cover for this issue is a fix-up job. Jose Ortiz’s art is reprinted from a panel in Eerie #83 while Walt Simonson provided a new background. $1.50 cover price & 64 pages.

107. cover: Romas Kukalis (Dec. 1979)

1) The Horizon Seekers: The Last Horizon [Leopoldo Duranona & Cary Bates/Leopoldo

Duranona] 14p

2) The Comic Books: Lies Our Forefathers Told Us [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Beastworld, part 3 [Bruce Jones/Pablo Marcos] 11p

4) Mac Tavish: Bad Company [Jim Stenstrum & Alex Sothern/Pepe Moreno] 10p [Stenstrum’s

contribution credited to Alabaster Redzone]

5) The Prophesy [Bill Kelly/Nestor De Leon] 10p

Notes: For the first and only time in Warren history, a supporting character, Spider Andromeda from the Mac Tavish strip, is cover featured. $1.35 was the rather odd cover price with 64 pages. Duranona and his wife gueststar as themselves in the finale of ‘The Horizon Seekers’. It was a rather nice Twilight Zone touch.

108. cover: Jim Laurier (Jan. 1980)

1) A Lion In Our Midst [Nicola Cuti/Jess Jodloman] 15p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Beastworld, part 4 [Bruce Jones/Pablo Marcos] 11p

4) Samurai: A Juggler’s Tale [Larry Hama/Val Mayerik] 10p

5) Race Of The Damned [Norman Mundy & Cary Bates/Joe Vaultz] 7p

6) Growing Pains [Bob Toomey/Mike Zeck] 8p

Notes: $1.50 cover price with 72 pages. Lauier’s lackluster cover featured ‘Beastworld’. General Walters, a character in ‘A Lion In Our Midst’ is a dead ringer for Marvel’s Nick Fury. Mike Zeck provides the best art in this issue, although Val Mayerik and Pablo Marcos are quite good too. Best story is the Samurai’s episode, ‘A Juggler’s Tale’ while ‘Growing Pains’ is a good little horror tale.

109. cover: Kirk Reinert (Feb. 1980)

1) Blood On Black Satin [Doug Moench/Paul Gulacy] 16p

2) 1979 Warren Awards Ballot [Louise Jones] 1p [text article]

3) Beastworld, part 5 [Bruce Jones/Pablo Marcos] 11p

4) The Comic Books: Some Thoughts On What Has Gone Before [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text

article]

5) Race Of The Damned, part 2 [Norman Mundy & Cary Bates/Joe Vaultz] 7p

6) Samurai: Fugue State [Larry Hama/Val Mayerik] 8p

7) Mac Tavish: The End Of The Steel Gang [Jim Stenstrum & Alex Southern/Pepe Moreno] 12p

[Stenstrum’s contribution credited to Alabaster Redzone]

Notes: $2.00 cover price with 80 pages. This month’s cover also featured ‘Beastworld’ but, unlike the dreary cover from the issue before, Reinert’s effort was quite striking. ‘Blood On Black Satin’ was probably Doug Moench’s best effort at Warren and would have made a great Hammer film script. Gulacy’s moody artwork was perfect for the story and makes one wish he’d done more horror work. This story was easily the best effort in an issue that had no weak episodes at all.

110. cover: Jim Laurier (Apr. 1980)

1) Blood On Black Satin, part 2 [Doug Moench/Paul Gulacy] 8p

2) The Comic Books: Building A New Marvel [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Beastworld, part 6 [Bruce Jones/Pablo Marcos] 11p

4) The Open Sky: Francois [Bob Toomey/Jose Ortiz] 10p

5) Firefly/Starfight [Budd Lewis/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

6) The Rainmaker [Michael Fleisher/Leopoldo Duranona] 12p

7) Never Again [James Warren] 1p [editorial, on back cover]

Notes: $1.75 cover price with 72 pages. The Jim Laurier cover was supposedly for the ‘Firefly/Starfight’ story but the spaceships he painted looked a lot more like Joe Vaultz’s earlier ‘Race Of The Damned’ serial’s starfighters then anything in the ‘Firefly’ story. Unseen since #104, ‘The Open Sky’ returns to conclude its storyline. The absence of ‘Samurai’ was due to an injury to Val Mayerik’s drawing hand. ‘Beastworld’ concludes. Not a great serial, but at least interesting. Best story here was Michael Fleisher’s ‘The Rainmaker’ while best art remains Paul Gulacy’s ‘Blood On Black Satin’.

The Decline And Fall

111. cover: Ken Kelly (June 1980)

1) Blood On Black Satin, part 3 [Doug Moench/Paul Gulacy] 12p

2) Moto Psycho Cop [Nicola Cuti/John Garcia & Rudy Nebres] 8p

3) Samurai: The Messenger [Larry Hama/Val Mayerik] 8p

4) Mac Tavish: 50 Million Spacemen Can’t Be Wrong [Jim Stenstrum/Pepe Moreno] 12p

5) Haxtur: Beware Of Glahb [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

Notes: Editor: Bill DuBay as Will Richardson. ‘Blood On Black Satin’ concludes. Along with ‘Night Of The Jackass’, possibly the best straight horror serial Eerie ever ran. Samurai also ended its run quite abruptly {with its ending seemingly telegraphed by the dialogue in the last panel}, not to be seen again until 1987 from the team of Chuck Dixon & Val Mayerik. Mac Tavish, a solid, if not spectacular, serial also concluded its lengthy run. ‘Haxtur’ was brought over from 1984/1994 after two appearances there.

111. cover: Ken Kelly (July 1980)

1) The Spook: Stridspider Sponge-Rot [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 10p reprinted from Eerie

#57 (June 1974)

2) Luana [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 13p reprinted from Vampirella #31 (Mar. 1974)

3) The Rook Ad [Bob Larkin] 1p [B&W repo of #3’s cover]

4) Enter: The Exterminator—They Shoot Babies, Don’t They? [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

reprinted from Eerie #58 (July 1974)

5) Rusty Bucklers [Bruce Jones/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #57 (Jan. 1977)

6) Hollow Of Three Hills! [Rich Margopoulos/Esteban Maroto] 8p from the story by Nathaniel

Hawthorne, reprinted from Eerie #63 (Feb. 1975) [adaptation miscredited to Bill

DuBay]

7) Fallen Angels [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #60 (May 1977)

8) The 1979 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: All-reprint issue. An Esteban Maroto special. The Spook is cover featured.

112. cover: Jim Laurier (Aug. 1980)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz & Berni Wrightson] 1p

2) The Manifestation [Budd Lewis & Bill DuBay/E. R. Cruz] 25p [DuBay’s contribution

credited to Will Richardson]

3) Code Name: Nova [John Garcia & Bill DuBay/John Garcia & Alfredo Alcala] 16p [DuBay’s

story credited to Will Richardson, with no mention of Garcia’s contributions to story or

art]

4) Haxtur And The Slow Death God! [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

Notes: $2.00 cover price with 72 pages. The Cousin Eerie page was a fixup effort, with Ortiz’s art reprinted from the 1978 Warren Calendar and Wrightson’s Cousin Eerie figure from one of his stock introduction poses. Although Creepy and Vampirella continued as quality publications for some time after DuBay took over for his second stint as editor, Eerie almost immediately settled in mediocrity—featuring second-rate artists and deadly dull stories. Few of the new serials to come in the next three years would generate any excitement. This issue shows exactly why. ‘The Manifestation’ wasn’t a bad story, but Cruz’ static art robbed it of any real excitement. ‘Code Name: Nova’ was just boring. The Haxtur story was OK but its move from 1994 meant that many Eerie readers hadn’t seen the first two episodes and it was hard to get excited about a serial midpoint through its run. In addition, this serial dated from 1971 and while it was a good story and probably provided a lot of excitement in Europe when it first appeared, readers had had the opportunity since then to read hundreds of sword & sorcery stories. By the time Haxtur appeared in the U.S., he just seemed run of the mill.

113. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Sept. 1980)

1) Star Warrior! [David Jacobs/A. L. Sanchez] 31p

2) The Executioners [Carlos Gimenez] 12p

3) Haxtur: Panthers, Wolves And Death! [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

Notes: $1.75 cover price. Sanjulian delivers a decent Haxtur cover while ‘The Executioners’ is a well-written, well-drawn SF thriller. ‘Star Warrior!’, however, is a total dud on all levels. Berni Wrightson provides a new Cousin Eerie illo for the letters’ page.

115. cover: Jim Laurier (Oct. 1980)

1) Night Of The Jackass: 24 Hours Of Hell! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 12p reprinted from Eerie

#60 (Sept. 1974)

2) Night Of The Jackass: Storm Before The Calm! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 10p reprinted from

Eerie #63 (Feb. 1975)

3) Night Of The Jackass: The Children’s Hour [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 10p reprinted from

Eerie #64 (Mar. 1975)

4) Night Of The Jackass: Endstorm! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 10p reprinted from Eerie #65

(Apr. 1975)

5) Excerpts From The Year Five! [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p reprinted from Eerie #67 (Aug.

1975)

Notes: Laurier’s cover, depicting the Jackasses, is much better than usual his usual fare. The 1980 Eerie Annual and a Jose Ortiz special. It was nice to see the superior ‘Night Of The Jackass’ serial collected.

116. cover: Enrich Torres (Nov. 1980)

1) Bishop Dane: Blackjack [Rich Margopoulos/E.R. Cruz] 20p

2) Star Warriors: Plunderworld [Rich Margopoulos/Fred Redondo] 12p

3) Cagim: The Marks Of Merlin! [Budd Lewis/E. R. Cruz] 12p

4) Haxtur: Warriors And Friends! [Victor de la Fuente] 6p

Notes: $1.75 cover price with 64 pages. A dreary sword & sorcery cover by Enrich was supposedly of Haxtur but it looked nothing like the character. ‘Blackjack’ is a story starring the Rook’s granddad. The Rook gueststars in his grandpappy’s first but none too interesting solo adventure. The ‘Star Warriors’ story was apparently an attempt at a series but it was extremely lame and led nowhere. It also had nothing to do with the ‘Star Warrior’ story from Eerie #114. Cagim {read the name backwards} is an ok serial, dealing with an uncredited takeoff on T. H. White’s backward living magician {and not the Merlin character that Budd Lewis had written a serial for in the 1970s for Eerie}. Cruz’s artwork was dull on the Blackjack story but ok for Cagim.

117. cover: Enrich Torres (Dec. 1980) reprinted from Vampirella #37’s back cover (Oct. 1974)

1) Cagim: City Of Fire [Budd Lewis/E.R. Cruz] 14p

2) His Brother’s Keeper! [Jim Stenstrum/Neil McFeeters] 8p

3) Bruce Bloodletter: The Jalopy Scam [Cary Bates/Fernando Fernandez] 12p

4) Haxtur: A Time For Dying [Victor de la Fuente] 17p

Notes: This reprint cover was quite lovely and in marked contrast to Enrich’s sloppy looking cover from the previous issue. Cagim becomes a superhero, complete with costume. The Bruce Bloodletter artwork had been done years before for a European educational comic called Space And Adventure. Here, it is given a completely new script to turn it into a routine science fantasy tale. Haxtur concludes his run with his best story. However, the real surprise here is the Stenstrum/McFeeters story ‘His Brother’s Keeper!’. While this wasn’t Stenstrum’s best story for Warren, it was head and shoulders better than the low-level material that had been appearing in Eerie for the last six months. McFeeters’ only art job for Warren is also quite nice.

118. cover: Jordi Penalva (Jan. 1981)

1) Haggarth: Skull Of The Three Snakes [Victor de la Fuente] 18p

2) Steel Starfire: Tales From The Galactic Inn [Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 8p

3) The Red Shot [Bruce Bezaire/Jess Jodloman] 16p

4) Space Kids [Fernando Fernandez] 8p

Notes: ‘Haggarth’ had been serialized throughout Europe in the late 1970s. Still, it was probably the best serial that Eerie published in its last three years. Bruce Bezaire returns for one story, but I suspect ‘The Red Shot’ was written years earlier and only illustrated now. Either way, it’s not very good. The so-so Fernandez’s story was done about 1975 or so.

119. cover: Bob Larkin (Feb. 1981)

1) Zud Kamish: Accept No Substitute! [Jim Stenstrum/E.R. Cruz] 27p

2) Sindy Starfire [Rich Margopoulos/Rueben Yandoc] 10p

3) Haggarth: Eyes Of The Dead! [Victor de la Fuente] 15p

Notes: $1.95 cover price with 72 pages. Bob Larkin delivers a blah cover. Zud Kamish was actually a fairly good serial with Stenstrum managing to create some amusement and interest despite being saddled with E.R. Cruz’s artwork. ‘Sindy Starfire’ might have made a fine serial as well, but for some reason, when fans asked for more on the letters’ page, Warren pooh-poohed the idea.

120. cover: Jim Laurier (Apr. 1981)

1) Zud Kamish: Death Of A Cometeer [Jim Stenstrum/E.R. Cruz] 12p

2) Bishop Dane And Dax The Warrior!: The Warrior And The Gunfighter! [Rich Margopoulos/A.

L. Sanchez] 14p

3) The Mist: A Public And Private Surveillance [Don McGregor/Jun Lofamia] 12p

4) Haggarth: Sombra The Damned! [Victor de la Fuente] 15p

Notes: Cover price now $2.00. A better than average issue with three good serial episodes. Zud and Haggarth continued their winning ways while Don McGregor’s fine tale of witchcraft, ‘The Mist’, debuted. It would go through three different artists and long gaps in appearances but still manage to tell an effective tale. Starting with this issue, Eerie began a policy of reviving old series stars {even dead ones—especially the dead ones}, without using the original creators, to appear in one-shot stories, often with a guest star. Dax was the first, teamed up with the Rook’s granddad. Sanchez, however, was no Maroto and his pudgy Dax looked more like Marvel’s Ka-Zar then the thin, wiry Dax of yore.

121. cover: Vaughn Bode & Basil Gogos (June 1981) reprinted from Eerie #26 (Mar. 1970)

1) The Mist: Blood Cycles [Don McGregor/Jun Lofamia] 15p

2) Born Of Ancient Vision [Robert Morello & Budd Lewis/Robert Morello] 11p

3) Hunter, Demon Killer And Darklon The Mystic: Ashes To Ashes [Rich Margopoulos/A. L.

Sanchez] 14p

4) Haggarth: Fall Of The Death Head! [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

Notes: Chris Adames becomes the editor. Why the ugliest cover that Vaughn Bode ever did for Warren was chosen for reprinting is beyond me. It’s really a dog. Robert Morello’s decent SF story was visually quite bizarre looking. Sanchez made a real effort this time and his Darklon drawings are pretty good. However, combining two characters who have zero in common with each other, is never a good idea.

122. cover: Romas Kukalis (July 1981)

1) The Beast Of Sarnadd-Doom! [Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 11p

2) The Nu Zud Kamish: The Chameleon Stands Revealed! [Jim Stenstrum/E.R. Cruz] 10p

[Stenstrum’s story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

3) The Mist: Victoria Rode The Subway Last Night! [Don McGregor/Val Mayerik] 14p

4) Haggarth, Book II [Victor de la Fuente] 14p

Notes: Romas’ cover is quite attractive and the accompanying story, ‘The Beast Of Sarnadd-Doom!’ was a fine sword & sorcery tale. Zud’s series title is slightly changed. The best story and art belong to this issue’s installment of The Mist. Mayerik’s art is quite impressive.

123. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1981)

1) The Mist: Token Resistance [Don McGregor/Val Mayerik] 14p

2) Born Of Ancient Vision: In Sight Of Heaven, In Reach Of Hell [Budd Lewis/Robert Morello]

15p

3) Remember All The People [Don McGregor/Leopoldo Duranona] 11p

4) Harrarth, Book II: Path Of The Tempered Soul! [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

Notes: Sanjulian’s cover was done in 1972 and originally intended for Creepy #47. See that issue’s notes for details. This was the last appearance of ‘The Mist’ for a year and a half. Don McGregor’s ‘Remember All The People’ was a heartfelt tribute to the slain John Lennon. It was also Duranona’s last art job for Warren.

124. cover: Frank Frazetta (Sept. 1981) reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

1) Cagim: The Sea Of Red [Budd Lewis/E.R.Cruz] 12p

2) Pyramid Of The Black Sun: Orka [Antonio Segura & Jim Stenstrum/Luis Bermejo] 12p [story

is credited solely to Alabaster Redzone]

3) Born Of Ancient Vision: God Of Light [Budd Lewis/Robert Morello] 17p

4) Haggarth, Book II: The Sacred Scroll [Victor de la Fuente] 10p

Notes: ‘Pyramid Of The Black Sun’ appeared in Europe in the late 1970s, with a script by Segura & art by Bermejo. It is greatly rewritten here and the art is rearranged.

125. cover: Richard Corben (Oct. 1981) reprinted from Eerie #77 (Sept. 1976)

1) Curse Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr.

1967)

2) The Terror Beyond Time! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 16p reprinted from Creepy #15

(June 1967)

3) Goddess From The Sea [Don Glut/Neal Adams] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #1 (Oct. 1969)

4) Thrillkill [Jim Stenstrum/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Creepy #75 (Nov. 1975)

5) A Curse Of Claws! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 6p reprinted from Creepy #16 (Aug. 1967)

6) Voodoo Drum! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Eerie #10 (July 1967)

7) Fair Exchange [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Eerie #9 (May 1967)

Notes: $2.25 cover price and 80 pages. The 1981 Eerie Annual and a Neal Adams special. There are numerous new Cousin Eerie illos by Berni Wrightson. A great buy for Adams fans!

126. cover: Richard Corben (Nov. 1981)

1) The Nu Zud Kamish: Crabs [John Ellis Sech/E.R. Cruz] 14p

2) Pyramid Of The Black Sun: Blekos [Antonio Segura & Jim Stenstrum/Luis Bermejo] 13p

[story credited solely to Alabaster Redzone]

3) Korsar [Jim Stenstrum/Esteban Maroto] 12p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

4) Haggarth, Book II, part 4 [Victor de la Fuente] 13p

Notes: Corben’s cover was originally for a paperback cover. $2.00 cover price for 72 pages. Zud Kamish gets a new writer.

127. cover: Nestor Redondo (Dec. 1981)

1) Justin, King Of The Jungle [Bill DuBay & Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 14p [DuBay’s

contribution credited to Will Richardson]

2) Reuben Youngblood [Budd Lewis/Howard Chaykin & Lee Elias] 11p

3) Merlin And The Sorcerer [Budd Lewis/E.R. Cruz] 14p

4) Haggarth, Book II, part 5 [Victor de la Cruz] 12p

Notes: Bill DuBay returns as editor with Timothy Moriarty as managing editor. The page count was dropped to 64 pages. Future comic artist Alec Stevens sends in a letter complaining about reprint covers but asking for a Wally Wood reprint special. ‘Justin, King Of The Jungle’ is an actual horror story and was quite good, with beautiful Nebres artwork. Reuben Youngblood returns for the first time since #72 back in 1976. This story was obviously done about 1975 as well, except for two new pages that Elias drew, probably to lengthen the story for this appearance. Another inker, possibly Walt Simonson, may have worked on this story back in 1975 as well. ‘Merlin And The Sorcerer’ concerned the Merlin character from the Cagim series, not the Budd Lewis penned Merlin series from the 1970s.

128. cover: Kirk Reinert (Jan. 1982)

1) Dr. Coven: Ashes To Ashes! [Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 11p

2) The Demon Queen [Jonathan Thomas/Jose Ortiz] 7p

3) Zud And Son: Heroes At Large! [John Ellis Sech/E.R. Cruz] 11p

4) Blackstar And The Night Huntress [Gerry Boudreau/Peter Hsu] 9p

5) Avenger! [Archie Goodwin/Jim Starlin & Neal Adams] 8p

6) Haggarth, Book II, part 6 [Victor de la Fuente] 11p

Notes: A striking Reinert cover highlights a somewhat better than average issue. ‘Avenger!’ was done in 1974 and originally intended for Creepy #64 (Aug. 1974). The low point is certainly the ‘Blackstar And The Night Huntress’ story, a sequel to the original from Eerie #85. Hsu’s art is in his ‘Quandrant’ style—awkwardly posed soft-porn cheesecake, with a lot of female model guides taken from Playboy centerfolds. ‘Haggarth’ continued to be the best thing in Eerie.

129. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Feb. 1982)

1) Marvin, The Dead-Thing: Ode To A Dead Thing! [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 13p

2) Ms. Liberty [Rich Margopoulos/Jun Lofamia] 7p

3) Mercenary! [Nicola Cuti/Pat Boyette] 9p

4) Space Force: Shipwrecked [Jean-Claude Forest/Paul Gillon] 13p [strip credited solely to

Gillon]

5) Haggarth, Book II, part 7 [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

Notes: The revival of Marvin, The Dead-Thing, a character only done originally as a satirical blast at Marvel & DC’s swamp creatures, shows just how far off track Warren had fallen. The original Marvin story was funny but this one was played straight and was as run-of-the-mill as you could get. Not to mention the fact that with Nebres doing the art, it looked alarmingly like the Nestor Redondo illustrated ‘Swamp Thing’! ‘Mercenary!’ was a straight action adventure story with no horror or SF elements. I suspect it was originally intended for The Rook magazine. ‘Shipwrecked’ is a French strip that debuted there in 1964. The covers that Sanjulian was supplying Warren with at this point often looked like rejected covers for a paperback sword & sorcery series. They usually had zero to do with the contents of the magazine.

130. cover: Steve Fastner & Rich Larson (Apr. 1982)

1) Vampirella And The Time Force [Rich Margopoulos/E.R. Cruz] 54p

Notes: Timothy Moriarty becomes the new {and last} editor. The letters’ page vanishes. This is possibly the most depressing issue of Eerie ever produced. It’s not so much that the story is bad, because it isn’t that horrible. It’s that the entire concept of this issue trashes so much of Eerie’s history. The book-length story borrows Vampi and her supporting cast from a year previous, making one suspect this story was intended as a serial in Vampi’s own magazine, then links her up with a host of Eerie’s most recognizable series characters. In addition to Vampi and Pantha, the Pie, Shreck, Child, Exterminator One, Dax the Damned, Hunters I & II, Mac Tavish, the Spook, Coffin, Darklon, Manners the Tin Man, the Rook and his Grandpappy, Bishop Dane appear. Since, with the expection of the Rook & his supporting cast, most of the characters had died at the end of their usually quite grim serials, coupled with the fact that most of their original storylines could not possibly co-exist with each other gave the resulting story the distinct air of desperation that had begun to soak into all of Warren’s magazines during this period. Add to that the depressing fact that E.R. Cruz couldn’t draw a sexy female if she came up, sat on his lap and twirled. In addition, all of his men had the exact same facial features and his static layouts tended to make one looking at a page of his art feel as though they were staring at a blank gray wall and you end up with an exceedingly dreary issue.

131. cover: Rudy Nebres (June 1982)

1) Wally Wood, 1927-1981 [Timothy Moriarty?] 1p [text article, obituary]

2) Killer Hawk [Bill DuBay/Wally Wood] 12p reprinted from Eerie #61 (Nov. 1974)

3) Overworked! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins & Wally Wood] 6p reprinted from Creepy #9

(June 1966)

4) The Cosmic All [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Creepy #38 (Mar. 1971)

5) The Battle Of Britain! [Wally Wood/Dan Adkins & Wally Wood] 7p reprinted from Blazing

Combat #3 (Apr. 1966) [art credited solely to Wood]

6) War Of The Wizards! [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #10 (Mar. 1971)

7) The Manhunters [Gerry Boudreau/Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Eerie #60 (Sept. 1974)

Notes: An all Wally Wood special. $2.00 for 64 pages. The cover is a pen & ink illo instead of a painting. From this point on, just about every other issue of Eerie was a reprint issue.

132. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (July 1982)

1) The Rook: The Dane Curse! [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 13p

2) The Nu Zud Kamish: Hero Of The Milky Way [John Ellis Sech/E.R.Cruz] 14p

3) Space Force: Shipwrecked, part 2 [Jean-Claude Forest/Paul Gillon] 12p

4) Haggarth, Book II, part 8 [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

Notes: With the cancellation of his own magazine, the Rook returns to Eerie. His story here is the third part of a serial begun in The Rook #13.

133. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1982)

1) Eerie’s Exciting Earful [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Destiny’s Witch [John Jacobson/Ramon Torrents] 12p reprinted from Creepy #59 (Jan. 1974)

3) Fleur: From The Spain Of Legend! [John Jacobson/Ramon Torrents] 10p reprinted from

Vampirella #34 (June 1974)

4) Fleur: Our Tars Were Young And Gay! [John Jacobson/Ramon Torrents] 10p reprinted from

Vampirella #35 (Aug. 1974)

5) Fleur: Night Of The Alleycats [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #68 (Apr. 1978)

7) The Quest [Budd Lewis/Ramon Torrents] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #67 (Mar. 1978)

8) The Goblin Ad [Rudy Nebres] 1p [on back cover]

Notes: An all-reprint Ramon Torrents special. ‘The Quest’ has one page deleted. The features page is revived with a new title.

134. cover: Rudy Nebres (Sept. 1982)

1) Eerie’s Exciting Earful [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) The Rook: The Fallen [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 9p

3) Space Force: Shipwrecked, part 3 [Jean-Claude Forest/Paul Gillon] 14p

4) The Fighting Armenian [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 8p [color]

5) Zud Kamish [John Ellis Sech/E.R. Cruz] 9p

6) Haggarth, Book II, part 9 [Victor de la Fuente] 10p

Notes: The cover is a pen & ink illo, not a painted cover. The Fighting Armenian moves over from the cancelled The Rook and is cover featured. Why is a puzzlement, as he was an extremely lame knockoff character to begin with. The Rook or Zud would have been a much better choice. Eerie Showcase, a color insert, begins. The color and paper is a bit like a Charlton comic with really crappy page cutting. It’s quite a fall from the glorious Warren color sections of a few years before. Zud Kamish concludes his series without dying! He just has his arms and legs blown off.

135. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Oct. 1982)

1) The Spirit Of The Thing! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #9 (June

1966)

2) Collector’s Edition! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

3) Beast Man! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #11 (Oct. 1966)

4) Blood Of The Werewolf! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #12 (Dec.

1966)

5) Second Chance! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p reprinted from Creepy #13 (Feb. 1967)

6) Where Sorcery Lives! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr.

1967)

7) Thane: City Of Doom! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #15 (June

1967)

8) The Incredible Shrieking Man! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 7p reprinted from Eerie #4

(July 1966)

9) The Fly! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

10) Demon Sword! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar. 1967)

11) The Goblin Ad [Rudy Nebres] 1p [on back cover]

Notes: $2.75 for 96 pages. An all-reprint Steve Ditko {and Archie Goodwin} special and the 1982 Eerie Annual. ‘The Incredible Shrieking Man’ is retitled from its original appearance as ‘Shrieking Man’. Great collector’s issue!

136. cover: Nestor Redondo (Nov. 1982)

1) Eerie’s Exciting Earful [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) The Rook: The Fallen, part 2 [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 8p

3) Space Force: Shipwrecked, part 4 [Jean-Claude Forest/Paul Gillon] 15p

4) Starlad [Bill DuBay/Vic Catan] 8p [color]

5) Haggarth, Book II, part 10 [Victor de la Fuente] 14p

6) The 1981 Warren Awards [Timothy Moriarty] 2p [text article]

Notes: $2.25 for 64 pages. The Rook makes his final appearance. ‘Space Force: Shipwrecked’ does as well with the serial never being concluded. ‘Haggarth’ concludes his run and is probably the best serial to run in the latter days of Eerie. After a long delay the 1981 Warren Awards are announced with best cover going to Steve Fastner & Rich Larson for 1994 #22, Nicola Cuti winning best writer for his Fox serial, Victor de la Fuente winning the story of the year for Haggarth, Anton Caravana winning best art for ‘Call It Chaos’ from Vampirella #100, Luis Bermejo for artist of the year, Nestor Redondo for cover artist of the year and special awards for excellance to Frank Thorne and Rudy Nebres.

137. cover: montage of previous covers (Dec. 1982)

1) Eerie’s Exciting Earful [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Darklon The Mystic: The Price [Jim Starlin] 9p reprinted from Eerie #76 (Aug. 1976)

3) Exterminator One [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p reprinted from Eerie #60 (Sept. 1974)

4) The Mummy: The Mind Within [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 10p reprinted from Eerie #50

(Aug. 1973)

5) Coffin: Death Wish! [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p reprinted from Eerie #61 (Nov. 1974)

6) Eerie’s Greatest Heroes! [Timothy Moriarty] 2p [text article with a hero story checklist]

7) Hunter [Rich Margopoulos/Paul Neary] 10p reprinted from Eerie #52 (Nov. 1973)

8) The Spook: Stridespider Sponge-Rot [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 10p reprinted from

Eerie #57 (June 1974)

Notes: An all-reprint ‘Origins’ special. $2.25 for 80 pages. Warren reprints the opening episodes of various Eerie characters without telling their entire story. A good way to frustrate readers, although the addition of a checklist for back orders was a nice touch.

138. cover: Nestor Redondo (Jan. 1983)

1) The Noxious Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) The Mist [Don McGregor/Bill Draut] 13p

3) The Mist, part 2 [Don McGregor/Bill Draut] 10p

4) Granny Gutman And The Limbo Men [Rich Margopoulos/Fred Carrillo] 8p [color]

5) Glythis [Timothy Moriarty/E.R. Cruz] 8p

6) Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet, part 3 [Rich Margopoulos/Noly Panaligan] 11p

Notes: A beautiful Redondo cover heralds the return and conclusion of ‘The Mist’, unseen since #123, back in Aug. 1981. ‘Glythis’, a new serial, is never concluded. The Sherlock Holmes strip is the conclusion of a serial begun in the cancelled The Rook magazine. $2.25 for 64 pages.

139. cover: Kelly Freas (Feb. 1983)

1) The Noxious Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Voyage Of The Space Beagle [Rich Margopoulos/Luis Bermejo] 43p from the story by A. E.

Van Vogt

3) The Infinity Force [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 8p [color]

Notes: Final issue. Clearly an effort was being made to upgrade the quality of Warren’s story offerings as this is a very good adaptation of Van Vogt’s classic tale. After the dreariness of the previous two years, this was a nice way for Eerie to leave the stage.

Creepy Yearbook

1. cover: montage of previous covers (1967)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Introduction [Frank Frazetta] 1p [frontis] reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan.

1965)

2) The Duel Of The Monsters! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #7

(Feb. 1966)

3) Return Trip [Arthur Porges/Joe Orlando] 8p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

4) Abominable Snowman! [Bill Pearson/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

5) Werewolf! [Larry Ivie/Frank Frazetta] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan. 1965)

6) The Thing In The Pit! [Larry Ivie/Gray Morrow] 8p reprinted from Creepy #6 (Dec. 1965)

7) Vampires Fly At Dusk! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan.

1965)

8) Sand Doom [Archie Goodwin/Al Williamson] 6p reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

9) Hot Spell! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 7p reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Archie Goodwin. Creepy’s yearbook/annuals came out sometime around various Creepy/Eerie/Vampirella issues cover dated Aug.-Oct. The actual title of this issue was ‘Creepy 1968 Yearbook’, probably designed so that the 1968 date would give it a longer shelflife. The Yearbook/Annual series always listed the next year as the cover date so a Creepy Yearbook 1969, for example, would come out in 1968.

2. cover: H. B. Harris (1968)

1) Scream Test! [John Benson & Bhob Stewart/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Creepy #13

(Feb. 1967)

2) The Doorway! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 6p reprinted from Creepy #11 (Oct. 1966)

3) Monster! [Archie Goodwin/Rocke Mastroserio] 8p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

4) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: Werebeasts! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] 1p reprinted from

Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

5) Overworked! [Archie Goodwin/Wally Wood & Dan Adkins] 6p reprinted from Creepy #9

(June 1966)

6) Curse Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr.

1967)

7) The Beckoning Beyond [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr.

1967)

8) Midnight Sail [Johnny Craig] 6p reprinted from Creepy #10 (Aug. 1966)

Notes: The Creepy 1969 Yearbook. Editor: Bill Parente.

3. cover: montage of previous covers (1969)

1) The Body-Snatcher! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Robert Louis

Stevenson, reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

2) Blood Of The Werewolf! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #12 (Dec.

1966)

3) Where Sorcery Lives! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr.

1967)

4) Ther Terror Beyond Time! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 16p reprinted from Creepy #15

(June 1967)

5) Revenge Of The Beast! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 7p reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct.

1965)

6) The Invitation [Larry Englehart, Russ Jones & Maurice Whitman/Manny Stallman] 7p

reprinted from Creepy #8 (Apr. 1966)

7) Blood Of Krylon! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p reprinted from Creepy #7 (Feb. 1966)

Notes: $.60 cover price for 72 pages. The Creepy 1970 Yearbook.

4. cover: Kenneth Smith (1970)

1) Beast Man! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 8p reprinted from Creepy #11 (Oct. 1966)

2) A Curse Of Claws! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 6p reprinted from Creepy #16 (Aug. 1967)

3) The Mountain [Johnny Craig] 6p reprinted from Creepy #8 (Apr. 1966)

4) Grave Undertaking [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

5) Castle Carrion! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr. 1967)

6) Image In Wax! [Archie Goodwin/Tom Sutton] 6p reprinted from Creepy #17 (Oct. 1967)

7) The Rescue Of The Morning Maid! [Raymond Marais/Pat Boyette & Rocke Mastroserio] 10p

reprinted from Creepy #18 (Jan. 1968)

8) Skeleton Crew! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Creepy #11 (Oct. 1966)

Notes: Editor: James Warren. The title is changed to Creepy 1971 Annual. $.60 for 64 pages.

5. cover: photo of a rubber Zombie mask (1971)

1) Uncle Creepy’s Welcome [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 1p [frontis] reprinted from

Creepy #2 (Apr. 1965)

2) No Fair! [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 6p reprinted from Creepy #22 (Aug. 1968)

3) Spawn Of The Cat People [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Creepy #2

(Apr. 1965)

4) On The Wings Of A Bird [T. Casey Brennan/Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from Creepy #36

(Nov. 1970)

5) Tough Customers! [R. Michael Rosen/Tom Sutton] 6p reprinted from Creepy #35 (Sept. 1970)

6) Creepy’s Loathsome Lore: The Body Snatchers Who Stole A Giant! [Tom Sutton] 1p

reprinted from Creepy #36 (Nov. 1970)

7) Pursuit Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan.

1965)

8) The Judge’s House! [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story by Bram Stoker,

reprinted from Creepy #5 (Oct. 1965)

9) Grub! [Nicola Cuti/Tom Sutton] 6p reprinted from Creepy #28 (Aug. 1969)

10) Monster Rally! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #4 (Aug. 1965)

Notes: James Warren is editor while J. R. Cochran is listed as the managing editor. The Creepy Spooktacular 1972 Annual. $.75 for 64 pages. Final issue. Following this issue the annual was incorporated into Creepy’s regular numbering.

