Tales from the crypt 044,tales from the crypt v2 001

SJOXjTtm

FEATURING

THE CRYPT-KEEPER

THE OLD WITCH

THE VAULT-KEEPER

PROOF ...OF

8 BRANDS

TESIED.W IS BEST IMITATION

““Berthe#

of

W&&

M.rchJ,.1878^ Sumption: >r

ity is purely coincide

dead

Is

Intended. and

ai

HEH.HEH, SLIDE INTO THE SLOPPY SLIMY CRYPT OF TERROR, FIEND-FANS. THIS IS YOUR CRAVEN CARETAKER OF COLD CORPSES, THE CRYPT-KEEPER, ALL READY TO START THE BRAWL ROLLING WITH A WHALE OF A TALE OF TERROR... A BIT OF BILGE I DUG UP FROM AMONG A BILE OF OLD MANURESCRIPTS THAT WERE CLUTTERING UP A CLAMMY CORNER OF MY CADAVER- CAVERN. YOU'LL RETCH AT THE WRETCHED GAG PLAYEO BY CAPTAIN MATT STARKE ‘

I

AC

A

CC.11,,1 IUUM ,M

DOCKS RIGHT

NOW

...

«...

~

.

.

TO BEGIN THIS ODOROUS OPUS X CALL.

pFOREVER AMBERGRIS YEAH ' STARKE'S THE NAME. CAP'N MATT STARKE, SKIPPER OF THE FREIGHTER SULTANA. I’M ASHORE NOW... HAPPY T’ BE TAKIN’ MY EASE ON THIS PLUSH SOFA...SNU6 IN THIS NEAT LITTLE HARBOR-APARTMENT, ..BLOWIN' BILLOWS OF COOL BLUE SMOKE FROM THIS HAVANA FIFTY-CENTER...

AN' CREAMIN' OF HOW I'LL SOON BE MASTER OF THE TRIMMEST LITTLE GAL IN THIS OR ANY PORT. I'M HAPPY 'CAUSE X LOVE EILEEN ENOUGH TO HAVE MURDERED A MAN V GET HER? AND NOW... .

SHE'S MINE...

T-r-

n^rfTK

YEAH/ THAT'S RIGHT/ I and there NOTHIN' ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. NOW. I'VE GOT THE WORLD I'M RICH...

AN' I'M WAITIN' FOR J

MURDERED

.

IS

EILEEN COME OUT OF HER ROOM SO'S I'LL have EVERYTHING/ T'

—r

S'CUSE ME

. .

\

)

HEY EILEEN.' BLAST IT*HURRY ,

UP*

STOP

NOW THERE'S a QUEER COMBINATION OF THINGS FOR A MAN IN LOVE r BE THINKIN' OF... A GORGEOUS

BUT

I

.

.

HELP

CAN'T

.

WHALE SPEW* IT.

I GOT

THE

REELIN' \N MY GET WHEN MY SHIP IS NEARIN' A REEF IN A THICK FOG. I CAN'T SEE THE REEF BUT

SAME COLD INNARDS AS

WAIT'LL YOU SEE HER / \ SHE'S BEAUTIFUL* GOT THE PRETTIEST FACE in THE WORLD.' AN* HER FIGURE... WELL... JUST

OUT OR I'LL COME IN THERE AN' GET TOO... READY l OR NOT * /

WAIT AN SEE ‘

1

'

OUGHT

T' BE HAPPY. ..BUT SOMETHIN'

KEEPS NAGGIN' AT ME..

KEEPS BOTHERIN' ME?

.

I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THAT WHALE THREW UP RIGHT THERE AND THEN. ..JUST WHEN I WAS WATCHIN HIM. I NEVER SAW A WHALE DISGORGE BEFORE, NOR HAVE I HEARD OF ANYONE ELSE THAT'S SEEN IT HAPPEN.

AN' SOME KIND OF CRAZY INSTINCT IS NAGGIN AT ME RIGHT NOW. MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME. LE'ME TELL YOU 'BOUT EILEEN and ME..

AND MY SHIP... AND THE WHALE... an' THE MAN I MURDERED-,.

IT'S

'But

WHERE

WARM SPRING WAS THE

to

buukW/THUS

‘

WE'D DROP-

MATEY/ I GOT

I

THIS TIME, CAP'N. I WANT YOU T'

MEET E/LEENf

WELL, HAVE DINNER WITH Y WELL, ALL RIGHT, US THEN, MATT. AT LEAST /BEN. BUT JUST DINNER. THEN I'Ll THAT...

BE ON MY WAY*

IT.

.

THERE...

‘For seven months...from the time ben harpers SIGNED ON MY SHIP... ALL I'D HEARD FROM HIM WAS EILEEN... HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS BRIDE OF HIS WA£...

Aun unuf T UAH Tn UFFT MFR

BEGIN? on that

MORNIN', I RECKON,

START OF

PED ANCHOR HERE IN SAN DIEGO AND ME AND M' FIRST MATE, BEN HARPER, WERE HURRYIN' DOWN THE GANGPLANK.. ' IpgFgSB** *' ANOTHER TIME, I WANT YOU TO T .

I

INSTINCT TELLS ME

ikar

.

J

/

.

WOMAN AND ...UGH

TOR -

TURIN' ME. FINISH ORESSIN' an c'MON

SOME GOOD ADDRESSES

)f

DIEGO.

Jm

|

IN

.

.

With ben harper bein' the kind of a chap he was...

NOT AT ALL ON THE RUGGED SIDE ...AND NOT MUCH ON LOOKS EITHER... I NEVER FIGURED HIM TO HAVE LANDEO ANYTHING WHEN WE REACHED LIKE THE BEAUTY THAT GREETED HIM " THEIR APARTMSNT...'fp»^^| IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU OH, HONEY.. I THOUGHT

'

THIS TRIP WOULD

£NDf

NEVER

HOME,

BEN, DARLING...

'She kept lookin' at me. ..talkin' FIRST CURIOSITYWITH HER EYES. THEN AN INVITATION. YEILDING IT WAS AN ELECTRIC THING THAT PASSED BETWEEN US. .. SOMETHING WE BOTH UNDERSTOOD IN THOSE FIRST QUICK MOMENTS WITHOUT HAVING S POKEN A WORD...'

i could see from the way THAT SHE TURNED HER HEAD SO'S HE COULON'T KISS HER ON THE LIPS THAT E'LEEN WASN'T AS GLAO TO SEE SEN AS SHE MADE OUT. FACT IS, AS HE WAS LOVIN' HER, SHE KEPT LOOKIN' PAST HIM TO ME...'

'But

ALL THESE LONG ^MONTHS, BABY.

.

.

.

ALREADY KNEW HER BET TER'N HE DID. X FOLLOWED THEM INTO THE LIVIN'

.

.

.

1

ROOM, WATCHIN EILEEN, TAKIN' IN PARTS MOVIN' SENSUOUSLY. THERE WERE PICTURES BURNIN' IN M‘ BRAIN-.

TATOOED WITH A WH ITE HOT NEEDLE-.'

MATT'S AGREED TO HAVE OINNER BUT HE WON'T WITH US, HON. STAYON WITH US. HE'S GOT OTHER — PLANS...

'

YOU'VE

.

BEEN WHAT I VE THOUGHT ABOUT EVERY MINUTE. j AWAKE OR ASLEEP. .

.

A

'Ben moved off towards the kitchen.

SEE IF YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHIN' ABOUT GETTIN’ MATT TO STAY WITH US WHILE I GO MIX-UP SOME Hjpsi DPINKS. .

.

^

1

SURE, BEN.

