Creepy #1

The first in the influential horror series from Warren Publishing. Similar to the EC Comics that inspired it, Creepy and its two brother publications, Eerie and Vampirella, soon became very unique and outstanding creatures of their own right. What follows is a lurid look into the dark contents of the first issue. Hold on to your funeral shrouds, it's gonna be a scary ride!
"VOODOO!"
Written by Russ Jones and Bill Pearson, Art by Joe Orlando
Frank Prentiss and his wife Sylvia have been living at the edge of the steamy jungles of Haiti for two years. Frank is a hopeless alcoholic who has no interest in finding a job, making it all the more easier for Sylvia to loathe her husband and find other means to keep herself busy: mainly by attending voodoo rituals and keeping a shrine of mysterious native charms. When Frank confronts her over her latest parcel, he is disgusted to see it�s a withered, shrunken head. Tossing the gruesome talisman out the window, Frank kicks Sylvia out as she warns him that he�ll pay for his ignorance. After Sylvia loses her head after trying to take a swing at Frank with a machete, he discovers just how powerful voodoo really is�
A nasty little diddy to get the ball rolling. EC veteran Joe Orlando takes over the art for this story and it's just as great as his work from the 50's. A typical story of voodoo death and zombies for all you flesh fanatics out there.
"H2O WORLD!"
Written by Larry Ivie, Art by Al Williamson and Roy Krenkel
Two deep-sea explorers don their swimming gear as they prepare to journey to a legendary underwater city. Anchoring their boat, they set their intercom sets onto their gear so they�ll be able to communicate with whatever life forms populate the city. As they near the beautiful city rested upon an underwater mountain, the duo are captured by a siege of scaly creatures that bring them to the high court of their humanoid ruler. The king then explains the city�s sordid past that details war, mutation, and the bloodthirstiness of man�
Doesn't hold up as well as the first tale. The plot is pretty slow moving, the majority of it taken up by the male diver bombarding us with dull exposition about the undersea kingdom. And just when you think things have finally picked up when the fish mutants appear, they just take the couple to the king who then proceeds to ramble on about the errors of the human race. Ugh.
"VAMPIRES FLY AT DUSK!"
Written by Archie Goodwin, Art by Reed Crandall
In the streets of Sicily, two villagers discover the corpse of a vampire attack, its entire body drained of blood. It has been the fifth death since the mysterious Count Orsini and his lovely bride Elena moved into the old villa on the hill. When the police inspector arrives to question the count, Elena begins pondering just why her husband is only awake at night and examines the collection of books concerning vampirism that fill his library...
The first story written by Archie Goodwin, a word wizard who would go on to pen many a tale for the Warren comics. There's just something I dig about Goodwin. His enthusiasm for the genre seems to shine in all his work and his sly sense of humor in some of his other stories always brings a demented smile to my lips. A vintage vampire yarn with a neat little twist.
"WEREWOLF!"
Written by Larry Ivie, Art by Frank Frazetta
At the office of native affairs in the Gonteekwa Valley of Africa, big-game hunter Demmon is being consulted by a native who needs the white man�s assistance. It seems that a fearsome creature that the villagers believe is the legendary demon Gonteekwa has been seen prowling the vicinity at night and has been around for as long as anyone and their ancestors can remember, giving credence to the fact that it is an immortal beast. In addition, the creature is said to be a living member of the tribe by day who takes the form of the monster by night, being a form of the mythical werewolf. Demmon agrees to hunt the beast down, but only on the condition that he will claim half the bounty in addition to the animal�s rare pelt as well. The boisterous hunter will soon discover at the end of the night that he just may get more than he wished for�
Frank Frazetta is a force to be reckoned with. His covers for the Creepy and Eerie lines remain some of the most dark and memorable pieces of art to this day. The master does not disappoint in this red-blooded adventure tale of lycanthropy. And the werewolf is amazing.

Look at that thing!
"BEWITCHED!"
Written by Larry Ivie, Art by Gray Morrow
A man discovers an ancient book on witchcraft in the attic of his home and becomes excited when he reads a passage in the book telling that burning a branch of holly atop Douglas Hill can kill a witch. As dusk settles upon the town, the man drives the winding roads to Douglas Hill. He finally manages to strike a match and sets fire to one of the holly branches. A bloodcurdling scream rings out in the night air and the image of a wailing woman appears before him. Racing back home, the man is plagued by strange and terrible nightmares and realizes he�s been bewitched. Upon awakening, the witch-slayer discovers that he�s in for a completely new world of hurt�
Definitely not the beloved television show you're thinking of. A guy bites off a little more hex than he can chew and suddenly finds himself being chased by... a dinosaur? And he has to disarm a bomb? It actually works rather well. The art in the dream sequence is nicely psychedelic, giving this story a certain surreal charm.
"THE SUCCESS STORY"
Written by Archie Goodwin, Art by Al Williamson
Mr. Mack and Mrs. Smudge are congratulating the genius Baldo Smudge on his phenomenal comic strip and ask the young man to discuss the story of his massive success. Smudge weaves them a fantastic tale where he claimed his name to fame� leaving out the part where he convinced a writer, inker, and artist to do all his work, murdered them once they caught on to his scheme, and then dumped their bodies from the foggy waterfront. Now alone at the office, Baldo is met with a surprise visit from some old friends who are intent on finishing their work�
A witty tale of the comics industry! Archie seems to be having a good time with himself crafting the despicable Smudge and all the creepy shenanigans that ensue. For you ghouls who like your humor burnt black with a dash of blood.
"PURSUIT OF THE VAMPIRE!"
Written by Archie Goodwin, Art by Angelo Torres
The time is the late nineteenth century, the place is Austria. As the sun begins to set, a group of villagers make their somber way down the mountain road from their cemetery. Suddenly a stranger steps forward and asks the group why they are leaving the graveyard. They inform him that they just buried two girls who were completely drained of blood by a mad killer and are heading quickly home to escape his wrath. The stranger tells them that his home was ravaged by evil vampires and the same will happen to them if they don�t stop it. Teaming up with the rational burgomaster, the stranger hunts down the two ghostly girls as they attempt to escape the cemetery. But then that leaves just one monster left in their midst� or more�?
Good ol' Archie is at it again with his bothersome bloodsuckers prowling the countryside. For having two vampire tales in the same issue, Goodwin manages to bestow each story with its own particular atmosphere and mood. While similar to "Vampires Fly At Dusk" in tone for most of the story, "Pursuit" heads into wacky EC territory with the introduction of the twist ending. Angelo Torres' art compliments the story greatly. There's a particularly haunting panel where one of the vampire girls seems to be floating ghost-like to the tomb of her sister. Creeeeepy, indeed!
THE LAUGHING SHARK'S VERDICT
Awhaha! A good start for an amazing series! The stark black and white art lets you take in the true talent and scope of all the pencilers and inkers. The actual stories themselves are superb as well. A tasty horror sampler if I ever saw one. Sink your teeth into this one NOW! Dohohohoho!

Labels: 1960S, Comic Books, Creepy Comics, Twisted Panels, Warren