Eerie Yearbook

1. cover: montage of previous covers (1969)

1) Cousin Eerie’s Welcome [Jack Davis] 1p reprinted from ?

2) Soul Of Horror [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

3) Shrieking Man! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 7p reprinted from Eerie #4 (July 1966)

4) The Masque Of The Red Death [Tom Sutton] 6p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe, reprinted

from Eerie #12 (Nov. 1967)

5) The Wanderer! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p reprinted from Eerie #9 (May 1967)

6) A Matter Of Routine [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p reprinted from Eerie #5 (Sept. 1966)

7) The Quest [Archie Goodwin/Donald Norman] 6p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

8) One For De-Money [E. Nelson Bridwell/Angelo Torres] 7p reprinted from Eerie #2 (Mar.

1966)

9) Terror In The Tomb [Archie Goodwin/Rocke Mastroserio] 7p reprinted from Eerie #9 (May

1967)

10) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#2 (May 1966)

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Bill Parente. $.60 for 72 pages.

2. cover: Kenneth Smith plus a montage of previous covers (1970)

1) Hatchet Man [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p reprinted from Eerie #4 (July 1966)

2) Wolf Bait! [Archie Goodwin/Rocke Mastroserio] 8p reprinted from Eerie #8 (Mar. 1967)

3) It! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p reprinted from Eerie #10 (July 1967)

4) The Defense Rests! [Johnny Craig] 8p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

5) Island At World’s End [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 10p reprinted from Eerie #4 (July

1966)

6) The Swamp God! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Eerie #5 (Sept. 1966)

7) The Changeling [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 8p reprinted from Eerie #6 (Nov. 1966)

Notes: Editor: James Warren. Title changed to the Eerie Annual. $.60 for 64 pages.

3. cover: John Pederson (1971)

1) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Golem! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis] reprinted from Eerie #27

(May 1970)

2) Fair Exchange [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Eerie #9 (May 1967)

3) Deep Ruby! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p reprinted from Eerie #6 (Nov. 1966)

4) Spiders Are Revolting! [Bill Warren/Tom Sutton] 9p reprinted from Eerie #26 (Mar. 1970)

5) In Close Pursuit [Gordon Matthews/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p reprinted from Eerie #30 (Nov.

1970)

6) …Nor Custom, Stale… [Johnny Craig] 8p reprinted from Eerie #12 (Nov. 1967)

7) The Monument [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Eerie #3 (May 1966)

8) Eerie’s Monster Gallery: The Number 13 [Bill Parente/Tony Tallarico] 1p reprinted from

Eerie #16 (July 1968)

9) Fly! [Archie Goodwin/Steve Ditko] 6p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

Notes: Final issue. James Warren is listed as editor & J. R. Cochran is managing editor. $.75 for 64 pages. From this point on the annual was incorporated into Eerie’s regular numbering.

Vampirella

1. cover: Frank Frazetta (Oct. 1969)

1) Vampirella’s Welcome [Bill Parente/Frank Frazetta] 1p [frontis] art reprinted from Creepy

#29 (Sept. 1969)

2) Vampirella Of Draculon [Forrest J. Ackerman/Tom Sutton] 7p

3) Death Boat! [Don Glut/Billy Graham] 6p

4) Two Silver Bullets! [Don Glut/Reed Crandall] 6p

5) Goddess From The Sea [Don Glut/Neal Adams] 6p

6) Last Act: October! [Don Glut/Mike Royer] 8p

7) Spaced-Out Girls! [Don Glut/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

8) Room Full Of Changes [Nicola Cuti/Ernie Colon] 6p

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Bill Parente. 64 page issue. This was the first all original Warren issue since Eerie #11 (Sept. 1967). Frazetta’s cover of Vampirella was a substitute for the original cover by European artist Aslan. That cover also featured Vampirella, but was rejected over fears that Vampi looked rather anemic (not good for a vampire, one would guess). That cover was eventually used as the cover for the Vampirella 1972 Annual. Vampirella’s costume and hair style was designed by artist Trina Robbins. The first Vampirella story is a horror spoof rather than a straight horror tale, as was made obvious by the first two pages being taken up with a sequence of a nude Vampirella taking a shower for no particular reason, except for good clean fun. Several years later, this origin tale was greatly rewritten to fit the more horrific manner of her later tales. Best stories are the Graham, Crandall & Adams’ stories, all written by Don Glut. Adams’ story is in pencils only. The question arises of exactly who edited this first issue? Bill Parente is listed on the masthead but he doesn’t appear with a single written story. Unusual for an issue edited by him. Forrest Ackerman created, or at least had a strong hand in creating, Vampirella and he clearly had a major influence in shaping the light-hearted bad girl story style of this issue as well. Neal Adams remembered that Archie Goodwin was the person calling up artists for this issue and that this was the main reason a very busy Adams agreed to do his story. That makes sense. Goodwin & Warren had a close relationship and only months later, Goodwin would be back on the masthead as a contributing editor. It’s even possible that all three, along with publisher Jim Warren, had an editorial hand in shaping this issue. Regardless, this is a pretty good start. Not up to the later Warren issues from the Goodwin Era but a giant step up from the previous two years.

2. cover: Bill Hughes (Nov. 1969)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Bride Of Frankenstein [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Evily [Bill Parente/Jerry Grandenetti] 10p

3) Montezuma’s Monster [R. Michael Rosen/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p [story

miscredited to Don Glut]

4) Vampirella: Down To Earth! [Forrest J. Ackerman/Mike Royer] 8p

5) Queen Of Horror! [Don Glut/Dick Piscopo] 9p

6) The Octopus [Nicola Cuti/William Barry] 6p

7) One, Two, Three [Nicola Cuti/Ernie Colon] 7p

8) Rhapsody In Red! [Don Glut/Billy Graham] 7p

Notes: Hughes’ cover is quite good, depicting the witch Evily. Evily, who only appeared twice, is listed as Vampirella’s cousin, although how that could be, seeing as how they’re from different planets is never unexplained. Vampirella does guest star in Evily’s story. Vampirella’s own story (just as much a horror spoof as the previous one) is narrated in a one-shot appearance by Vampirella’s twin sister, Draculina. Vampirella & Draculina are identical twins except that Draculina is a blonde, rather than a brunette, and her bat birthmark is on the opposite breast from Vampirella! ‘Rhapsody In Red!’is easily the best story/art here, although the Evily story also has some nice Grandenetti art. Otherwise, this issue is a big letdown in quality from the previous issue.

3. cover: Vaughn Bode & Larry Todd (Jan. 1970)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Queen Of Outer Space! [Forrest J. Ackerman/Dick Piscopo] 1p [frontis]

2) Evily: Wicked Is Who Wicked Does! [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 7p

3) Blast Off To A Nightmare! [Al Hewetson/Jack Sparling] 10p

4) Eleven Footsteps To Lucy Fuhr [Terri Abrahms & Nick Beal/Ed Robbins] 7p

5) I Wake Up… Screaming! [Billy Graham] 8p

6) The Caliegia! [Nicola Cuti/Dick Piscopo] 7p

7) Didn’t I See You On Television? [Billy Graham] 4p

8) A Slimy Situation! [R. Michael Rosen/Jack Sparling] 6p

Notes: Although it’s not that hard to find, this issue unaccountably is very expensive to acquire! Future comic writer Doug Moench sends in a letter. Billy Graham’s ‘I Wake Up…Screaming!’ features characters with the likenesses of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Paul Newman, James Dean, David Niven, Kirk Douglas, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bill Cosby, Robert Culp, Robert Vaughn, David McCallum & David Janssen. For all that hoop-de-do, the best story here is ‘Eleven Steps To Lucy Fuhr’.

4. cover: Vaughn Bode & Jeff Jones (Apr. 1970)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Burned At The Stake! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Forgotten Kingdom [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 10p

3) Closer Than Sisters [Nicola Cuti/Mike Royer] 7p

4) Moonshine! [Don Glut/William Barry] 13p

5) Vampi’s Fan Page: Dick Piscopo Profile [Dick Piscopo/Alan Weiss] 1p [text article w/photo]

6) Come Into My Parlor! [R. Michael Rosen/Dick Piscopo] 6p

7) Run For Your Wife! [Richard Carnell & Jack Erman/Jack Sparling] 7p

Notes: Nice SF cover from the team of Bode & Jones. Best art is Mike Royer’s snazzy job. Future artist Alan Weiss makes his first comics appearance as the untitled fan page debuts. Fans are encouraged to help name that feature.

5. cover: Frank Frazetta (June 1970)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Satanic Sisterhood Of Stonehedge! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) The Craft Of A Cat’s Eye [Don Glut/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 9p

3) Scaly Death [Don Glut/Billy Graham] 6p

4) An Axe To Grind [Jeff Jones] 7p

5) Vampi’s Flames: Billy Graham Profile/The Sorrowful Hounds/Double Feature/A Pain In

The Neck [Billy Graham, John Pitts & James Perry/Richard Charron] 2p [text article &

stories w/photo]

6) Avenged By Aurora [Bill Parente/Tom Sutton] 9p

7) Ghoul Girl [Don Glut/John Fantucchio] 6p

8) Escape Route! [T. Casey Brennan/Mike Royer] 6p

9) Luna [Don Glut/Jack Sparling] 8p

Notes: Striking Frazetta cover showing a caveman & woman menaced by a T-Rex. Fan page regular Anthony Kowalik names the fan page Vampi’s Flames. Very nice art & story by Jeff Jones. Also good work by Billy Graham, Tom Sutton and John Fantucchio.

6. cover: Ken Kelly (July 1970)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Centaur [Dan Adkins] 1p [frontis]

2) The Curse Of Circe [Gardner Fox/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p

3) The Brothers Death [Nicola Cuti/Jack Sparling] 7p

4) Darkworth! [Nicola Cuti/Mike Royer] 7p

5) New Girl In Town! [Gardner Fox/Dan Adkins] 4p

6) Victim Of The Vampire! [Vern Bennett/Frank Bolle] 7p

7) Vampi’s Flames: Untitled/The Bat [Ron Fisher & Brian O’Malley/Ron Fisher, Ken Christie,

Jerry Conessa, Anthony Kowalik, Jack Becker, Toby Caputi, Chris Haug, Richard

Cherron & Ed Shea] 2p [text stories]

8) One Way Trip [Larry Herndon/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

9) The Wolf-Man [Buddy Saunders/Frank Bolle] 7p

Notes: Editor: James Warren. Ken Kelly does his first cover. Comic Book Artist printed layouts for this cover by Ken’s father-in-law, Frank Frazetta. Best story & art belongs to ‘Darkworth!’ with Mike Royer’s best & sexiest renderings! Story revolves around a stripper—always a good subject for a comic strip! Frank Bolle also has two good strips here.

7. cover: Frank Frazetti (Sept. 1970)

1) An Editorial To The President Of The United States And All The Members Of Congress

[James Warren] 1p [text article, frontis]

2) Why A Witch Trilogy? [Archie Goodwin?/Frank Frazetta & Billy Graham] 1p [text article]

3) Prologue: Three Witches [Nicola Cuti/Tom Sutton] 1p

4) The White Witch! [Nicola Cuti/Tom Sutton] 7p

5) The Mind Witch [Nicola Cuti/Ernie Colon] 7p

6) The Black Witch! [Nicola Cuti/Billy Grahma] 7p

7) Epilogue: Three Witches [Nicola Cuti/Tom Sutton] 1p

8) Plague Of The Wolfe [Doug Moench/Frank Bolle] 7p

9) Terror Test! [R. Michael Rosen/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 7p

10) Vampi’s Flames: Dan Adkins Profile/The Morning Sun/Then Wednesday Afternoon Club

[Dan Adkins/Brian Carrick & Ted Dasen/Toby Caputo] 2p [text article/stories]

11) The Survivor [Buddy Saunders/Ernie Colon] 6p

12) The Collection Creation [R. Michael Rosen/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p [miscredited to Tony

Williamsune]

Notes: An excellent issue! Archie Goodwin becomes an Associate Editor. Frank Frazetta’s corker of a cover shows a witch/shaman with her sabre-tooth cat. The Three Witches stories by Cuti are all quite good and very well drawn. Grandenetti’s work on ‘The Collection Creation’ is worthy of note as well.

8. cover: Ken Kelly (Nov. 1970)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Love! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: Who Serves The Cause Of Chaos? [Archie Goodwin/Tom Sutton] 21p

3) Amazonia: The Demon In The Crypt! [Gardner Fox/Billy Graham] 6p

4) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie

#3 (May 1966)

5) Out Of The Fog…And Into The Mist! [Steve Skeates/Ken Barr] 5p

6) Snake Eyes [Nicola Cuti/Jack Sparling] 7p

7) Vampi’s Flames: Do You Want To Be A Queen?/Queen Of The Night [Steven Teal & Patrick

Boles/Robert Thivierge, Toby Caputi, Phillippe Druillet, Peter Sedeky, Tony De Sensi &

John Wojick] 2p [text stories]

8) Signs Of Sorcery [Don Glut/George Roussos] 7p

9) The Gulfer [Nicola Cuti/Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico] 6p

Notes: The first real Vampirella story appears as her character is revamped into a more serious mode. I should go on record here and state I don’t think Vampirella was ever a strong character. In fact, although always drawn well, her stories were usually quite bland. However, she started up here with a trio of very strong stories from Archie Goodwin & Tom Sutton. Some of the best art Sutton produced for Warren. Amazonia moves here from her previous appearance in Eerie. Bill Fraccio & Tony Tallarico delivers their best art job for Warren. Phillippe Druillet does a rendering of Vampirella but for some reason it appears on the fan page. Peter Sedeky’s fan page illustration was later reworked into the cult underground comic character Octobriana, who later also appeared in Bryan Talbot’s Luther Arkwright series. Another solid issue.

9. cover: Boris Vallejo & Wally Wood (Jan. 1971)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Lilith [Nicola Cuti/Jeff Jones] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: The Testing! [Archie Goodwin/Tom Sutton] 12p

3) Monster Bait! [Don Glut/Joe Wehrle] 6p

4) Fate’s Cold Finger! [Doug Moench/Ken Barr] 6p

5) The Curse [Wally Wood] 8p

6) Jack The Ripper Strikes Again [Chris Fellner/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

7) The Boy Who Loved Trees! [Gardner Fox & Barry Smith/Barry Smith] 6p

8) Vampi’s Flames: Vampi’s Vindication/To Die, To Sleep/The Trap [Archie Goodwin?/Michelle

Knight & Charles Collins/Bruce Holroyd, Peter Hsu, Carlos Maria Federici, Ronald A.

Stringer & Peter Iasillo] 2p [text article & stories]

9) The Work Orders For The Day! [Alac Justice] 7p

Notes: Vallejo’s North American debut cover is shrunk to insert size and surrounded by the splash from Wally Wood’s interior story. Not sure why this was done since it’s a pretty good cover. This issue is a striking mix between very good and not very good at all story and art. Not surprisingly, the best work is by the pros—Wally Wood, Jeff Jones, Jerry Grandenetti, Archie Goodwin, Tom Sutton, Gardner Fox and Barry Smith (nowadays Barry Windsor-Smith, here making his only Warren appearance). The Fox/Windsor-Smith & Wood stories are the best. Future artist Peter Hsu makes his comics debut on the fan page. Goodwin’s editorial on the fan page regards a plagiarized story that appeared in #8’s fan page.

10. cover: Bill Hughes (Mar. 1971)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Face Of Medusa [Billy Graham] 1p [frontis]

2) Fiends In The Night! [Buddy Saunders/Tom Sutton] 8p

3) The Marriage [Steve Skeates/Ralph Reese] 5p

4) Eye Of Newt, Toe Of Frog [Gerry Conway/Frank Brunner] 7p

5) The Soft, Sweet Lips Of Hell! [Denny O’Neil/Neal Adams & Steve Englehart] 10p

6) War Of The Wizards [Wally Wood] 8p

7) A Thing Of Beauty! [Len Wein/Billy Graham] 7p

8) Vampi’s Flames: The Night/The Protective Father/The Telephone Terror!/Results Of The

First Miss Vampire Contest! [Diane Reed, henry C. Brennan, Susan Coakley & ?/Bob

Garrison & Kevin Richert] 2p [text stories/article]

9) Regeneration Gap [Chuck McNaughton/Tom Sutton] 7p

Notes: Future comics writer Mike Barr sends in a letter. The Vampirella story is skipped, presumably due to deadline problems, with two other Tom Sutton drawn stories put in as replacements. Strong issue leads with artistic strength from Sutton, Ralph Reese, Frank Brunner (although the Conway story is rather weak), Wally Wood, Billy Graham and Neal Adams. Top stories come from Len Wein, Steve Skeates, Denny O’Neil & Buddy Saunders. Steve Englehart makes his professional debut as an artist. The Conway/Brunner story was originally intended for Warren rival Web Of Horror.

11. cover: Frank Frazetta (May 1971)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Devil’s Daughter! [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: Carnival Of The Damned! [Archie Goodwin/Tom Sutton] 14p

3) The Escape! [Larry Herndon/L. M. Roca] 6p

4) Prisoner In The Pool! [Buddy Saunders/Dave Cockrum] 6p

5) She’ll Never Learn! [Steve Skeates/Ken Barr] 7p

6) The Green Plague [Nicola Cuti/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p

7) Vampi’s Flames: The Deep/The Elevator [Stephen Darner & ?/Anthony Kowalik, Dave

Manak, Pam Presnell, Richard Bassford, Ed Romer & R. Charron] 2p [text stories]

8) Dragon Woman [Sanho Kim] 9p

Notes: Frazetta’s cover ‘Woman With Scythe’ is one of his most popular. Vampirella returns, and from here on out, will appear in every issue. Richard Bassford’s art on the fan page is a preview for an upcoming six page story that never appeared. Sanho Kim’s art & story are particularly impressive.

12. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (July 1971)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Sirens! [Frank Brunner] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: Death’s Dark Angel [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p

3) Amazonia And The Eye Of Ozirios! [Gardner Fox/Billy Graham] 8p

4) The Quest [Jeff Jones] 7p

5) Annual Warren Awards At The New York Comicon… [Martin Greim/Ernie Colon] 2p [text

article] reprinted from Comic Crusader #10 (1970)

6) Vampi’s Flames: Join Me!/The Leaking Bath Tub! [David Reiffal & Carl Daigrepont, Jr./J.

Haney, Maria Hearley, Hollis Williams, Carlos Federici, James King & Brian Bunick]

2p [text poem/story]

7) To Kill A God! [Wally Wood] 8p

Notes: Editor: Billy Graham. The Spanish invasion begins. Jose Gonzalez debuts on Vampirella, and while he is immediately praised, this effort is only so-so, with somewhat scratchy looking art and mediocre storytelling abilities. Same goes for the accompanying cover by Sanjulian. Nice work from Jeff Jones but the real prize here is Wally Wood’s ‘To Kill A God!’ Just superb work! Gardner Fox’s character, Amazonia, makes her final appearance. Carlos Federici is a professional artist from South America, stuck side by side with amateur American artists on the fan page. Future comic artist Brian Bunick debuts on the fan page.

13. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Sept. 1971)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Lamiae [Gary Kaufman] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: The Lurker In The Deep! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 15p

3) From Death’s Dark Corner! [Gerry Conway/Steve Hickman] 7p

4) The Silver Thief And The Pharoah’s Daughter [Dean Latimer/Jose Bea] 11p

5) The Frog Prince! [Bill DuBay] 5p

6) Vampi’s Flames: Official Contest/Children Of The Atom/The Leaking Bath Tub!, part 2 [J. R.

Cochran, J. G. Barlow, Carl Daigrepont, Jr./Gregg Davidson, Clyde Caldwell & John

Ayella] 2p [contest rules/poem/text story]

7) Eye Of The Beholder [Gary Kaufman] 7p

8) Easy Way To A Tuff Surfboard! [Archie Goodwin/Frank Frazetta] ½p reprinted from Eerie #3

(May 1966)

Notes: Sanjulian’s cover was of much higher quality than the previous issue’s. Some good stories & art here but the real prize is the American debut of Jose Bea. Future cover artist Clyde Caldwell debuts on the fan page.

14. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1971)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Ladies Of Misfortune [Tom Sutton] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: Isle Of The Huntress! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p

3) The Wedding Gift [Nicola Cuti/Mike Ploog] 7p

4) The Sword Of Light [Sam Glanzman] 9p

5) Deadman’s Treasure! [Lynn Marron/Tom Sutton] 9p

6) Vampi’s Flames: Doug Moench Profile/The Crimson Heel!/The Prisoner/The Entity/The Last

Blast! [Doug Moench, Fuat Ulus, Ron Lovett, John Kaska & Dan McGee/Cara Shorman, Robert Shugrue, Jose Munoz, Vivian Jane Amick & Glen Abrams] 2p [text article/

stories]

7) Wolf Hunt [Joe Wehrle/Esteban Maroto] 7p

Notes: Great issue! True, the Vampirella story is no great shakes (but then, they rarely were) but the rest of the issue was dazzling. Sanjulian’s cover was one of the best of the early Vampirella run. Esteban Maroto makes his first Warren appearance (and it’s a beaut!) in ‘Wolf Hunt’. Mike Ploog illustrates a darn good Cuti story. The legendary Sam Glanzman turns in his only Warren work and it’s a fine, fine job! Lynn Marron makes her professional debut with a solid story and Tom Sutton, who probably illustrated more stories by first time writers than anyone else at Warren, provides her with an equally solid art job. Another South American pro, this time Jose Munoz, sees his sample art stuck on the fan page.

15. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Jan. 1972)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Metifa! [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: The Resurrection Of Papa Voudou! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p

3) Quavering Shadows [Doug Moench/Jose Bea] 11p

4) A House Is Not A Home [Dave Mitchell/Nebot] 6p

5) 1971 Comicon Awards Go To Frazetta And Goodwin… [?/?] 3p [text article]

6) Vampi’s Flames: Bill DuBay Profile/Return To Nowhere/Revenge/ Demon’s Curse/Final Log

[Bill DuBay, Richard Lysaght, Kenneth Leggett, Jr., Paul E. King & Robb Wilson/Tom

Vaughn, T. O. Mears & Andres Bakells] 2p [text article/stories w/photo]

7) Welcome To The Witches’ Coven [Don McGregor/Luis Garcia] 12p

Notes: A rather poor issue with ‘Welcome To The Witches’ Coven’ and ‘Quavering Shadows’ being the top stories and art. Interesting, if somewhat clumsy airbrush art on Creepy’s Loathsome Lore. A rather crappy looking Dracula appears on the last page of the Vampirella strip. The Vampi story is ok, but the artwork is middling to downright poor here. Nebot’s art looks like Tony Tallarico’s on a bad day.

16. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Apr. 1972)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Gray Women [Jan Strnad/Rafael Auraleon] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: …And Be A Bride Of Chaos [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 22p

3) Purification [Nebot] 3p

4) Gorilla My Dreams [Gus St. Anthony/Esteban Maroto] 6p

5) Girl On The Red Asteroid [Don Glut/Bill DuBay] 6p

6) Lover! [Pat Boyette] 6p

7) Vampi’s Flames: Jose Gonzlaez Profile/Vampire/Another Night Shot/Spectral Vengeance

[J. R. Cochran, Clint Banks, Mary Lou Jurina & Gurn Lee/Jose Gonzalez, Tom

Blackshear, Charles L. Pauly & Lloyd Fukuki] 1p [text article/stories]

8) How Our Artists See Themselves… [J. R. Cochran/Bill DuBay, Dave Cockrum, Richard

Corben, Jerry Grandenetti & Billy Graham] 1p [Self-portraits]

9) Cilia [Nicola Cuti/Felix Mas] 7p

Notes: Another sub-standard issue, with only Pat Boyette’s tasty ‘Lover!’ rising to the level of a quality story. Future comic writer David Michelinie sends in a letter. Goodwin’s decent script for Vampirella is again brought low by inappropriate and awkward art. In fact, Gonzalez’ artwork on this issue’s fan page was considerably better than what he was producing for the Vampirella strip at this point. The lame Dracula appearing there claims to be the same Dracula from the Goodwin/Crandall story ‘The Coffin Of Dracula’ from Creepy #8 & 9 and, thus, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but he looks and acts nothing like the ‘Coffin’ Dracula. He’s short, paunchy and looks a bit like an aged Italian count. According to J.R.Cochran in a 1974 letter to the fanzine Canar #21-22 (May-June 1974), the feature page ‘How Our Artists See Themselves’ was the cause for the departure of editor Billy Graham when Jim Warren strongly objected to the appearance of the finished page, which had been based on a layout Warren himself suggested.

17. cover: Enrich Torres (June 1972)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Story Of Arachne [Jan Strnad/Rafael Auraleon] 1p [frontis]

2) The Story Behind The Story: ‘Quavering Shadows’ [Doug Moench] ½p [text article on letters’

page & fan page]

3) Vampirella: …Beware, Dreamers [T. Casey Brennan/Jose Gonzalez] 20p

4) Tomb Of The Gods: Horus [Esteban Maroto] 8p

5) Death In The Shadows [Doug Moench/Luis Garcia] 8p

6) A Man’s World [Mike Jennings/Jose Bea] 8p

7) Love Of The Bayou [Jan Strnad/L. M. Roca] 8p

8) Vampi’s Flames: Rafael Auraleon Profile/Reflections Of The Dead/The End!/The Last

Room/Revenge Of The Dead/The Second Age [J. R. Cochran, Robert R. Arbuthnot, P. R.

Seamon, Mark Collins, Doug Moench, Jim Martincie & Bob Siegal/Rafael Auraleon,

Dave Carrigan, Thomas J. Golash & Brant Withers] 2p [text articles/stories]

9) The Wedding Ring [Steve Skeates/Jerry Grandenetti] 7p

Notes: Editor: J. R. Cochran. Price increase to 75 cents and page increase to 72 pages. Don McGregor sends in a letter complaining about Vampirella’s comments at the end of his ‘Witches’ Coven’ story from #15. Maroto’s ‘Tomb Of The Gods’ series was printed in Europe around 1969 or 1970. His artwork had improved a great deal since then, making this series look somewhat undercooked. Much better issue than the previous two with Garcia and Roca providing the best artwork. Strnad’s story ‘Lover Of The Bayou’ is the best story also.

18. cover: Enrich Torres (Aug. 1972)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Nymphs [Kevin Pagan/Luis Garcia] 1p [frontis]

2) Inside 18/The Story Behind The Story: ‘Girl On The Red Astroid’ [J. R. Cochran & Don Glut]

½p [text articles on letters’ page]

3) Vampirella: Dracula Still Lives! [T. Casey Brennan/Jose Gonzalez] 20p

4) Tomb Of The Gods: Kali [Esteban Maroto] 8p

5) Song Of A Sad-Eyed Sorceress [Don McGregor/Luis Garcia] 12p

6) Won’t Get Fooled Again [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 9p

7) Vampi’s Flames: Kevin Pagan Profile/Eye Of The Skull/Vampire/Hidden Danger/The

Assassin/Drink, My Love [Kevin Pagan, Thomas Pallanta, Lloyd M. Auerbach, Eric W. Flesch, Bill Cantey & George Siessel/? Garcia, William Barry, Mike Ploog, Felix Mas, FrankVillano, Jr., Seaward Tuthill] 2p [text article/stories]

8) The Dorian Gray Syndrome [Don Glut/Felix Mas] 6p

Notes: One of Enrich’s best Vampirella covers graces this issue. Gonzalez’s artwork finally begins to justify his reputation as the Vampriella artist. The crappy Dracula is back though. The McGregor/Garcia effort ‘Song Of A Sad-Eyed Sorceress’ is the best story in an issue of generally pretty good stories. A Levi pants ad appears on the fan page, largely because the hippy/stripper chick in the ad wears levi’s with a top resembling Vampi’s skimpy costume.

19. cover: Jose Gonzalez & a montage of previous covers (Sept. 1972)

1) Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Vampirella But Nobody Ever Told You… [J.

R. Cochran] 2p [text article w/photos, frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Vampirella: Shadow Of Dracula! [T. Casey Brennan/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

3) To Kill A God! [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #12 (July 1971)

4) Two Silver Bullets! [Don Glut/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #1 (Oct. 1969)

5) Fate’s Cold Finger! [Doug Moench/ Ken Barr] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #9 (Jan. 1971)

6) Jack The Ripper Strikes Again [Chris Fellner/Jerry Grandenetti] 8p reprinted from Vampirella

#9 (Jan. 1971) [miscredited to Fred Ott]

7) The Survivor [Buddy Saunders/Ernie Colon] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #7 (Sept. 1970)

8) The Soft, Sweet Lips Of Hell! [Denny O’Neil/Neal Adams & Steve Englehart] 10p reprinted

from Vampirella #10 (Mar. 1971)

9) The Silver Thief And The Pharoah’s Daughter [Dean Latimer/Jose Bea] 11p reprinted from

Vampirella #10p (Mar. 1971)

Notes: Cost increase to $1.00 & size increase to 80 pages. The 1972 Vampirella Annual is now included in Vampirella’s regular numbering. Unlike either Creepy or Eerie’s, Vampirella’s annual usually featured a new Vampirella story. The text article reveals that the inspiration for Vampirella was Jane Fonda’s 1968 movie role depiction of Barbarella. It also discloses underground cartoonist Trina Robbins’ hand in designing Vampirella’s costume and look while Frank Frazetta added the serpentine bracelet and the bat design on the crotch of her costume. Gonzalez’s cover art is lifted from his Vampirella poster advertised in the back catalog pages. Manuel Sanjulian painted the Eerie & Creepy poster versions, also advertised there.

20. cover: Luis Dominguez (Oct. 1972)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Matrimonial Murderer [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 1p

[frontis]

2) Inside 20/The Story Behind The Story: ‘A Man’s World!’ [Bill DuBay/Mike Jennings] ½p

[text articles on letters’ page]

3) Vampirella: When Wakes The Dead [T. Casey Brennan/Jose Gonzalez] 14p

4) Tomb Of The Gods: Gender Bender [Esteban Maroto] 11p

5) Vampi’s Books Reviews: Prince Valiant/A History Of The Comic Strip/Ghost Stories/The

Phantom [Chuck McNaughton] 1p [text articles]

6) Love Is No Game [Steve Skeates/Luis Garcia] 6p

7) Eye Opener! [Martin Pasko/Rafael Auraleon] 7p [miscredited to Doug Moench]

8) Vampi’s Flames: Greg Potter Profile/Spectre Of A Goddess/The Time Is Never/The Safe/The

Gift/Advance Guard [Greg Potter, Ron Martin, Wendy Crabtree, Richard Pickman,

Henry C. Brennan & Douglas W. Justice/L. M. Roca, Richard Corben, Hudson Hill, Cara Sherman & Bill Bryan] 2p [text article/stories w/photo]

9) Veageance, Brother, Vengeance! [Greg Potter/Luis Dominguez] 12p

10) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Headless Hauntress Of Shepton Prison [Doug Moench/Rafael

Auraleon] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: Editor: James Warren. Back to 75 cents and 72 pages. Dracula appears again in the Vampirella strip.

The DuBay Era

21. cover: Enrich Torres (Dec. 1972)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Mind-Benders! [Bill DuBay] 2p [frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Inside 21/The Story Behind The Story: ‘Song Of A Sad-Eyed Sorceress!’ [Bill DuBay & Don

McGregor] ½p [text articles on letters’ page]

3) Vampirella: Slithers Of The Sand! [Steve Englehart/Jose Gonzalez] 23p [story credited to

Chad Archer]

4) The Critic’s Crypt: Dracula/Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde/The War Of The Worlds: Audio

Rarities/Themes From Horror Movies [Chuck McNaughton] 1p [text articles]

5) Tomb Of The Gods: A Legend [Esteban Maroto] 8p

6) Paranoia [Steve Skeates/Luis Garcia] 6p

7) Vampirella’s Short-Short Shocker: Puppy Love! [Chuck McNaughton/Rich Buckler] 2p [text

story]

8) Vampi’s Flames: Enrich Torres Profile/A Bedtime Story/The Eternal Thirst/And May He Rest

In Peace!/Idol Of Ualirrma [Bill DuBay, Charles E. Fritch, Wendy Crabtree, Shirley D.

Sipe & Michael Benitez/Enrich Torres, Tom Soderberg, Tim Groh & Robert Randall] 2p

[text article/stories]

9) The Vampiress Stalks The Castle This Night [Don McGregor/Felix Mas] 12p

Notes: Enrich provides a pretty cool cover depicting Vampirella sweating in the desert beneath a Death’s Head sun. Gonzalez’s art on Vampirella continues to improve. Englehart (who used a penname because he was employed by Marvel) also provided an upswing in the quality of the stories, although it proved to be short-lived. Still, only the MacGregor/Mas story is anything to really call home about. The rest are just middlin’ fare. Maroto’s Tomb Of The Gods serial always suffered since both story and art were several years old and the new art he was doing for Creepy {and even the Dax serial reprinted in Eerie} were of much higher quality.

22. cover: Enrich Torres? (Mar. 1973)

1) Silent Night, Unholy Night [Bill DuBay] 2p [frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Vampirella: Hell From On High [Steve Englehart/Jose Gonzalez] 22p

3) Tomb Of The Gods: Orpheus [Esteban Maroto] 7p

4) Dracula Ad [Esteban Maroto] 1p [color]

5) The Viyi [Esteban Maroto] 6p [color]

6) Dracula Ad [Esteban Maroto & Jose Bea] 1p [color]

7) The Sentence! [Steve Skeates/Jose Bea] 7p

8) The Cry Of The Dhampir [John Jacobson/Rafael Auraleon] 13p

9) Vampi’s Flames: Steve Englehart Profile/Delayed Payment/Check, Please!/A Fishy Tale/The

Challenge [Steve Englehart, Richard Sawyer, Henry Lipput, C. Tye & John Purcell/Kerry

Wathen, Ronald Boone & Ira Harmon, Jr.] 2p [text article/stories w/photo]

10) Minra [Ed Newsome/Felix Mas] 7p

Notes: For some reason there was a three month wait between issues. Price increase to $1.00 & size increase to 80 pages. The cover artist is unidentified although he is clearly a Spanish artist. The Warren Companion says it’s Enrich Torres, but it just doesn’t look like his work to me. Doug Moench sends in a letter correcting a story miscredit in #20. Somewhat of a ripoff occurring here as the color section is the same as in Creepy #51. However, the issue is redeemed by printing the excellent story ‘The Cry Of The Dhampir’. The magazine’s frequency is pushed up to 9 issues a year.

23. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Apr. 1973)

1) Vampirella: The Blood Queen Of Bayou Parish! [Steve Englehart/Jose Gonzalez] 18p

2) Cobra Queen [Don Glut/Esteban Maroto] 7p

3) Call It Companionship! [Steve Skeates/Ramon Torrents] 6p

4) The Accursed! [Kevin Pagan/Jose Bea] 8p

5) The Witch’s Promise [Gerry Boudreau/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

6) Won’t Eddie Ever Learn? [Jim Stenstrum/Felix Mas] 10p

Notes: Sanjulian’s ‘Egyptian Princess’ cover is somewhat similar to Frazetta’s cover from Eerie #23, although Sanjulian’s princess is considerably skinner. Price decrease to 75 cents and size decrease to 72 pages. Good issue with superior art from Auraleon & Maroto.

24. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1973)

1) Vampirella: Into The Inferno! [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 13p

2) Middle-Am! [Steve Skeates/Esteban Maroto] 6p

3) Homo Superior [R. Michael Rosen/Ramon Torrents] 13p

4) The Choice [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

5) Changes [Steve Skeates/Felix Mas] 10p

6) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #53] 1p [text articles]

Notes: Steve Englehart’s script for ‘In The Inferno!’ was lost in the mail with no backup available so Bill DuBay wrote an entirely different story with the same title for Vampirella. Vampi’s fan page was dropped for a features page that was identical for each horror magazine in the Warren stable.

25. cover: Enrich Torres (June 1973)

1) A Guest Editorial By Phil Seuling [Phil Seuling] ½p [text article on letters’ page]

2) Vampirella: What Price Love [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

3) The Haunted Child [Nicola Cuti/Rafael Auraleon] 11p

4) Nimrod [Jack L. Bannow/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

5) Cold Calculation [Doug Moench/Ramon Torrents] 7p

6) The Dead Howl At Midnight! [W. Eaton/Jose Bea] 8p

7) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #54] 1p [text articles]

Notes: Must have been some last minute deadline problems, as this issue’s ‘Cold Calculation’ is advertised for the next issue on the back cover!

26. cover: montage of interior panels (Aug. 1973)

1) Death And Doctor Morbidus [George Henderson/Rafael Auraleon] 2p [frontis & on inside

back cover] from the story by ?

2) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #56] 1p [text articles]

3) Vampirella: Demons In The Fog! [Len Wein/Escolano & Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) Moonspawn [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 10p

5) Fringe Benefits [ Doug Moench/Jose Bea] 7p [color]

6) Dracula Ad [Esteban Maroto] 1p [color]

7) Demon Child [James Crawford/Ramon Torrents] 9p

8) Blood Brothers! [Lynn Marron/Isidro Mones] 10p

27. cover: Enrich Torres (Nov. 1973)

1) Capture [Bill DuBay] 2½p [game; frontis, interior page & on inside back cover]

2) Wolf Hunt [Joe Wehrle/Esteban Maroto] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #14 (Nov. 1971)

3) Welcome To The Witches’ Coven [Don McGregor/Luis Garcia] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #15 (Jan. 1972)

4) Quavering Shadows [Doug Moench/Jose Bea] 11p reprinted from Vampirella #15 (Jan. 1972)

5) The Frog Prince! [Bill DuBay] 5p reprinted from Vampirella #13 (Sept. 1971)

6) Vampirella: Return Trip [Josep Toutain/Jose Gonzalez] 8p [color]

7) Cilia [Nicola Cuti/Felix Mas] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #16 (Apr. 1972)

8) Quest [Jeff Jones] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #12 (July 1971)

9) War Of The Wizards [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #10 (Mar. 1971)

Notes: The 1973 Vampirella Annual. Good, solid reprint issue with one new story. Price increase to $1.00 & size incease to 80 pages.

28. cover: Enrich Torres (Oct. 1973)

1) Werewolf! [Bill DuBay] 2p [game; frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Vampi’s Vaults [same as Creepy #57] 1p [text articles]

3) Vampirella and The Curse Of The Macdaemons! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) The Clash Of Leviathans! [Doug Moench/Ramon Torrents] 9p

5) Blind Man’s Guide [Fernando Fernadez] 9p

6) The Power And The Gory! [W. Eaton/Rafael Auraleon] 8p [color]

7) Eye Don’t Want To Die! [Doug Moench/Ramon Torrents] 6p

8) The Other Side Of Heaven! [Jose Bea] 10p

9) Old Texas Road [Bruce Bezaire/Isidro Mones] 7p

Notes: Good cover by Enrich. Back to normal price & size again. New Vampirella writer Mike Butterworth always used the pen name Flaxman Loew. Pretty good issue with Fernando Fernandez’s American debut taking the honors for best story & art. Fernandez was a great addition to the Warren artist line. His artwork was beautiful and his stories were generally of unusually high quality. Almost all of his stories appeared in Vampirella. Jose Bea also delivered a superior story with ‘The Other Side Of Heaven!’. Bruce Bezaire {the guy with the best name in horror comics!} makes his professional debut. Bezaire wouldn’t write nearly enough for Warren {and he seems to have completely disappeared after his writing stint there} but all his stories were noteworthy for their strong plotting, tight scripts and superior quality. One wishes he had written a good deal more.

29. cover: Enrich Torres (Nov. 1973)

1) A History Of Vampires [Bill DuBay] 2p [frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Vampi’s Vaults [same as Creepy #58] 1p [text articles]

3) Vampirella and The Undead Of The Deep! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) The Evil Eye [W. Eaton/Ramon Torrents] 8p

5) Stairway To Heaven! [Fernando Fernandez] 8p

6) Last Lunch For Rats! [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 9p

7) The Vampires Are Coming! The Vampires Are Coming! [Doug Moench/Isidro Mones] 10p

8) Two Vampirella’s Stun 5,500 At 1973 Comic Art Convention [Gerry Boudreau] 1p [text

article w/photos]

Notes: Odd cover with a very nicely rendered Vampirella menaced by a giant toad! A solid, if not spectacular, issue.

30. cover: Enrich Torres (Jan. 1974)

1) A History Of Vampires [Bill DuBay] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampi’s Vaults [same as Eerie #54] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) Vampirella: The God Of Blood [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) Pantha: Re-Birth! [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

5) As Though They Were Living! [Gerry Boudreau/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

6) Memoirs! [Fernando Fernandez] 8p

7) Captain Death [Carl Wessler/Isidro Mones] 8p

8) Next Issue Ad featuring Luana [Neal Adams from Frank Frazetta] 1p [color, on back cover]

Notes: Nifty cover featuring Vampirella. Pantha, a new series about a stripper who turned into a murderous black panther, debuts. Although the series was carried long past its needed expiration date, the first half dozen or so stories {particularly those written by creator Skeates} are quite good. Fernandez’s delivers the best story & art. The back cover has a tracing by Neal Adams of Frazetta’s upcoming cover.

31. cover: Frank Frazetta (Mar. 1974) reprinted from the Luana movie poster & novelization

1) A Few Words And Pictures About Our Brand New Comic Magazine [Bill DuBay/Will Eisner

& Bill DuBay] 2p [text article, frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #59] 1p [text articles w/photos]

3) Vampirella: The Betrothed Of The Sun-God! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) Pantha: Family Ties! [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

5) The Truth! [Fernando Fernandez] 10p

6) The Woodlik Inheritance! [Richard Corben] 7p [color]

7) The Strange, Incurable Phobia Of Mad Pierre Langlois! [Jose Bea] 8p

8) Luana [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 13p from the film

Notes: Price increase to $1.00 & size increase to 80 pages. Frazetta’s cover is the first time Warren published one of his paintings that they had not originally commissioned. This is a surprisingly good issue with Gonzalez’s art on Vampi perhaps his best to date. Pantha delivered a strong episode while Fernando Fernandez & Richard Corben shared honors for best story & art. I don’t know how closely the Luana adaptation followed the screenplay but it was quite a lot of fun to read and Maroto’s art is very good.

32. cover: Enrich Torres (Apr. 1974)

1) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #60] 1p [text articles w/photo]

2) Vampirella: The Running Red [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

3) Pantha: Black On White [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

4) Presenting The 1973 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

5) Harry [Jeff Jones] 6p [color]

6) Dead Run [Jeff Jones] 2p [color]

7) The Man Whose Soul Was Spoiling! [Fernando Fernandez] 12p

8) Just Like Old Times! [Rich Margopoulos/Ramon Torrents] 10p

Notes: Back to 72 pages. A bland cover but some good stories. Jones’ stories weren’t great but the art was. Pantha’s entry is great fun. Best story goes, {yet again!} to Fernandez but the Margopoulos/Torrents story was quite nice, as well.

33. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1974)

1) The Believer [Jeff Jones & Berni Wrightson] 2p [frontis & on inside back cover]

2) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #61] 1p [text articles w/photos]

3) Vampirella And The Sultana’s Revenge! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) Pantha: Childhood Haunt! [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

5) Top To Bottom [Jack Butterworth/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

6) …Number 37 Is Missing! [Budd Lewis/Isidro Mones] 10p

7) Barfly! [John Jacobson/Adolfo Abellan] 12p

Notes: Nice cover with Vampi menaced by a giant spider (just like Conan!). Gonzalez’s art continues to improve while Vampirella’s stories remained the light, frothy waste of time they usually were. Jeff Jones & Berni Wrightson’s two pager was pretty darn good as was Pantha’s conclusion to her first story arc. Budd Lewis, Isidro Mones & John Jacobson all contributed strong material but the cream of the crop here is Jack Butterworth and Richard Corben’s ‘Top To Bottom’—a real understated classic. Butterworth’s work as a writer for Warren is often overlooked but he was quite good and very consistant in his quality. He may not have written a lot of great stories {although his ‘Oil Of Dog’ adaptation in Eerie is one of the best adaptations Warren ever ran} but there’s also not a single story of his you could hold up as an example of a poor story. A steady writer, in the same way that Archie Goodwin was a steady writer.

34. cover: Enrich Torres (June 1974)

1) Extraordinary Verse [William Blake/Jeff Jones] 1p [poem, frontis] from the poem ‘The

Tiger’ by Blake

2) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #62] 1p [text article w/photo]

3) Vampirella: The Carnival Of Death! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) Miranda [Fred Ott/Felix Mas] 6p

6) Fleur: From The Spain Of Legend! [John Jacobson/Ramon Torrents] 10p

7) Black And White Vaccum To Blues [Doug Moench/Estevan Maroto] 8p [color]

8) Recurrence! [Steve Skeates/Jose Bea] 8p

9) Cold Cuts [Berni Wrightson/Jeff Jones] 6p

Notes: Editor: Archie Goodwin with Bill DuBay listed as senior editor. Enrich’s unusual paneled cover shouldn’t have worked but did (plus, Vampi had a nice rump!). Future publisher Mark V. Ziesing sends in a letter begging for a SF magazine. Somebody forgot to change the feature page heading and it went out under Creepy’s title. There were a number of Fleur stories—most with a raunchy softcore sexual aspect to them. This first one, however, is pretty straight and quite good with fine work from Torrents. For some reason, Maroto’s art never looked good in color. This issue’s story was no exceptation. ‘Recurrance!’ is a very well written & drawn story but ‘Cold Cuts’ so perfectly captures the icy northlands that it’s set in that it becomes an instant classic.

35. cover: Enrich Torres (Aug. 1974)

1) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #63] 1p [text articles]

2) Vampirella: The Blood-Gulper [Mike Butterworth/Jose Ortiz] 12p

3) Relatives! [Bruce Bezaire/Esteban Maroto] 6p

4) Fleur: Our Tarts Were Young And Gay! [John Jacobson/Ramon Torrents] 10p

5) Pure As Snow [Jack Butterworth/Felix Mas] 8p [color]

6) The Night Ran Red With Gore [Carl Wessler/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

7) Rendezvous! [Fernando Fernandez] 10p

Notes: Enrich delivers a great cover! One of Vampirella’s best! Future ‘Dr. Watchstop’ artist/writer Ken Macklin sends in a letter. Jose Ortiz fills in on Vampi’s strip but he seems to be following Gonzalez’s style rather than his own. It’s quite good, though. Felix Mas’ artwork looked even worse in color than Maroto’s! Fernandez’s story was, once again, the best thing in the issue.

36. cover: Manuel Sanjulian/back cover: Enrich Torres (Sept. 1974)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #64] 1p [text articles w/photos]

3) Vampirella: The Vampire Of The Nile [Mike Butterworth/Jose Ortiz] 12p

4) A Wonderful Morning! [Fernando Fernandez] 8p [color]

5) The Tiara Of Dagon! [John Jacobson/Esteban Maroto] 6p

6) Good To The Last Drop! [Martin Pasko/Ramon Torrents] 7p

7) Swordplay [Martin Pasko/Felix Mas] 7p

8) Prey For Me! [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 12p

9) Puppet-Player! [Jose Bea] 8p [color]

10) Vampirella’s Farewell [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: $1.25 price increase & size increase to 80 pages. Bill DuBay returns as editor. Sanjulian paints Vampi as the Queen Of Hearts for the cover. Ortiz again fills in on Vampi, again with nice results. Fernandez looks much better in the color section {especially with Corben’s color} than the previous occupants. Jose Bea’s color section was good, too. Maroto’s art job is nice, although a couple of pages look like he may have had some help in inking.

37. cover: Manuel Sanjulian/back cover: Enrich Torres (Oct. 1974)

1) Cobra Queen [Don Glut/Esteban Maroto] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #23 (Apr. 1973)

2) Vampirella: She Who Waits! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 8p [color]

3) Song Of A Sad-Eyed Sorceress [Don McGregor/Luis Garcia] 12p reprinted from Vampirella

#18 (Aug. 1972)

4) The Cry Of The Dhampir [John Jacobson/Rafael Auraleon] 12p reprinted from Vampirella

#22 (Mar. 1973)

5) Demon Child [James Crawford/Ramon Torrents] 9p reprinted from Vampirella #26 (Aug.

1973)

6) The Vampiress Stalks The Castle This Night [Don McGregor/Felix Mas] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #21 (Dec. 1972)

7) Blood Brothers! [Lynn Marron/Isidro Mones] 10p reprinted from Vampirella #26 (Aug. 1973)

8) The Accursed! [Kevin Pagan/Jose Bea] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #23 (Apr. 1973)

Notes: The 1974 Vampirella Annual. Enrich’s back cover is quite good. Goodwin’s original Vampirella story is a sequel to the reprinted ‘Cobra Queen’ although that story isn’t modified to fit Goodwin’s tale. Gonzalez proves once again he can’t stage a fight scene.

38. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Nov. 1974)

1) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #66] 1p [text articles w/photo]

2) Vampirella: The Mummy’s Revenge [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzelez] 12p

3) Gypsy Curse [Gerry Boudreau & Carl Wessler/Esteban Maroto] 6p

4) Lucky Stiff [Gerry Boudreau & Carl Wessler/Ramon Torrents] 5p

5) Out Of The Nameless City [John Jacobson/Felix Mas] 12p

6) On Little Cat Feet! [John Jacobson/Rafael Auraleon] 11p

7) Trick Of The Tide [Jack Butterworth/Isidro Mones] 6p

Notes: Decent cover by Sanjulian. Size reduction to 72 pages. The story’s just ok but the artwork by Maroto on ‘Gypsy Curse’ is simply beautiful. Best story is ‘Trick Of The Tide’.

39. cover: Ken Kelly (Jan. 1975)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #67] 1p [text article w/photos]

3) Vampirella: The Head-Hunter Of London [Mike Butterworth/Leopold Sanchez] 12p

4) The Sultan Of 42^nd Street [Carl Wessler & Gerry Boudreau/Felix Mas] 6p

5) Snow White And The Deadly Dwarfs [Steve Skeates & Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 6p

6) Dracula: The Circus Of King Carnival! [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

7) The Curse Of Castle Vlad! [Doug Moench/Rafael Auraleon] 13p

8) The French Coagulation [Carl Wessler & Gerry Boudreau/Luis Bermejo] 8p

9) Vampirella’s Farewell [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [on inside back cover]

Notes: Interesting Kelly cover, showing a silvery naked woman with coral snakes for fingers bursting out of a giant skull. It is noticeable that Gonzalez’s Vampirella pin-ups are considerably better drawn than his actual stories. Maroto delivers two stories this issue and both are among his best, although the color mars to some degree his work on the Dracula story. That Dracula story stars the same Dracula that had previously appeared in the Vampirella strip & in his own never completed series in Eerie. He’d been a moronic joke in the Vampi stories but the Eerie series had gone a long way to rehabilitate him, especially with great art by Sutton, Buckler & DuBay, so it was a loss to have it suddenly stop. This three-part series takes place a number of years after the aborted earlier series and is quite well written by Boudreau and illustrated by Maroto. Luis Bermejo makes his Warren debut with this issue and for the first three years or so, his artwork is just flat out beautiful, as impressive in its own way as Ortiz’s or Maroto’s. Afterwards it became much more run of the mill, perhaps reflecting an increasing heavy workload as he became the regular artist on ‘The Rook’.

40. cover: Enrich Torres/back cover: Ken Kelly (Mar. 1975)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampi’s Vault [same as Creepy #68] 1p [text articles w/photo]

3) Vampirella: The Nameless Ravisher! [Mike Butterworth/Leopold Sanchez] 12p

4) Dracula: The Winged Shaft Of Fate [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

5) The Face Of Death! [Carl Wessler/Ramon Torrents] 7p

6) The Man Who Never Was [Fernando Fernandez] 12p

7) The Time Eater [Jack Butterworth/Paul Neary] 12p

8) Home For The Holidays [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermeno] 8p

Notes: $1.25 price & 80 page length. Nice cover by Enrich. Fernandez returns but his scratchy art approach on his story is irritating and distracts from the decent script. ‘Home For The Holidays’ is a leftover from Creepy’s Christmas special. It must have missed the deadline, much like the DuBay/Ortiz story, as it would have made a better substitute for that story than the Moench/Severin story that actually appeared there. Best story & art is from ‘The Face Of Death’ by Wessler & Torrents. Wessler was an old hand at horror stories, having worked for EC in the 1950s. His stories, at times, seemed rather tame next to the new style of horror, but he never delivered less than something interesting and, on occasion, a good deal more than that. Torrent’s was a very popular artist at Warren, his near photographic art style lending itself to a wide variety of stories.

41. cover: Enrich Torres (Apr. 1975)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: The Story [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

3) Vampirella: The Malignant Morticians [Mike Butterworth/Leopold Sanchez] 12p

4) Dracula: Rainy Night In Georgia [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p

5) The House On The Sea [Jim Stenstrum/Rafael Auraleon] 20p

6) The Wickford Witches [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 6p

7) Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye [Fernando Fernandez] 12p

Notes: Back to $1.00 & 72 pages. Behind a very gothic cover (except for Vampi’s costume, of course) were some decent stories and one truly excellent one. Dracula concluded his run with his best story. Fernandez again employed a scratchy art approach but this time it worked in service of the story. However, the great tale here is the Stenstrum/Auraleon ‘The House On The Sea’. One of the longest non-Vampirella stories to appear in this magazine, it felt anything but padded. It concerns a fog-bound ship, the HMS Pot-Valiant, caught in the doldrums and in the midst of a mutiny, which crashes against a huge stone house in the middle of the ocean. The revelations as the captain and crew explore the house and meet the strange occupants therein are perhaps, not the freshest of notions, but it is delivered so well that you could easily see this as a great episode of The Twilight Zone. Just a well-told story.

42. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1975)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: Lettering [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

3) Vampirella: The Mountain Of Skulls [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

4) Around The Corner…Just Beyond Eternity! [Victor Mora & Gerry Boudreau/Luis Garcia] 12p

[story credited solely to Boudreau]

5) Laugh, Clown, Laugh! [Shelly Leferman/Ramon Torrents] 8p [art miscredited to Esteban

Maroto]

6) Pantha: Straw On The Wind [Budd Lewis/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

7) The Whitfield Contract [Fernando Fernandez] 12p

8) Presenting The 1974 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: Pantha, the were-cat, returns with a new writer. It’s a pretty good story, although I’d rate it higher if I didn’t know that this sequel to the good first series was merely a lead-in to her dreadful meeting with Vampirella. Shelly Leferman, who wrote ‘Laugh, Clown, Laugh!’ was Warren’s longtime letterer. The return of artist Luis Garcia was a welcome sight.

43. cover: Ribas (June 1975)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

3) The Wolves At War’s End! [Victor Mora & Budd Lewis/Luis Garcia] 14p [story credited

solely to Lewis, art credited to Jose Garcia]

4) The Easter Bunny Murders [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 9p

5) Cult Of The Dead! [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 8p

6) The Last Testament Of Angus Crow! [Fernando Fernandez] 9p

Notes: Interesting cover painting by Ribas, who only did this one cover for Warren. Future writer Bob Rodi sends in a letter. The Vampirella story was untitled. ‘The Wolves At War’s End!’ was a credit to all concerned. Easily the best story in a mediocre issue.

44. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1975)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Neal Adams] 1p [frontis]

2) Everything You Always Wanted To Know…About The Comics!: The Art [Bill DuBay] 1p

[text article]

3) Vampirella: Blood For The Dancing Sorcerer [Bill DuBay & Gerry Boudreau/Jose Gonzalez]

15p

4) Love Strip [Gerry Boudreau & Victor Mora/Luis Garcia] 18p

5) Troll [Bruce Bezaire/Ramon Torrents] 10p

6) Pantha: Changling [Budd Lewis/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

Notes: ‘Love Strip’ is not really a horror story, or maybe it is, just not your usual one. The story concerns a comic artist who specializes in romance strips, just as Garcia did at one point of his career, who appears to be going crazy from the sheer boredom of it, while his personal life shatters around him. Good art & script. The Pantha story’s startling cliffhanger ending would certainly have worked better if the concluding story had ever appeared! As it was, Pantha’s solo strip vanished and she would resurface as a supporting character in Vampirella. A big comedown for the stripper catgirl. ‘Troll’ had a decent script by the talented Bezaire that reminded one somewhat of Harlan Ellison’s “Repent, Harlequin!” Said The Ticktockman!’, but Torrent’s photo-realistic artwork undercut its whimsy at every turn.

45. cover: montage of pervious covers (Sept. 1975)

1) Vampirella: Blood Wager [Len Wein/Gonzalo Mayo] 21p

2) The Parable Of The Hermits Of Glastonbury Tor [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 8p

3) Janis! [Victor Mora & Budd Lewis/Luis Garcia] 8p [color]

4) A Hero Born Of Wishes [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 10p

5) The Winter Of Their Discontent [Gerry Boudreau/Isidro Mones] 7p

6) There Are No Children In Hungry Hollow, Tennessee [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 9p

Notes: Bob Rodi sends in yet another letter. Price increase to $1.25 and size increase to 80 pages. For the first time in years Vampirella had a quality story to match the quality artwork. A superior issue.

46. cover: Ken Kelly (Oct. 1975)

1) Vampirella: The Origin Of Vampirella [J. R. Cochran & Budd Lewis/Joze Gonzalez] 15p plot

& art reprinted from Vampirella 1972 Annual (1972)

2) Vampirella: Death’s Dark Angel [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p reprinted from

Vampirella #12 (July 1971)

3) Vampirella: Isle Of The Huntress [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p reprinted from

Vampirella #14 (Nov. 1971)

4) Vampirella: The Monster Called Vampirella [Bill DuBay/Zesar Lopez] 8p [color]

Notes: Vampirella’s 1975 Annual. ‘The Origin Of Vampirella’ reprint has a new script by Budd Lewis, further revamping Vampi’s origin.

47. cover: Enrich Torres (Dec. 1975)

1) Vampirella: Mother’s Coming Home [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

2) The Secret Legacy Of Gaslight Lil’ [Victor Mora & Bill DuBay/Luis Garcia] 12p [story

credited solely to DuBay & art credited to Jose Garcia]

3) Children Of Wrath [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 10p

4) Gamal And The Cockatrice [Bruce Bezaire/Rafael Auraleon] 12p

5) The January Man [Gerry Boudreau/Luis Bermejo] 8p

Notes: Size reduction to 64 pages. Letters’ page reduced to one page. The lead male character in ‘Gaslight Lil’ is based on Paul Newman. One of the best stories Warren published appears here: ‘Gamal And The Cockatrice’ is a marvelous story dealing with the art of ‘grifting’. Or is it? In the end neither the reader nor the audience Gamal tells his story to is sure (or can ever be sure) if Gamal ever really fought the cockatrice or not. This is both Bezaire’s & Auraleon’s best work, and that’s saying a lot for both men. A dazzling example of sheer storytelling.

48. cover: Enrich Torres (Jan. 1976)

1) Vampirella: The Wonder World Of Ambergris, Kato And Tonto, too! [Bill DuBay/Zesar

Lopez] 10p

2) The Satan Complex [Bill DuBay/Ramon Torrents] 16p

3) Of Death And Distinction [Gerry Boudreau/Joaquim Blasquez] 8p

4) The Miracle Hands Of Simon Silverstone [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 7p

5) Star-Bright Lantern 909 [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 9p

Notes: Zesar Lopez, who had done quite a lot of work for Warren’s rival Skywald, does a nice job here. His style is quite a lot like Jose Gonzalez’s, but his storytelling and layouts are better {although Gonzalez still draws a prettier Vampi}.

49. cover: Enrich Torres (Mar. 1976)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Ramon Torrents & Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampi’s Vault [Louise Jones?] 1p [questionnaire]

3) Vampirella: The Blood Red Queen Of Hearts [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 12p

4) The Thing In Jane’s Closet [Budd Lewis/Ramon Torrents] 8p

5) Then One Foggy Christmas Eve [Gerry Boudreau/Joaquin Blasquez] 8p

6) Jewel In The Mouth Of A Snake [Jose Bea] 8p

7) The Succubus Stone [Gerry Boudreau & Steve Clement/Ramon Torrents] 8p [color]

8) The Oblong Box [Rich Margopoulos/Isidro Mones] 14p from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

Notes: Enrich’ cover of Vampi in front of a queen of hearts card is very effective. $1.25 price & 80 pages in length. For the first time since the Goodwin/Sutton days a Vampirella story was the best story in the magazine. The introduction of DuBay’s Blood Red Queen and very effective artwork by Maroto combined to present a darn good story. The rest of the issue was decent also. The Boudreau/Blasquez story was overflow from the Creepy Christmas special. The Poe adaptation was overflow from Creepy’s Edgar Allan Poe specials. It didn’t really matter though as both were good stories.

50. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Apr. 1976)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: Call Me Panther! [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 6p

3) Vampirella: The High-Gloss Egyptian Junk Peddler [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

4) Vampirella: Granny Ghoose & The Baby Dealers [Bill DuBay/Ramon Torrents] 10p

5) Vampirella: The Final Star Of Morning [Bill DuBay/Bill DuBay & Jeff Jones] 8p

6) Pendragon: The Thing In Denny Colt’s Grave [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz & Will Eisner] 8p

[Eisner’s art appears in only one panel]

7) Ground Round [Roger McKenzie/Rafael Auraleon] 7p

Notes: Back to $1.00 and 64 pages. Vampi’s 50^th anniversary issue was actually not bad. The four Vampirella strips and Pendragon’s first solo story form a long book-length story. Pantha {last seen in #44}, Fleur {last seen in #35} and the Spirit guest star. This story tied up the loose ends left over from Pantha’s second serial. Nice artwork throughout.

51. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1976)

1) Warren Publishing Company Will Pay $500 Reward… [James Warren] 1p [text piece,

frontis]

2) Vampirella: Rise Of The Undead [Mike Butterworth/Howard Chaykin & Gonzalo Mayo] 12p

3) The Edge Of Tomorrow [Gerry Boudreau/Zesar Lopez] 8p

4) Uncle Wiggly’s Magic Box [Bill DuBay/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

5) Whitechapel [Gerry Boudreau/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

6) The Castle, The Dungeon And All [Gerry Boudreau/Vicente Alcazar] 8p

7) Presenting The 1975 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: Louise Jones is listed as assistant editor & James Warren is editor-in-chief. Mayo’s inks totally erase any sense of Chaykin’s art in the Vampi segment. An average, decent, unspectacular issue for this period of Vampirella’s run.

52. cover: Enrich Torres (July 1976)

1) Warren Publishing Company Will Pay $500 Reward… [James Warren] 1p [text article,

replaces the letters’ page]

2) Vampirella: Dr. Wrighter’s Asylum Of Horror [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 12p

3) Vampirella: The Beauty And The Beast [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 12p

4) The House At Blood Corner [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 9p

5) Stake-Out! [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 8p

6) The Segerson Experiment [Gerry Boudreau/Zesar Lopez] 8p

Notes: One of Enrich’s most popular covers of Vampirella also begins a trend of using Vampi as a pin-up character on the cover rather than doing an illustrative cover dealing with one of her stories.

53. cover: Enrich Torres (Aug. 1976)

1) Warren Publishing Company Will Pay $500 Reward… [James Warren] 1p [text article,

frontis]

2) Vampirella: The Human Marketplace [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

3) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Opium Is The Religion Of The People [Gerry Boudreau/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

5) The Professional [Bruce Jones/Zesar Lopez] 9p

6) The Last Man Syndrome [Roger McKenzie/Ramon Torrents] 8p

7) Jackie And The Leprechaun King [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 12p

Notes: Roger McKenzie sends in a letter praising his own Warren debut from #50! Louise Jones is listed as senior editor. Torrents’ human skull panel on page 39 is a direct swipe from a Skywald back cover drawing of the same image by Pablo Marcos. ‘Jackie And The Leprechaun King’ seems to be a takeoff of the song ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’.

54. cover: Enrich Torres (Sept. 1976)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Louise Jones/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: The Day The Music Died [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 14p

3) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Vampirella: Twilight Of Blood [Gerry Boudreau/Gonazlo Mayo] 14p

5) Vampirella: Chaos In A Sleepy Suburb [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 14p

6) Bowser [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

Notes: $1.25 in price & 72 pages in length. As in #50, the Vampirella stories are all chapters in a longer tale. The story’s overly complicated but it’s still better than the average Vampi story. ‘Bowser’ was to have appeared two years earlier in Creepy #67, but a mix-up at the printers resulted in another Corben color section being inserted in its place.

55. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Oct. 1976) reprinted from Vampirella #36 (Sept. 1974)

1) Vampirella: The Resurrection Of Papa Voodoo! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p

reprinted from Vampirella #15 (Jan. 1972)

2) Vampirella: And Be A Bride Of Chaos [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p reprinted from

Vampirella #16 (Mar. 1972)

3) Vampirella: The Corpse With The Missing Mind [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 8p [color]

4) Vampirella: The Lurker In The Deep! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 15p reprinted from

Vampirella #13 (Sept. 1971)

5) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

Notes: The 1976 Vampirella Annual.

56. cover: Enrich Torres (Dec. 1976)

1) Vampirella’s Introduction [Louise Jones/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: The Headless Horseman Of All-Hallow’s Eve! [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

3) The Comic Books: Tarzan’s Travails [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Mute [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 10p

5) Skruffy’s Gargoyle! [Bill DuBay/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

6) Cavalcade Of Monsters [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 8p

7) The Free Lancer [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 11p

Notes: Although the story’s not much, the artwork on Vampi’s story & frontis by Gonzalez is great! ‘Mute’ by Bruce Jones & Luis Bermejo has the best story & art but this is quite a good issue. No real low points at all.

57. cover: Enrich Torres (Jan. 1977)

1) Vampirella: City Of Ghosts [Roger McKenzie/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

2) The Comic Books: One Down… [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Rusty Bucklers [Bruce Jones/Esteban Maroto] 8p

4) Stand-In [Bruce Jones/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p

5) Magnificent Ephemeral [Bruce Jones/Ramon Torrents] 12p

6) An Insult To Science [Fernando Fernandez/Jose Miralles] 10p

Notes: Don’t know who did the lettering but a number of the Spanish artists’ names were misspelled this issue. ‘Magnificent Ephemeral’ presents the best art & story. ‘Rusty Bucklers’ and ‘An Insult To Science’ are also quite good.

58. cover: Enrich Torres (Mar. 1977)

1) Vampirella: Lenore [Roger McKenzie/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

2) The Comic Books: Less Is More [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) A Matchstick Angel [Budd Lewis/Ramon Torrents] 9p

4) Yellow Heat [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 8p

5) The Christmas Flower [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 10p

6) The Wambaugh [Bruce Jones/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

7) Little Monster [Roger McKenzie/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p

8) The Sleeping Beauty [Bill DuBay & Esteban Maroto/Esteban Maroto] 8p

Notes: $1.50 and 88 pages. One of Warren’s top twenty stories appears this issue with the Jones/Heath dazzler ‘Yellow Heat’. Bruce Jones’ calm, cool script leads you in one direction while setting you up with a honey of a story twist, while the reproduced pencil art of Russ Heath is simply jawdroppingly lovely. The rest of the issue presents us with some pretty good stories and art, particularly by Marato, Torrents, Lewis, McKenzie, Infantino & Giordano. Maroto’s ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ is printed sideways. Both ‘A Matchstick Angel’ and ‘The Christmas Flower’ are spill-overs from the Creepy Christmas special.

59. cover: Enrich Torres (Apr. 1977)

1) Vampirella: Pendragon’s Last Bow [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Changes [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

4) Funeral Day [Roger McKenzie/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) Force-Feed [Cary Bates/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

6) The Plot’s The Thing [Roger McKenzie/Martin Salvador] 7p

7) The Beast Is Yet To Come [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: Who knew Enrich had an artistic sense of humor? His cover stars Vampi in a spoof of romance comics. One suspects this issue must have come out around Valentine’s Day. Back to $1.25 & 72 pages.

60. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1977)

1) Vampirella: The Return Of The Blood Red Queen [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) He Who Laughs Last…Laughs Best [Bruce Jones/Carmine Infantino & Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

4) Riding Shotgun [Gerry Boudreau/Luis Bermejo] 8p

5) Wish You Were Here [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 8p

6) Fallen Angels [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

7) Presenting The 1976 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/Bill DuBay, Bruce Jones & Leopold

Sanchez] 2p [text article]

Notes: The Blood Red Queen returns in a new Vampi serial, from her first appearance in #49. Quite good art here & the story starts off in fine fashion, but soon the quality is at the same mediocre level as most Vampi tales. Best story comes from Bruce Jones while the best art is by Esteban Maroto. Marato’s story is printed sideways. There’s also good art & stories from DuBay, Boudreau, Bermejo, Infantino & Mayo.

61. cover: Enrich Torres (July 1977)

1) Vampirella: An Eye For An Eye [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Skimpole’s Monsters [Bill DuBay/Ramon Torrents] 13p

4) Brother Hawk [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Alex Nino] 8p

5) The Enchanting Fable Of Thistlewhite The Bold [Bill DuBay/Russ Heath] 8p

6) Companions To The Sun [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

Notes: A pretty good issue, with the delightful ‘Thistlewhite The Bold’ story taking honors for best story & art. The other stories, even Vampirella’s, were quite good as well.