,

'Eileen did somethin’, all right, she moved towards ME, SLOWLY, HER HIP9 SWAYIN' EVER SO EASY. SHE KEPT LOOKIN' at me with those soft, invitin' eyes, and thei SHE SPOKE WITH TH AT SOFT, MELLOW, HONET- FILLED. ’‘'3® EXCI TI NG VOICE

'

|

.

'Seven months at sea without so much as GLIMPSIN' A WOMAN MAKES A MAN ACT WITHOUT THINKIN', I GUESS. I HAD A FRENZIED IMPULSE TO THROW MY ARMS AROUND EILEEN.. PULL HER TIGHT AGAIN' ME. ..CRUSH MY HUNGRY LIPS AGAII .

HER S. A ND SUDDENLY, I WAS DOIN'

IT.'.

fBBB

'She pulled back at first, then changed her mind, AND MOVED IN TIGHT. SHE MELTED. .. BLENDED. .. LI KE WE WERE ONE. THAT’S HOW QUICK WE HIT IT OFF TOGETHER, EILEEN AND ME.' I WAS PANTIN' HEAVY AND WIPIN' HER LIPSTICK WHEN SHE TEASED.. .* WHY'D YOU DO THAT, MATT?

I GAVE EILEEN A BASHFUL PECK ON THE CHEEK AND BEN GRINNED, PLEASED AS PUNCH THAT I WAS PLEASED WITH HIS WIFE. PLEASED'? X WAS CRAZY ABOUT HER...

TORTURED ‘CAUSE BEN WAS ALWAYS CLOSE BY IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED. BUT THEN, ONE DAY, I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO EILEEN...* jp "

‘She knew why I GAVE

x did it, the tantalizin’ oevil...so HER A FLIP ANSWER JUST AS BEN. ..POOR, STUPID, BEN—CAME IN WITH THE DRINKS...'

*

LOVESICK

HAVEN'T HAD A HAH' I TOLD YOU CHANCE TO KISS THE 'OU'D LIKE EILEEN, I THINK X'VE , BRIDE BEFORE THIS f J CAP NT GO ON. ) BE MY GUEST.. / TALKED ' __ ..I

,

V

HARRY

WHY'D YOU

MATT INTO

IIM?

YOU

LOVE

STAYING, BEN...

DON’T

HIM.'

r THAT’S

PUTTING IT BLUNTLY, ISN'T IT? WELL, I’LL GIVE YOU A BLUNT ANSWER' SECURITY.'

,

AND NOW NOW THAT \fI DO LOVE YOU, MATT.' I'VE BEN MAKES GOOD MONEY HE NEVER SPENT MUCH BEFORE WE > YOU’VE MET ME? I NEVER MET A MAN I LOVED / GOT MARRIED.' HE MEANT SECURITY CAN SEE THE WAY SO MUCHf BUT X WANT TO ME, MATT... A NICE HOME...

J YOU LOOK AT ME / THE THINGS BEN'S MONEY A YOU'RE IN LOVE CL OTHES. FOOD~. EVEN THIS JF \ GETS FOR ME. ...

I

.

.

H

.

LITTLE CAR...

‘The two weeks shot by and it WAS TIME TO SHOVE OFF AGAIN. I SAW EILEEN ONCE MORE THE WAY X 01 D THAT FIRST OAY.. .WITH BEN’S ARMS AROUND HER. .SHE LOOKIN’ OVER HIS SHOULDER. BUT THIS .

I

WITH

ME'

e

1

A

^

W

i stood ON THE BRIDGE OF THE SULTANA, WATCHING SAN DIEGO VANISH INTO THE MIST. THERE WAS

’And later, ben and

BETWEEN US -.ONLY OUR THOUGHTS... HIM REMEMBERIN

'AND

.1

WANT YOU,

EILEEN. I'M GOIN’

HAVE YOU SOMEDAY, TOO! I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT I WILL! I SWEAR

T*

'

I

(What

is there about a man that LETS HIM LOVE ONE WOMAN.. .LONG FOR HER THE WHOLE TIME HE'S ASEA...

'AND THEN, NO SOONER'N HE HITS ,

>

PORT, SET ABOUT HUNTIN’ FOR

After a pleasant

visit, x REMEMBERED OTHER BUSINESS THAT NEEDED TENDIN' TO... SO, SHOES IN HAND, I PADDED OVER TO A PAPER WALL ANO CAL LEO OUT... 7

LEFT THE SHODDY LITTLE SHOP AND MADE MY WAY BACK THROUGH CROOKED JAMMED STREETS TOWARD THE SHIP, MY HEAO SPINNING WITH THOUGHTS OF EILEEN AND BEN AND HOW HE WASN'T GOIN* TO SEE HER AGAIN... NOT IF I GOT MY BUCK'S WORTH OF INFORMATION OUT OF THAT HISSINl GRINNIN' OLD

‘I

.

^

.'[rmcs

-

'

VISITED A CERTAIN TOOTHY GENT WHO COULD FURNISH A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, MOST OF THEM UNWHOLESOME. HE MARKED A CRUDE BLACK CIRCLE

CRISP

.

GENT.

T MEN I

AROUND A TINY DOT ON A GREASY OLD MAP FOR WHICH X GAVE HIM ONE

ANOTHER TO BE WITK BEN ANO ME WERE NO DIFFERENT... FROM BOMBAY TO OSAKA, JAfWN

U.S. BUCK...'f

p^—

MIDNIGHT. BEN WAS LYIN' ON HIS BUNK, WEARY, BUT NOT TOO TIRED TO TALK ABOUT HIS FAVORITE TOPIC ... EILEEN. I SAT AT MY DESK, STUDYING THE GREASY OLD MAP. r NOT STRAIGHT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A GOOD

'WE WERE UNDER WAY AGAIN BEFORE

IT IS TO BE FINALLY SOW HOME TO HER, MATT...

STRAIGHT HOME TO MY WAITIN' DARLING...

FEELING

HOME, BEN.

I'VE

ONE SHORT STOP TO MAKE'

GOT

W-r

WHAT'RE YOU TALKIN' Y THIS IS A PRIVATE IDEAL, ben. A FRIEND WAS OUR LAST PORT Jo MINE IN BOMBAY O F CA LL ... Yw'F ASKED ME TO DROP A < BARREL OF FUEL OIL AT THIS LITTLE ISLAND. I PROMISED I WOULD. 1

ABOUT, MATT? OSAKA

,

.

'We REACHED THE TINY SPECK OF FORSAKEN CORAL AND LAVA THE THIRD NIGHT OUT. EXCEPT FOR A GLIMMER Of LIGHT HERE AND THERE IN THE BLACK NESS.THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LIFE ON THE ISLAND. WHILE THE BARREL OF FUEL OIL WAS BEING LOADED INTO THE DINGHY, I ELECTED BEN TO TAKE IT ASHORE.

'i

p

:

IS THERE TIME FOR ME TO DO HEH.HEH. OKAY, MATEY. ^3| ) SOME HUNTIN', SKIPPER? J I'LL WAIT FOR YOU. . .

M

'Ben*d REACTEO EXACTLY AS I’D

EXPECTED

HIM TO

WATCHED HIM ROW ACROSS THE LAGOON TO A SMALL DOCK AND TIE-UP. A MINUTE LATER HE DISAPPEARED INTO THE DARK, RAT- INFESTED TOWN OF THE

REACT. I

ORIENT'S ISLAND DUMPING GROUND FOR ITS CONDEMNED.. .CONDEMNED TO DEATH, THAT is, BY BUBONIC PLAGUE/ THE BLACK DEATH.1 ROTT!N6 DEATH. '

It WAS ALMOST OAWN WHEN MY FIRST MATE RETURNED SHIP, EXHAUSTED BUT PLEASED WITH HIMSELF. HE'D HUNTED DOWN AND GOTTEN' WHAT HE WANTED. HE'D GOTTEN MORE THAN HE WANTEO? IT TOOK TWO DAYS, THEN 8ROKE OUT...

YOU'LL have to doctor .CAN'T PICK MYSELF gP YOURSELF, BEN. WE'RE A OUT OF M' BUNK, MATT. HOT... FEVER.. CHILLS, v THOUSAND MILES FROM THE NEAREST PORT. ..

I'M SICK .

TO THE

.

.

.

.

'Ben came down fast, he started swellin' AROUND HIS ARMPITS AND OTHER PLACES. SOON, A FESTERING, GREENISH -YELLOW SCURF COVERED HIM AND A STINKING, NAUSEATING SUBSTANCE OOZED FROM HIS FLESH. I KEPT CLEAR OF HIS QUARTERS FROM THEN ON AND ORDERED THE CREW TO DO THE SAME.

T

BUBONIC X KNOW THZSTMPTONS. .THE SCALY SKIN, POISONIN' OF THE BLOOD, AND J PLAGUE...

GASP. THAT COUGH. THAT'S WHEN iTs rf in THE BLACK .

.

DANGEROUS, the PLAGUE IS

NOW. A MAN CAN CATCH EVEN TALKIN' T' HIM . .

HIS IT

LUNGS

.

^

'At THE MENTION OF THE DREAD, HIGHLY CONTAGEOUS CREW PALED AND SHUDDERED AS ONE MAN. IT MY PLAN LETTIN' THEM KNOW. .. REMINDIN' THEM. BUT ONE DAY, THEY FOUND SOMETHIN' ELSE TO OCCUPY THEIR MINDS. I FOUND 'EM TOSSIN' GARBAGE OVERBOARD. .* FtEDIN' THE WHALE, CAP'N STARKE. HE'S BEEN FOLLOWIN' US ALL |-rft MORNIN'f SEE? DISEASE, THE WAS PART OF

|

.

DEATH

.

SEEN WHALES BEFORE BUT NEVER SO CLOSE AS THAT GREAT BULL SPERM. HE KEPT UP WITH

’I'D

OPENIN' HIS YAWNIN' THE SHIP. CAVE OF A MOUT H TO LET THE .

GARBAGE

]

^

.

.

IN ...

'

frsBBSWP*«D|

us. sometimes HE’D ROLL AND DIVE AND WE WOULDN’T SEE HIM FOR HOURS. THEN SOMEBODY’D YELL "THAR t BLOWS?* AND HE'D BE BACK CHASIN' ANOTHER GARBAGE F<AST. .

'The whale stayeo with

‘At night i'o go out on deck, breathin' in the salty warm PACIFIC AIR, AND I'D THINK ABOUT ME ANO EILEEN. X WAS THINKIN'OF HER THE NIGHT ONE OF THE MEN CAME A-RUNNIN' AND SCREAMIN’...'

BEN... out ... HIS FACE IS ALL ROTTEN BLACK. 7 OF HIS ROOM! GOOD, CAP'N... AND HIS

Y

FLESH IS MOVIN' LORD! how LIKE

IT'S...

CHOKE...

CRAWLIN' WITH

MAGGOTSf

.

1

A

J

THAT'S

WHALE

I

SPEW...

AMBERGRIS!

^

WHEN TOM B ALLARD, MY SECOND MATE CALLEO ME TO "" “* ^ THE RA.il...' )-—-I THAT'S RIGHT BUT HE'S OUR WHALE'S STILL

'An' THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENEDf THE HUGE BULL SPERM SHUDDERED CONVULSIVELY. A TREMENDOUS YELLOW AND GREY BILLOWING MASS OF WAX-LIKE STUFF SPEWED OUT OF HIS CAVERNOUS MOUtH ... BUBBLING... UNDULATING ON il THE ROLLING SURFACE...' npr~ C \ LET'S GET OUT OF HERE, T NO! NO, BY HEAVENS !

IS

WITH THE BLACK ROT !

MORNIN', I FELT BETTER ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. WE’D LEFT WHAT WAS LEFT OF BEN HUNDREDS OF MILES BEHIND US ANO I'D COMMITTED A MURDER NOBODY'O BE ABLE TO PIN ON ME. I HAD MY MINO ON LOVELY EILEEN

'

THAT STENCH

1 ...

GET HIM OVER THE SIDE. YA BILGE LICE/ DUMP HIM BEFORE ALL WASTIN' AWAY

HE HAS US

‘By

WITH

!

me

^

CHOKE.

'They tried hookin' their GAFFS into ben, but TIPS CAME AWAY WITH HORRIBLE GOBS OF FOUL-SMELLING ROTTED FLESH. THEY tried SHOVIN' WITH THE POLES. BEN GOT CUT IN TWO

BY THE RAIL, WITH NO MORE SOUND THAN IF HE'O^ BEEN A JELLYFISH, AS HE WENT OVERBOARD..'.

CHOKIN' he!

FACES TWISTED IN OISGUST. BEN KEPT SHUFFLIN' ...COMIN' TOWARDS

/

COULD THE ^ MAN WALK1?

THE

CAP'N

I HOLLERED FOR SPOTLIGHTS AS HE STUMBLED ACROSS THE DECK. MEN CAME RUNNIN' WITH GAFFS, THElR

A WALKIN' DEATH... HIS BOOY A MASS OF BLACK ROT... SMALL SPONGY CHUf#<S DROPPIN' AWAY WITH EACH STIFF STAGGERIN' STEP HE TOOK. HIS CLOTHES WERE A TATTERED STINKIN' MESS OF GREENISH DRIED OOZE AND CONGEALED BLACK BLOOD. MY DINNER CAME UP SOUR IN MY THROAT...'

JJ

us, CAP'N

r

ACTIN'

,

QUEER. ..ISN'T

HE?!

'Ambergris! floating gold the spew of a SPERM WHALE... NEEDED FOR THE BEST PERFUMES THAT FOUL-SMELLING, FATTY MESS WAS WORTH A J FOR TUNE!..! r 1

I

,

—

REVERSE ENGINES! PREPARE TO LOWER AWAY ALL BOATS! A HUNDRED DOLLAR BONUS TO

w

EACH MAN WHO

HELPS...

Cji

’The PERFUME MAKER NOT ONLY

'I EMPTIED A HUNDRED 8ARRELS OF MY PUEL OIL CARGO TO HOLD MY AMBERGRIS. A WEEK LATER WE DOCKED IN SAN DIEGO, WHERE I CAUGHT BLAZES FROM A PORT HEALTH OFFICIAL.. .BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER I'D DISPOSED OF THE AMBERGRIS.

..

OUGHT TO BE

GLAD

DON'T WANT

To! HERE, BABY

ALL KNOW \S..TOU

DIED, MATT? 1

ARE

HERE...

THAT'S ALL

AS SHE PUT IT, WHICH IS PROBABLY A SHEER BLACK NEGLIGEE, AND I'M THINKING ABOUT WHY SOME STUPID WHALE THREW UP WHEN

W

-

?

IT DID...

.

HERE'S ENOUGH /

PERFUME TO

J BATHE / and it's only THE BEGIN\ N/NG / IN'

THAT MATTERS'LL

WORLDf

'

IT

HAPPENED f Z'D BE

I

l

HEAR HOW BEN

ON YOUR SHIP /AND l'M GOING TO MAY COST YOU \ MARRY THE MOST YOUR PAPERS, \ BEAUTIFUL CAPTAIN STARKE? GIRL IN THE

I

EILEEN../ T

IT

IN

'SOMETHING COMFORTABLE'.