62. cover: Enrich Torres (Aug. 1977)

1) Vampirella: Starpatch, Quark & Mother Blitz [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) U.F.O. [Josep Toutain/Ramon Torrents] 9p

4) Beautiful Screamer [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

5) Time Ticket [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 6p

6) Fog [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p

7) By Treason’s Knife [Gerry Boudreau/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

Notes: After an interesting start, the Vampi/Blood Red Queen storyline takes a turn for the crapper by moving in a poorly drawn & poorly conceived sci-fi direction. ‘U.F.O.’ was done in 1976 for the never published Warren magazine Yesterday, Today…Tomorrow. Several other stories, also done for that magazine, were likewise published in Vampirella. ‘By Treason’s Knife’ is a leftover from Creepy’s all-war story special. It’s probably the best story here. There are several other good stories here but the best art is from Maroto’s ‘Time Ticket’.

63. cover: Enrich Torres (Sept. 1977)

1) Vampirella: And The Sultana’s Revenge [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted

from Vampirella #33 (May 1974)

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Jenifer [Bruce Jones/Berni Wrightson] 10p reprinted from Creepy #63 (July 1974)

4) 1984 Ad [Joe Vaultz] 1p

5) Ground Round [Roger McKenzie/Rafael Auraleon] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #50 (Apr.

1976)

6) As Ye Sow… [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 10p reprinted from Creepy #79 (May 1976)

7) The Parable Of The Hermits Of Glastonbury Tor [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 8p

reprinted from Vampirella #45 (Sept. 1975)

8) The Professional [Bruce Jones/Zesar Lopez] 9p reprinted from Vampirella #53 (Aug. 1976)

9) Wings Of Vengeance [Bill DuBay & Esteban Maroto/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #81 (July 1976)

Notes: $1.50 & 80 pages. The 1977 Vampirella Annual.

64. cover: Enrich Torres (Oct. 1977)

1) Vampirella: The Manipulators [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

2) The Comic Books [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Vampirella: The Eradicators [Gerry Boudreau/Carmine Infantino & Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

4) Vampirella: The Vindicators [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

5) Vampirella: The Intruders [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 9p

6) Vampirella: The Stalkers [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

7) Vampirella: The Iconoclasts [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

8) Vampirella: The Survivors [Gerry Boudreau/Gonzalo Mayo] 8p

Notes: A decent book-length Vampi story mercifully interrupts the current inane Vampi serial. $1.75 & 96 pages.

65. cover: Enrich Torres (Dec. 1977)

1) To Win $100.00 Plus Starring Role In A Vampi Episode Enter The Vampirella Mystery Issue

Contest [Louise Jones/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [text article, frontis]

2) Vampirella: The Mad King Of Drakulon [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 10p

3) The Comic Books: A Matter Of Dues [Joe Brancatelli] 2p [text article]

4) A Game Of Hide And Seek [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

5) Mystery Of The Strangled Stockbroker [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 8p

6) The Pharoah’s Lady [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 8p

7) This Brief Interruption [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 8p

8) Goodbye, Norma Jean [Bill DuBay/Rafael Auraleon] 9p

Notes: A Mystery Contest special. The last pages were dropped from all stories except Vampi’s and the reader was encouraged to guess the actual ending. The endings themselves were held for the next issue. The first person to get all six correct would win the contest. As it turned out, only one person actually guessed correctly. It was an interesting, if somewhat irritating, idea, although only Jones’ story really made effective use of the gimmick.

66. cover: Enrich Torres (Jan. 1978)

1) Vampirella: To Be A Bride In Death [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Superman Versus Soccer [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Down Under [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 11p

4) Picture Complete [Bruce Jones/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

5) The Blazer [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 10p

6) Here Are The Solutions… [Louise Jones] 1p [text article]

7) Mystery Contest Solution Pages [Roger McKenzie, Gerry Boudreau, Nicola Cuti, Bruce Jones,

& Bill DuBay/Leopoldo Duranona, Jose Ortiz, Luis Bermejo, Leopold Sanchez & Rafael

Auraleon] 5p

Notes: Pantha, unseen since #50, becomes a regular member of Vampi’s strip. The endings of the previous issue’s stories are published. Bruce Jones provides three good stories with the best probably being ‘Picture Perfect’. That story is a sequel of sorts to Creepy #92’s ‘Toward High Places’ and uses Frazetta’s cover for Eerie #23 as a direct story element.

67. cover: photo of Barbara Leigh in Vampirella costume (Mar. 1978)

1) Vampirella: The Glorious Return Of Sweet Baby Theda [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 15p

2) The Quest [Budd Lewis/Ramon Torrents] 9p

3) The Comic Books: Patent Medicine Profits? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Fish Bait [Nicola Cuti/Alex Nino] 8p

5) Announcing The Vampirella Mystery Contest Grand Prize Winner: Jim Elkins [Louise Jones]

2p [text article]

6) Home Sweet Horologium [Nicola Cuti/Paul Neary] 8p

7) Choice Cuts [Cary Bates/Russ Heath] 3p

8) The Last Dragon King [Roger McKenzie/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

Notes: A photo of actress Barbara Leigh appears on the first of many covers she did while costumed as Vampirella. At the time, there were efforts being made to bring Vampirella to the silver screen and Leigh was apparently the choice of Hammer Films & Warren Publications to portray her, although a later letters’ page answer would deny this. Leigh was a beautiful woman and she certainly had the physical attributes to play the part. $1.50 cover price. In her story, Vampi gives Pantha a new outfit, which, since Pantha is a former stripper, looks exactly like a stripper’s outfit. Of course, so does Vampi’s, come to think of it. Pantha tells everyone she feels like a movie star. She’s right—IF SHE’S IN A PORN FILM!!! Future Warren writer John Ellis Sech is one of the runner-ups to the Mystery Contest. The three pager, ‘Choice Cuts’, has the best story and art. It’s a nifty little horror tale that will make you squirm. Alex Nino has some particularly disturbing visuals on the last page of his story. Downright creepy.

68. cover: Enrich Torres (Apr. 1978)

1) Vampirella: Orphee, Poor Orphee [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Kiss And Tell [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) October Man [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

4) Fleur: Night Of The Alleycats [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 8p

5) By Degrees [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 10p

6) The Munificent Ali Addan And Son! [Bill DuBay & Esteban Maroto/Esteban Maroto] 8p

7) Presenting The 1977 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/Frank Frazetta, Bruce Jones, Bill DuBay,

Alex Nino, et al] 2p [text article]

Notes: $1.25 cover price. Jose Gonzalez makes Orphee, the monster in the Vampi strip, look as silly as any critter Tony Williamsune ever drew. Fleur makes her first appearance since #50. She was starting to look a little jaded. Bruce Jones’ story ‘By Degrees’ was later turned into a prose story for his 1986 short story collection Twisted Tales {not to be confused with the two different comic anthologies bearing the same title which were published by Eclipse, Pacific & Blackthorne—this particular Blackthorne collection contains actual short stories}. ‘Ali Addan’ is printed sideways.

69. cover: photo of Barbara Leigh (May 1978)

1) Vampirella: The Saga Of Frick And Frack Freckles [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Safe At Home? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Hit Six [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 10p

4) Off The Beaten Empath [Gerry Boudreau/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

5) Reagan Redux [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 10p

6) Jessie’s Friend [Bruce Jones/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

70. cover: Ken Kelly (July 1978)

1) Vampirella: Ghostly Granny Gearloose [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 9p

2) The Comic Books: Classics Illustrated R.I.P. [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Mask Of Ugin [Nicola Cuti & Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 8p

4) Swamp Lover [Bill DuBay/Leopoldo Duranona] 12p

5) Reality Twice Removed [Gerry Boudeau/Ramon Torrents] 8p

6) The Terrible Exorcism Of Adriennes Pompereau! [Luis Vigil & Bill DuBay/Rafael Auraleon]

8p

Notes: Ken Kelly delivers a very attractive cover. ‘Swamp Lover’ is the best written & illustrated story here. ‘The Terrible Exorcism Of Adriennes Pompereau!’ was done in 1976 for the never published magazine Yesterday, Today…Tomorrow. Its original title was simply “Exorcism” and this version is heavily rewritten by Bill DuBay.

71.cover: photo of Barbara Leigh (Aug. 1978)

1) Vampirella: The Case Of The Connected Clowns And The Collector! [Bill DuBay/Jose

Gonzalez] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Still More Kiss [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Trial Of The Sorceress [Bill DuBay & Esteban Maroto/Esteban Maroto] 8p

4) Night Of The Chicken [Michael Fleisher/Jess Jodloman] 12p

5) Machu Picchu: The Treasure Of The Incas [Josep Toutain & Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 6p

6) Australopithicus [Bruce Jones/Leopoldo Duranona] 11p

7) The Odd Comic World Of Richard Corben Ad [illustrated: Richard Corben] 1p [on back

cover]

Notes: The Fleisher/Jodloman story, ‘Night Of The Chicken’, has a very bizarre sex/fetish outfit, worn by the young leading lady of the tale. Pretty grisly little story, too. Like ‘Adriennes Pompereau’ from the issue before, ‘Machu Picchu’ was done in 1976 for the never published Warren magazine Yesterday, Today…Tomorrow and the story has again been rewritten, this time by Cuti.

72. cover: Enrich Torres (Sept. 1978)

1) Vampirella: The Beauty And The Behemoth [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Death By The Numbers [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Eyes Have It [Rafael Auraleon] 7p

4) Fruitcake [Bill DuBay/Azpini] 8p

5) Scheherazade [Bill DuBay?/Esteban Maroto] 8p [color]

6) Invasion Of The Cyclops Monsters [Nicola Cuti/Jose Ortiz] 9p

7) A Nightmare For Mrs. Agatha [Guillermo Saccomanno; illustrated: Leopoldo Duranona] 9p

8) 1984 Ad [illustrated: Richard Corben] 1p [on back cover]

Notes: After a series of tired looking cover paintings that gave the appearance that he was running out of inspiration, Enrich comes up with a winner. In fact, it is his best cover since #58. $1.50 cover price. The best story & art here belong to ‘A Nightmare For Mrs. Agatha’ by Saccomanno & Duranona. This story, like the Fallen Angels series by the same team that appeared in Eerie, is dated 1976 and probably was printed in South America at that time. The cover of 1984 #2 used in the ad on the back cover is the first version of the cover by Corben, before Bill DuBay altered some details on the lady depicted.

73. cover: Bob Larkin (Oct. 1978)

1) Vampirella: A Gathering Of Demons [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 71p

2) The Comic Books: What Hath Congress Wrought? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

Notes: $1.75 cover price and 88 pages.

74. cover: photo of Barbara Leigh (Dec. 1978)

1) Vampirella: Hell From On High [Steve Englehart/Jose Gonzalez] 22p reprinted from

Vampirella #22 (Mar. 1973)

2) The Comic Books: Roll Over, Brancatelli [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Vampirella: The Blood Queen Of Bayou Parish! [Steve Englehart/Jose Gonzalez] 18p

reprinted from Vampirella #23 (Apr. 1973)

4) Wolf Hunt [Joe Wehrle/Esteban Maroto] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #14 (Nov. 1971)

Notes: The 1978 Vampirella Annual. $1.25 cover price & 64 pages.

75. cover: Jose Gonzalez & Kim McQuaite (Jan. 1979)

1) Vampirella: The Blob Beast Of Blighter’s Bog [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Peter, Peter [Gerry Souter/Leopoldo Duranona] 10p

4) Sasquatch Love [Cary Bates/Jose Ortiz] 9p

5) Business Is Booming [Bob Black/Isidro Mones] 10p

6) A Matter Of Principle [Budd Lewis & Len Wein/Azpiri] 7p

Notes: 72 pages. Kim McQuaite applies paint tones and a background to an original Gonzalez’s drawing of Vampi for the cover. Looks quite nice. ‘Peter, Peter’ has the best story & art here, although ‘Sasquatch Love’ is quite good as well.

76. cover: photo of Barbara Leigh (Mar. 1979)

1) Vampirella: Curse Of The Pasha’s Princess [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 16p

2) The Almost Anything Goes Fan Page [Ray Woycitzky/George Kozman, Ti Christa & Pedro

Pereira] 1p [crossword puzzle]

3) The Comic Books: The Party [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Gravity Field [Bob Toomey/Pepe Moreno] 8p

5) The Games Of Sharn [Bruce Jones/Ramon Torrents] 10p

6) Swift Sculpture [Bob Toomey/Val Mayerik] 8p

7) Time For A Change [Nicola Cuti/Alex Nino] 5p

8) The Haunted [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 11p

Notes: $1.50 cover price & 80 pages. A short-lived revival of the fan page debuts this issue. Ramon Torrents delivers his last original Warren story. Best story and art {lots of naked & near-naked Heath babes!} by Bruce Jones & Russ Heath on ‘The Haunted’. ‘Swift Sculpture’ is also of high quality.

77. cover: photo of Barbara Leigh (Apr. 1979)

1) Vampirella: Shadow Of The Dragon [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

2) The Almost Anything Goes Fan Page [Mike Roucheleau, Lori Anderson & Bill Sharp/Scott

Cassman, Ingrid Neilson, George Kozman & Pedro Pereira] 1p [poems]

3) The Comic Books: Going For The Bucks [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) The Night Of The Yeti! [Michael Fleisher/Russ Heath] 10p

5) The Night The Birds Fell [Nicola Cuti/Pepe Moreno] 9p

6) Siren Of The Seekonk [Jonathan Thomas/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

7) Presenting The 1978 Warren Awards [Louise Jones/et al] 2p [text article]

8) Weird Wolf [Gerry Boudreau/Jeff Easley] 3p

9) Futura House Is Not A Home [Nicola Cuti/Isidro Mones] 8p

Notes: $1.50 cover price & 72 pages. George Kozman’s art on the fan page was of exceptionally high quality. Heath again took best art honors although Moreno & newcomer Easley provided great art as well. Best story was probably Cuti’s ‘The Night The Birds Fell’. All in all, a pretty good issue.

78. cover: photo of Barbara Leigh (May 1979)

1) The Rook Ad [Rudy Nebres] 1p [frontis]

2) Vampirella: Kiss Of The Dragon Queen! [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 12p

3) Little Guy [Nicola Cuti/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

4) The Comic Books: The Inevitable Superman Story [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

5) Passion [Steve Englehart/Jose Ortiz] 10p

6) The Service [Bruce Jones/Jim Starlin & Alfredo Alcala] 11p

7) “Zooner Or Later” [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 12p

8) The Almost Anything Goes Fan Page [Louise Jones/Gonzalo Mayo] 1p [Trivia quiz]

Notes: $1.75 cover price. A better than average issue with fine work from Steve Englehart, Jose Ortiz, Jim Starlin and Alfredo Alcala but the best story here is the Bruce Jones/Russ Heath gutbuster “Zooner Or Later”. I defy anyone to read this story, get to the last page and not end up with a big grin on their face.

79. cover: Jordi Penalva (July 1979)

1) Vampirella: Shanghaied [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 12p

2) The Comic Books: So Much For Tradition [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) The Almost Anything Goes Fan Page [Louise Jones/John Schettino, Randall Foster, Joel Repp

& George Kozmon] 1p [pin-ups]

4) Edward & Griselda [Cary Bates/Val Mayerik & Joe Rubenstein] 10p

5) I Think I’ll Keep Her [Cary Bates/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

6) Night Of The Squid [Michael Fleisher/Jose Ortiz] 9p

7) Fungus [Archie Goodwin/Leopoldo Duranona; photos by Duranona & Hilda Lizarazu] 11p

Notes: Penalva’s cover painting of a dragon seems squarely based on those very common Chinese dragon candlestick holders. ‘Fungus’ is a fumetti strip with the monster drawn in pen & ink. A solid issue, but there’s nothing special here.

80. cover: Esteban Maroto (Aug. 1979)

1) Vampirella: Slaves Of The Alien Amazon [Bill DuBay/Pablo Marcos] 12p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Like Father, Like Son [Cary Bates/Leopoldo Duranona] 8p

4) Transference [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 10p

5) The Eternal Triangle [Cary Bates/Martin Salvador] 9p

6) John Donne And The Asteroid Pirates! [Chris Adames/Pablo Marcos] 12p

Notes: Due to a deadline problem, the concluding chapter of the latest Vampi serial is held back until the next issue with the ‘Alien Amazon’ story moved up to take its place. Both stories were concluded in the next issue. Although Vampirella’s covers had generally dropped the illustrative approach some time back and either concentrated on photo covers or Playboy style pin-up paintings, the last two issues had happily brought back the illustrative covers. This issue was certainly the better of the two, with Maroto’s moody barbarian queen saluting a departing space ship. ‘Transference’ was an interesting sex change story.

81. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Sept. 1979) reprinted from Vampirella #16 (Apr. 1972)

1) Vampirella And The Alien Amazon [Bill DuBay/Pablo Marcos] 13p

2) Vampirella: Scourge Of The Dragon Queen [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 13p

3) The Comic Books: ? [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Vampirella: …And Be A Bride Of Chaos! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p reprinted

from Vampirella #16 (Apr. 1972)

5) Vampirella: Dracula Still Lives [T. Casey Brennan/Jose Gonzalez] 13p reprinted from

Vampirella #18 (Aug. 1972)

82. cover: Jose Gonzalez (Oct. 1979)

1) Vampirella: The Lost Soul Of Adam Van Helsing [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 16p

2) The Comic Books: Still Collecting After All These Years [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Blind Justice [Bruce Jones/Leopoldo Duranona] 11p

4) Prey For The Wolf [Cary Bates/Brian Lewis] 6p

5) Fever [Roger McKenzie/Val Mayerik] 10p

6) Deep Love [Cary Bates/Joe Vaultz] 6p

7) The Night Willa Jane Gornley Went Home [Archie Goodwin/Val Mayerik & Jeff Easley] 10p

8) The Rook Ad [Pablo Marcos & Alfredo Alcala] 1p

Notes: Jose Gonzalez delivers a rare cover painting. $2.00 cover price with 80 pages. ‘Blind Justice’ is a combination of mostly foreground drawings & fumetti backgrounds. Brian Lewis, House Of Hammer’s longtime cover artist, does his only strip for Warren. Sadly, he died shortly after completing it. It’s the best art in the issue. The best story easily goes to Archie Goodwin’s tearjerker ‘The Night Willa Jane Gornley Went Home’. A tender and very sad story. That story alone makes this issue well worth collecting.

83. cover: Jose Gonzalez & Kim McQuaite (Dec. 1979)

1) Vampirella: The God Of Blood [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #30 (Jan. 1974)

2) Vampirella: The Betrothed Of The Sun-God! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted

from Vampirella #31 (Mar. 1974)

3) The Comic Books: Lies Our Forefathers Told Us [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

4) Second Childhood [Bruce Jones/Ramon Torrents] 8p reprinted from Creepy #88 (May 1977)

5) Yellow Heat [Bruce Jones/Russ Heath] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #58 (Mar. 1977)

6) Harry [Jeff Jones] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #32 (Apr. 1974)

Notes: Like the cover for #75, this cover consists of an original Vampi drawing by Gonzalez with painted tones and backgrounds by Kim McQuaite. If anything, this sexy cover is better than #75. The 1979 Vampirella Annual. 64 pages for $1.75.

84. cover: Steve Harris (Jan. 1980)

1) Vampirella: Phantasmagoira Of Terror [Bill DuBay/Jimmy Janes & Rudy Nebres] 17p

2) The Comic Books: Notes On Comix People [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Vampire Bite [Nicola Cuti/Rafael Auraleon] 8p [art miscredited to Jose Ortiz]

4) Steak-Out [Jean Michel Martin/Abel Laxamana] 6p

5) Final Act [Pierce Askegren/Garcia Pizarro] 9p

6) Native Strain [Marc Laidlaw/Val Mayerik & Jeff Easley] 8p

Notes: A new cover artist appears but this cover is particularly awful with Vampi looking like someone squashed her face in a vise. This is Harris’ only Warren appearance. It was always hard to tell what Jimmy Janes’ pencil work actually looked like since he was always paired with strong inkers like Nebres or Alfredo Alcala who tended to make all pencilers look like them. {Steve Leialoha & John Severin are also known for this.} ‘Native Strain’ is the best story & art here.

85. cover: Paul Gulacy/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Mar. 1980)

1) Vampirella: Flame Spirit [Bob Toomey/John Lakey & Val Lakey] 19p

2) The Comic Books: Some Thoughts On What Has Gone Before [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text

article]

3) The Conscience Of The King [Budd Lewis/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

4) 1979 Warren Awards Ballot [Louise Jones] 1p [text article]

5) Curly’s Gold [Michael Fleisher/Leopoldo Duranona] 10p

6) A Green Phoenix [Laurie Sutton/Noly Zamora] 11p

7) Lilywhite & Lavender [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: $2.00 cover price with 80 pages. A beautiful cover by Paul Gulacy of Vampi and equally beautiful artwork on her episode by the Lakey team make this one of Vampirella’s best appearances. The delicate pencilwork on ‘Flame Spirit’ is not only striking in its own right but it does something that had never been done before {nor was it done afterwards}, namely, eliminate entirely Vampi’s cheesecake factor from consideration in the art. In my opinion, it worked, giving Toomey’s decent script a seriousness it might not otherwise have obtained. However, the fans, God bless their pointed little heads, complained extensively and the experiment was never again tried. ‘Curly’s Gold’ had foreground art and photographed backgrounds, which, in the context of the script {excellent job by Fleisher} worked very well. ‘Lilywhite & Lavender’, judging by the number of naked bodies displayed, may have originally been intended for 1994. Jose Gonzalez’ titlepage Vampi illo was also of high quality. A strong issue.

86. cover: Terrence Lindall/titlepage: Gonzalo Mayo (Apr. 1980)

1) Vampirella: Revenge Of The Renegade Wizard [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 21p [DuBay’s

story credited to Will Richardson]

2) The Comic Books: Building A New Marvel [Joe Brancatelli] 1p [text article]

3) Snarking Down [Bruce Jones/Rafael Auraleon] 12p

4) Brain Food [Michael Fleisher/Jun Lofomia] 10p

5) The Pygmalion Effect [Nicola Cuti/Val Mayerik & Jeff Easley] 9p

6) Never Again [James Warren] 1p [editorial, on back cover]

Notes: $1.75 cover price with 72 pages. Lindall’s Vampi had fingers that were entirely too long {but then, everyone on the cover had fingers of great, odd length} but was otherwise quite good. A decent issue for Jones’ last Warren issue.

The Decline And Fall

87. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1980) reprinted, with an edited background, from Vampirella #52 (July

1976)

1) Vampirella: The Return Of The Blood Red Queen [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 54p reprinted

from Vampirella #60-62 & 65-67 (May-Aug 1977 & Dec. 1977-Mar. 1978)

Notes: An all-reprint issue with some changes to the story & art. Of the original 57 pages this story covered, three were edited out. Word balloons were rearranged, one page is flipped or reversed and the last three pages {the only ones from Vampirella #67} are rewritten & somewhat redrawn with Pantha’s costume changed. Louise Jones leaves for Marvel and Bill DuBay is now the editor under his penname Will Richardson.

88. cover: Enrich Torres (July 1980)

1) Vampirella: Night Of The Hell Dream [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 22p

2) The Rook Ad [Bob Larkin] 1p [B&W repo of #3’s cover]

3) Night Walk! [Archie Goodwin/Rafael Auraleon] 17p

4) The Talent Of Michael Crawley [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 12p

5) The 1979 Warren Awards [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

Notes: One of Enrich’s best covers ever graced this issue. After a lengthy fallow period of uninspired Vampi portraits, Enrich seemed to become excited about doing the covers again and some of his best work would appear from here until the end ot the magazine’s run. Former Warren writer John Jacobson sends in a letter. Rudy Nebres becomes the new Vampi artist and promptly give her a weight gain, mostly around the hips, of about 10-15 pounds. With only three stories, this issue might have felt slight but the Vampi story was readable, and the remaining two quite good, with both Goodwin & Jones delivering excellent tales. Credits were left off the stories so it’s possible that the Goodwin/Jones story credits should be reversed. The rest are correct. A very strong issue.

89. cover: Enrich Torres (Aug. 1980)

1) Vampirella: A Gathering Of Wizards! [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 23p [DuBay’s story credited

to Will Richardson]

2) Over The Edge! [Bruce Jones/Rafael Auraleon] 12p

3) The Rook Ad [Nestor Redondo] 1p [B&W repo of #4’s cover]

4) Sight Unseen [Bruce Jones/Jose Ortiz] 20p

Notes: Enrich’s cover is quite good but it is a reprint from one of the Vampirella paperbacks. Again, only three stories and again, high quality ones. The best was Bruce Jones & Jose Ortiz excellent gothic ‘Sight Unseen’, one of the best, and longest, non-Vampi stories to appear in this title.

90. cover: Enrich Torres (Sept. 1980)

1) Vampirella: The Insane Alchemist [Rich Margopoulos/Pablo Marcos & Rudy Nebres] 16p

2) Pantha: Eye Of Anubis [Rich Margopoulos/Leopoldo Duranona & Alex Toth] 12p [Toth’s

inking is credited to Atoz]

3) Devil Woman! [Don Glut/Alfredo Alcala] 10p

4) Dead Ringer [Gerry Boudreau/Rafael Auraleon] 7p

5) Revenge, Inc. [Gerry Boudreau/Anton Caravana] 8p

Notes: Enrich’s attractive pin-up of Vampi had her stretched out in a position no human being {although Vampi’s not actually human} could achieve but it still looked good. Pantha, who has been a regular in Vampi’s strip since #66, spins back into her own serial with some of Vampi’s supporting cast moving with her. She also appeared in the Vampi episode for the last time as a regular.

91. cover: Enrich Torres & a montage of past covers/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Oct. 1980)

1) Vampirella: The Carnival Of Death! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #34 (June 1974)

2) Vampirella: The Human Market-Place [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Gonzalez] 10p reprinted from

Vampirella #53 (Aug. 1976)

3) Vampirella: City Of Ghosts [Roger McKenzie/Jose Gonzalez] 10p reprinted from Vampirella

#57 (Jan. 1977)

4) Vampirella: The Headless Horseman Of All-Hallow’s Eve! [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzelez] 10p

reprinted from Vampirella #56 (Dec. 1976)

5) Vampirella: Pendragon’s Last Bow! [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 10p reprinted from

Vampirella #59 (Apr. 1977)

Notes: The 1980 Vampirella Annual.

92. cover: Enrich Torres (Dec. 1980)

1) Vampirella: Bracelets, Demons, And Death! [Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 25p

2) That Future Long Ago [Bruce Jones/Rafael Auraleon] 18p

3) Second Coming! [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 11p [DuBay’s story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: Great cover by Enrich and generally strong stories from all involved. ‘Second Coming!’ is the best although it is unclear if the hypnotist in the first storyline and the husband in the second storyline are one and the same man. The script seems to indicate that they are not while the art gives them near identical features {although different clothing}.

93. cover: Enrich Torres (Jan. 1981)

1) Vampirella: Apocalypse Inc. [Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 20p

2) Cassandra St. Knight: The Psychic Assualt [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 8p [art

miscredited to Rudy Nebres]

3) Pantha: Encore For Anubis [Rich Margopoulos/Leopoldo Duranona & Alfredo Alcala] 12p

4) Cobra Goddess [Esteban Maroto] 11p

Notes: 64 pages for $1.75. Enrich’s cover is quite sexual and quite lovely. From this point on Vampirella assumed Eerie’s old role as the host for Warren’s horror series. Jedediah Pan, who’d had his own series in Eerie, guest-stars in Vampi’s strip. The new serial, Cassandra St. Knight, was OK, although Cassandra herself was a rather dour little witch.

94. cover: Enrich Torres & a montage of covers (Mar. 1981)

1) Vampirella: Death Machine! [Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 12p

2) Cassandra St. Knight: The Psychic Assualt, part 2 [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

3) Pantha: Druids On 54^th Street! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) The Big Shot! [Michael Fleischer/Delando Nino] 10p

5) The Last Gift! [Roger McKenzie/Esteban Maroto] 9p

6) Gunplay [John Lakey, Val Lakey & Laura Buscemi] 7p [story & art credited to Artifact]

Notes: 72 pages for $1.95. All in all, a pretty good issue with a nice Christmas story by McKenzie & Maroto, the start of a promising storyline in Pantha and two decent stand-alone stories by the Artifact team and Fleischer/Nino.

95. cover: Ken Kelly (Apr. 1981)

1) Vampirella: Plague Of Vampires [Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 22p

2) Cassandra St. Knight: The Initiation [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 16p

3) Pantha: Reflections In Blood! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 12p

4) The Fox [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 8p

Notes: Cover price at $2.00. Ken Kelly’s last cover for Vampirella was quite good. ‘The Fox’ series is a sequel to the story ‘Tale Of A Fox’ from Creepy #100 (Aug. 1978). An all-series issue with ‘The Fox’ being the best written & drawn.

96. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1981)

1) Vampirella: The Hound Of Hell [Rich Margopoulos/Rudy Nebres] 17p

2) Cassandra St. Knight: A Matter Of Karma [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 13p

3) Pantha: Night Of The Cat Goddess [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 14p

4) Armistice [Jim Stenstrum/Masanabu Sato] 6p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

Notes: Chris Adames becomes editor.

97. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (July 1981) reprinted from Vampirella #58 (Mar.

1977)

1) Vampirella: Army Of The Dead! [Rich Margopoulos/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p

2) Cassandra St. Knight: Many Faces Of God [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

3) Pantha: A Night Full Of Zombies! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 12p

4) Hershey’s Rock [Kevin Duane/Felix Santos] 9p

5) Wormbrand [Bruce Jones/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

98. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Gonzalo Mayo (Aug. 1981) reprinted from Vampirella #53 (Aug.

1976)/reprinted from Vampirella #97 (July 1981)

1) Vampirella: Army Of The Dead!, part 2 [Rich Margopoulos/Gonzalo Mayo] 12p

2) Cassandra St. Knight: Mindwars [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 12p

3) Pantha: The Haitian Connection [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 10p

4) Dragon [Esteban Maroto] 8p

5) The Fox, part 2 [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 9p

Notes: Although Maroto’s clearful not to name him, the hero of his story ‘Dragon’ appears to be Dax The Warrior.

99. cover: Manuel Sanjulian/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Sept. 1981) reprinted from Vampirella #23 (Apr.

1972)/reprinted from Vampirella #24’s cover (June 1972)

1) Vampirella: Spell Of Laughter [Rich Margopoulos/Gonzalo Mayo] 14p

2) Missing You [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

3) Friends [Val Lakey/John Lakey, Val Lakey & Laura Buscemi] 10p [art credited to Artifact]

4) Pantha: The Lair Of Dr. Rictus [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 12p

5) Salome [Esteban Maroto] 8p

Notes: A good issue with the beautifully drawn ‘Friends’ taking the art honors and the first half of ‘Missing You’ the honors for best story. ‘Salome’ by Maroto was also very good.

100. cover: montage of previous covers/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Oct. 1981)

1) Vampirella: Call It Chaos! [Archie Goodwin/Anton Caravana] 21p

2) In Memorium: Anton Caravana [Chris Adames] 1p [text article]

3) Vampirella: The Origin Of Vampirella [Budd Lewis/Jose Gonzalez] 15p reprinted from

Vampirella #46 (Oct. 1975)

4) Vampirella: Shadow Of Dracula [T. Casey Brennan/Jose Gonzalez] 10p reprinted from

Vampirella #19 (Sept. 1972)

5) Vampirella: When Wakes The Dead [T. Casey Brennan/Jose Gonzalez] 13p reprinted from

Vampirella #20 (Nov. 1972)

Notes: A very disappointing 100^th anniversity issue. Yes, Archie Goodwin returned to Vampi {and Warren} for the last time and delivered a good story but the rest of the stories were reprints and not great ones at that. Even the cover intended for this issue was bounced to the next issue, prompting the 4^th non-original cover in a row. The 1981 Vampirella Annual. $2.25 cover price for 80 pages and a load of disappointment. This was Caravana’s only Vampi story as he was struck by a jeepney {a passenger vehicle} and killed while bicycling shortly after completing this story.

101. cover: Noly Panaligan/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Dec. 1981)

1) Vampirella: Attack Of The Star Beast [Rich Margopoulos/Gonzalo Mayo] 14p

2) Pantha: A Night Full Of Zombies, Chapter Four [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 8p

3) Cassandra St. Knight: Hell On Earth [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 14p

4) The Fox: Dynasty Of Evil [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 9p

5) Victims! [Scott Hampton] 3p

Notes: As stated above, this cover was clearly intended for #100’s only original story. The Fox’s serial is updated to 1910 with the descendent of the original Foxwoman now appearing. This was Scott Hampton’s professional debut. His story’s quite short but very good. Bill DuBay again becomes the editor with Timothy Moriarty as the managing editor. $2.00 for 72 pages.

102. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Jan. 1982) [cover miscredited to Manuel Sanjulian]

1) Vampirella: Return Of The Blood-Red Queen! [Rich Margopoulos/Gonzalo Mayo] 16p

2) Pantha: A Night Full Of Zombies, part 5 [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 7p

3) Cassandra St. Knight: Kill Quake! [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 10p

4) The Fox: Night Of The Devildogs! [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 8p

5) Perseus [Timothy Moriarty/Esteban Maroto] 6p

6) Alicia [Carl Wessler/Alphonso Font] 8p

Notes: The Blood-Red Queen in this issue’s Vampi tale is actually the ill-fated sister of the original Queen. Vampirella was the only Warren magazine in 1982 that consistently tried to hold up the standards of the glory days of Warren. As a result, this issue is actually quite good, with strong artwork and decent storytelling, even in the Vampirella story. The covers also reverted from the pin-up style of recent years to a more illustrative approach. ‘Alicia’ appears to have been done years earlier, in the mid-1970s.

103. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Mar. 1982)

1) Vampirella: The Last Prince! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

2) Cassandra St. Knight: The Mephisto List! [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

3) Pantha: The Final Solution! [Richard Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 9p

4) The Fox: Terror In The Tomb! [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 10p

5) Pentesilea [Timothy Moriarty/Esteban Maroto] 7p

6) Lover [John Lakey/John Lakey, Val Lakey & Laura Buscemi] 12p [art credited to Artifact]

Notes: Best art belongs to the Artifact team for ‘Lover’ although Esteban Maroto also delivers a superior job. Best story is either ‘Lover’ or the installment of ‘The Fox’. Beautiful, peaceful cover by Enrich. The editor is Timothy Moriarty.

104. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Apr. 1982)

1) Vampirella: The Wax House! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

2) Pantha: Death Snare! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 12p

3) The Fox: Jaded [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 6p

4) Jeremy [Paul Gillon/Paul Gillon & Rudy Nebres] 12p

5) Missing You! [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p

Notes: $2.25 for 64 pages. Gonzalez does a particularly nice job on the Vampi strip. ‘Jeremy’ was originally published in Europe in 1971. For its Warren publication, Rudy Nebres does a new splash page.