SENT ME FLAGON OF THE MADE FROM IT, WHEN I FINALLY GOT OUT OF QUARANTINE,! BROUGHT TO

COMING INTO \/ THE DEVIL PORT AFTER A \ WITH MV PAPERS PUGUE DEATH I'M a RICH MAN

j

SO THAT'S ITT NOW, EILEEN IS HER ROOM THERE, GETTIN' INTO

PAID ME SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND BUCKS FOR MY AMBERGRIS, BUT ALSO A SCENT

if it HADN'T, SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND

DOLLARS POORER, AND... and ..-OH, LORDf

y

BEN!r THAT BLASTED WHALE MUST HAVE SWALLOWED THE BLACK ROTTED DISEASED REMAINS OF BEN HARPERF THAT'S WHY HE THREW UPf ^

,

/

Eileen harper comes out of her room now, grinning ioiotically THE BLACK SPONGY, ROTTING FLESH DROPPING FROM HER FACE...THE WHITE BONE GLEAMING THROUGH HERE AND THERE. CAPTAIN STARKE SCREAMS HORROR AT THE SIGHT AND STENCH OF HER...fl .

WHY NOT, MATT?

IT'S

LOVELY-SMELLING _

DARLING...

SUCH A PERFUME.

E/L EENf E/L EEN, OPEN UPf QUICK f DON’T USE THAT PERFUME, EILEENf

^

,

HEH.HEH? AND THAT'S THE

LEAD-

OFF YARN, YELP-HOUNDS DID YOU NOT/OE THAT EILEEN REALLY DION'T .

LIKE THE PERFUME MATT GAVE HER? DIDN'T

YAAAAHHb

YOU SEE THE WAY HER FACE WELL, I GOT A DATE WITH EDITORS TO PLAY A GAME OF HEARTS. WE USE REAL ONES. I LL

DROPPED

BE BACK LATER WITH ANOTHER

TERROR TOME. NOW I'LL TURN YOU OVER TO THE

VAULT-KEEPER.

BY THE WAY. THE

WHALE IN

THIS

YARN WAS SORRY

HEBROUGHT THE WHOLE THING UPF BYE NOW?

YOU UP FOR THE

You're name is barney hoag. you've always craveo SOLITUDE AND NOW YOU'VE FOUND IT ON THIS BLEAK LONELY, THIS GRIM WINDSWEPT, SUN-TORTURED FLORIDA KEY. ACRE OF UNPEOPLED PARADISE. YOU GUIDE YOUR OLD CAR .

.

INTO A SANDY, BRISTLING PALMETTO PATCH, AND YOU UNLOAD

CHILLf NOW YOUR

You PASS A LINE OF SILENT PALMS LEFT LEANING LANDWARD BY SOME LONG AGO VIOLENT WIND THAT HAD ONCE ROARED BY. AND, UNLOADING YOUR EQUIPMENT ONTO THE BURNING SAND, YOU STUDY THE CURIOUSLY- SHAPED GROTESQUE MANGROVE TREES, THEIR EXPOSED SNAKELIKE ROOTS INTERTWINING, GROW-

BEYOND.THE TURQUOISE ATLANTIC RESTS TRANQUILLY BETWEEN TIDES. SOON, HOOK BAITED, FEET BARED, YOU TREAD FAR OUT OVER THE SAND AND CORAL BOTTOM BEFORE REACHING KNEE- HIGH WATER. YOU BEGIN TO SURFCAST AND ALL IS PEACE AND QUIET EXCEPT FOR THE SOUND OF A FISH NEARBY, LEAPING FROM THE SEA.

AT THE SOUND AND SEE NO FISH, BUT AN ALMOST-NAKEO, BEARDED, BERRY-BROWN OLD MAN WITH GREY HAIR OWN TO HIS SHOULDERS EMERGE FROM THE

YOU STAND, STARING, AS HE MOVES SOUNDLESSLY ACROSS THE SAND TO THE BROKEN HULK OF AN ANCCNT VESSEL THAT HAO BEEN TOSSED, HALF-HI DOEN.AMONG THE PALMS. AS YOU WONDER WHY YOU HADN'T NOTICED THIS GRIZZLED WRECK BEFORE, THE OLO MAN VANISHES INTO IT THROUGH A CRUDE DOORWAY CUT INTO ITS

YOU TURN

Then, BARNEY HOAG, YOU SWEAR

The

UNDER YOUR BREATH'. .. BECAUSE YOU ARE NO LONGER ALONE. YOUR SOLITUDE IS GONE. YOU BEGIN TO REEL IN.. .TO LEAVE IN DISGUST...

GLING TO SPIT

WHEN YOU FEEL THE

SUDDEN, STRONG

.

FISH BREAKS WATER, STRUGOUT THE HOOK AND YOU SEE THAT IT IS A BARRACUDA. FINALLY, YOU BRING THE VICIOUS SCOUNDREL OF THE SEA TO LAND. YOU STARE DOWN AT YOUR GASPING CATCH, SHIVER AT THE SIGHT OF ITS BARED RIPSAW TEETH. . .

DEVIL' WELL, rou'RE THROUGH SCARING AWAY GOOD- EATING FISH'

f

You PACK AND LEAVE YOUR SHATTERED PARADISE, GRATIFIED AT LEAST, THAT THE OLD MAN HADN'T SEE.N YOU AND SUBJECTED YOU TO ENDLESS, BORING TALK. SUDDENLY,

ALONG BLACK SHAOOW FALLS ACfCSS YOUR PATH. A THIN, PIPING VOICE BRINGS YOU UP SHORT., S/T' GIT OFF FROM THIS PROPITTY, MISTUH/ YOU don’t

BELONG

here /

«

Your fright of this frizzled old man with the ancient WEAPON GIVES WAY TO ANGER AT HAVING BEEN CHEATED OF YOUR LONGED-FOR SOLITUDE I NAS GOING, YOU DIRTY OLO COOT. BUT NOW I GOT A MIND TO STAY*

PAIR OF DUCK PANTS THAT REEK OF DEAD FI9H.HE POINTS A RUSTY, APED MUSKET AT y OURCHEST^

YOU

ME, MISTUH

X

HEERED COME FUST TO THIS PROPITTY, SO IT'S Dt/NEf NOW S/T, 'FORE I BLAST YUH CLEAN T' KINGDOM ^ !

^

Y^rRY STAYIN, f MISTUH, AN' I'LL 7 be cur tin' run UPFER SHARK nn

^come/^

^ BAITf^g^

ssgfll

'I'LL SHOW THAT OLO CRANK. I'LL BURN 'IM OUT. I'LL SET FIRE TO THAT FILTHY WRECK REVIVES IN AND i'll BURN H/U OUTFOR BOOD

Boiling with resentment; you

There's a cold glint in his iceslue EYES, AND HIS SUN- BRONZED CROSS-HATCHED SKIN DRAWS TAUT ACROSS HIS JAWS. YOU RELENT IN THE FACE OF THE WEAPON IN THE OLO MAN'S TIGHTENED GRIP AND YO MOVE OFF ANGRILY THROUGH T

STOW YOUR GEAR INTO YOUR CAR. THEN YOU GAZE BACK TOWARDS THE BEACH, UNWILLING TO BOW '

THE OLD ONE'S ILL WILL HE BL UFFED ME AWAY, BUT i'm NOT LEAVING .

.