105. cover: Enrich Torres (May 1982)

1) Vampirella: Horrors Of Heartache City [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 48p reprinted from

Vampirella #67-68 (Jan.-Mar. 1978), #71 (Aug. 1978) & #75 (Jan. 1979)

Notes: A fix-up issue with a book length tale cobbled together from separate Vampi stories. The story from #67 has three pages dropped. The scripts are extensively rewritten and there are numerous art changes including re-inking Pantha’s costume.

106. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (July 1982)

1) Vampirella: A Love Blessed In Hell [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

2) Sweetwater Nessie [Don McGregor/Rafael Auraleon] 12p

3) Pantha: On The Trail Of The Cat [David Allikas/Jose Ortiz] 8p

4) The Fox And The Deer [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 6p

5) Jeremy, part 2 [Paul Gillon] 9p

6) Safari [David Allikas/Esteban Maroto] 8p

Notes: Lots of nudity and sex scenes in the Vampi strip with very attractive art by Gonzalez. The best art, however, belongs to Auraleon for his superb job on the first installment of ‘Sweetwater Nessie’. The credits were left off all the strips by mistake. Cuti’s ‘The Fox And The Deer’ is a rewrite of his Charlton story ‘Orion’ from 1975. That version, illustrated by Don Newton, was set in Greece with the woman changing into a deer. Good story in both versions.

107. cover: Manuel Sanjulian/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Aug. 1982)

1) Vampirella: The Blood Red Queen Of Hearts [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 12p reprinted

from Vampirella #49 (Mar. 1976)

2) Moonspawn [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 10p reprinted from Vampirella #26 (Aug. 1973)

3) Black And White Vacuum Blues [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #34 (June 1974)

4) Dracula: The Circus Of King Carnival [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #39 (Jan. 1975)

5) Look What They’ve Done! [Steve Skeates/Esteban Maroto] 6p reprinted from Eerie #36 (Nov.

1971)

Notes: An all-reprint Esteban Maroto special.

108. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Sept. 1982)

1) Vampi’s Vivacious Vignettes [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Vampirella: Spawn Of The Star Beast [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

3) Sweetwater Nessie, part 2 [Don McGregor/Rafael Auraleon] 13p

4) Pantha: Circus Monstrous [David Allikas/Jose Ortiz] 8p

5) The Fox: The Beast Lies Sleeping [Nicola Cuti/Luis Bermejo] 9p

6) Jeremy, part 3 [Paul Gillon/Paul Gillon & Rudy Nebres] 12p

7) Torpedo, 1936: I’m Luca [E. Sanchez Abuli/Alex Toth] 8p 8p

8) The 1981 Warren Awards! [Timothy Moriarty] 2p [text article]

Notes: Although the rest of the strip is an average Vampi strip, the splash page has a striking gray-toned portrait of a nude Vampirella. The ‘Sweetwater Nessie’ strip appears for the last time, and its storyline is never concluded. Rudy Nebres once again provides a new splash page for the ‘Jeremy’ strip. Any magazine that features Alex Toth’s version of Torpedo {originally published in the Spanish version of Creepy} is worth buying. $2.50 for 80 pages with a new features page replacing the letters’ page.

109. cover: Manuel Sanjulian/frontis: Jose Gonzalez (Oct. 1982)

1) Vampirella: The Corpse With The Missing Mind [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 8p reprinted

from Vampirella #55 (Oct. 1976)

2) The Sultan Of 42^nd Street [Carl Wessler & Gerry Boudreau/Felix Mas] 6p reprinted from

Vampirella #39 (Jan. 1975)

3) Dungeons Of The Soul [T. Casey Brennan/Felix Mas] 8p reprinted from Creepy #45 (May

1972)

4) Out Of The Nameless City [John Jacobson/Felix Mas] 12p reprinted from Vampirella #38

(Nov. 1974)

5) The Climbers Of The Tower [T. Casey Brennan/Felix Mas] 7p reprinted from Creepy #50

(Jan. 1973)

6) Miranda [Fred Ott/Felix Mas] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #34 (June 1974)

7) The Dorian Gray Syndrome [Don Glut/Felix Mas] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #18 (Aug.

1972)

8) The Killer [Steve Skeates/Felix Mas] 8p reprinted from Creepy #52 (Apr. 1973)

9) Minra [Ed Newsome/Felix Mas] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #22 (Mar. 1973)

10) Changes [Steve Skeates/Felix Mas] 10p reprinted from Vampirella #24 (May 1973)

Notes: $2.75 for 96 pages. The 1982 Vampirella Annual and, with the exceptation of the Vampriella strip, a Felix Mas special.

110. cover: Enrich Torres/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Dec. 1982)

1) Vampi’s Vivacious Vignettes [Timothy Moriarty] 1p

2) Vampirella: A Feast Of Fear [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

3) The Masque Of The Red Death! [Rich Margopoulos/Rafael Auraleon] 10p from the story by

Edgar Allan Poe

4) Jeremy, part 4 [Paul Gillon] 11p

5) Torpedo, 1936: The Judas Job! [E. Sanchez Abuli/Alex Toth] 8p

6) Nightwind [Gerry Boudreau/Rafael Auraleon] 8p

7) Queen Of Souls! [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 7p

8) Vampirella: Tales Of Lost Drakulon! [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 6p

Notes: Enrich’s last Warren cover. The features page advertises the never published Goblin #4 with stories of the Goblin, the Micro-Buccaneers, the Hobgoblin and the Troll Patrol {probably a color insert} scheduled for it. $2.50 for 80 pages.

111. cover: Pujolar/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Jan. 1983) reprinted from Devilina #1 (Jan. 1975)

1) The Noxious Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Vampirella: The Curse Of The MacDaemons [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted

from Vampirella #28 (Oct. 1973)

3) Vampirella: The Undead Of The Deep! [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #29 (Nov. 1973)

4) The Time Eater! [Jack Butterworth/Paul Neary] 12p reprinted from Vampirella #40 (Mar.

1975)

5) Ali Addan And Son! [Esteban Maroto & Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #68 (Apr. 1978)

6) Force-Feed [Cary Bates/Leopoldo Sanchez] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #59 (Apr. 1977)

7) Fog [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #62

(Aug. 1977)

8) The French Coagulation [Carl Wessler & Gerry Boudreau/Luis Bermejo] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #39 (Jan. 1975)

Notes: An all-reprint issue. The cover is reprinted from the Atlas/Seaboard’s copycat magazine Devilina instead of a Vampirella issue!

112. cover: Martin Hoffman/titlepage: Jose Gonzalez (Mar. 1983)

1) The Noxious Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) Vampirella: The Walker Of Worlds [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

3) The Fox: Shadows Of The Mind [John Ellis Sech/Luis Bermejo] 7p

4) Torpedo, 1936: Frankie [E. Sahchez Abuli/Jordi Bernet] 8p

5) The Ransom [Michael Fleisher/Rafael Auraleon] 7p

6) Limbo [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

7) Vampirella & Pantha: Feeding Frenzy [Rich Margopoulos/Gonzalo Mayo] 20p

Notes: Final Warren issue and comic magazine. A striking cover by newcomer Martin Hoffman and decent stories and art throughout gave Vampirella a decent farewell. Harris Publications published an issue of Vampirella, numbered #113 and dated Jan. 1988 but I have not seen that issue. If someone has that issue and would like to share bibliographic information, please let me know.

Vampirella Annual

1. cover: Aslan (1971)

1) Vampi’s Feary Tales: The Bride Of Frankenstein [Tom Sutton] 1p reprinted from Vampirella

#2 (Nov. 1969)

2) Vampirella: The Origin Of Vampirella [J. R. Cochran/Jose Gonzalez] 15p

3) The Curse Of Circe [Gardner Fox/Jerry Grandenetti] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #6 (July

1970)

4) Goddess From The Sea [Don Glut/Neal Adams] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #1 (Oct. 1969)

5) The Curse [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #9 (Jan. 1971)

6) Snake Eyes [Nicola Cuti/Jack Sparling] 7p reprinted from Vampirella #8 (Nov. 1970)

7) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Love! [Tom Sutton] 1p reprinted from Vampirella #8 (Nov. 1970)

8) Forgotten Kingdom [Bill Parente/Ernie Colon] 10p reprinted from Vampirella #4 (Apr. 1970)

9) Vampi’s Feary Tales: Lilith [Nicola Cuti/Jeff Jones] 1p reprinted from Vampirella #9 (Jan.

1971)

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: J. R. Cochran. $.75 for 64 pages. The cover by Aslan was done in 1969 and originally intended for Vampirella #1. This was the only issue as, beginning in 1972, the annual was incorporated into Vampirella’s regular numbering. Unlike either Creepy or Eerie’s annuals, Vampi’s usually had an original Vampirella story included. This one retold Vampi’s origin, revamping it from the rather silly Ackerman/Sutton origin story from #1, to reflect the more serious approach the Vampi’s strip was taking. It was later rewritten by Budd Lewis, although the same art was used, to further revamp Vampi’s origin.

The Spirit

1. cover: Basil Gogos (Apr. 1974)

1) Introduction [Bill DuBay?/Will Eisner] 1p [text article w/photo, frontis]

2) The Last Trolley [Will Eisner/John Spranger, Bob Palmer & Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from

The Spirit section (Mar. 24, 1946)

3) Escape [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Apr. 13, 1947)

4) L’il Adam [Will Eisner/Will Eisner, Jules Feiffer & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (July 20, 1947)

5) The Criminal [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Nov. 2, 1947)

6) El Spirito [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p [color] reprinted from The Spirit

section (Feb. 1, 1948)

7) The Killer [Will Eisner/John Spranger, Will Eisner & Bob Palmer] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Dec. 8, 1946)

8) A Grandule Of Time [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Mar. 2, 1947)

9) The Partner [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Jan. 26, 1947)

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor-In-Chief: Will Eisner. Editor: Bill DuBay. $1.00 price & 72 pages. This was my favorite Warren magazine of the 1970s. My reaction to it was exactly the same as my reaction to getting glasses. I always knew there were trees but now I could see and count the leaves! Anybody who professes to know comics and still hasn’t a clue as to who or what the Spirit is, is simply a poseur or plain ignorant. These comics were done in the 1940s when cheapjack art and stories were the norm. Yeah, yeah, I know all about “The Golden Age” but, tell the truth—damn few of those stories from the 1940s, even the classics, really hold up today as intelligent, thoughtful, adult stories. Exciting? Yes. The templates for much of today’s best work? Sure. But they don’t really hold up as great stories. The Spirit does. Even the lesser Spirit stories loom over the best of Superman, Batman, the Blackhawks, the Boy Commandoes {and the Boy Commandoes were actually pretty good} and what have you. And it was largely the product of one man, doing 7 to 8 pages a week, every week, for the better part of a decade! Hundreds of beautifully written, beautifully illustrated stories. Hundreds of them! There’ve been a lot of great comic writers and artists but only a handful belong on comics’ Mt. Olympus, head and shoulders above all the rest—Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Bernie Krigstein, Steve Ditko, Alan Moore, Robert Crumb, Julie Schwartz and…Will Eisner. Nuff Said. Gogos’ unexceptional cover was the second attempt at adapting this original Eisner scene {from a 1948 John Law splash page, which was redone for The Spirit in 1950}. Manuel Sanjulian had done an earlier attempt but Eisner had stormed into Warren’s office, apparently furious over the execution. Eisner took over the covers beginning with the second issue. However, other artists may have been waiting {or hoping} for a chance at the Spirit. Berni Wrightson did a page of art, probably intended as a frontis page {see Comic Book Artist} while Neal Adams also did a cover {see the Neal Adams Treasury}. Almost all the stories were retouched to some degree by Eisner and given grey tones. In this issue ‘The Last Trolly’ was rewritten by Eisner.

2. cover: Will Eisner, colored: Bill DuBay (June 1974)

1) An Interview With Will Eisner [Joe Siegal & Will Eisner/Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

reprinted from Changes (Dec. 1973)

2) Heel Scalloppini [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Feb. 23, 1947)

3) Powder [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Jan. 4, 1948)

4) The Fallen Sparrow [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Jan. 11, 1948)

5) The Tragedy Of Merry Andrew [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted

from The Spirit section (Feb. 15, 1948)

6) Wanted—Mortimer J. Titmouse [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p [color]

reprinted from The Spirit section (July 6, 1947)

7) The O’Dolan [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Apr. 18, 1948)

8) UFO [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Sept.

28, 1947)

9) Silken Floss, M.D. [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Mar. 9, 1947)

Notes: Alex Toth, Wally Wood, Neal Adams & Robert Bloch send in letters.

3. cover: Will Eisner, colored: Richard Corben (Aug. 1974)

1) Will Eisner Interviews The Spirit [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) Black Alley [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(June 5, 1949)

3) Fox At Bay [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Oct. 23, 1949)

4) Surgery… [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from

The Spirit section (Nov. 13, 1949)

5) Foul Play [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Mar.

27, 1949)

6) The Strange Case Of Mrs. Paraffin [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p [color]

reprinted from The Spirit section (Mar. 7, 1948)

7) The Embezzler [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Nov. 27, 1949)

8) The Last Hand [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (May 16, 1948)

9) Lonesome Cool [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec. 18, 1948)

Notes: One of the best single issue of comics Warren ever published. Sam Moskowitz, John Pocsik, Robin Snyder, Greg Potter, Joe Brancatelli and Cliff Johnson {all writers, historians or artists in the comic field} send in letters.

4. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (Oct. 1974)

1) Will Eisner Interviews Dolan! [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) Life Below [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Feb. 22, 1948)

3) Mr. McDool [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Oct. 12, 1947)

4) Silk Satin & The Spirit [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (May 30, 1948)

5) Ye Olde Spirit Of ’76 [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (July 3, 1949)

6) The Elevator [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from

The Spirit section (June 26, 1949)

7) The Return Of Vino Red [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Sept.25, 1949)

8) The Guilty Gun… [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (June 6, 1948)

9) Flaxen Weaver [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec.11, 1949)

5. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (Dec. 1974)

1) Ebony Interviews P’Gell [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) The Return [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Aug. 14, 1949)

3) The Spirit Now Deputy [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Apr. 24, 1949)

4) The Hunted [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(May 1, 1949)

5) The Prediction [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(June 19, 1949)

6) The Deadly Comic Book [WillEisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p [color] reprinted from

The Spirit section (Feb. 27, 1949)

7) Death, Taxes & The Spirit [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Mar. 13, 1949)

8) Hamid Jebru [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(May 8, 1949)

9) Ice [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 2, 1949)

6. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (Feb. 1975)

1) Showdown [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Aug. 24, 1947) [pgs 1 & 7 were drawn in 1974]

2) The Wedding [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (May 2, 1948)

3) The Job [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(May 9, 1948)

4) The Lamp [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(July 27, 1947)

5) Glob [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p [color] reprinted from The Spirit section

(Mar. 6, 1949)

6) The Winnah! [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec. 3, 1950)

7) Wild Rice [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Apr. 4, 1948)

8) Taxes…And The Spirit [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Apr. 16, 1950)

[Splash page has a 1965 tax return drawn for the never published Harvey Spirit #3.]

Notes: Future comic writer Mike Barr sends in a letter. Price increase to $1.25. ‘The Winnah!’ is an exceptational story.

7. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (Apr. 1975)

1) Dolan Interviews Ebony [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) The Big Sneeze [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Feb. 6, 1949)

3) Hoagy The Yogi [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Mar. 16, 1947)

4) Hoagy The Yogi, part 2 [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Mar. 23, 1947)

5) Cheap Is Cheap [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (June 13, 1948)

6) Young Dr. Ebony [Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p [color] reprinted from The Spirit section

(May 29, 1949)

7) Moment Of Destiny [Will Eisner/John Spranger & Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Dec. 29, 1946)

8) The Explorer [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 16, 1949)

9) A Prisoner Of Love [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 9, 1949)

Notes: ‘Young Dr. Ebony’ is a royal hoot!

8. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (June 1975)

1) Women’s Club [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) Sand Saref [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 8, 1950)

3) Bring In Sand Saref [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 15, 1950)

4) Thorne Strand [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 23, 1949)

5) A Slow Ship To Shanghai [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 30, 1949)

6) Assignment: Paris [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (May 23, 1948)

7) A Pot O’ Gold [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted

from The Spirit section (Apr. 3, 1949)

8) Satin [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (June 12,

1949)

9) Visitor [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Feb. 13, 1949)

Notes: Pages 4-7 of ‘Sand Saref’ and all of ‘Bring In Sand Saref’ were originally done in 1948 for a John Law story. That original version finally saw print in 1983 in John Law #1 {and was recently reprinted in Will Eisner’s John Law, Detective--published by IDW}. As mentioned earlier, I regard this two part story as one of the five most memorable stories in comicdom. ‘Satin’ is also a great story.

9. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (Aug. 1975)

1) P’Gell And The Octopus [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) The Candidate [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Aug. 21, 1949)

3) White Cloud [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Aug. 28, 1949)

4) Stop The Plot! aka The Coin [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec. 5, 1948)

5) Lovely Looie [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Apr. 10, 1949)

6) The Space Sniper [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p [color]

reprinted from The Spirit section (May 22, 1949)

7) The Vernal Equinox [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Mar. 20, 1949)

8) Black Gold [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(June 15, 1947)

9) Two Lives [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec. 12, 1948)

Notes: Future comic & book writer Bob Rodi sends in a letter.

10. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (Oct. 1975)

1) The Spirit Underground [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) Heat [Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (July 15, 1951)

3) Quiet! [Jules Feiffer/Klaus Nordling & Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (July

22, 1951)

4) Death Is My Destiny [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Mar. 4, 1951)

5) Help Wanted [Jules Feiffer or Klaus Nordling/Klaus Nordling & Jim Dixon] 7p reprinted from

The Spirit section (Apr. 29, 1951)

6) The Origin Of The Spirit [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Chuck Kramer] 7p [color] reprinted

from Harvey’s Spirit #1 (Oct. 1966)

7) Sound [Jules Feiller/Jules Feiffer & Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Sept.

24, 1950)

8) A Time-Stop! [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Jan. 7, 1951)

9) The Octopus Is Back… [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Feb. 11, 1951)

10) Hobart The Hermit [Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner & Jim Dixon] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Apr. 22, 1951)

11) The Meanest Man In The World [Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Jan. 28, 1951)

Notes: Price increase to $1.50 & size increase to 88 pages. For the first time, the cover is an actual painting based on an Eisner pen & ink drawing. ‘Heat’ is a tense, nailbiter of a story. ‘Sound’ and ‘The Octopus Is Back…’ are also exceptional.

11. cover: Will Eisner & Ken Kelly (Dec. 1975)

1) Wildwood Cementary [Will Eisner] 1p [text article]

2) Crime aka Autumn Mews [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Oct. 2, 1949)

3) The Torch [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Apr. 25, 1948)

4) The Fighting Machine [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Nov. 16, 1947)

5) Nazel B. Twitch [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Oct. 17, 1948)

6) The Fortune [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (May 11, 1947)

7) A Crime Of Passion [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (May 15, 1949)

8) Plaster Of Paris [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Nov. 7, 1948)

9) Blackmail [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Feb. 8, 1948)

Notes: ‘Crime aka Autumn Mews’ is very good.

12. cover: montage of interior panels (Feb. 1976)

1) The Jewel [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Mar.

12, 1950)

2) Carrion [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Mar.

19, 1950)

3) Rescue [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Apr. 9,

1950)

4) Pancho De Bool [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Oct. 24, 1948)

5) The Christmas Spirit Of 1948 [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec. 19,

1948)

6) Snow [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec.

14, 1947)

7) Tooty Compote [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Oct. 3, 1948)

8) Big Arky [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (May 21, 1950)

9) Fable: The Christmas Spirit Of 1946 [Will Eisner/John Spranger, Will Eisner & Bob Palmer]

7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Dec. 22, 1946)

Notes: The splash page for ‘The Jewel’ was originally the cover to the unpublished John Law #1.

13. cover: montage of interior panels (Apr. 1976)

1) The Valentine [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Feb. 20, 1949)

2) The Robbery [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(May 14, 1950)

3) The Curse [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Oct.

16, 1949)

4) Water [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Apr. 2,

1950)

5) Hangley Hollyer Manse [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (June 22, 1947)

6) Pinhead [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Apr. 6, 1947)

7) Tunnel [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Mar. 21, 1948)

8) Ten Minutes [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Sept. 11, 1949)

9) The Story Of Gerhard Shnobble [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from

The Spirit section (Sept. 5, 1948) & Harvey’s The Spirit #1 (1966)

Notes: ‘Ten Minutes’ and ‘The Story Of Gerhard Shnobble’ are two of the best Spirit stories ever. ‘Gerhard Shnobble’ was extensively redone in 1966 for Harvey’s Spirit #1 and that is the version used here, although this version is itself redrawn and the last page rewritten.

14. montage of interior panels (June 1976)

1) Dick Whittler [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(July 23, 1950)

2) The Chase [Jules Feiffer & Will Eisner/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (July

30, 1950)

3) Investigation [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Aug. 8, 1950)

4) Sammy And Delilah [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Mar. 5, 1950)

5) A Day At The Zoo [Jules Feiffer/Jules Feiffer & Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Apr. 23, 1950)

6) Teacher’s Pet [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Sept. 10, 1950)

7) The Hero [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Klaus Nordling, Will Eisner & Jim Dixon] 7p reprinted

from The Spirit section (May 13, 1951)

8) The Big Win [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Oct. 1, 1950)

9) The First Man [Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Aug. 20, 1950)

Notes: ‘The Chase’ {sometimes known as ‘The Diner’} is a real period piece as well as being a great story. ‘A Day At The Zoo’ is also great, although the Spirit only appears in one panel.

15. cover: montage of interior panels (Aug. 1976)

1) Sally Of The Islands [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p

reprinted from The Spirit section (July 17, 1949)

2) The Masked Man [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (July 24, 1949)

3) The Ball Game [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(July 31, 1949)

4) Matua [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Aug. 7,

1949)

5) Lurid Love [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Sept. 18, 1949)

6) Ace McCase [Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section (Sept. 26, 1948)

7) Winter Haven [Will Eisner &Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(Dec. 4, 1949)

8) The Prisoner Of Donjon [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Aug. 29, 1948)

9) Murder…Bloodless Type [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (June 20, 1948)

16. cover: montage of interior panels (Oct. 1976)

1) The Inheritance [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Apr. 11, 1948)

2) The Moment Of Glory [Will Eisner & Jules Feiffer/Will Eisner] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (July 2, 1950)

3) Outcast [Will Eisner/John Spranger, Will Eisner & Bob Palmer] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (Sept. 1, 1946)

4) The Fix [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Jerry Grandenetti] 7p reprinted from The Spirit section

(May 4, 1947)

5) The Fly [Will Eisner/John Spranger, Will Eisner & Bob Palmer] 7p reprinted from The Spirit

section (Mar. 10, 1946)

6) Who Killed Cox Robin? [Will Eisner/John Spranger, Will Eisner & Bob Palmer] 7p reprinted

from The Spirit section (Aug. 4, 1946)

7) The Springtime Of Dolan [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Andre LeBlanc] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (July 11, 1948)

8) Dulcet Tone [Will Eisner/John Spranger, Will Eisner & Bob Palmer] 7p reprinted from The

Spirit section (July 7, 1946)

Notes: Warren’s final issue. Price increase to $1.50. Kitchen Sink reclaims the title, continuing Warren’s numbering and magazine size, beginning with #17 in Dec. 1977. ‘The Inheritance’ has a new splash page.

Comix International

1. cover: montage of interior panels (July 1974)

1) Terror Tomb [Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #61 (Apr. 1974)

2) Lycanklutz [Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #56 (Sept. 1973)

3) The Hero Within [Steve Skeates/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #60 (Feb. 1974)

4) The Low Spark Of High Heeled Noise! [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #57 (Nov. 1973)

5) Bless Us, Father… [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 7p reprinted from Creepy #59 (Jan. 1974)

6) Judas [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #62 (May 1974)

7) Child [Greg Potter/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie #57 (June 1974)

8) As Though They Were Living [Gerry Boudreau/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #30 (Jan. 1974)

9) Top To Bottom [Jack Butterworth/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #33 (May

1974)

10) Demon In The Cockpit [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #63

(July 1974)

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. An all-reprint, all-color magazine which sold almost exclusively via mail order from the back pages of the Warren line. The title was originally intended for a proposed underground book put together by a Keith Green but it never progressed very far. Outside of the cover itself, no publishing or editorial information appears in the magazine itself, although it was probably edited by Bill DuBay. An all-Richard Corben special which is notable for the speed in which the color sections were reprinted, some within only a month or less of their original appearance. Fairly expensive to obtain but a beautiful book.

2. cover: montage of interior panels (1975)

1) The Raven [Richard Corben] 8p from the poem by Edgar Allan Poe, reprinted from Creepy

#67 (Dec. 1974)

2) Anti-Christmas [Budd Lewis/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #68 (Jan. 1975)

3) The Butcher: Forgive Us Our Trepasses [Bill DuBay/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie

#62 (Jan. 1975)

4) Dracula: The Circus Of King Carnival [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #39 (Jan. 1975)

5) Dracula: The Winged Shaft Of Fate [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #40 (Mar. 1975)

6) The Manhunters [Gerry Boudreau/Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Eerie #60 (Sept. 1974)

7) Purge! [Bruce Bezaire/Jose Ortiz] 8p reprinted from Creepy #73 (Aug. 1975)

8) Janis! [Victor Mora/Luis Garcia] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #45 (Sept. 1975)

9) The Beast On Bacon Street [Budd Lewis/Reed Crandall] 7p reprinted from Creepy #74 (Oct.

1975)

10) The Muck Monster [Berni Wrightson] 7p reprinted from Eerie #68 (Sept. 1975)

11) Artist Profiles: Richard Corben/Reed Crandall/Luis Garcia/Esteban Maroto/Jose Ortiz/Wally

Wood/Berni Wrightson [Bill DuBay]

Notes: Edited by Bill DuBay. Both this and #3 were published at the same time in late 1975.

3. cover: montage of interior panels (1975)

1) Child: Mind Of The Mass! [Greg Potter/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie #58 (July

1974)

2) Child: Childhood’s End [Budd Lewis/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie #60 (Sept.

1974)

3) Wizard Wagstaff [Jack Butterworth/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie #56 (Apr. 1974)

4) Hard John Apple: An Angel Shy Of Hell [Jim Stenstrum/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #64 (Aug. 1974)

5) Harry [Jeff Jones] 6p reprinted from Vampirella #32 (Apr. 1974)

6) Dead Run [Jeff Jones] 2p reprinted from Vampirella #32 (Apr. 1974)

7) A Wonderful Morning [Fernando Fernandez] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #36 (Sept. 1974)

8) Puppet-Player [Jose Bea] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #36 (Sept. 1974)

9) Dax The Damned: Chess [Esteban Maroto & ?/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Eerie #41

(Aug. 1972)

10) Mates [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Creepy #64 (Aug. 1974)

11) Vampirella: Return Trip [Josep Toutain/Jose Gonzalez] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #27

(Sept. 1973)

12) Artist Profiles: Jose Bea/Richard Corben/Fernando Fernandez/Jeff Jones/Esteban Maroto [Bill

DuBay]

Notes: The Dax story was the only Dax tale not included in Eerie #59’s reprinting of the Dax saga and it is also the only story reprinted here that was not originally printed as a color section.

4. cover: montage of interior panels (1976)

1) The Believer! [Budd Lewis/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #77 (Feb. 1976)

2) The Power And The Gory [W. Eaton/Rafael Auraleon] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #28

(Oct. 1973)

3) The Freaks: A Thin Dime Of Pain [Doug Moench/Leopold Sanchez] 8p reprinted from Eerie

#72 (Feb. 1976)

4) Child [Greg Potter/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Eerie #57 (June 1974)

5) Tell-Tale Heart [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 8p from the story ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ by

Edgar Allan Poe, reprinted {the color version} from Creepy #65 (Sept. 1975)

6) Exterminator One [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p reprinted from Eerie #63 (Feb. 1975)

7) Hunter [Bill DuBay/Paul Neary] 8p reprinted {the color version} from Eerie #69 (Oct. 1975)

8) Vampirella: The Monster Called Vampirella [Bill DuBay/Zesar Lopez] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #46 (Oct. 1975)

9) Artist Profiles: Rafael Auraleon/Richard Corben/Reed Crandall/Felix Mas/Paul Neary/Leopold

Sanchez/Zesar Lopez [Louise Jones?]

Notes: I don’t have a copy of this magazine but if Felix Mas is listed in the Profile section it’s possible that a story is missing from this listing. The editor is Louise Jones. ‘Child’ is reprinted for the second time in this series, also appearing in #1. The Overstreet Price Guide cites a second printing with an additional Richard Corben story.

5. cover: montage of interior panels (1977)

1) Bowser [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #54 (Sept. 1976)

2) The Succubus Stone [Gerry Boudreau & Carl Wessler/Ramon Torrents] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #49 (Mar. 1976)

3) Vampirella: The Corpse With The Missing Mind [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 8p reprinted

from Vampirella #55 (Oct. 1976)

4) The Mummy: …And An End [Steve Skeates/Jaime Brocal] 8p reprinted {the color version}

from Eerie #78 (Oct. 1976)

5) Déjà Vu [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted {the color version} from Creepy #82

(Aug. 1976)

6) Demons Of Father Pain [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 8p reprinted from Eerie #77 (Sept. 1976)

7) The Spirit: The Origin Of The Spirit [Will Eisner/Will Eisner & Chuck Kramer] 8p reprinted

from the Spirit #6 (Feb. 1975)

8) In Deep [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Creepy #83 (Oct. 1976)

Notes: Final issue. Like its previous reprinting, the story ‘Déjà Vu’ had one page dropped from its original appearance.

The Spirit Special

1. cover: montage of interior panels (Summer 1975) [See the Spirit magazine for actual credits.]

1) El Spirito reprinted from The Spirit #1 (Apr. 1974)

2) The Strange Case Of Mr. Parrafin reprinted from The Spirit #3 (Aug. 1974)

3) The Elevator reprinted from The Spirit #4 (Oct. 1974)

4) The Deadly Comic Book reprinted from The Spirit #5 (Dec. 1974)

5) Glob reprinted from The Spirit #6 (Feb. 1975)

6) Young Dr. Ebony reprinted from The Spirit #7 (Apr. 1975)

7) Assignment: Paris reprinted from The Spirit #8 (June 1975)

8) The Space Sniper reprinted from The Spirit #9 (Aug. 1975)

9) Bucket Of Blood reprinted from Eerie #55 (Mar. 1974)

10) The Christmas Spirit Of 1947 reprinted from Eerie #54 (Feb. 1974)

Notes: An all-reprint collection of the color Spirit sections published up to that point. An companion magazine to Comix International and The Vampirella Special. Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Bill DuBay.

Warren Presents

1. cover: Kim McQuaite & James Warren (1977)

1) U.F.O. [Josep Toutain/Ramon Torrents] 9p reprinted from Vampirella #62 (Aug. 1977)

2) Daddy And The Pie [Bill DuBay/Alex Toth] 8p reprinted from Eerie #64 (Mar. 1975)

3) The Pie And I [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 9p reprinted from Eerie #72 (Feb. 1976)

4) Companions To The Sun [Bruce Jones/Leopold Sanchez] 10p reprinted from Vampirella #61

(July 1977)

5) The Generations Of Noah [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p reprinted from Creepy

#92 (Oct. 1977)

6) Visitation At Pliny Marsh [Gerry Boudreau/Martin Salvador] 8p reprinted from Creepy #79

(May 1976)

7) The Stars My Salvation [Doug Moench/John Severin] 11p reprinted from Creepy #68 (Jan.

1975)

Notes: The Warren Presents title had a very convoluted history (see The Warren Companion for the complete information) with four issues appearing as one-shots before the series was given a title. Twelve of the issues were composed of reprinted comics with each issue having a separate, unique title but the remaining two were composed of text reprints from Famous Monsters. The magazine followed no regular schedule, sometimes appearing annually, sometimes with two issues at once and sometimes a full year or more between issues. The irony was that in the latter issues these reprint magazines {due to cherrypicking good stories} were often better than any of the regular magazines’ runs. Based on the 1977 original publication dates for three of the stories contained within, this debut issue probably came out in Oct. or Nov. 1977. Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Nicola Cuti with Louise Jones listed as senior editor. This issue was titled UFO And Alien Comix.

2. cover: Larry Todd (Sept. 1978) reprinted from Eerie #33 (May 1971)

1) Starvisions [Larry Todd] 6p reprinted from Eerie #33 (May 1971)

2) Mates [Doug Moench/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Creepy #64 (Aug. 1974)

3) Incident In The Beyond! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June

1965)

4) Behold The Cybernite! [Rich Margopoulos/Tom Sutton] 8p reprinted from Creepy #46 (July

1972)

5) Taking Of Queen Bovine [Gerry Boudreau/Ramon Torrents] 8p reprinted from Eerie #81

(Feb. 1977)

6) Hunter 3 [Jim Stenstrum/Alex Nino] 8p reprinted from Eerie #87 (Oct. 1977)

7) Within You…Without You [Bruce Jones/Richard Corben] 10p reprinted from Eerie #77 (Sept.

1976)

8) The Argo Standing By! [Budd Lewis/Paul Neary] 10p reprinted from Creepy #73 (Aug. 1975)

Notes: Titled Future World Comix. Editor: Louise Jones.

3. cover: Ken Kelly (Oct. 1978) reprinted from Creepy #73 (Aug. 1975)

1) Last Light Of The Universe [Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 17p reprinted from Creepy #73

(Aug. 1975)

2) Epilogue [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 1p reprinted from Creepy #73 (Aug. 1975)

3) Stars Wars Revisited [Kis Stulken, Deb Thomston & Ann Wilson] 10p [text article] reprinted

from Famous Monsters Of Filmland #? (? 1977)

4) The Last Hero [Steve Skeates/Ramon Torrents] 10p reprinted from Creepy #52 (Apr. 1973)

5) Unprovoked Attack On A Hilton Hotel [Jim Stenstrum/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from

Creepy #73 (Aug. 1975)

6) Judas [Rich Margopoulos/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Creepy #62 (May 1974)

7) The War [Roger McKenzie/Paul Neary] 8p reprinted from Creepy #81 (July 1976)

Notes: Titled Starquest Comix.

4. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Dec. 1978)

1) Killer Hawk [Bill DuBay/Wally Wood] 12p reprinted from Eerie #61 (Nov. 1974)

2) Battlestar Galactia [Terry Pinckard] 10p [text article] reprinted from Famous Monsters Of

Filmland #149? (Nov.? 1978)

3) Star-Slaughter [Rich Margopoulos/Ramon Torrents] 8p reprinted from Creepy #51 (Mar.

1973)

4) Starbright Lantern [Gerry Boudreau/Jose Ortiz] 9p reprinted from Vampirella #48 (Jan. 1976)

5) The Time Eater! [Jack Butterworth/Paul Neary] 12p reprinted from Vampirella #40 (Mar.

1975)

6) Mother Knows Best [Bruce Jones/Al Williamson] 8p reprinted from Creepy #86 (Feb. 1977)

7) Now You See It… [Bruce Jones/Al Williamson] 8p reprinted from Creepy #83 (Oct. 1976)

Notes: Titled Galactic War Comix.

5. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (? 1979) reprinted from Eerie #41 (Aug. 1972)

1) The Curse [Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #9 (Jan. 1971)

2) The Last Dragon King [Roger McKenzie/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #67

(Mar. 1978)

3) Jackie And The Leprechaun King [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #53 (Aug. 1976)

4) Prelude To Armageddon [Nicola Cuti & Wally Wood/Wally Wood] 12p reprinted from

Creepy #41 (Sept. 1971)

5) Merlin: The King [Budd Lewis/Gonzalo Mayo] 20p reprinted from Eerie #74 (May 1976)

6) Dax The Damned: Chess [Esteban Maroto & Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from

Eerie #59 (Aug. 1974)

Notes: The first issue to have the title Warren Presents. Subtitled Ring Of The Warlords. Published between Jan.-Apr. 1979.

6. cover: Paul Gulacy (May 1979)

1) The Making Of A Comic Book Hero [Bill DuBay] 2p [text article]

2) The Rook: The Man Whom Time Forgot [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 20p reprinted from Eerie

#82 (Mar. 1977)

3) The Rook: The Day Before Tomorrow [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 20p reprinted from Eerie

#83 (May 1977)

4) The Room: Yesterday, The Final Day [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 22p reprinted from Eerie

#84 (June 1977)

5) The Rook: Lost To The Land Of Nowhen [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 14p reprinted from

Eerie #85 (Aug. 1977)

Notes: Subtitled Wanted: The Rook. Editor: Bill DuBay. The Gulacy cover originally had an elaborate background identifying the stories as taking place at the Alamo, but the background was dropped with only the foreground figure of the Rook remaining, while the background was solid white. This special was a preview/promo/pilot for the upcoming Rook magazine.

7. cover: Kim McQuaite (Aug. 1979)

1) The Beast Is Yet To Come [Nicola Cuti/Carmine Infantino & Alex Nino] 8p reprinted from

Vampirella #59 (Apr. 1977)

2) It! [Archie Goodwin/Dan Adkins] 8p reprinted from Eerie #7 (Jan. 1967)

3) The Mound [Tom Sutton] 10p reprinted from Eerie #45 (Feb. 1973)

4) Alien [Forrest J. Ackerman] 8p [text article] reprinted from Famous Monsters Of Filmland #?

(? 1979)

5) The Man Hunters [Gerry Boudreau/Wally Wood] 8p reprinted from Eerie #60 (Sept. 1974)

6) The Star Saga Of Sirius Sam [Nicola Cuti/John Severin] 8p reprinted from Creepy #95 (Feb.

1978)

7) Tibor Miko’s Christmas [Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Creepy #77 (Feb. 1976) [originally

entitled ‘Tibor Miko’.]

Notes: Subtitled Alien Invasion Comix.

8. cover: John Stone (Sept. 1979) [photo college]

1) issue made up entirely of reprinted articles from Famous Monsters Of Filmland.

Notes: Subtitled Movie Aliens Illustrated.

9. cover: Basil Gogos (Sept. 1979) reprinted from Famous Monsters Of Filmland #105 (Mar. 1974)

1) Pursuit Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 6p reprinted from Creepy #1 (Jan.

1965)

2) the rest of the issue is made up entirely of reprinted articles from Famous Monsters Of

Filmland.

Notes: Subtitled Dracula.

10. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Oct. 1979) reprinted from Eerie #46 (Mar. 1973)

1) Curse Of The Vampire! [Archie Goodwin/Neal Adams] 8p reprinted from Creepy #14 (Apr.

1967)

2) A Flash Of Lightning [Gerry Boudreau/John Severin] 9p reprinted from Creepy #76 (Jan.

1976)

3) Like Icarus, Quickly Falling [Roger McKenzie/Leopold Sanchez] 8p reprinted from Creepy

#85 (Jan. 1977)

4) A Game Of Hide And Seek [Roger McKenzie/Leopoldo Duranona] 9p reprinted from

Vampirella #65 (Dec. 1977)

5) Swamped! [Archie Goodwin/Angelo Torres] 8p reprinted from Creepy #3 (June 1965)

6) Day of The Vampire 1992: The Tombspawn [Bill DuBay/Gonzalo Mayo] 10p reprinted from

Eerie #73 (Mar. 1976)

Notes: Subtitled Strange Stories Of Vampires Comix. This is the first time that the story ‘A Game Of Hide And Seek’ was printed complete in one issue.

11. cover: Bob Larkin (Oct. 1980)

1) Pantha: Re-Birth [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 10p reprinted from Vampirella #30 (Jan.

1974)

2) Pantha: Family Ties! [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 9p reprinted from Vampirella #31 (Mar.

1974)

3) Pantha: Black On White [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 10p reprinted from Vampirella #32

(Apr. 1974)

4) Pantha: Childhood Haunt! [Steve Skeates/Rafael Auraleon] 10p reprinted from Vampirella

#33 (May 1974)

5) Pantha: Straw On The Wind [Budd Lewis/Rafael Auraleon] 10p reprinted from Vampirella

#42 (May 1975)

Notes: Subtitled Pantha. Editor: Bill DuBay as Will Richardson.

12. cover: Jim Laurier (Nov. 1980)

1) The Rubicon [Budd Lewis/Pepe Moreno] 10p reprinted from Creepy #107 (May 1979)

2) The Empire Strikes Gold! [?] 8p reprinted from Famous Monsters Of Filmland #166 (Aug.

1980)

3) Gotterdammerung, parts 1 & 2 [Budd Lewis/Isidro Mones] 20p reprinted from Eerie #100 &

101 (Apr. & June 1979)

4) The Green [Bruce Jones/Luis Bermejo] 6p reprinted from Creepy #96 (Mar. 1978)

5) Gravity Field [Bob Toomey/Pepe Moreno] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #76 (Mar. 1979)

Notes: Editor: Chris Adames. Subtitled Empire Encounters Comix.

13. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Oct. 1981)

1) A Scream In The Forest [Greg Potter/Esteban Maroto] 12p reprinted from Creepy #53 (May

1973)

2) Spotlight On Dragonslayer [Forrest J. Ackerman] 6p [text article] reprinted from Famous

Monsters Of Filmland #? (? 1981)

3) Merlin: The Kingmaker [Budd Lewis/Esteban Maroto] 11p reprinted from Eerie #67 (Aug.

1975)

4) Goddess In A Kingdom Of Trolls [Gerry Boudreau/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Creepy

#92 (Oct. 1977)

5) Scheherazade [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #72 (Sept. 1978)

6) The Sleeping Beauty [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p reprinted from Vampirella #58 (Mar.

1977)

Notes: An Esteban Maroto special. Subtitled Sword & Sorcery Comix.

14. cover: Bob Larkin/frontis: Rudy Nebres (Nov. 1981)

1) Rex Havoc [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 10p reprinted from 1984 #4 (Oct. 1978)

2) Rex Havoc: She Who-Must-Be-Okay! [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 22p reprinted from

1984 #6 (June 1979)

3) Rex Havoc: Humungus [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 20p reprinted from 1984 #9 (Oct.

1979)

Notes: Final issue. These stories were slightly edited for content and Rex’s group, the Asskickers of the Fantastic, was renamed the Raiders of the Fantastic. One supposes this editorial softening was to make Rex Havoc appeal to a broader group than the fans of the raunchy 1984. Still, Asskickers of the Fantastic is a damn funny name.

Vampirella Special

1. cover: montage of interior panels (1977)

1) Meet Pepe Gonzalez [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 1p [frontis, text article]

2) Vampirella: Death’s Dark Angel [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p reprinted from

Vampirella #12 (July 1971)

3) Vampirella: The Lurker In The Deep [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 15p reprinted from

Vampirella #13 (Sept. 1971)

4) Vampirella: Isle Of The Huntress! [Archie Goodwin/Jose Gonzalez] 20p reprinted from

Vampirella #14 (Nov. 1971)

5) Vampirella: The Mummy’s Revenge [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #38 (Nov. 1974)

6) Vampirella: The Mountain Of Skulls [Mike Butterworth/Jose Gonzalez] 12p reprinted from

Vampirella #42 (May 1975)

Notes: Editor: Louise Jones & Josep Toutain. All of the Vampi strips were colored for this appearance. A hardcover edition, signed by Jose Gonzalez, was also offered at $12.50.

1984/1994

1. cover: Richard Corben (June 1978)

1) Remember The Good Old Days? Who Would Have Thought They’d Return…In 1984? [Bill

DuBay/Joe Vaultz] 1p [text article, frontis]

2) Last Of The Really Great, All-American Joy Juice [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 12p

3) The Saga Of Honey Dew Melons [Nicola Cuti/Esteban Maroto] 8p

4) Once Upon Clarissa [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p

5) Quick Cut [Wally Wood & Bill DuBay/Wally Wood] 6p [story credited soley to Wood]

6) The Saga Of Xatz And Xotz [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 1p

7) Bugs! [Bill DuBay/Joe Vaultz] 4p

8) Mutant World [Richard Corben] 8p [color]

9) Faster-Than-Light Instellar Travel [Jim Stenstrum/Luis Bermejo] 12p

10) Angel! [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 12p

11) Momma, Can You Hear Me? [Nicola Cuti/Alex Nino] 8p

12) 1984 Ad [Joe Vaultz] 1p [on inside back cover]

13) Next Issue Cover Ad [Richard Corben] 1p [on back cover]

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Bill DuBay. $1.50 cover price with 80 pages. No ads. Now, what can you say about 1984? Put into the publishing pipeline when Jim Warren apparently panicked over the successful debut of Heavy Metal in 1977, this single magazine set out to pretty much confirm every parent, feminist, African-American, Native American, liberal, conservative, and just plain ol’ American Joe or Jane’s worst fears about comics. Juvenile, sleazy, scatalogical, racist, demeaning to women, heavy handed in its treatment of violence and lame in its sense of humor—all describe 1984. Let me put it this way, Howard Stern would LOVE this magazine. And that’s just the stories. Behind the scenes, DuBay apparently rewrote other writers’ stories to make them even more sleazy than they originally were. A lawsuit was prompted when writer Harlan Ellison sued over an unauthorized (and disgused) adaptation of his story ‘A Boy And His Dog’, a suit that may have killed the entire Warren publishing company. At least one stellar writer/artist swore never to work for Warren again after his treatment in the pages of 1984. The George Orwell estate supposedly pressured Warren into changing the title midway through the run. Buying an issue of 1984 in 1978-1982 was about the same as buying a Hustler. You might like comics, you might like skin magazines, but liking these two magazines was admitting that maybe you were a little bit of a sleazy dumbass too. Even today, I cringe a little, just knowing a complete set of 1984/1994 is stored in my closet. However, in its defense, 1984 published the best art {often quite spectacular art} of any Warren magazine during its run. Now, as to this issue in particular, when you lead off with a story about collecting semen, the reader might get a negative idea of where the issue was going to go. That negative idea would be pretty much right on target, but there are some definite hightlights here. Rich Corben’s ‘Mutant World’ starts off a serial that any adult {not porn, but adult—there’s a difference} magazine in 1978 would have been proud to publish. Nicola Cuti managed to write a couple of worthwhile stories, even as they were nearly buried in silly sex antics. Jim Stenstrum delivered the best story of the bunch, a charming, silly, and adult story that managed to lightly tapdance its way past the open sewer that many of the other stories leaped into somewhat cheerfully. The artwork is very good, with Maroto, Corben, Nino & Bermejo providing great jobs. Good work was also seen from Alcala & Vaultz. However, Rudy Nebres, usually a very dependable artist, turned in one ugly set of pages while Ortiz’ work was just run of the mill. The Wally Wood story was another matter. Wood’s original story was entitled ‘The End’ and was 12 pages long. It was a part of his Wizard King series. Bill DuBay, without Wood’s ok or knowledge, split the story in two, rearranged pages & panels, rewrote Wood’s original script and presented the greatly altered work as two separate stories, changing Wood’s original rather charming adult oriented tale into shorter pieces that leaned heavily on the scenes (also in Wood’s orginal but not nearly so highlighted as their appearance here) of naked women in bondage being whipped & brutalized. Understandably, Wood was outraged and never worked for Warren again. He published the original version himself in his newsletter The Wood Gazette and that original version again appeared in the Wallace Woods series that Eclipse published in 1985 or 1986. Even today, it’s hard to understand why this happened. It’s easy to imagine a newcomer to comics being treated in such a fashion but in 1978 Wood was a major star in the comic field. He had worked on the Spirit, was one of the original EC artists and had done stellar work throughout most of his career. His original story would have looked just fine in Creepy or Eerie. Yes, it was somewhat tame according to the lights of 1984 but to see the original story and compare it to the two tawdy six page stories that appeared here is quite depressing. The ad on the back cover shows the original version of #2 cover before it was altered by DuBay.

2. cover: Richard Corben & Bill DuBay (Aug. 1978)

1) The Last Of The Red Hot Lovers [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 8p

2) Scourge Of The Spaceway [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p

3) …Sure-Fire Quick-Carnage Self-Decimation Kit! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p

4) One Night, Down On The Funny Farm! [Wally Wood & Bill DuBay/Wally Wood] 6p

5) The Janitor [Bill DuBay/Nebot] 9p

6) Mutant World, part 2 [Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) Messiah [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 11p

8) Don’t Call Me…Maneater! [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala & Jim Janes] 7p

9) The Microbe Patrol [Nicola Cuti/Abel Laxamana] 14p

Notes: For some reason, the brunette on Corben’s original cover is turned into a blonde by Bill DuBay. Best story & art here is the DuBay/Nino effort, which reads a bit like a more violent version of the Jim Stenstrum/John Severin story ‘The Super-Abnormal Phenomena Survival Kit’ from 1976. ‘The Janitor’ is somewhat amusing, with the art & storyline looking like it would fit right into a modern day magazine like Sizzle. Nebres’ art is much better than in the previous issue. ‘Don’t Call Me…Maneater!’ is a spoof of Marvel’s version of Conan, with Alcala making the leading oaf in the story look like the dumb and dumber twin of the R. E. Howard creation.

3. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Sept. 1978)

1) Squeezin’s [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 14p

2) Whatever Happened To Idi Amin? [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 11p

3) In The Beginning…! [written: Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 12p

4) Mutant World, part 3 [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

5) Bring Me The Head Of Omar Barsidian! [Bill DuBay/Jim Janes & Rudy Nebres] 6p

6) The Strange Adventures Of Doctor Jerkyll [Nebot] 5p

7) Scourge Of All Disneyspace [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 6p

8) Commfu [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 7p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

9) The Harvest [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 8p

10) The Quickie Adventures Of Happy Jim Sunblaster [Jim Stenstrum & Bill DuBay/Herb Arnold] 1p [color, on inside back cover, Stenstrum’s contribution credited to Alabaster

Redzone]

Notes: Patrick Woodroffe was one of Warren’s best cover artists during this period and this cover is one of the reasons why. Striking and eerie. ‘Squeezin’s’ was a quite good story by the team of DuBay & Ortiz, while Corben’s ‘Mutant World’ picked up even more steam by adding scripter Jan Strnad. The ‘Idi Amin’ story boasted some of Maroto’s best art for Warren, unforturnately in service to a very dumb serial. The ‘Happy Jim Sunblaster’ stories were a combo of a new 1 page serial and a 1984 ad. Any good will that DuBay & Ortiz had acquired by ‘Squeezin’s’ was totally destroyed by the vile ‘The Harvest’ which related the happy adventures of a {white} father & son in a world where blacks were regarded as hunting animals. After they track down and kill a near term pregnant black woman, we’re treated to the lovely sight of them ripping her baby from her womb, holding the fetus above their heads in a spray of blood, while commenting on how they’re going to have “some prime veal!” Absolutely disgusting and something I have no problem placing in that section of “literature” called ‘violent & unneccessary pornagraphy.’

4. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Oct. 1978) [wraparound cover]

1) The Last War…Of The Worlds! [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 16p

2) Idi And Me [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 10p

3) Mondo Megillah [Jim Stenstrum/Alex Nino] 12p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

4) Mutant World, part 4 [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

5) The Stunning Downfall Of Muhammad Reptillicus! [Jim Janes & Bill DuBay/Jim Janes &

Rudy Nebres] 8p

6) Ogre [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

7) Lullaby [Jim Stenstrum/Jose Gonzalez] 6p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

8) Boys’ Camp [Jim Stenstrum/Herb Arnold] 8p [story credited to Alabaster Redzone]

9) Rex Havoc & The Asskickers Of The Fantastic [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 10p

10) Happy Jim Sunblaster Rides Again! [Bill DuBay/Herb Arnold] 1p [color, on inside back

cover]

Notes: ‘The Last War…Of The Worlds!’ is a sequel to H. G. Wells’ novel, ‘War Of The Worlds’. Two color sections appear this issue, with the ‘Ogre’ story’s art being composed of enhanced photos & clay models by Corben. Very nicely done. A sequel to this story, ‘Ogre II’, appeared in Fantagor #5 in 1983. ‘Mondo Megillah’ is the ripoff of Ellison’s ‘A Boy And His Dog’. The story goes that Warren Publishing was attempting to obtain the rights to the Ellison story and, in anticipation of getting them, Bill DuBay plotted & had Nino illustrate an actual adaptation. However, Ellison refused to allow the adaptation, so, after Nino changed his art to feature a monster instead of a dog and a girl instead of a guy {and some monster/girl humping, just for kicks}, the actual scripting of the story was handed off to Stenstrum, who was apparently unaware of the Ellison connection. Ellison spotted the adaptation’s source material immediately and sued Warren Publications. He won his case and, within months of the win, Warren Publications went out of business. Outside of this embarrassment, Stenstrum had a pretty good time this issue, with the debut of his funny serial ‘Rex Havoc’, and the fine stories of ‘Lullaby’ and ‘Boys’ Camp’. ‘Lullaby’ featured the best artwork Gonzalez ever did for Warren and ‘Boys’ Camp’ featured some interesting work by Herb Arnold. Arnold is often mistaked for Corben, although I’ve never been sure why. Their art is similar but certainly not an exact match. It’s easy to tell the two apart.

5. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Feb. 1979)

1) The Odd Comic World Of Richard Corben Ad [Richard Corben] 1p [frontis]

2) The Greatest Hero Of Time And Space! [Jim Stenstrum & Bill Dubay/Jose Ortiz] 8p

[Stenstrum’s contribution credited to Alabaster Redzone & DuBay’s to Strontium

Whitehead]

3) Idi And The Ratmen Of Hunger Hollow [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 8p [DuBay’s story

credited to Strontium Whitehead]

4) Timothy Sternbach And The Multi-Colored Sunrise! [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Nino] 8p

5) I Wonder Who’s Squeezing Her Now? [Nicola Cuti/Ernie Colon & Wally Wood] 7p

6) Luke The Nuke Brings It In! [Jim Stenstrum/Rudy Nebres] 6p

7) Mutant World, part 5 [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

8) The Box! [Len Wein/Mike Nassar & Alfredo Alcala] 8p

9) Killman One [Jim Stenstrum/Herb Arnold] 8p [Stenstrum’s story credited to Alabaster

Redzone]

10) Rex Havoc & The Asskickers Of The Fantastic: The Spud From Another World! or: Who

Goes There? [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 14p

11) The Quickie Adventures Of Happy Jim Sunblaster Again! [Bill DuBay/Herb Arnold] 1p

[color, on inside back cover]

Notes: There was a five month gap between #4 & 5. Woodroffe’s cool, subtle cover also appeared as the cover to Jack Vance’s novel The Gray Prince. The letters’ page was four pages long with fantasy/sf artist Rick Berry and fan writer R. Fiore sending in highly critical letters. ‘I Wonder Who’s Squeezing Her Now?’ was done in 1971 and was originally intended for the never published POW! #1, with the title ‘Incident At Laurelhurst’. The Rex Havoc story, also the best story in this issue, spoofs John Campbell’s famous story & the equally famous Howard Hawks’ movie ‘The Thing From Another World’. All of Stenstrum’s stories, with the exception of ‘The Greatest Hero Of Time And Space!’ were quite good. The Boudreau/Nino story was also good. Best art honors go to Richard Corben.

6. cover: Jim Lauier (June 1979)

1) The Warhawks [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 17p

2) The Final Days Of Idi Amin! [Bill DuBay/Esteban Maroto] 11p

3) Liaison Aboard A Skylab [Jeff Rovin/Alex Nino] 9p

4) Mutant World, part 6 [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

5) Twilight’s End! [Jim Stenstrum/Rudy Nebres] 9p [Stenstrum’s story credited to Alabaster

Redzone]

6) Rex Havoc & The Asskickers Of The Fantastic: She Who-Must-Be-Okay! [Jim Stenstrum/Abel

Laxamana] 22p

Notes: Another long wait between issues. ‘The Warhawks’ was a rather nasty spoof on Quality & DC’s Blackhawks. Frank Thorne’s ‘Ghita Of Alizarr’ is previewed on the letters’ page. Best story & art in this issue goes to Rex Havoc.

7. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Aug. 1979)

1) Teleport 2010 [Budd Lewis/Alex Nino] 14p

2) Freeze A Jolly Good Fellow! [Budd Lewis/Jose Ortiz] 6p

3) Kaiser Warduke And The Indispensable Jasper Gemstone! [Rich Margopoulos/Jimmy Janes &

Alfredo Alcala] 9p

4) Mutant World, part 7 [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

5) Twilight’s End!, part 2 [Jim Stenstrum/Rudy Nebres] 9p [Stenstrum’s story credited to

Alabaster Redzone]

6) Ghita Of Alizarr : Alizarr [Frank Thorne] 15p

7) Zincor And The Fempire [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Nino] 14p

8) The Quickie Adventures Of Happy Jim Sunblaster [Bill DuBay/Herb Arnold] 1p [color, on

inside back cover]

Notes: $1.75 cover price. Beneath a rather bizarre, although striking, cover painting of an alien by Woodroffe was a fairly interesting issue with ‘Teleport 2010’ and the latest installment of ‘Mutant World’ being the best stories. This issue featured the debut of Frank Thorne’s soft-porn reworking of his Red Sonja series from Marvel, ‘Ghita Of Alizarr’. Alex Nino delivered the best artwork here.

8. cover: Jim Laurier (Sept. 1979)

1) Painter’s Mountain [Bill DuBay & Budd Lewis/Alex Nino] 16p

2) Herma: All You Need Is Love [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

3) Twilight’s End, part 3 [Jim Stenstrum/Rudy Nebres] 13p [Stenstrum’s story is credited to

Alabaster Redzone]

4) Mutant World, part 8 [Jan Strnad/Richard Corben] 8p [color]

5) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 2 [Frank Thorne] 11p

6) Madmen And Messiahs [Bill DuBay/Abel Laxamana] 9p

7) The Rook Ad [Rudy Nebres, et al] 2p

8) Once Upon A Holocaust! [Nicola Cuti & Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 8p

9) The Miniscule Adventures Of Happy Jim Sunblaster! [Bill DuBay/Herb Arnold] 1p

Notes: With the conclusion of ‘Mutant World’ Corben ceased working for Warren, except for the occasional cover. He did leave on a high note. As a whole, ‘Mutant World’ was one of the best stories he’d ever done for Warren. The best single story here was ‘Painter’s Mountain’, which was surprisingly thoughtful and beautifully drawn. Herma was drawn in 1974 but remained unpublished until it appeared in a European publication shortly before its North American printing here. It was greatly rewritten by DuBay and the art adjusted to meet the larger dimensions of a magazine.

9. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Oct. 1979)

1) Break Even [Kevin Duane/Alex Nino] 18p

2) Herma [Bill DuBAy/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

3) The Rook Ad [Rudy Nebres; et al] 2p

4) A Clear And Present Danger! [Gerry Boudreau/Jess Jodloman] 9p

5) Starfire [Bill DuBay/Frank Springer & Herb Arnold] 8p [color]

6) Rex Havoc & The Asskickers Of The Fantastic: Humungus [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana]

20p

7) The Schmoo Connection [Bill DuBay?/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: For the first time ads began to appear on interior pages. The Rex Havoc story spoofs the Godzilla movies. Schmoos were the creation of Al Capp in his comic strip ‘Li’l Abner’.

10. cover: Patrick Woodroffe (Dec. 1979)

1) The Whatever Shop! [Jim Stenstrum/Alex Nino]

2) Herma [Bill DuBay/Jose Gonzalez] 8p

3) The Little Spaceship That Could! [John Ellis Sech/Jose Ortiz] 7p

4) The Klanks Are Coming! The Klanks Are Coming! [Rich Margopoulos/Vic Catan] 10p

5) The Starfire Saga, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 8p [color]

6) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 3 [Frank Thorne] 12p

7) Haxtur [Victor de la Fuente] 11p

8) Thinking Of You! [Nicola Cuti/Abel Laxamana] 9p

Notes: Comic artist Ronn Sutton sends in a letter. ‘Haxtur’ was done in 1971 and appeared all over Europe before being serialized here. Both ‘The Whatever Shop’ and ‘Thinking Of You!’ are superior stories. The artwork is generally fine throughout.

11. cover: Alex Nino (Feb. 1980) [title changed to 1994, cover credited to A2-120]

1) 1984 Magazine: A Eulogy! [Bill DuBay] 1/3p [text article, on letters’ page]

2) East Of Euthanasia [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 10p [DuBay’s story credited to Will Richardson]

3) The Jewels Of Araknid [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Ortiz] 8p

4) Outpost 1017 [Rich Margopoulos/Michael Saentz] 8p

5) Live Large [John Ellis Sech/E.R. Cruz] 9p

6) The Starfire Saga, part 3 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 8p [color]

7) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 4 [Frank Thorne] 15p

8) Haxtur, part 2 [Victor de la Fuente] 12p

9) Once There Was A…Masher! [Alex Nino] 3p

Notes: Editor Bill DuBay reinvents himself as Will Richardson for the next year or so. 1984 changes its name, according to the letters’ page explanation so that newsstand readers don’t confuse it with George Orwell’s novel 1984. To the more cynical, possibly so that the George Orwell estate won’t sue Warren’s sleazy sex title while they’re already embroiled in a lawsuit with Harlan Ellison. Orwell’s novel is also given a strong plug in the title change essay. Other than the title switch, not much of anything changes about the magazine, at least for now. After this issue, Haxtur moved to Eerie for the remainder of his run.

12. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Apr. 1980)

1) The Seed! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 15p [DuBay’s story credited to Will Richardson]

2) Jailbreak…On Channel 69! [Bob Toomey/Jose Gonzalez] 4p

3) Over Four Billion Served [Kevin Duane/Delando Nino] 9p

4) The Starfire Saga, part 4 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 10p [DuBay’s story credited to Will

Richardson]

5) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 5 [Frank Thorne] 10p

6) Baby Makes Three! [Kevin Duane/Abel Laxamana] 16p

Notes: ‘Baby Makes Three!’ was a good serial. The color section is dropped.

13. cover: Jose Bea (June 1980)

1) Imaginary Lover! [John Ellis Sech/Alex Nino] 11p

2) Cyberman [Rich Margopoulos/Delando Nino] 12p

3) The Crop! [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 12p [DuBay’s story credited to Will Richardson]

4) The Starfire Saga, part 5 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 6p [DuBay’s story credited to Will

Richardson]

5) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 6 [Frank Thorne] 12p

6) Voyage To The Bottom Of The Barrel [Budd Lewis/Abel Laxamana] 11p

Notes: Bea, not seen on the Warren stage for some years, makes a welcome return with a cover that recalls his excellent Eerie serial ‘Tales Of Peter Hypnos’. Comics artist Carl Potts sends in a letter. ‘The Crop!’ was just as offensive as #3’s ‘The Harvest’, while ‘Voyage To The Bottom Of The Barrel’ was a dumbass, jive-talking turkey of a story that was summed up in its own title quite accurately.

14. cover: Manuel Sanjulian (Aug. 1980) [Wraparound cover]

1) Womb With A View! [Nicola Cuti/Alex Nino] 10p

2) The Benevolence! [Jim Stenstrum/Jose Ortiz] 22p

3) The Galaxy Grand Prix [Jim Stenstrum/Vic Catan] 10p [Stenstrum’s story credited to

Alabaster Redzone]

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 7 [Frank Thorne] 16p

5) Baby makes Three, part 2 [Kevin Duane/Abel Laxamana] 6p

Notes: Ghita is cover featured in one of Sanjulian’s better covers. ‘The Benevolence!’ was such a good story that it stuck out like a healthy thumb in this issue. Ad pages begin creeping in on a regular basis.

15. cover: Alex Nino (Oct. 1980) [cover credited to A2-120]

1) Spearchucker Spade, Intergalactic Eye! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 21p [DuBay’s story credited

to Will Richardson]

2) Coming Out Party [Rich Margopoulos/Delando Nino] 8p

3) The Missionary [Carlos Gimenez] 8p

4) The Starfire Saga, part 6 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 7p [DuBay’s story credited to Will

Richardson]

5) Baby Makes Three!, part 3 [Kevin Duane/Abel Laxamana] 9p

6) 1894 [Budd Lewis/Alex Nino] 6p

Notes: As with Eerie’s The Spook, DuBay again uses a racial slur against blacks to name a character. Future comic artist Chas Truog sends in a letter.

16. cover: Jordi Penalva (Dec. 1980)

1) Sci-Fi Writer [Kevin Duane/Alex Nino] 9p

2) Dog Star [Bill DuBay/Delando Nino] 8p [DuBay’s story credited to Will Richardson]

3) Agony [Carlos Gimenez] 8p from a passage in the novel ‘The Stellar Diaries’ by Stanislaw

Lem!

4) The Day After Dooms Day! [John Ellis Sech/Luis Bermejo] 12p

5) The Starfire Saga, part 7 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 7p

6) Baby Makes Three!, part 4 [Kevin Duane/Abel Laxamana] 12p

7) Fruit Of The Grape! [Kevin Duane/Alex Nino] 8p

Notes: The cover is one of Penalva’s best for Warren. Duane’s humorous little ‘Sci-Fi Writer’ and the equally funny ‘Fruit Of The Grape!’ indicate that he was one of the better of the latterday Warren writers. Bermejo’s art was surprisingly quite poor. ‘Baby Makes Three!’ concludes in fine fashion. The adaptation of ‘Agony’ had the best story & art here.

17. cover: Jim Stenstrum & Bill DuBay (Feb. 1981) [DuBay’s art credited to Will Richardson]

1) Asshole Of The Universe! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 10p [DuBay’s story credited to Will

Richardson]

2) Mad Amy [Bill DuBay & Kevin Duane/Jose Ortiz] 14p [DuBay’s contribution credited to

Will Richardson]

3) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 8 [Frank Thorne] 16p

4) Kid Rust [Bill DuBay?/Jose Ortiz] 8p [color]

5) The Big Cerebration [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 4p

6) Man Is God! [John Ellis Sech/Alex Nino] 2p

Notes: 1994 joins the ranks of the regular magazines with $1.95 cover price for 64 pages. The Stenstrum/DuBay cover is quite colorful but otherwise this is a rather hoohum issue.

18. cover: H. R. Giger (Apr. 1981)

1) The Lost Loves Of Cranfranz P. Thitwacker [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 10p [story credited to

Will Richardson]

2) Lone Wolf [John Ellis Sech/Delando Nino] 16p

3) The Mad Planet [Gerry Boudreau & Bill DuBay/Vic Catan] 8p [DuBay’s contribution

credited to Will Richardson]

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 9 [Frank Thorne] 16p

5) The Starfire Saga, part 8 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 10p [DuBay’s story credited to Will

Richardson]

Notes: $2.00 cover price for 72 pages. H. R. Giger, famed for his alien designs for the movie Alien, contributes a typically creepy cover. From this point on, 1994 would have pretty much the same story to ad ratio as the other magazines in the Warren line. One John Hiatt {Was the singer a comic fan?} sends in a letter.

19. cover: Jordi Penalva (June 1981)

1) Young Sigmund Pavlov, Psychoanalytic Itinerant Extraordinaire! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 11p [story credited to Will Richardson]

2) Fugue For A Ferrite Fugitive [Kevin Duane & Bill DuBay/Vic Catan] 9p [DuBay’s

contribution credited to Will Richardson]

3) The Holy Warrior! [John Ellis Sech & Bill DuBay/Delando Nino] 8p [DuBay’s contribution

credited to Will Richardson]

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 10 [Frank Thorne] 16p

5) Et Tu Casey! [Kevin Duane/Abel Laxamana] 7p [poem]

6) Exterminator: Steele! [Budd Lewis & Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 12p

Notes: Penalva’s cover is quite good. Nino’s art gets increasingly more bizarre. It’s beautiful but often hard to read. The ‘Young Sigmund’ stories were generally of a somewhat higher quality then the usual raunchy fare. ‘Et Tu Casey!’ is a parody of the baseball poem ‘Casey At The Bat’. The ‘Steele’ story, printed sideways, tells the tale of the first Exterminator and guest-stars Hunter. Different Exterminator stories had originally appeared in Eerie.

20. cover: Nestor Redondo (Aug. 1981)

1) Young Sigmund Pavlov! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 16p [story credited to Will Richardson]

2) Diana Jacklighter, Manhuntress! [Jim Stenstrum/Esteban Maroto] 8p [story credited to

Alabaster Redzone]

3) Little Beaver [Bill DuBay/Vic Catan] 11p [story credited to Will Richardson]

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 11 [Frank Thorne] 8p

5) Spearchucker Spade: Intergalactic Eye!, part 2 [Jim Stenstrum & Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 18p

[Stenstrum’s contribution credited to Alabaster Redzone & DuBay’s to Will Richardson]

Notes: Redondo’s cover is a beauty and so is all the interior art. One wishes one could say the same about the stories. ‘Diana Jacklighter’ is a pretty decent serial, if you mentally edited the juvenile style of profanity out.

21. cover: Alex Nino (Oct. 1981)

1) Lord Machina! [Bill DuBay?/Alex Nino] 12p

2) Diana Jacklighter, Manhuntress!, part 2 [Jim Stenstrum/Esteban Maroto] 8p

3) Love Is A Many Tentacled Thing [Bill DuBay?/Delando Nino] 8p

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, part 12 [Frank Thorne] 8p

5) Angel! [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 15p

6) Mars Bar: Tales Of The Red Planet Saloon [Gerry Boudreau?/Redondo Studio] 6p

7) Freefall! [Bill DuBay?/Alex Nino] 6p

Notes: Credits were left off the stories themselves and never identified in later issues so the writers’ credits here are largely a matter of guessing & logic {such as DuBay usually wrote Nino’s stories in 1994, etc.}. The ‘Angel’ series is not connected with the Angel story in #1. Jim Stenstrum is listed as co-editor with

DuBay for this issue only.