]

PINES

Slowly, silently, stealthily you make your way BACK TO THE BARNACLE AND SALT- ENCRUSTED WOODEN CARCASS OF HALF A ONCE-PROUD VESSEL. YOU'RE FILLED WITH VINDICTIVENESS AND CURIOSITY YOU STOP OUTSIDE THE ROTTED DOOR. A*UETAL LIC GLEAM CATCHES YOUR EYE ' WHAT... WH AT'S

THAT? ON THE

SAND f LIKE

LOOKS

A. ..A.

.

.

J

YOU PICK UP THE GLITTERING OBJECT. YOU STUDY TURNING IT OVER IN YOUR HAND ^ it

IS/

IT'S

a

BOLD CO/N/Jg

IT,

Your first reaction is to bet away with your PRIZE. YOU HURRY, STUMBLING, TO YOUR C/*R...THE ANCIENT GOLD DOUBLOON CLUTCHED TIGHTLY IN YOUR SWEATY »LM. YOU DRIVE HASTILY OFF THE LONELY KEY.

GAS. YOU STOP RUNNING. YOU THINK SOME MORE AS YOU CRUISE SLOWLY NORTHWARD. SOON, YOU REACH ANOTHER KEY, ROLL UP TO AN EATERY THERE, AND WALK TOWARDS IT...

YOU EASE UPON THE

WHAT

IF

THE LUNATIC

S

OVERSEAS EATS UME PIE-BEERt

FORTUNE, GOLD? what GOOD <| KEY WOULD IT 00 HIM? HE'S IS

SITTING ON A

IN

TOO OLD

I

Isn't that ridiculous, barney? think again, that's

YOU

SIT AT A FLY-FLECKED COUNTER ...STARING AT THE HARDLY SEEING IT..

MENU...

AND WHO'D BELIEVE HIM if he BABBLES TO THE LAW ABOUT HIS ,

GOLD

THAT MISS THEjgffli

BEING MISSING? FOR

MATTER, WHO'D Bfc

OLD MAH?

TO ENJOY IT

SO, BARNEY HOAG, GREED AND DETERMINATION ETCH THEMSELVES AS YOU INTO YOUR FACE

MAKE YOUR DECISION...

I'M GOING BACK THERE.

TONIGHT AND

IF

HE'S

GOT MORE GOLD, I'M GOING TO GET

f

|

»

WHAT’LL IT BE,

MISTER?

AT " THE OLDMANS KEY" ALONG WITH THE NIGHT.. .PARK AS YOU DID THAT MORNING AMONG THE PALMETTOS... AND, TAKING A JACKHflNDLE, YOU QUIT YOUR CAR...

You ARRIVE BACK

Quiet whisperings in the pines ACCOMPANY YOUR SLOW APPROACH TO THE BEACH. THE ELEGIAC CHIRPS OF CICADAS SURROUND YOU. WITHIN, YOU FEEL THE RAPID THUMPING OF YOUR HEART. A RISING GIBBOUS MOON LIGHTS YOUR WAY TO THE SAD HULK AMONG THE PALMS ON THE BEACH.

NOW YOU ARE THERE, BARNEY, YOUR HEAVY BREATHING BLENDING WITH THE BREEZE BLOWN PALM FRONDS THAT SOUND SO MUCH LIKE A SUMMER SHOWER, AND WITH THE GENTLE LAPPING OF THE SURF UPON THE NEARBY SHORE. A SOFT ORANGE LIGHT GLIMMERS THROUGH A CRACK IN THE DOOR.

YOU SEE HIM IN THE FLICKERING CANDLE GLOW, HIS MAD EYES GLEAMING AS HE LETS A TRICKLE OF GOLD COINS FALL THROUGH HIS GNARLED FINGERS INTO A WOODEN BOX ON THE ROUGH TABLE AT WHICH HE SITS. THE FAINT CHING OF CLINKING METAL

YOU STEP TOWARD HIM. THE OLD MAN DROPS HIS RAGWRAPPED TREASURE OF DOUBLOONS TO THE FLOOR. THEN, BENDING AS THOUGH TO RETRIEVE THEM, HE COMES UP

YOU

The

element of surprise, barney^ SLAM OPEN THE DOOR? THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ITf SCARED ALMOST OUT OF HIS WITS, THE OLD MAN DROPS HIS TREASURE INTO

The OLD MAN CHORTLES, PULLS BACK

HIS FOREFINGER,

SQUEEZING THE MUSKET'S TRIGGER. BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. NO BLAST. NO SHOT. NOTHING. THE BOLT, FROZEN

LEAP AT HIM, BRINGING THE IRON JACKHANDLE DOWN ON HIS

YOU

PICK UP

THE BUNDLE AND EMPTY THE

THE BRINE FOULED WRECK ...ANGRY... ANGRILY

YOU SCRABLE ABOUT SEARCHING.

« THERE MUST BE MORE? THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE?

But you've got it all, barney, AND KNOWING THAT, YOU SAG TO THE FLOOR, SICK AND TIRED WITH DISAPPOINTMENT. BUT THE OLD MAN'S PIECE OF DIRTY CLOTH CATCHES YOUR EYE. DOTTED LINE... MARKED YARDS"... TO A E ALINE MARKED "LOW TIDE"..

AND AN ARROW MARKED HAP.

BY GOD? IT'S A A .

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS DOIN' WHEN HE WAS COMIN' OUT OF THE WATER. HE WAS BRINGTHESE COINS FROM THE SUNK HALF OF THE WRECK? IT'S OUT THERE /

BE...? IT'S

A

TREASURE

IT MAP 1HIOLD MAN MADE. MUST be WHERE the OTHER half rr...

OF THIS SHIP

IS,

THAT'S WHAT

IT

MUST BE? YEAH/ SURE' A PIRATE SHIP BROKEN IN TWO BY A HURRICANE' half SUNK/ ...

'

ING BACK

WELL, I'LL

HALF

WASHED ASHORE...

THIS HALF

to

out. you're now. just think it out CAREFULLY. blow out the OLD MAN'S LANTERN. THAT’S IT? NOW GO OUTSIDE. LOOK OUT

Slowly,

barney,

something

So YOU ORIVE ALL NIGHT, BARNEY, AND YOU'RE IN KEY WEST WHEN DAWN LIGHTS THE SKY. BY LATE AFTERNOON, YOU'RE BACK AT THE “OLD MAN'S KEY" WITH A DIVING SUIT, ENOUGH HOSE TO GO OUT IIO YARDS, A GASOLINE-DRIVEN COMPRESSOR, THE

slow

think it

-

,

GO...

OUT UNDER THE ROLLING ALIVE

YOU GO OUT PAST THE MAP'S

And

110

YARDS AND THE SEA AROUND YOU IS FULL OF WONDERS, BARNEY... BUT NO BROKEN PIRATE HULL-NO SUBMERGED HALF- HULK DO YOU SEE. I MUST'VE BEEN CRAZY TO TAKE THAT OLD COOT'S MAP SERIOUSLY.'!.

then you see

it,

These, SIX FATHOMS DOWH, BEFORE

rising like

SHADOW AHEAD OF YOU. THE MARKER-

THff ALGAE AND MOSS-ENCRUSTED MARKER, YOU BEGIN TO DIG. YOU

A

AN, DIG DOWN AND YOU DI60UT..

OBLONG, EMPTY HOLE WITH NO COINS, NO CHEST, NOTHING, YOU CLIMB OUT, BITTER WITH FRUSTRATION

THAT'S IT* THAT'S IT* THERE AIN'T NO BOAT. HE'S HAD THE TREASURE. HE WASN'T BRINGIN' IT OUT HE WAS BRINGIN' IT /N ... >

.

'

.

r MAYBE THE MARKER

HESS. BUSYIN ITT ‘

.

.