22. cover: Steve Fastner & Rich Larson (Dec. 1981)

1) Young Sigmund Pavlov! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 14p

2) Love Among The Ruins! [Bill DuBay & Timothy Moriarty/Delando Nino] 12p

3) Ariel Hart: Bringing Up Baby! [Bill DuBay/Peter Hsu] 8p

4) Angel, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 10p

5) Mike Marauder: Knight Errant Of The Spaceways! [Rich Margopoulos/Rueben Yandoc] 8p

Notes: Fastner & Larson are credited with the cover on the titlepage but on the cover itself an additional credit entitled Egge can be seen below Fastner & Larson’s names. Larson & Fastner are better known today for their cheesecake pin-up books but Larson, at least, started out as a horror artist in the Steve Ditko vein for Charlton. He was good, too. This issue’s ‘Sigmund Pavlov’ pages created a long, dazzling and obscene single panel if laid end to end. Pun intended. In fact, this was probably the most explicit artwork that 1984 or 1994 ever produced. Open, shaved vulva, semi-erect penises & sex acts abound. Hsu’s art looked a lot like the covers from a porn paperback series issued by Greenleaf Press in the early to mid 1970s. Perhaps he had a hand in working on them?

23. cover: Alex Nino (Feb. 1982) [credited to A2-120]

1) Break Even [Kevin Duane/Alex Nino] 18p reprinted from 1984 #9 (Oct. 1979)

2) Painter’s Mountain [Bill DuBay & Budd Lewis/Alex Nino] 16p reprinted from 1984 #8 (Sept.

1979)

3) Teleport: 2010 [Budd Lewis/Alex Nino] 14p reprinted from 1984 #7 (Aug. 1979)

4) Zincor And The Fempire [Gerry Boudreau/Alex Nino] 14p reprinted from 1984 #7 (Aug.

1979)

Notes: All-reprint Alex Nino special. $2.00 for 64 pages.

24. cover: Steve Fastner & Rich Larson (Apr. 1982)

1) The Ugliest Woman In Creation! [Bill DuBay/Vic Catan] 10p

2) Diana Jacklighter, Manhuntress!, part 3 [Bruce Jones/Esteban Maroto] 8p

3) The Star Queen [John Ellis Sech/Delando Nino] 12p

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, Book II [Frank Thorne] 12p

5) Coming Of Age! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 10p

Notes: Timothy Moriarty becomes the editor. Writer/artists credits were left off the stories so the credits for writers are an educated guess.

25. cover: Lloyd Garrison (June 1982)

1) The God Of The Month Club [Kevin Duane/Alex Nino] 10p

2) The God Of The Month Club Poster [Alex Nino] ½p

3) Diana Jacklighter, Manhuntress!, part 4 [Bruce Jones/Esteban Maroto] 12p

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, Book II, part 2 [Frank Thorne] 13p

5) Angel, part 3 [Bill DuBay, Rudy Nebres] 13p

6) Small World, Isn’t It? [Timothy Moriarty/Delando Nino] 8p

Notes: Nino goes crazy! The pages of ‘The God Of The Month Club’ form a single giant panel that can expand infinitely in space and, one would think, time.

26. cover: Richard Corben (Aug. 1982)

1) Young Sigmund, Sr. [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 10p

2) Paper Your Walls With Psychedelic Schizophrenia! [Timothy Moriarty/Alex Nino] 1p [text

article]

3) Diana Jacklighter, Manhuntress!, part 5 [Don Hallassey & Bruce Jones/Esteban Maroto] 12p

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, Book II, part 3 [Frank Thorne] 7p

5) Little Beaver [Dan Hallassey/Vic Catan] 9p

6) The Trials And Tribulations Of Ariel Hart! [Bill DuBay/Peter Hsu] 7p

7) Retard [John Ellis Sech/Alex Nino] 10p

Notes: Corben’s cover was done in 1977. Nino’s art for ‘Young Sigmund, Sr.’ is another infinitely expanding panel. Ghita of Alizarr is cover featured. ‘Ariel Hart’ is almost straight porn.

27. cover: Terry Oates (Oct. 1982)

1) 94’s Nebulous Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) The Big Dollhouse Of Space! [John Ellis Sech/Delando Nino] 12p

3) Diana Jacklighter, Manhuntress!, part 6 [Dan Hallassey & Bruce Jones/Esteban Maroto] 12p

4) The Trials And Tribulations Of Ariel Hart!, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Peter Hsu] 11p

5) The Warhawks! [Bill DuBay/Abel Laxamana] 7p

6) Annabel Lee! [Rich Margopoulos/Jose Matucenio] 8p from the poem by Edgar Allan Poe

7) Vehicle 2315 [Rich Margopoulos/Joe Vaultz] 3p

28. cover: Steve Fastner & Rich Larson (Dec. 1982)

1) Young Sigmund Pavlov! [Bill DuBay/Alex Nino] 11p

2) Too Many Termarrows [Timothy Moriarty/Vic Catan] 9p

3) Ghita Of Alizarr, Book II, part 4 [Frank Thorne] 8p

4) Angel, part 4 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 13p

5) Diana Jacklighter, Manhuntress!, part 7 [Dan Hallassey & Bruce Jones/Esteban Maroto] 14p

Notes: Both ‘Angel’ and ‘Diana Jacklighter’ concluded their runs this issue. If you excused the juvenile cursing and sniggering sex jokes that ran through almost all 1984/1994 stories, ‘Diana Jacklighter’ was a decent enough serial.

29. cover: John Berkey (Feb. 1983)

1) Grandmother Running Box [Bill DuBay/Vic Catan] 11p

2) The Noxious Newspage [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

3) Goddess [Timothy Moriarty/Peter Hsu] 13p

4) Ghita Of Alizarr, Book II, part 5 [Frank Thorne] 10p

5) Farmed Out [John Ellis Sech/Delando Nino] 14p

6) The Warhawks, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Abel Laxamana] 8p

Notes: Final issue. $2.25 for 64 pages. John Berkey was a major SF cover artist of the 1960s & 1970s. ‘Grandmother Running Box’ was a supporting character to the ‘Little Beaver’ strip and Little Beaver has a cameo in this start for a never completed serial. Vic Catan’s art was absolutely gorgeous for both of these strips and it’s a shame the stories were so dreadful. In fact, considering all the stories presented here, this is a pretty crappy issue to go out on.

The Rook

1. cover: Richard Corben (Nov. 1979)

1) The Rook: The Original Master Of Time [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 27p

2) Buck Blaster And The Starbusters [Nicola Cuti & Bill DuBay/Jimmy Janes & Rudy Nebres]

12p

3) The Tin Man: The Time To Be Forgotten! [Bill DuBay/Jimmy Janes & Alfredo Alcala] 8p

[color]

4) Bolt [Rich Margopoulous/Alex Nino] 12p

5) The Rook Ad [Rudy Nebres] 1p

Notes: Publishers: James Warren. Editor: Bill DuBay. $1.75 cover price with 72 pages. After two and a half years of running in Eerie, the Rook gets his own magazine. The Rook meets H. G. Wells’ original Timetraveler in a strong story with beautiful artwork. ‘The Tin Man’ featured Manners from the Rook strip in his own story. ‘Bolt’ looked like it would have made a great serial for Eerie but this was its only appearance. Naturally, the Rook was cover featured for all 14 issues. The Rook magazine is also unique for never having a letters’ page.

2. cover: Bob Larkin (Feb. 1980)

1) The Rook: The Original Master Of Time, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 22p [story credited to

Will Richardson]

2) The Fighting Armenian [Bill DuBay/Romeo Tanghal & Rudy Nebres] 20p

3) Voltar [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 16p

Notes: Editor Bill DuBay reinvents himself as Will Richardson. The Fighting Armenian was a supposedly comical Russian version of Superman. The Rook & his supporting cast gueststar in his story. Alcala’s Voltar character had been invented in the Phillipines back in the 1960s, thus predating Conan’s comic debut here in the States. He debuted in America in Magic Carpet #1 (1977) with scripting by Manuel Auad. The American version of Voltar looked exactly like the Buscema/Alcala illustrated version of Conan and could even be considered by some as a Conan clone, but Alcala’s art was spectacular here, with double-page spreads and individual panels of such startling clarity that it put much of the work being done on Conan to shame. If you’re an art lover, Voltar is something you’ve just got to have.

3. cover: Bob Larkin (June 1980)

1) The Rook: The Original Master Of Time!, part 3 [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 23p [story credited

to Will Richardson]

2) Bravo For Adventure [Alex Toth] 24p

3) Voltar, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 9p [story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: $1.75 for 64 pages. ‘Bravo For Adventure’ was done in 1976 but Toth had been unable to find a home for it. This great two-part adventure totally justified giving the Rook his own title. Two good and one great story here with three great art jobs. A great issue!

4. cover: Nestor Redondo (Aug. 1980)

1) The Rook: Master Of The World [Budd Lewis/Lee Elias] 19p

2) Bravo For Adventure, part 2 [Alex Toth] 25p

3) Voltar, part 3 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 10p [story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: The Rook borrows this episode’s title and villain {Robur} from a Jules Verne novel and the lead character also meets writers Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and William Sidney Porter {aka O Henry} as well as real life outlaw Al Jennings. Another great issue!

5. cover: Jordi Penalva (Oct. 1980)

1) The Rook: Master Of The World, part 2 [Budd Lewis/Lee Elias] 20p

2) Viking Prince [Jose Ortiz] 19p

3) Voltar, part 5 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 11p [story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: O Henry’s fictional creations the Cisco Kid & Poncho appear in the Rook’s episode. Ortiz’s ‘Viking Prince’ had appeared years earlier in Europe as ‘Sigur The Viking’.

6. cover: Bob Larkin (Dec. 1980)

1) The Rook: Master Of The World, part 3 [Budd Lewis/Lee Elias] 22p

2) Viking Prince, part 2 [Jose Ortiz] 22p

3) Voltar, part 6 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 6p [story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: Besides the Rook, Sherlock Holmes is cover featured. The Rook strip is quite crowded with the Rook, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle, O Henry, Al Jennings, the Cisco Kid, Pancho and Robur joined by Sherlock Holmes.

7. cover: Jordi Penalva (Feb. 1981)

1) The Rook: The Coming Of Coral Dane! [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 20p [story credited to

Will Richardson]

2) Joe Guy, America’s Foremost Hero! [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 20p

3) Voltar, part 7 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 7p [story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: Cover price is $1.95 for 64 pages. The Rook’s original team returns for a superior serial. Although Stenstrum’s was being cutesy about it, Joe Guy {the guy with the permanent grin} was apparently supposed to be Superman’s son.

8. cover: Bob Larkin (Apr. 1981)

1) The Rook: The Coming Of Billy Dane! [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 20p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

2) Joe Guy, America’s Foremost Hero!, part 2 [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 15p

3) Kronos [Lee Elias] 8p

4) Voltar, part 8 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 10p [story credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: $2.00 cover price. ‘Kronos’ was reprinted from the first two issues of Joe Kubert’s short-lived tabloid, Sojourn, which appeared in 1977. The art was reformatted for magazine publication. Later episodes were from 1981 though, not 1977. The Joe Guy story here is quite good.

9. cover: Bob Larkin (June 1981)

1) The Rook: To Checkmate A King! [Bill DuBay/Luis Bermejo] 10p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

2) Joe Guy, America’s Foremost Hero!: Cardinal Synn, Archfiend Of The Universe! [Jim

Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 12p

3) Kronos, part 2 [Lee Elias] 21p

4) Voltar, part 9 [Bill DuBay/Alfredo Alcala] 9p

Notes: No fool he, Bill DuBay must have taken one look at Lee Elias’ artwork & story for the excellent revival of ‘Kronos’ and decided Elias needed the extra pages more than the Rook. After ‘Bravo For Adventure’, ‘Kronos’ was easily the best serial that The Rook ran. Voltar concludes his run, and if it wasn’t a great sword & sorcery tale, at least it was up to the level of the average Conan story in Savage Sword. Good issue.

10. cover: Jordi Penalva (Aug. 1981)

1) The Rook: A Time For Love Lost! [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 21p [story credited to Will

Richardson]

2) Joe Guy, America’s Foremost Hero!: Dad! [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 12p

3) Kronos, part 3 [Lee Elias] 11p

4) Sherlock Holmes: The Singular Case Of The Anemic Heir! [Bill DuBay & Kevin Duane/Anton

Caravana] 9p [DuBay’s contribution credited to Will Richardson]

Notes: This cover was originally advertised as the cover for #6. Since it features ‘The Protectors’, who guest-star in the Rook’s strip, one could assume that their origin story was to have debuted in #6, but were delayed for some reason until # 11 with their guest-starring appearance here used to prime the pump for their own series. The previous Rook serial had set up some major changes in the Rook’s supporting cast and this issue’s story helped clear up some of the ramifications. Although he’s never actually identified as such, Joe’s dad, DC’s Superman, guest-stars. ‘Kronos’ is the best story here although the new addition to the Sherlock Holmes canon is interesting.

11. cover: Bob Larkin (Oct. 1981)

1) The Rook [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 16p [story credited to Will Richardson]

2) The Protectors [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 8p [story credited to Will Richardson]

3) Uncle Zorro [Bill DuBay/Jose Ortiz] 12p

4) Kronos, part 4 [Lee Elias] 11p

Notes: The Rook story is untitled. The Protectors’ first story leads directly from the Rook story preceding it, leading me to believe that the original story was greatly reworked between the time it was supposed to debut in #6 and its appearance here. ‘Uncle Zorro’ was a good reworking of the Zorro legend but, although clearly intended to be continued, this was its only appearance. ‘Kronos’ ended its impressive run. Jim Stenstrum is co-editor for this issue only.

12. cover: Bob Larkin (Dec. 1981)

1) The Rook: The Goblin [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 19p

2) The Bat [Bill DuBay/Nestor Redondo] 6p

3) The Protectors, part 2 [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 7p

4) Dagger: Marshmallow Don’t Weep! [Don McGregor/Bill Draut] 12p

5) Eagle [Colin Dawkins/John Severin] 6p [story credited to John Severin]

Notes: The Goblin appears on the cover with the Rook and makes his first appearance since Eerie #71 (Jan. 1976), guest-starring in the Rook’s story. The Rook also guest-stars in the Protectors’ strip. ‘Eagle’ is reprinted from Sojourn #1 (1977) and is printed sideways. Don McGregor’s ‘Dagger’ strip mines the same territory and time period as Alex Toth’s earlier ‘Bravo For Adventure’. It’s not up to the quality of that story but it’s interesting, none the less.

13. cover: Jordi Penalva (Feb. 1982)

1) The Rook: The Dane Curse! [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 10p

2) The Goblin! [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 6p

3) Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet [Jim Stenstrum/Noly Panaligan] 11p from the story by

Arthur Conan Doyle

4) Joe Guy, America’s Foremost Hero!: Air Whale Express [Jim Stenstrum/Abel Laxamana] 12p

5) The Fighting Armenian [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 6p

6) Eagle, part 2 [Colin Dawkins/John Severin] 6p

Notes: The Fighting Armenian shares the cover with the Rook. ‘The Goblin’ strip leads directly from the Rook strip of the previous issue. This episode of ‘Eagle’ is reprinted from Sojourn #2 from 1977. The Sherlock Holmes adaptation is quite good. In fact, the only poor story in the entire issue is the inane ‘Fighting Armenian’ episode.

14. cover: Jordi Penalva (Apr. 1982)

1) First The Bad New…Now The Good News! [Timothy Moriarty/Lee Elias] 1p [frontis,

announces The Rook’s cancellation & the debut of The Goblin]

2) The Rook: The Dane Curse, part 2 [Budd Lewis/Luis Bermejo] 12p

3) Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet, part 2 [Jim Stenstrum/Noly Panaligan] 10p

4) The Goblin: Goblin Night! [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 10p

5) The Fighting Armenian: Heroes [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 6p

6) Eagle, part 3 [Colin Dawkins/John Severin] 7p

Notes: Final issue. Edited by Timothy Moriarty. Both the Rook & Sherlock Holmes strips would be concluded in Eerie. The Fighting Armenian also moves there. While not earth-shaking in any way, The Rook maintained its quality throughout its brief run and there’s some surprising good material here for the collector.

The Goblin

1. cover: Rudy Nebres (June 1982)

1) Goblin’s Garrulous Gossip [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) The Goblin [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 14p

3) Tin Man! [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 10p

4) Phil Photon And The Troll Patrol [Bill DuBay/Michael Golden & Rudy Nebres] 8p [color]

5) The Micro-Buccaneers [Timothy Moriarty/Luis Bermejo] 8p

6) Wizard Wormglow [Timothy Moriarty/Abel Laxamana] 8p

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Bill DuBay. $2.25 for 64 pages. Taking the publishing slot of the cancelled Rook magazine was The Goblin, beautifully illustrated by Lee Elias. None of the Goblin issues had a painted cover. Instead, all were pen & ink illos by Nebres. The Goblin strip itself continues directly from The Rook #14. ‘Tin Man!’ had nothing to do with Manners, the Tin Man from The Rook’s supporting cast. ‘Phil Photon And The Troll Patrol’ was a cheap-looking untrimmed color insert. Why DuBay hired Michael Golden, one of the most distinctive pencilers in the business, and then completely covered any trace of his work by letting Rudy Nebres ink him is puzzling.

2. cover: Rudy Nebres (Aug. 1982)

1) Goblin’s Garrulous Gossip [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) The Goblin [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias] 26p

3) Philo Photon And The Troll Patrol [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 8p [color]

4) The Micro-Buccaneers [Timothy Moriarty/Luis Bermejo] 9p

5) Wizard Wormglow: Fantastic Void [Timothy Moriarty/Abel Laxamana] 8p

3. cover: Rudy Nebres (Oct. 1982)

1) Goblin’s Garrulous Gossip [Timothy Moriarty] 1p [text article]

2) The Goblin [Bill DuBay/Lee Elias & Alex Nino] 20p

3) Tin Man [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 6p

4) Philo Photon And The Troll Patrol [Bill DuBay/Rudy Nebres] 8p [color]

5) The Micro-Buccaneers [Timothy Moriarty/Luis Bermejo] 8p

6) Wizard Wormglow: Catastro The Convertible [Timothy Moriarty/Abel Laxamana] 9p

Notes: Final issue. Timothy Moriarty becomes the editor. The Goblin barely appears {just the tip of his helmet} on the cover of his own magazine. A fourth issue was announced in the December dated Warren issues but it never appeared. The Goblin story this issue is quite good with the Goblin and a young friend going on a tour of the universe. Elias drew the Goblin & friend figures in the foregrounds and Nino illustrated the wonderous views of the universe, mostly with bizarre two-page spreads. Somehow, it all works.

Odds & Ends

The Monster World comics

1. The Mummy [Russ Jones/Dan Adkins & Wally Wood] 6p printed in Monster World #1 (Nov. 1964)

2. The Mummy’s Hand [Russ Jones/Joe Orlando] 7p printed in Monster World #2 (Jan. 1965)

3. Curse Of Frankenstein [Russ Jones/Joe Orlando & Angelo Torres] 7p printed in Monster World #3

(Apr. 1965)

Notes: These were adaptations of Universal monster films from the 1930s. The first two actually predated the first appearance of Creepy. Both of these were reprinted in either Creepy or Eerie in 1967. The third story was reprinted in Famous Monsters Of Filmland but never appeared in the main horror titles.

The Odd Comic World Of Richard Corben

1. cover: Richard Corben (1977)

1) Introduction [Will Eisner/Richard Corben] 4p [text article, Corben’s art from interior panels]

2) Horrilor’s Introduction [Richard Corben] 1p reprinted from Grim Wit #2 (1973)

3) The Dweller In The Dark [Herb Arnold/Richard Corben] 11p reprinted from Hot Stuf’ #3

(Winter 1976)

4) Horrilor’s Introduction [Richard Corben] 1p reprinted from Grim Wit #1 (1972?)

5) Razar The Unhero [Starr Armitage/Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Fantagor #1 (1970)

6) Mangle, Robot Mangler [Richard Corben] 6p reprinted from Slow Death #4 (197?)

7) How Howie Made It In The Real World [Richard Corben] 8p reprinted from Slow Death #2

(1970)

8) For The Love Of A Daemon [Richard Corben] 7p [color] reprinted from Fantagor #4 (1972)

9) Damsel In Dragon Dress [Doug Moench/Richard Corben] 6p [color] reprinted from Grim

Wit #2 (1973)

10) C-Dopey [Richard Corben] 8p [color] reprinted from Up From The Deep #1 (1972)

11) Space Jacked [Richard Corben] 10p [color] reprinted from Fantagor #4 (1972)

12) Going Home [Richard Corben] 8p [color] reprinted from Up From The Deep #1 (1972)

Notes: Publisher: James Warren. Editor: Josep Toutain? The cover and titlepage list the book as a Warren Adult Fantasy Publication. Printed in Spain and sold via mail order from the Captain Company pages in the back of the Warren magazines. This trade paperback collected a number of Corben’s underground stories.

The Best Of Blazing Combat

1. cover: Frank Frazetta (1978) reprinted from Blazing Combat #4 (July 1966)

1) Introduction [James Warren] 1p [text article]

2) Give And Take [Archie Goodwin/Russ Heath] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #4 (July

1966)

3) U-Boat [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 7p reprinted from Blazing Combat #3 (Apr. 1966)

4) Landscape! [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 7p reprinted from Blazing Combat #2 (Jan. 1966)

5) Foragers [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #3 (Apr. 1966)

6) The Edge! [Archie Goodwin/Alex Toth] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #3 (July 1966)

7) Holding Action [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 7p reprinted from Blazing Combat #2 (Jan.

1966)

8) Water Hole! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 5p reprinted from Blazing Combat #3 (Apr.

1966)

9) Conflict! [Archie Goodwin/Gene Colan] 7p reprinted from Blazing Combat #4 (July 1966)

10) Saratoga [Archie Goodwin/Reed Crandall] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #2 (Jan. 1966)

11) The Trench! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #4 (July

1966)

12) Viet Cong [Archie Goodwin/Joe Orlando] 7p reprinted from Blazing Combat #1 (Oct. 1965)

13) The Battle Of Britain! [Wally Wood/Dan Adkins & Wally Wood] 7p reprinted from Blazing

Combat #3 (Apr. 1966) [art credited solely to Wood]

14) Flying Tigers! [Archie Goodwin/George Evans] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #1 (Oct.

1965)

15) Cong View! [Archie Goodwin/Gray Morrow] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #1 (Oct.

1965)

16) MIG Alley [Archie Goodwin/Al McWilliams] 6p reprinted from Blazing Combat #2 (Jan.

1966)

17) Enemy! [Archie Goodwin/John Severin] 7p reprinted from Blazing Combat #1 (Oct. 1965)

18) Cover Gallery [Frank Frazetta] 4p [color]

Notes: Editor: Louise Jones. Not a magazine, but an actual early trade paperback. This book is fairly rare, possibly due to the binding which was the sort that split, cracked and fell apart almost upon opening. Excellent collection, though, if you can find it.

Unpublished magazines

Comix International was originally to be Warren’s entry into underground comixs. Keith Green was to be the editor but as far as I know nothing was produced for it. The title was later used for the color section reprint magazine.

POW!, from 1971, was to be Warren’s initial entry into a more adult-oriented (read—lots of nudity) magazine. Edited by Nicola Cuti, a cover by Frazetta (‘Queen Kong’, printed as the cover to Eerie #81 in 1978) and one story were actually completed. That story, ‘Incident At Laurenhurst’ was published as ‘I Wonder Who’s Squeezing Her Now?’ in 1984 #5 in 1979. Another story, ‘Mother Earth’—two pages of which appear in The Warren Companion—was started but not completed by Archie Goodwin & Jeff Jones.

Yesterday…Today, Tomorrow, from 1976, was developed by Josef Toutain as a magazine that would put as much emphasis on science fiction as horror. Two presentation pieces and two covers were done for the magazine as well as a full slate of stories for the first issue. One of the presentation pieces, by Vicente Segrelles, appeared as the cover to Creepy #124, with the destroyed Effel Tower in the background replaced by a New York city skyline. Three of the stories: ‘Macchu Picchu’, ‘U.F.O.’ and ‘Exorcism’ {as ‘The Terrible Exorcism Of Adriennes Pompereau’} appeared, heavily rewritten, in Vampirella in 1977. Three more stories were listed: ‘The Sprinx’ {credited to S.I. artists}, ‘Too Many…’ {credited to Josep Toutin & Jose Gonzalez} and ‘The Awakening’ {uncredited, but probably a Richard Corben story} that did not appear in a Warren magazine, at least not under those titles. Whether they appeared elsewhere is unknown. The two covers I’ve seen are both science fiction in nature—the first is by Manuel Sanjulian and depicts a rather awkward looking man and a naked woman in a devastated New York, confronting a giant rat coming up the steps of the 8^th Avenue subway entrance. The second cover {also possibly by Sanjulian} shows an astronaut on one of Saturn’s moons with giant Easter Island heads around him. With an awkward title and run-of-the-mill stories it’s probably a good thing this magazine never saw the light of day.

A 2005 Interview With Bob Toomey!

RA: Thank you for the interview. Could you give us a little background on yourself?

BT: I was born in Hartford, Conn. in 1945. Lived most of my life in Springfield, Mass. Twelve years of Catholic school. Two years as a reporter on a daily newspaper. Moved to London in the late 1960s and wrote a science fiction novel there to no great acclaim. Moved to New York City. Read the slush pile at Galaxy Magazine.

RA: When did you become interested in comics?

BT: I read comics from an early age. My favorites were the duck stories of Carl Barks; John Stanley’s ‘Little Lulu’; Walt Kelly’s ‘Pogo’; the whole EC line, particularly the Kurtzman mags, ‘Mad’, Frontline Combat’ and ‘Two-Fisted Tales’. I liked the art in the EC horror and SF comics, but the endless captions bored me. Never cared much for superheroes, other than Plastic Man and Captain Marvel. I enjoyed Biro’s stuff—‘Daredevil’, ‘Boy’, ‘Little Wise Guys’. I still reread Barks and Stanley, and I’ve been collecting the Plastic Man Archives. In the sixties I got into the underground comics. Crumb and Shelton were my favorites, plus some of the horror books like ‘Slow Death’ and ‘Death Rattle’.

RA: Was your work at Warren your first professional appearance? I know you wrote stories for DC Comics. Have you worked for other companies?

BT: I freelanced at DC for a couple of years before going to Warren. I got in through Denny O’Neil. We met at a party in Greenwich Village and hit it off. He got tired of hearing me complain about being broke all the time and suggested I try writing comics. My first comic book story was a very crude six pager starring Krypto the Superdog. It was called ‘A Bad Day For Junkyard Blue’ and appeared in Superman Family #182. I remember getting the idea for it after listening to Jim Croce’s ‘Bad Bad Leroy Brown,’ that line about “meaner than a junkyard dog.” I was paid $15 a page for it. Later my rate went up to $17 a page, with a little extra now and then for coming up with a cover or editing the letter columns in various mags.

After I’d been writing for DC for a couple of months, one of my stories fell into the hands of Joe Orlando. He tore it to pieces, showing me everything I’d done wrong, which was basically everything. Orlando, of course, was one of my heroes, being among the EC artists I’d loved as a kid. He sort of took me under his wing and gave me a terrific course in how to write comics. I can’t draw worth a lick, but Joe trained me to look at a story from the artist’s point of view. He was a very harsh critic of my work, and if I know anything about writing comics, it comes from what he taught me. I’m aware that some people found Joe a little too harsh, but he was giving me the accumulated wisdom of a lifetime, and I appreciated that and felt lucky that he was willing to spend the time with me. Joe was the best teacher I ever had, may he rest in peace.

Most of what I did for DC went into their mystery or horror books, although I did a bit of everything, from romance to war comics, and even an occasional superhero story of sorts. I did the first ‘Alien Green Lanterns’ series, for example, and I continued writing about Krypto for two years. In general, DC gave me a lot of freedom in what I wrote, even though many of the stories I did weren’t typical of their horror or mystery books.

RA: How did you get your start at Warren?

BT: One day at DC, Paul Levitz took me aside and told me the company was getting ready to cut about half the line, and a lot of the newer writers like me were going overboard. This was the great 1978 DC Implosion. He suggested I call Weezie Jones, now Louise Simonson, at Warren and see if she had any work for me. It was nice of Levitz to point me there. It was the right time for me to go. I don’t really do superheroes, and that’s all that was left in mainstream comics around then, so I probably wouldn’t have been happy anywhere but Warren.

So I made an appointment and trundled on over there. Weezie turned out to be about the sweetest and most generous person I’ve ever met. But on that first meeting, she didn’t hold out much hope. She didn’t really have any open slots for freelancers, and she’d also found that most mainstream comic book writers couldn’t cut it at Warren. But she said she’d look at a spec script if I felt like writing one. Two days later I gave her the script for ‘The Caretaker.’ She bought it for $20 a page, and told me she could probably handle a story a month from me. So for a while I did a story for Warren and a couple more every month for DC until the axe fell. At that point, Weezie gave me a raise to $25 a page, Warren’s top rate, and said she’d take as much as I could produce, so things worked out okay for me, even with the loss of DC as a market. At no time was I on the staff at DC or Warren. I was always a freelancer.

RA: What were the editorial differences between DC and Warren?

BT: Well, one big difference was that DC was operating under the Comics Code, so there were all sorts of taboos and lines you couldn’t cross. I only came afoul of it once or twice, but it was always there, looking over my shoulder. Warren, of course, was outside the Code, and the only restriction there was involved the use of foul language. Sex and violence were okay, but going potty mouth was a no-no. How times change.

Other than that, the main difference between working at DC and Warren was editorial involvement. At DC every story had to be cleared with an editor before you wrote it. There was always a conference first where you presented a synopsis of the proposed story for approval. Sometimes the editor would give you an assignment. I was handed the title ‘My Boyfriend’s Best Friend Was My Rival,’ and told to write a romance story based on it. That was the first story, by the way, that Joe Orlando tore apart for me. On another occasion, Paul Levitz suggested I write a story for Weird War Tales #66 where a modern technological weapon found its way into a magical universe. That became ‘The Iron Star’, one of the better stories I did for DC.

Over at Warren, I started off giving Weezie a synopsis before I wrote a story, but she said she trusted me and preferred to be surprised by what I brought in. She did, on occasion, suggest an idea or a direction. One time she asked for a sports story for an issue that was supposed to be all sports stories. The issue never happened, but I did write a story about a golf game where the fate of the Earth hung on the outcome. I did it mainly to amuse my father, who was a professional golfer. Another time I wrote a story for an issue where the stories were based on a Corben cover, and one for a theme issue on Earth shattering disasters. On several occasions, I was given the art for a story where they’d decided they liked the art but didn’t care for the story, and I created a new story around the art. But most of the time, I was on my own, just writing the stories and turning them in. Weezie was a wonderful editor. She gave me complete freedom to write anything I felt like writing, and she liked my work and paid me for it on time. No writer could ask for more.

[As for the other Warren staff] I met Jim Warren once, I think. He might have shaken my hand and congratulated me on winning that Best Writer Award. Bill DuBay I saw around, but we never said much to each other. He seemed nice enough. I remember he complimented me on a couple of my stories. Weezie was my editor and she was…a sweet person, very friendly and positive. I was living in Massachusetts while I was writing for Warren, and I’d take a train into NYC once or twice a month for editorial conferences. It was strictly a business relationship. Maybe if I’d lived in the city we would have got to know each other better.

RA: Do you have a personal favorite story from your Warren days?

BT: My favorite stories for Warren were ‘Shrivel’, the fractured fairy tale about the gluttonous overweight dragon; ‘There Shall Come A Great Darkness,’ where the universe ends in a whisper; ‘The Fianchetto Affair,’ because of the sheer audacity of the ending; and ‘Nobody’s Kid,’ the most intense story I ever wrote, and my final sale to Warren.

RA: You also wrote stories under the name Gary Null. Can you tell us why?

BT: The Gary Null stories were the ones where I created a story around existing art. I didn’t sign my own name to them because the stories weren’t wholly mine. According to your index, two stories, ‘Nursery School’ and ‘Scream,’ went out under my name, but they were created around existing art, and should have been signed by Null. I did sign them as Null, but my own name got on them somehow.

One of the Null stories, ‘The Clockmaker,’ was originally Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’. At least one reader saw through my disguise and wrote in that it looked a lot like the Poe story. Both ‘Nursery School’ and ‘Scream’ had story and art by Leopoldo Duranona, and I guess Warren only liked the art, which was pretty good. [For ‘Nursery School’] it was the first time I’d ever tried creating a story out of raw art, and I remember spreading the Xeroxed pages out on my living room floor and pacing back and forth in front of them and free associating like crazy. After about half an hour it just came to me, and I got down on my hands and knees with a pencil and wrote the whole thing on the art itself, right into the panels, without a pause, in about 45 minutes. It was almost a mystical experience, a complete story just coming into existence and fitting exactly into the art. To this day I have no idea what the original story was, but I do know that [Duranona] was unhappy that his story had been thrown out and replaced with something utterly different. Can’t say I blame him. But it wasn’t a bad story, you know? The readers liked it and nobody noticed any dissonance between the art and the tale. On the others I did, I still don’t know what the original stories were, and all of them were written very quickly. I’d just pace back and forth in front of the art, absorbing it, and then something would click and out came the story. I wish they’d given me more like that to do. It made a very enjoyable break in the routine of thinking up stuff from scratch.

I remember they gave me the art [for ‘Scream’], and then didn’t want to pay me for all those pages where I just let the art carry the story and didn’t write anything. I told them, “But it took me a long time to decide to leave it silent, longer than it would have taken me to write dialogue.” So in the end, they paid me for doing nothing. Bill DuBay bitched about it, but Weezie just laughed and cut me a check.

In the one Vampirella story I did, ‘Flame Spirit,’ it was my idea to mostly leave out the cheesecake and dress Vampi in jeans for her desert vacation. It was an experiment on the magazine’s part, never repeated, to let me write a Vampi story and take her out of her costume. I enjoyed it a lot more than they did.

RA: Do you have any favorite writers or artists in the field today?

BT: Well, bringing the list up to date, I’d include in no particular order: Stan Sakai for ‘Usagi Yojimbo,’ Sergio Aragones, Neil Gaiman for ‘Sandman’, Alan Moore for just about everything, Bill Willingham for ‘Fables’, Terry Moore, Garth Ennis for ‘Preacher’ and ‘Hitman’, David Lapham for ‘Stray Bullets’, Will Eisner for ‘The Spirit’, Warren Ellis, Jeff Smith for ‘Bone’, Masamune Shirow for ‘Ghost In The Shell’, Linda Medley for ‘Castle Waiting’, Mark Schultz for ‘Xenozenic Tales’, Art Spiegelman for ‘Maus’, Matt Wagner for ‘Mage’, Batton Lash for ‘Wolffe & Byrd’, Judd Winick for ‘Barry Ween’, Makato Kobayashi for ‘What’s Michael’ and ‘Club 9’. That’s off the top of my head. I’m sure I’m leaving out many I should include and the list would go on forever if I included comic strips.