SHOWS

WHICH SIDE TO DIG ON. I'LL OU! SCRAPE OFF THE SLIME m

SPADE, YOU SCRAPE OFF THE GREEN ALGAE AND MOSS AND SLIME. AND YOU TURN COLD, STAGGERING

WlTH YOUR

no (NO*

airline fouls around the marker, stopping YOU FROM RUNNING. TERRORIZED, YOU YANK AT THE RUBBER TUBE. THE MARKER TILTS FORWARD, SLOWLY...FALL-

Your

GOOD LORD

YOU DOWN INTO THE HOLE YOU'VE DUG... PINNING YOU DOWN. INTO YOUR GRAVE. FOR YOU KNOW THAT BEFORE LONG, THE GAS IN THE COMPRESSOR OUT ON THE SHORE WILL RUN OUT AiND THE AIR WILL BE GONE AND YOU'LL SUFFOCATE. THE OLD MAN... THE CRAZY OLD MAN' HE WAS RIGHT* HE DID KNOW' HE NAS PREPARED' THE LETTERS CUT INTO THE MARKER LAUGH AT YOU ..PINNING

\

"HEH.HEHf LIKE THEY SAY, KIDDIES' BARNEY DUG HIS HOLE... NOW HE'S '

DYING IN IT. HE THIRSTED AFTER \ BOLD AND SETTLED FOR A BELLYFUL OF SALT WATER. WELL, THAT'S MY TREASURE-TERROR- TALE FOR ) THIS ISSUE OF CJf.'S MORBID

I

1

'

I’LL TURN YOU BAC/r TO HIM FOR A TALE ABOUT

HAG. NOW

'

c(jn

/

blonde flirt

A

\ \WHO |

U

FINALLY MADE

S0ME DESSERT, p /rV\ V / CURIOUS f GOOD f teVjkl

/ Wl j

I

1

\

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT HY MAG THE

IN

1/

!‘A

[

IKtl

m

Is'lllJl Wt lU

X

1

'

[

•

VAULT OF HORROR.'

v

BVE - Nowf

/ ( J

y

a With

GUNMAN

the cardboard carton propped against

Ed Grant pressed the door buzzer: chimes rang inside the apartment and footthe wall,

he?" he snickered. Then, nudging her toward the kitchen with his gun, he added, "Let’s find that

The safety latch swung wide and Ed

dough,

” sister!

steps scurried toward him.

scraped open, the door

Grant

stepped into the apartment, pushing

the carton in front of him. this?” the

woman

"What

.

.

.

what's

asked in surprise, pointing

to the carton.

"Delivery.”

Ed Grant answer, kicking the

.

man

Then she saw "You ... a

held.

you on

.

gun Ed

the

protested.

.

"A guy working Ed. Grant said

way through college,” "Don’t make me flunk

his

flatly.

this test, lady ...

and jewelry you got here!

I

want

all

the-cash

”

woman

the

a kitchen

Varmint’s robbin'

Amble

over here pron-

my mom!"

Ed Grant tilted his head far back, opened mouth and roared with delight till tears came to his eyes. For several minutes he shook his

with uncontrolled mirth. Subsiding slowly, he

wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "The li’l nut,” he chortled. "A real character, ain’t he? Right outa television!”

The

kid’s face

clouded and he ran from the

A moment

room.

into the purse

Grant heard a high-pitched voice coming along the corridor from one of the bedrooms, and he turned warily. A tow-headed five-year-

nervously pulled a purse

drawer, the kid grabbed a tiny

the receiver: "Sheriff! to!

door shut with his heel. He slipped the latch into place and dumped the carton on the .” floor. "B-But I didn’t order any the wo-

Grant

While from

telephone buried in a toy box and yelped into

turned.

He

later, as Ed Grant peered he had grabbed, the boy re-

held a small water

pistol.

Ed

turn-

ed, started to guffaw again. "Jerko, here,” he

exploded.

"A

he?"

reg’lar half-pint hero, ain't

old careened into the room, deeply involved in

banking an imaginary

aircraft

he was

ing.

He

ing.

"Hey!” he whinnied. "Who’s

stopped in his tracks, his mouth gapthis,

The

pilot-

mom?”

boy’s face

tightened ... he squeezed

the trigger and a stream of smoky fluid sprayed into

Ed Grant's

He

face.

dropped

gun

his

and a shriek of horror poured from Ed Grant's "L-Look, mister,” the woman pleaded.

"We

much money, see? My husband’s only a lab assistant at the chemical plant on River Street. He just got outa school himself,

don’t have

and

sockets just

He

lips.

raw

staggered backwards, his eye-

cavities

where the eyeballs had

been burnt out of his head.

hand went to

his face

.

. .

.

"Can the

seared

One trembling

passed over the ruin-

flesh, which, was curling away with a bubbling sound, revealing stark yellowish bones beneath. Ed Grant screeched in agony,

ed it!"

Ed Grant snapped. "C’mon

.

.

CASH! Where’s it at?”

his face already a ghastly oozing

The kid, who had sauntered over to the foyer table, suddenly pulled a cap pistol from a toy holster slung over the chair and whirled toward Ed Grant. His finger squeezed the

sagged to the

trigger and his high-pitched voice exploded in

him. "Just wait

a series of raucous gunshot sounds. started at the sound, then in his throat.

"The

began

kid’s a

li’l

Ed Grant

The boy

wound. He

floor.

felt his

mother's arm tugging

sharply, as she yanked the water pistol

you

just did!”

till

I

tell

deep

hundred times never

whacky,

ain't

sulfuric acid!"

to

fill

him

from

your daddy what

she snapped.

to laugh

"He

told

you a

your gun with his

NOW

IF

you JOIN... YOU GET THE

BULLETIM...FREE!

yes FANS. YOU, TOO, cm BC LUCKY UKB McLr/N, HtNt.' YOU, TVV, COMPUTE YOUR COLLECTION OP E.C.S' YOU, TOO, CAN JOIN THE .

E.C.FAN-AVMCT

CUB

AND RECEIVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP KIT ( WHICH INCLUDES A FULL-COLOR 7&XI0& ILLUMINATED CERTIFICATE, A STURDY WALLET IDENTIFICATION CARD, A SNAZZY EMBROIDERED SHOULDER PATCH, AND A STUNNIN& ANTIQUE BRONZE- FINISH BAS-RELIEF PIN) PLUS A FREE ..

SUBSCRIPTION TO THE

E.C.

FAN -ADDICT CLUB BULLETIN / THE

FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP. WHICH INCLUDES HIT AND FREE SUBSCRIPTION. FILL OUT THE COUPON AND SEND IT IN, TOGETHER WITH SOf* IF FIVE OR MORE OF YOU WANT TO JOIN AS AH AUTHOR-

IZED CHAPTER, ENCLOSE EACH MEMBER’S NAME AND ADDRESS ALONG WITH SO{ FOR EACH NAME AND INDICATE THE NAME OF THE ELECTED CHAPTER PRESIDENT. WE WILL NOTIFY EACH PRESIDENT OF HIS CHAPTER NUMBER. EACH MEMBER. CHAPTER OR INDIVIDUAL,WILL RECEIVE HIS KIT DIRECTLY... PLUS EACH ISSUE OF THE BULLETIN AS IT COMES OFF THE PRESS.

E.C.

FAN -ADDICT CLUB

ROOM 706

225 LAFAYETTE STREET

NEW YORK, 12, N.V. So here's my SOL! So

I could’ve

joined

for Half the price a couple of months back* So now 1 get a bulletin subscription. So who says I want it. So I'm a sucker. So put we down and send we the stuff what the kid's wearing and the bulletin I don't want but I'w

paying

-for...

name

:

ADDRESS CITY

STATE

• CNO

ZONE NO.

2S( MEMBERSHIP Will SE ACCEPTED AFTER JUNE

I,

195-0

THE CRYPT-K EEPER ’S CORNER Heb, beb! Here comes our morbid mailman with the latest sack of sordid stamped squares containing crude correspondence from .you creeps. So I’ll just W! my honey paw into the .. YEEEEEO Hmmmmph! Very funny! Somebody sent a large scorpion in a small envelope. A stinging trick! Where was l? Oh, yes so I’ll just stick a pair of tweezers into the old mail sack and print a few poems and stuff

stick

WW

.

.

.

II

The trap has been sprung, My neck has been wrun^

My I

I

tongue

know

My

.

is

just danglin',

that I'm done.

face

know

is

all red,

that I'm dead,

I'm swinging, swinging in the rain.

for your perusal.

Imre Horvath of The Bronx, N. Y. pens this Putrid Parody to the tune of "I'm Looking Over A Four-Leaf Clover’’:

Clara Estelle Crossland of McKeesport, Pa. who claims to he a poet in the strictly artistic sense of the word, submits this lovely little sentiment to pluck your heart strings:

I'm running you over With a sharp lawn mower That I never used before.

My

The first blade's for chopping.

The second will hack, The third will disjoin Your head from your neck.

No

boyfriend

the creative claw of

a charming thing

of Chicago,

writes these

III.

Oh, for the life of a vampire, That's what I really crave.

To prowl the face of earth at night.

And sleep each day in a grave.

John Neidkowski

From

is

Move him cause he is so sweet.

One side of his ugly face is gone.

The other hangs with rotted meat.

Raymond Neuman poetic wishes

need explaining.

The one remaining You won't hear anymore.

I'm running you over With a sharp lawn mower That I never used before.

John M. Guite who lives Sceam Song

in a box in Waterville, Me. comes this Satire of the tune "Heart of my Hearts":

of Maspetb,

N. Y. decries

his fate

with this gem:

Blood and Guts All over the street.

And me without Part of my heart, I love that arterie.

Part of my heart, Bring back a vein to me.

I#7hen we were kids On the corner of the street. were rough and ready guys, But, oh, how we could handle knives.

Part of my heart Meant friends were gorier then.

We

Too bad we had to part. know a tear would glisten once more I could listen

I

If

To that gang that ate part of my

heirt.

next Ludicrous Lyric is the brainwork of ). Polk, of Chicago, III. who pokes fun at the tune "Singing in the Rain" with these warped words:

This

Conrad

I'm swinging in the rain.

Just swinging in the rain.

What

My My As

a

ghastly old feeling.

neck's stretched again.

eyes bulge with pain, I

gurgle this refrain.

I'm swinging, swingin in the rain.

A spoon

to eat.

Paul Block and Douglas collaborate

on

Tuchman

(

this epic, yet) of Elmhurst,

a famous nursery

rhyme with:

they had to N. Y. knock

HERE S A TERROR-TALE OF A CHICK

WHO

FINALLY

WORMED

HAD ALWAYS LIKED LIVING IN THE BEST OF ST YLE...

FINE CLOTHES, JEWELRY, A PARK AVENUE APARTMENT, A CHAUFFEURED CADILLAC. AND PEARL HAD ALWAYS NA0EO TO FIND RICH HUSBANDS WHO WOULD BE WILUNG KEEP HER IN THE STYLE TO WHICH SHE'D BECOME ACCUSMED LIKE FREDDY NOVELL, FOR INSTANCE. FREDDY WELL WAS PEARL'S Z/tf/^rRICH-HUSBANO-BANKROLL. .

FREDDIE WAS GONE PEARL HAD DOST ANOTHER BILL-PAYING HUSBAND, AND THE VOLF 'MLS AT THE PENTHOUSE DOOR. PEARL WAS DESPERATE. A DOZEN

Now,

.

DESPERATE PLANS WERE FORMULATED IN HER PRETTY BFn HFAn AND DISCARDED BEFORE SHE REMEMBERED

Pearl let Howard stare, she

OH, I... I'M

ELLIS/ HOWARD

)

TERRIBLY SORRY, MR...

MR. ...WHY, WE'RE

)

4

ELLIS/

X.

•

•

X

WELL, HERE'S THE ELEVATOR.' ...

NEIGHBORS, and IDON*T,EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME/ i'm pearl drake f MISS pearldrake, I

Pearl inwardly cursed the high SPEED CONVEYANCE THAT HAD RUSHED UPWARD THROUGH THE STEEL THROAT OF THE BUILDING AND INTERRUPTED HER PROGRESS. SHE TURNED AND GLIDED BACK TO HER APARTMENT AS THE ELEVATOR POORS CLOSED. .

.

GOOD MORNING, MR. ELLIS... AND THANK YOU TO* i THE TIME/ -jp-

Then pearl grinned. SHE WALKED SLOWLY ACROSS THE LIVING ROOM, HER VOLUPTUOUS FIGURE SWAYING SENSUOUSLY...

NOT AT ALL, MISS DRAKE.

_

GET ME OFF HIS MIND/

MR. HOWARD ELLI.S

GOT TO

IS

MY ONLY OUT/ l‘VE THE OTHER./

GET HIM ...tfMT WAYOR

*

AND

CHEAP FEMALE ROLF ON THE

PROWL, he looks so PROPER AND PRUDISH, X WOULDN'T STAND A

CHANCE IF HE THOUGHT

RACING... SCHEMI PLANNING HER NEXT MOVE. SHE FINGERED THE D'SPOSSESS NOTICE SHE'D RECEIVED IN THE MORNING MAM.. .

THEY'VE GIVEN ME A WEEK TO FORK OVER THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS RENT, OR OUT ON THE STREET I GO. AND X haven't 60T IT. I •

AND THEN, WITH HER LOVELY FACE ASSUMING A DETERMINED AIR, SHE HURRIED INTO THE BEDROOM TO DRESS ...

IT,

I WONDER IF I OVERPLAYED Mr HAND WALKING OUT LIKE THIS? X WOULDN'T WANT HIM TO THINK I'M

She STOPPED AT THE DESK, HER MIND

j

Pearl pondereo her problem another moment

BACK DISTRACTEDLY AGAINST

THAT/ \

BUT HE /J .A MAN' HE'S GOT ALL OF THE INSTINCTS OF a man. I'll BET HE CAN'T

—

She closed the door, leaned FROWNED.

haven't got

HALF THAT

much.'

The elevator operator eyed her up and down and GRINNED LASCIVIOUSLY WHEN SHE ASKED HIM THE INF0F MATION SHE NEEDED. IT WAS OBVIOUS HE'D HEARD OF HER PLIGHT. .

I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT M ELLIS DOES FOR A LIVING?

WHAT FIRM HE WORKS FOR?

WHY DON'T YOU FIND OUT WHAT J*CAN DO, INSTEAD, HONEY?

Pearl knew when to act haughty AND INDIGNANT. UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ELEVATOR OPERATOR MIGHT HAVE AROUSED HER INTERESTS, BUT NOW. why, you

FRESH.

I

ASKED YOU

YOU KNEW rr

%

I'LL

WAIT FOR

IF

)

HE...

ELLEN.. .ELLER. ..ELLIS. AH, HERE IT IS? HOWARD ELLIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC., STOCK BROKERS, INVESTMENT COUNSELORS, 231

HE'S A

STOCK y BROKER.

MR. ELLIS'S )

BUSINESSf

\

•"Vr'^aKTTf

jwrf

HIM OUTSIDE THE

—T

I... THINK HE MAS H,s OWN FIRMf >

.