RA: How about outside the field?

BT: Outside comics, I read pretty widely. Again it’s hard to come up with a short list of favorites, but somewhere near the top you’d find: Philip K. Dick, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James Thurber, Joseph Heller, Connie Willis, Craig Rice, Richard Bradford, Leigh Brackett, Peter Rabe, Richard Stark, James W. Hall, P. G. Woodhouse, Lawrence Block, Evelyn Waugh, Fritz Leiber, John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Heinlein, Nelson Algren, Erskine Caldwell, Isaac Bashevis Singer, William Goldman, Dorothy Parker, Fredric Brown and a million more.

Why did you leave Warren?

BT: I left because [I thought] the company folded. All I remember about leaving Warren is that Weezie, who was always my only editor there, told me one day that she was leaving and that Warren wouldn’t be buying any more stories. From that I made the assumption that Warren was shutting down, but clearly it was just the end of Weezie’s tenure and that [Jim Warren and Bill Dubay, who’d replaced Weezie, had started a] story freeze.* In any case, it was the end of my comics career.

RA: Thank you, Mr. Toomey.

· In his book Variable Syndrome, Don McGregor has also mentioned a story freeze that took

place at Warren at this time.

A 2005 Interview With Clark Dimond!

RA: Could you give us a little background on yourself?

CD: I was born in New Jersey in 1941. My father was an engineer at Bell Laboratories, working on radar technology during the war, computers [and such] before 1946. He played flute in the Bell Labs Orchestra. My mother was a school administrator and an English and History teacher. She played piano. I am a musician, started piano at 5, guitar at 17, banjo at 30. I have a recording studio in the Colorado Rockies.

RA: How did you discover comics?

CD: I learned to read from Carl Barks’ Donald Duck. I was big on flippism in the second grade. I pretended I was the Sub-Mariner {“NOT SUBMAREENER!” corrected by schoolteacher mother} when I cavorted in swimming briefs in the lawn sprinkler. I remember that, because a big wasp stung my toe and [suddenly] I wasn’t the Sub-Mariner any more.

My friend Billy Hands, the White Sox pitcher, loaned me a three or four-year run of Lone Ranger comics. I was fond of Blue Beetle. I suspect it was [because of] Reed Crandall’s art. My cousins in Milwaukee had a stack of Daredevils from Biro, but Daredevil had disappeared from all but the covers.

Then in 1950, came EC comics and the Korean War, the reinstitution of the draft, the military consciousness of every boy of that age, pumped with the slick Hollywood war propaganda that played continuously on the back channels of that radio-replacer, television. No more live music or radio drama, but in Camp Waywayanda, when the dads went to their meeting, the Tales From The Crypt would come out from under the covers and get read aloud in the dark.

RA: Were you a fan?

CD: From the day the concept of an artist [actually] drawing the stories first struck me. I realized that ‘JPS’ and John Severin drew a lot alike, and I started matching the different kinds of stories to the different artists. It was an issue of Frontline Combat, I think, that got me started.

But I became what John Benson said was a ‘fringe-fringe’ fan. One who wrote occasional fan pieces for fanzines, but didn’t write letters, didn’t publish my own zine, etc. John Benson was the first serious fan I met. He was a year ahead of me at Grinnell College and had already annotated the library’s copy of ‘Seduction Of The Innocent’. John had a stack of tabloid Spirit sections from 1948 that he kept under his bed. It was an awesome opportunity to read a connected swathe of Eisner. John and I became friends. We shared a deep and serious interest in film as well. I wrote a few pieces for his Image and Squa Tront. John wrote of our visit to Kurtzman’s Help offices in the Chock Full O’ Nuts building. Help magazine was, I believe, a Warren publication. [We met] Jim Warren, Gloria Steinem, Robert Crumb.

The office, if memory serves me, was on the second floor of a modest though modernish building on Madison Avenue in the high 40s, low 50s. These were Kurtzman’s offices. Gloria Steinem was at the desk. Kurtzman had his own office. It had the very busy feel of a shoestring magazine. Kurtzman had moved from the marginal Humbug!—black & white plus tints, through the Hefnerian excesses of Trump (wonderful stuff), and had developed the fumetti {an Italian word for a photographic graphic story} as a way to fill pages even more cheaply than with art, and was reprinting humor from college humor magazines. Kurtzman was no stranger to advertising and commercial art, which he also did out of this office, while Steinem was at this time enlisting as a Playboy bunny for Esquire magazine. John Benson and I were in awe. Kurtzman knew who John was already from fandom, and John had known Arnold Roth in Philadelphia, so it was exciting enough a visit for John to write it up for [either] Image or Squa Tront. I read the article, but have forgotten where. I remember seeing R. Crumb’s cartoons {before his underground days} and some Arnold Roth stuff that had come in that day.

RA: How did you become a writer at Warren?

CD: John Benson, Bhob Stewart {his roommate}, Bill Pearson, Ted White and some of the top fans organized an inter-shop professional comics group, called the New York Professional Comics Group, where information and erudition could be shared between working artists and writers. Wally Wood, Roy Krenkel, Ditko, Kane, Roger Brand, Archie, Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, Vaughn Bode, Jeff Jones, Bhob Stewart, Bill Pearson, Ralph Reese, Dan Adkins, Nick Cuti and more were members. I met Otto Binder once at a meeting—he was carrying Shaver Mystery stories. It was still meeting when I left in 1970. What a literate bunch of guys! I listened and learned a lot.

[Anyway,] Archie Goodwin needed help with scripts, since Creepy and Eerie were running on his stories virtually entirely. John Benson & Bhob Stewart wrote a Famous Monsters/Creepy hybrid called ‘Scream Test’. John and I teamed up and wrote ‘Snakes Alive’—the Lizard King of Rock and Roll meets the Vaudaux Priest, steals his songs and gets lizardated.

RA: Was it your first professional appearance?

CD: As a comic writer. I was editing True Experience for McFadden-Bartell at the time, so I was editing women’s confessions at my day job and writing on the side. I later, in my downward spiral of magazine employment, edited For Men Only, the men’s sweat magazine at Martin Goodman’s shop.

RA: Many of your stories were co-written with either Terry Bisson or Bhob Stewart. How did you meet them?

CD: I met Terry at Grinnell the year after I met John Benson. We met again after several years at a subway news kiosk in New York. Terry got me the job where he was working at True Romance. I said “Terry, why don’t we write comics?” We’d split a six-pack and write after work. Bhob was a Texas/Louisiana fan. He’s an excellent editor. I worked with him on witzend and Castle Of Frankenstein. I was on the comic book “Council Of Ten”.

RA: What was the Council Of Ten?

CD: Cahiers du Cinema, the French magazine of film criticism, had “Council Of Ten” critics whose pronouncements were voiced as if they were gospel. Same for Bhob’s Castle Of Frankenstein reviews—which at the very least influenced Stephen King. {See Danse Macabre}

RA: Did you meet any of the Warren Staff when you were writing for them?

CD: [At that time] I don’t think there WAS a Warren staff. Archie had an office in the Graybar building where we’d talk over script ideas and assignments. Archie also had a collection of Saul Bass movie titles so he was another film fan. After Archie left, there was the Captain Company office with a secretary, somewhere on 42^nd Street where I worked.

RA: What was your experience with the staff that was there?

CD: I only saw them when I didn’t get paid.

RA: Your work appeared at the time when Warren was apparently undergoing a great deal of internal upheaval. Archie Goodwin had left and Bill Parente had not yet come on board. Jim Warren was the editor. Could you tell us a little about those days?

CD: An editor friend of Warren’s, [who was from] Gold Key, did the issues between Archie and Parente. He commissioned the script that appeared in Creepy #18. Warren never edited a damn thing. The guy at Gold Key did. Then Warren stopped paying. I knew I wasn’t getting paid. Jeff Jones wasn’t getting paid, so he didn’t care about whether his art was any good. The best work comes from those who care. I camped out in Warren’s office at lunch hour every day until I got my money. He finally paid me and told me I’d never work for him again and neither would my grandson or anybody he knew unto 7 generations. I said thanks for the money and left.

I think, but am not sure, that Parente came on board after I left. I don’t think the Gold Key guy lasted more than one or two issues.

RA: Have you worked for any other comic companies?

CD: Web Of Horror after Warren, until [publisher Robert] Sproul stole the art and ran off to Florida. [My stolen story was] about pirates and spacemen, illustrated by Ralph Reese, which I’ve never seen or heard of again and presume to be lost. It was a chance to actively work with the artist to shape the panels, to hone the dialogue, to collaborate. Bisson, Reese, and I all cared about that one. It’s possible Sproul was sleazier than Warren. Both together weren’t as sleazy as Chip Goodman, Martin’s son.

RA: Do you still keep up with the comics field?

CD: I read an occasional Comics Journal, but mostly read reprints of EC, and follow the continuing work of the EC artists.

RA: Do you have any favorite writers or artists in the field today?

CD: Tom Yeates and I are mutual admirers. I wrote two pieces for Bhob Stewart’s Wally Wood book, published by Two Morrows last year. Terry Bisson and I are still close and keep in contact. Art Spiegelman is a fave.

RA: How about outside the field?

CD: I have an extensive library of horror stories. Algernon Blackwood, Robert Aickmann, Lovecraft, undiluted REH and Clark Ashton Smith. Weird Tales.

RA: What are you doing today?

CD: Recording and producing music of original musicians. Working on the fourth Planet O album at the moment. Funk. But also play jazz, Celtic, folk, classical and rock.

RA: Thank you, Mr. Dimond!

A 2005 Interview With Barbara Leigh!

RA: Hi, we’re talking to Barbara Leigh--model, actress & author. Between 1978 and 1979 Barbara was the cover model for seven Vampirella covers. Barbara, first we thank you for taking the time out of your schedule for this interview.

BL: You’re welcome, and thanks for the interview. Jim Warren was the king of his time, and his field. A real legend. I liked him a lot.

RA: Where and how did you first hear about Vampirella?

BL: I first heard about her in a general casting call being held here in Los Angeles. It was for the movie, VAMPIRELLA, produced by Michael Carreras & Hammer Films. I went on the interview, and that was the first time I’d heard of the character. She’s more of an Eastern [US] type comic book hero. A lot of people out here in LA didn’t know who she was, not then anyway. Maybe the comics didn’t sell that well out here or something. In any case I hadn’t heard about her before the casting. Of course, after that it didn’t take me long to get right into it, she being the ultimate vampire that she was.

RA: You mentioned Michael Carreras. What can you tell us about him?

BL: He was the producer and owner of Hammer Films. He loved women heroes, especially Raquel Welch in 1,000,000 Years B.C., which he produced. And he loved Jane Fonda in Barbarella. Films like that. He liked Sci-Fi films with the woman being the lead. Unusual for his time. He did all the GREAT vampire films with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Even today, those are my favorites, like “The Horror or Dracula”. I loved Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and got a chance to meet them both. I would have done Vampirella with Peter Cushing if it had actually happened. That was a disappointment. Peter Cushing was my hero.

RA: Cushing would have played Van Helsing?

BL: No, he was cast to play the character Pendragon, Vampi’s side-kick. He was an incredible actor and a special man. There’s a book about Peter’s life, on Amazon.com, by Christopher Gullo. It’s titled “In All Sincerity”, a must read for any Peter Cushing fan.

RA: Was the movie script ever completed? Do you remember the storyline?

BL: Yes, the first or second draft was completed. Vampirella comes from another world where they drink blood as water, she tries to survive on earth, and you can imagine the rest. Sorry, it’s been a while! I looked at the script not too long ago and it seemed boring. Not very good at all, {laughs} but then it was written 25 years ago in 1977 or 1976. Nowadays, we see movies made from comics with special effects that blow you away, so that Vampirella script definitely needed more action. Movies are superior today then from those times.

Did you see the last Vampirella movie? The one that was made by Jim Wynorski? I did but it wasn’t that good. They didn’t have a large budget and they didn’t GET the costume right. The costume was the number one thing about her. The movie was a bit ridiculous, I guess, maybe even laughable but I thought Talisa Soto did a good portrayal of Vampirella. Jim could have done better, had he had the budget he needed and wanted. Jim’s a cool guy, a good director, and a friend.

Anyway, back to me! {laughs} I got cast to play the part a little while after that first casting call with Michael. He decided I was it, so I signed a 5-picture contract and went to New York to do the Famous Monsters convention with Peter Cushing and Michael. Jim Warren introduced me there as Vampirella, both as a model and as the actress who was going to portray Vampirella in the movie. I think it was the first time anyone had seen the costume on a live person. That was spectacular. At that convention they had the famous poster of Vampirella drawn by Jose Gonzalez where she’s pointing her finger with a bat on it. The kids that attended the convention thought it was me. I signed many, many posters but I did tell them that I wasn’t the model for this poster. “We just looked alike.” But in their mind, they thought it WAS me. Some still do.

RA: What year would this have been?

BL: 1978? No, wait, don’t hold me to that. It’s been a long time now.

RA: Did you make the costume that you used for the cover shots?

BL: Western Costumes, a costume company back in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, made it. They costumed major movie stars in movies and TV, and were located right next to Paramount Studios. They did a great job. Western Costume was famous. Later, when that type of business started winding down, one could go in and rent costumes for private affairs. It was an enormous warehouse with every type of costume possible. Everything was set in divisions so if you went to this section, you’d feel like you were a cowgirl in the wild, wild west. Another section, you’d be looking at space suits. Another would be tropical islands. Just amazing. They had the celebrity section where they made beautiful couture costumes. The dressing room was like being in Paris. Designers would come in and out measuring you. This is where Vampirella’s suit was made. It was awesome. The jewelry was done there too, made to match Vampirella’s jewelry, the arm bands and earrings, from the Jose Gonzalez painting. They used that painting as the guide for the final result. I love that poster.

The boots were made by DiFabrizio, who designed shoes for the stars. Most movie stars had DiFabrizio’s shoes made for them

RA: What were your impressions of Jim Warren?

BL: I really liked Jim Warren. I regret the way things ended with us. We had issues with how the cover photos were handled. I don’t want to get into specifics here but the way it turned out didn’t set well with Jim. There was some bitterness. We settled and I received $500. I was supposed to get all my art back but I only rec’d 3 or 4 pictures out of the 8. So someone, somewhere, has the original artwork of the rest. I wish it didn’t end the way it did but he was a New Yorker, very hard-nosed. He was angry, a matter of pride, I suppose. Anyway, it’s long over. I really like the man, I really do. There’s something about Jim, very charming, very cocky too, and now I can look back at this whole thing, almost like an outsider, to see all of the picture and not just my side of it. I like him. Bottom line is I thought I should have been paid for the use of my photos that he used on his covers, since I was a model and that is how I survived. Looking back, he did me a favor. I will always be remembered as a part of Vampirella’s legacy.

RA: Bill DuBay, who was the writer of Vampirella at the time, has an amusing anecdote about the day you met Jim Warren. His account was that Jim Warren was getting himself spruced up to meet you later that day and that DuBay ran into you in the elevator, stammered out his name and that he wrote your stories. Later that day, while you were meeting with Warren, he invited DuBay into his office to meet you and you basically jumped up, said “Oh, Dube!” and gave him a big kiss in front of Warren and that Warren’s jaw dropped about six feet. It’s a funny story and I was just wondering if you remember any of that.

BL: {laughs} I kind of remember us in the elevator. It does sound like me, like something I’d do. That’s my good nature. I’m sure it must have been ok with Dube!

RA: I think he said it was one of the best days of his life.

BL: How sweet of him to say that.

RA: At one point, after you’d appeared as Vampirella on a number of covers, one of the folks writing into the letters’ page asked if it was definite that you were going to be Vampirella in the movie and the editorial reply was basically “don’t count on it”. Was that after your trouble with Warren?

BL: That was from Jim Warren?

RA: I don’t know. I don’t know who wrote the editorial reply.

BL: Well, that’s ok. By the time I started appearing on the actual covers, the movie was already cancelled. Michael Carreras had gone back. Everything was on hold. Jim and Carreras were already fighting about all kinds of stuff. There was an outside party, too, who was trying to get the studio to make or fund the movie. There was stuff going on about the merchandising. The movie may have fallen through because there were arguments over who would have the rights to the merchandising. That’s what I heard. There were a lot of people involved in that movie. Too many egos, too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Something like that. You never know the complete truth because you can’t see everybody’s motives and their perceptions. There’s the underlying truth and there’s the part of the truth that you can see. It’s hard to see all of it, especially if you’re involved in it at the time.

RA: Did you actually read any of the comics themselves?

BL: Before being cast to play Vampirella I had not. I wasn’t into that sort of thing. Superman, maybe when I was young. I grew up fast, my life took me in a different direction.

Do you do conventions or appearances today?

BL: I do! My favorite convention is the famous, “Chiller Theater” in New Jersey. I love the Halloween show. It’s fun! I hope to do it again this year. Kevin Clement is the greatest. He puts on the best shows of ALL.

It makes me happy to get the fan mail that I do. I try to write everyone back with a picture. I understand, and do realize, that a lot of that fan mail is from autograph collectors who write to everyone but if someone takes the time to write me, they deserve a response. Also, one can visit my website at www.barbaraleigh.com to view my Vampirella photos/covers. I’ve co-written a book with Marshall Terrill called ‘The King, McQueen And The Love Machine”, which you can find on www.Amazon.com . My address for people to write is PO Box 246 Los Angeles, CA 90028.

RA: What are you doing today?

BL: I’m the “Photo Project Coordinator” for Playboy. I work with the legendary Marilyn Grabowski who’s been the Vice President and West Coast Editor for the magazine for the last 40 years.

RA: Any final words or thoughts you’d like to share?

BL: I wish that Jim and I could be friends again. I hear that he’s still angry with me, and that he hates me or at least doesn’t speak kindly of me which is sad. It’s been a long time. We should forgive and forget. I guess if I’d have known then that Vampirella would come back into my life with fans remembering me forever just for those covers, I would had handled things differently but I was a model. I was young. It was my livelihood and when you’re making a living doing something, you have to protect yourself, and the job that you’re doing. I just wanted to be paid for using my image. I think most people would understand this. I hope so. I’d like to see Jim Warren back in Vampirella’s life. He brought her to the public and he should be remembered for that. I think he will be. He deserves it.

RA: Thank you, Ms. Leigh. Fans or readers interested in more on Ms. Leigh’s life might want to check out the Jan.-Feb. 2005 issue of Filmfax. It features a cover photo of Ms. Leigh as Vampirella (from Vampirella #74) with a newly painted background by legendary artist Harley Brown. There’s also a five-page article with plenty of photos.

A 2005 Interview With Don Glut!

RA: We’re interviewing Don Glut, who has a long career in writing almost every form of media. Welcome, Don! Can you give us some information of your background?

DG: That’s a very long and meandering story and I really don’t know where to begin. Most of my biographical information can be found at my professional website (http://www.donaldfglut.com). So, cutting to the chase, I was born in Pecos, Texas in 1944, “more or less” grew up in Chicago, then eventually moved out to Southern California in 1964 to attend USC film school (came in as a junior and graduated in 1967 with a BA degree). Since then I’ve had a number of careers of varying degrees of success…musician, actor, stuntman, etc., basically anything to avoid getting a “real job.” After a while, when all of the smoke generated from all these “careers” had cleared, I settled into being a freelance writer (articles, novels, nonfiction books, scripts, etc), although my real dream since childhood had been to make movies. It wasn’t until 1995 that I got to direct my first feature-length, professional motion picture Dinosaur Valley Girls for my production company Frontline Entertainment (http://www.frontlinefilms.com). In more recent years, after realizing I had too long been spreading myself too thin, I’ve focused upon just two careers – making independent movies for Frontline and also writing serious books about dinosaurs.

RA: When did you first get interested in comics?

DG: I’ve loved comics ever since I can remember, and recall actual individual stories from Tarzan, Superman, etc. that came out in the late 1940s. In the middle 1950s I – as did many of us – wrote and drew a lot of my own amateur comics stories, mostly centering around Frankenstein’s Monster and his Universal Pictures cronies, or King Kong and dinosaurs. By the latter 1950s I’d mostly “outgrown” comics, except for retaining an interest in some of the pre-Code horror titles, especially Dick Briefer’s Frankenstein and the ECs. Then, one day, I got sick and had to stay home from school. My Mother went to the corner confectionary store and brought something back she though I might enjoy reading – the second tryout issue of DC’s revived Green Lantern character in Showcase. Until that time my knowledge of superheroes was mostly limited to the caped characters like Superman, Batman and the Martian Manhunter. But I was totally captivated by the look of the GL character (no cape, no string for the mask, etc.), Gil Kane’s “new” art style, and other such “innovations.” Needless to add, I came back to the medium as an actual “fan,” writing LOCs, doing fanzine work, collecting, all of it. Before long, like many fans, I also had the ambition to write comics someday.

RA: You appeared to write nearly every story for Vampirella #1?  How did that come about?

DG: Forrest J Ackerman was my literary agent. I’d written articles for his magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland and his Boris Karloff paperback book The Frankenscience Monster, etc., and he knew that I also wanted to write comics. Forry called me one day and said Jim Warren was looking for new writers for Creepy and Eerie, and asked if I’d like to get involved. You can guess what my answer was. This was my big opportunity to get into professional comics-writing, for which I’ll always be thankful to FJA – even though Warren was paying only $25 a story in those days, and you had to submit a completed script, not just a plot idea or synopsis. Anyway, one day sometime after writing my first-ever professionally published script for Creepy, Forry called again and told me that Warren was putting out a new magazine focusing upon sexy women and starring what both he and Warren then referred to as a “mod witch.” Forry would be writing the latter’s stories, but I could do some of the others. As it turned out I wrote most of the stories in the first issue of what would finally be called Vampirella (the name, of course, inspired by Barbarella). Nicola Cuti also wrote a story in that initial book. But my early Warren stories really weren’t very good and some are kind of embarrassing when I see them today. I was actually just learning how to write comics back when I got my comics writing break with Warren.

RA: There's some question as to who actually edited that first issue, whether it was Forest Ackerman, Bill Parente, Archie Goodwin, Jim Warren or any combination of the four.  Who was the editor you dealt with?

DG: I remember, at the time, Jim Warren – or maybe Forry, possibly both -- telling me he was going to edit Vampirella. Whether he actually did the editing or not, I don’t know.

RA: Did you meet or interact with Jim Warren?

DG: My first meeting with Jim Warren was at the 1962 World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago, where I was still living at the time. I shot 16mm movies of Warren doing the “twist” at the convention. He was a cool guy, I thought, kind of like monster fandom’s equivalent of Hugh Hefner. But I didn’t actually interact with him when I was writing for Vampirella and his other titles, except for an occasional in-person conversation when he would come to Los Angeles to see Forry or whatever. Warren was based in New York and I lived in California.

RA: You wrote at least one story for Skywald, which was illustrated by Juiz Xirinius.  Who were your contacts there?  Were you happy with the results?

DG: That was for Psycho. I had no contacts at Skywald, so I just mailed off a script with a cover letter introducing myself and stating what I’d done in this field. I wish I could have done more for that company. Yes, I was pleased with the way that story came out.

RA: You also wrote & adapted a number of Solomon Kane stories for The Savage Sword Of Conan.  Usually the Robert E. Howard adaptations were adapted by Roy Thomas.  How did you get the gig?  Who were the artists you worked with?

DG: Roy had moved to Southern California and wanted – as I did -- to get into the movie business. I believe he was also trying to get away from his New York life and memories, just coming out of a divorce. Consequently, he didn’t have the time he used to have to do so much comics writing – and he farmed some of it over to me. Also, Roy and I were long-time friends, and he tried to keep me working to pay the bills, etc., a gesture for which I will always be indebted to the “Rascally One.” One of the things Roy gave me to write was Solomon Kane. I didn’t particularly like the character – too prudish for my tastes -- but I wrote it and tried to remain as faithful to Howard as possible. There were various artists who worked on this series, but I especially liked Dave Wenzel’s work.

RA: I remember a particularly fine adaptation of Stanley Weinbaum's 'A Martian Odyssey' that you did with, I believe, Reuben Yandoc.  Did you enjoy doing adaptations?

DG: Thanks for the compliment! I wasn’t crazy about doing adaptations, except for the facts that I didn’t have to come up with an original plot, and that I could simply mark up a book and tell the artist to “draw that.” Then, after the artist broke down and penciled the story as to my markings, I – working in the so-called “Marvel style” (art first, script later) – I wrote in the dialogue, captions and sound effects over the art, then sent it back for lettering and inking. So, in a sense, adapting from the printed page could be quicker and require less original brainpower at my end. I didn’t, however, always enjoy the stories I had to read for adaptation. By the way, all of my scripts for Warren and Skywald – except for my last Warren story, “Devil Woman,” which I did with artist Alfredo Alcala for Vampirella, and which was intended to kick off a series -- were written in the old so-called “DC style,” from full scripts.

RA: Did you work for any other B&W companies or magazines?

DG: I wrote “The Ghastly Dummy,” a story about a mad ventriloquist for Marvel’s Haunt of Horror, which was bought but (because the magazine got canceled) never published. Marv Wolfman, who became a friend, bought that one. And, of course, I wrote a number of stories for Warren’s Eerie, also.

RA: Who were your influences in the comics field {if any}?  In the writing field in general?

DG: As far as comics are concerned, I was probably most influenced by Stan Lee, Al Feldstein and Dick Briefer. Regarding writing in general, my biggest influences were most likely Edgar Rice Burroughs, Edgar Allan Poe and such “pulp fiction” authors as “Shadow” creator Walter Gibson (aka Maxwell Grant). The characters of Frankenstein’s Monster and Dracula, as created by Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker, also influenced me, although the “old-fashioned” writing styles of those authors did not have much influence.

RA: What do you consider to be the high points of your comics career?

DG: I was quite fond and proud of The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor, which I created for Gold Key, despite the sometimes very strange and archaic rules and attitudes that prevailed at that company. Doc Spektor was a very personal character to me and I identified with him a lot. Other “high points” would include Tragg and the Sky Gods (which I also created for Gold Key), some of the Tarzan comics I scripted for Russ Manning, plus some of the What If? and Kull the Destroyer stories I did for Marvel. Oh, yes, there was also an adaptation I did for the revived Classics Illustrated of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel The Lost World – which unfortunately never came out.

RA: Any final thoughts or anything you’d like to plug? 

DG: Ah, something to plug! How’s this…?

Our company Frontline Entertainment is currently putting the money together to shoot our sequel to The Mummy’s Kiss, to date our most popular and successful low-budget/campy/sexy horror movie. We already have a small percentage, but need more to get the film shot – hopefully in time to sell at this year’s American Film Market (November). Minimum investments of $5,000. If you or anyone you might know might be interested in coming in on this project, let me know and I’ll give more details.

Thank you for listening!

RA: Thank you for participating, Don. 

-- A 2005 Interview With Timothy Moriarty!

RA: Thanks for agreeing to the interview! Can you give us some background on yourself?

TM: I was born in Cleveland in 1951 (the late medieval period). I attended Boston College, studied theater and literature and graduated in 1973. Came to New York in 1976 to be an actor and writer, and quickly dropped the acting. I’ve written many novels, but the actual published material includes one novel (Vampire Nights from Pinnacle Books, 1989) and six culinary books as a co-author. These include Chocolate Passion (1999, John Wiley & Sons) and the Grand Finales series of pastry books, also for Wiley. Lots of articles on various subjects. I’m the father of two grown lads.

RA: Where did you get your first experience with comics?

TM: As a kid, I loved Batman and Superman. I loved comics based on science fiction and horror movies. Mostly, though, I read Classics Illustrated. I had a huge collection of those, and read them over and over again.

RA: How did you discover the Warren line of magazines?

TM: As a kid, my other obsession was Famous Monsters Of Filmland. I was a total bozo, subscriber, hoarder, re-reader. Huge fan of Forrest Ackerman. The combination of grisly images and punny humor was irresistible to me. And, of course, horror and science fiction movies were my very favorites. I ordered cheesey products from Captain Company. (Remember how bad those Frankenstein masks smelled when you wore them? That was me.)

RA: How did you get your start as a professional in the comics field?

TM: After a few years as a bachelor and bum in New York, working in Village restaurants and writing my going-nowhere novels, my bride-to-be urged me to get a career. I chose publishing. I started applying for jobs—Time, Newsweek, etc. No go. Eventually I found Warren Publishing, and remembering my love for Famous Monsters, I applied. I didn’t even know they published comics. A gentleman named Chris Adames gave me a shot as a part-timer.

RA: How did you end up with the lead editorial position there?

TM: I believe I became editor-in-chief of the whole thing within a year. It was a bizarre situation. Bill DuBay and Chris really didn’t like each other at all, and I was caught in the middle. Chris went on vacation, and never came back. I believe DuBay fired him, though I was told he quit. And then, because of DuBay’s budgetary extravagances, DuBay himself was sort of pressured out, or decided to quit. I never knew the whole truth. All I know is, I looked around, and suddenly I was top of the heap. Even more bizarre: around the same time, Forrest Ackerman quit his beloved Famous Monsters, and suddenly, if I wanted the title, I could become editor-in-chief of that, as well. A dream since childhood. But I decided I couldn’t. I thought the fans would resent it. So I hired Randy Palmer, a long-time writer for FM, and we produced one issue of FM with me taking credit as co-editor, before the whole company went under. Really, all of these goings-on can be explained in one way: there was no money. The company was dying a slow death.

RA: Did you meet any of the regular Warren contributors of the time?

TM: Jim Stenstrum I met a few times. Great guy, and I was a huge fan of his work. Jose Gonzalez sent me a personal sketch of Vampirella which I have to this day. I spoke with William Gaines, of Mad & EC fame, a few times. Most of our artists were in South America, and I never met them. The one episode, which makes me cringe to this day: I was a huge fan of Ray Harryhausen, all my life. The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts…loved them to tears. So when he came out with Clash Of The Titans in 1981, I had a chance to interview him by phone. And I was in that young man/aggressive reporter/total a-hole mode, and I actually managed to offend him, by asking him “Bubo the Owl is one of your weakest animations. Was the budget low, were you rushed?” Junk like that. My one chance to tell the man all he meant to me, and I just irked him. Stupid.

RA: What were your impressions of Jim Warren & Bill DuBay?

TM: Jim Warren I met maybe twice. He was never there. But his office was just skyscrapers of paper. A mess. I heard many, many stories about him, but not being witness, I can’t repeat them (or even remember most of them). Bill DuBay…he was a volatile guy. Very funny and creative, both on the writing and art ends. Sort of like Bruce Willis, physically and from the way he carried himself. I learned a ton from him, about comic storytelling, writing cover blurbs, composition. We got on well. But toward the end, he was writing, what—60% of the stories in the comics, and that one style dominating, I felt the comics were getting stale. The company folded not long after he left, so I never got a chance to make my own imprint.

RA: You wrote a number of stories while at Warren. Do you have a favorite among them?

TM: We sometimes got eight page stories from artists from Italy and other foreign countries, and, having no idea what the actual story was, made up new dialogue to fit the art. I loved that challenge. But my favorites were, of course, the ones I created myself. ‘The Micro-Buccaneers’ and ‘Wizard Wormglow’. There were about three installments of each [in The Goblin]. They went nowhere, got no recognition, but I’m very fond of them. The artists were terrific.

RA: Warren went through a rather lengthly fallow period just before your move to editor-in-chief. However, just before the line was cancelled, the content of the comic pages began taking a turn upward, with a number of good stories from Don McGregor, the debut of Torpedo, a nice adaptation of an A. E. Van Vogt story, and a distinct upswing in the quality of the Vampirella stories. What were your future plans for the magazines?

TM: I was still very much an apprentice when I was suddenly vaulted to the throne, so I can’t claim to have had long-range plans. But more diversity of artists and writers [was a definite goal]. My good friend David Allikas, had a couple of series in mind that I planned to publish. Some clever superhero ideas with a witty treatment. I know I like the epic form, so there would have been sprawling stories and cliffhangers.

RA: Do you remember any unpublished stories? There were a few that saw the light of day—a DuBay/Elias story that appeared in Epic Illustrated and possibily some material in Renegade’s anthology Revolver from Stenstrum & DuBay. Were there more or were the coffers bare when the books ceased publication?

TM: Stenstrum was done with us by that time, as far as I know. I can’t recall what else was in the works. I was working on a Vampirella epic with one of her best artists—a full-issue story of her fighting an army of ghouls living underground all over the world, traveling via tunnels connecting graveyards. I had about three of the six stories written and illustrated when the plug was pulled.

RA: What were the final days like at Warren?

TM: The final days (meaning weeks, months) were sad and frantic. A lot of artists and writers were begging for their payments. It gradually dawned on me that some would never be paid, which was heartbreaking. One by one, in-house people were being laid off. The editors were trying to return artwork we knew we wouldn’t be able to use, and the big bosses were bugging us about payments to the post office. We were working on stories we weren’t sure would ever be printed, working with artwork and scripts that had sat on the junk pile for years, because there was no money to buy new work. People were looking for jobs while working this one. Some employees were snapping up Captain Company items (we had bins full of Star Wars action figures). If I’d been smart/unscrupulous I’d be a millionaire today. There was nothing sudden about it. For most of us, it was a slow death.

RA: Why exactly did the company fail?

Why did it fail? I was never privy to the details, but think about it: Warren Comics were selling for $3 or so when the Marvels and DC comics were maybe 50 cents or 75 cents. (My numbers are probably way off, but the proportions are roughly accurate.) They were color. We were black and white. They, of course, had a superior lineup of superheroes. No comparison. This was at a time when publishing was becoming more expensive with paper, printing costs, office rents and postage all on the rise. Meanwhile, if I remember correctly, [the tradition outlets for Warren magazines] were dying and the industry was in an ebb. I also don’t believe that Jim Warren was the most fiscally responsible person on the planet. So it all added up to fizzle.

RA: Looking back, what would be your most vivid memory of your time at Warren?

TM: My first taste of publishing. My first taste of authority. Problem solving, managing. Getting to go to screenings of so many great science fiction movies. Talking to Forry by phone a few times. Wandering the aisles of the Captain Company, with all the toys, masks and action figures waiting to be shipped out. Mostly: the sheer joy of seeing my words, my stories, turned into brilliant images by all those wonderful artists. That was truly a thrill.

RA: Have you done comic work for other companies?

TM: Not a word.

RA: Do you still follow comics in any way?

TM: Sorry to say I don’t. My path in life has become being a managing editor, responsible for getting magazines to printers on time, managing staffs of writers and artists and photographers and editors. I go with whatever the subject matter is…fitness, chocolate, health and, now, wine. I’m currently the managing editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine, based in Elmsford, New York. It’s a good gig. I continue to write novels.

RA: Thanks for sharing. It’s much appreciated.

This bibliography is copyright 2003, 2004, & 2005 Richard J. Arndt.

© 2003, 2004, & 2005 R. Arndt.

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