!b

Outside the luxurious apartment, pearl contemplated HAILING A CAB, THEN CONSIDERED HER WANING FINANCES, AND WALKED UPTHE SIDE STREET TO THE SUBWAY. SHE RODE UNCOMFORTABLY IN THE CROWDED ROARING CHASM, HER DAINTY NOSE TWITCHING SCORNFULLY AT THE SUFFOCATING SCENT OF THE HUMANITY SURROUNDING HER. SHE TRIED TO LOSE HERSELF IN HER PLAN OF STRATEGY.

I

Pearl cr§ssed the lobby to the PHONE BOOTHS AND SCANNED THE CITY DIRECTORY. ..

AS HE RUBBED HIS BEET-RED CHEEK WHERE SHE'D SLAPPEO IT. THEN, SHE COLDLY REPEATED . .

WALL STREET...

At

noon, pearl was at the entrance to 231 wall STREET, HER CAMPAIGN FOR THE CONQUEST OF THE UNSUSPECTING MR. ELLIS CRYSTAL-CLEAR IN HER MIND. I’LL CON HIM INTO TAKING

ME TO

LUNCH AND HE'LL SEE I'M NO CHEAP DA NET he'll SEE I , sot HIGH-CLASS TASTES < HE' LI :

COMES.

.

OH-OH? HERE HE AND HERE 160.. .

yJi .

BUILDING at LUNCH HOUR. OF COURSE IT WILL BE AN ACCIDENTAL MEETING.

I BEG YOUR PARDON, \ I'M SORRY MA'AM? I D IDN'T MY FAULT? I.

rr

SEE

.

W

IT . .

MR- ELLIS

WAS ALL

WHY, IT'S

MR. ELLIS

?

—

THIS IS A COINCIDENCE, RUNNINg\0H, *

INTO YOU LIKE THIS. OH, BUT YOU DON'T REC NlZE MEIN MY CLOTHES, DO YOU? I MEAN J-'MISS THESE CLOTHES, remember? this gS" DRAKE...

-

MORNING? PEARL ORAKE? THE PENTHOUSE APARTMENT ACROSS -7 THE HALL ?

—

-5

ft

AND THE

JHSH STOPPED WATCH?

,

Before Howard could object, pearl steereo to ataxi, took his hand, and led him into it YOU DO REMEMBER? WELL,I OWE YOU SOMETHING FOR BEING SO KIND THIS MORNING, MR. ELLIS. I'M , TAKING YOU TO LUNCH. THE ? PLAZA, DRIVER? ,

BA

Through the meal, pearl carefully ENCOURAGED HOWARD. B DESSERT, HE WAS STRUGGLING TO

him

By the time

the PLAZA'?

BUT THAT'S

they'd plowed uptown through the

VICHY SO/SSE, Howard, ROAST PHEAS-

HAVE YOU (

SOT THAT,

I'LL HAVE A HAH SANDW/CH ON WHOLE WHEAT ANT UNDEP CLASS SOUNDS DELICIOUS L TOAST AND A 6LASS OF

HAY UPTOWN,

and THE

MISS DRAKE...

'

r

-

,

night, after their THEY RETURNED TO THE PENTHOUSE FLOOR OF THE LUSH PARK AVENUE APARTMENT HOUSE. PEARL OPENEO HER DOOR AND SPOKE TEMPTINGLY IN A SOFT

And that DATE,

HONEYED TONE ... ^ f THANK VOV.NO, PEARL.

SO AFTER

^ m

mm

A QUICK *GOOONIQHT

’

PEARL FOUND HERSELF ALONE IN HER APARTMENT, FRUSTRATED ANO AN NOYED. I_.

—7

X MUST

BE LOSING MY TOUCH.' fT\C"

WON'T YOU

PEARL... GULP.. .MAY X TAKE YOU TO DINNER AND A SHOW. ..TONIGHT?

COME IN FOR > I HAVE A BOARD * NIGHTCAP, {MEETING IN the HOWIE, DEAR?] MORNING AND I to

^

lllliyallMt BED.

But HOWARD ELLIS PHONED PEARL THE NEXT DAY FROM HIS OFFICE ANO HERCONFIDENCE IN HER EVENTUAL SUCCESS WAS RESTORED. WELL, PEARL? WHAT t IT'S SUCH A LOVELY SHALL IT BE TONIGHT fNlGHT, HOWIE, I'D RATHER

NOT

BE INDOORS LET'S TAKE A HANSOH THROUGH

W

THE PARK.'

AJ

.

Pearl knew where to find atmosphere congenial to ROMANCE. THE RIDE THROUGH THE PARK IN THE HANSOM CAB WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR HAD ORDERED. SOON, HOWARD WAS HOLDING HER HAND AND WHISPERING SOFTLY IT IS A LOVELY NIGHT, PEARL. BUT ^ WHY, H OWARD..^ NOT NEARLY AS LOVELY AS YOUARE?

BBK

Pearl was an old hand at this GAME OF TRAPPING A MAN. SHE KNEW HOW TO PRESS HER ADVANTAGEHOW TO MOVE HER SOFT FULL- LI PS CLOSE TO HIS... INVITING ...

And she knew how to act shy and COY AND SURPRISED WHEN HE'D FINALLY FALLEN INTO HER LITTLE TRAPI-1M SORRY,

DIDN'T PEARL !1 SHOULDN'T) MIND, HOWIEf HAVE DONE THAT... j I... I'M VERY FOND of you'

HA

KfSSEO HIM WITH MOIST RAVISHING HUNGRY SHE KISSED HIM AS SHE KNEW HE'O NEVER BEEN KISSED BEFORE. AND THEN SHE LEFT HIM STANDING THERE... LIMP -TREMBLING ...GASPING FOR BREATH. SHE LOCKED THE DOOR BETWEEN THEM AND STOOD IN THE DARKNESS OF HER APARTMENT. GRINNING WITH SATISFACTION -

She

LIPS.

ONCE MORE LIKE THAT AND HE'LL BE BEGG/NG..

AND IT'D BETTER BE SOON I've ONLY GOT A FEW DAYS LEFT BEFORE I GET WnmJ OUT |Br3nnnl

sagr KICKED

Soon they were back outside HER APARTMENT. PEARL LEANED AGAINST HER DOOR, FINGERING HOWARD'S COAT LAPEL AND GENTLY, GENTLY DRAWING HIM AGAINST HER QUIVERING BODY... WHISPERING...

wasno moon

and TH^RE NEXT WAS HUNG DARK OVERHEAD. PEARL COULD SENSE THE OEEP TENSION IN HOWARD AS THEY WALKED HOME. SHE WAITED PATIENTU FINALLY, HE STOPPED BENEATH A LAMP POST AND HE SAW A NEW EAGER DETERMINED LOOK IN HIS EYES...

OH, HOWARD f IF YOU PEARL' NEED ONLY KNEW HOW MUCH YOU' I-MH/WYOU' ] te i need you?

It

warm the

EVENING.

the

SW

mm

l

This was beyono pfeARL's wiloest dreams, had she HEARO RIGHT? WAS THIS A PROPOSAL? NOW IT WAS PEARL ARACTER WAS PLAYING FOR YEAR. FOREVER. SHE HAD TO

up...he, holding her HAND IN A TIGHT FEVERISH GRIP, HIS BREATHING QUICKENED WITH EXCITEMENT...ANO SHE, FOLLOWING EAGERLY, ANXIOUS TO CONVINCE HIM OF HIS WISE CHOICE, ANXIOUS TO THANK

They went

WILL YOU COME UP TO

HI APARTMENT, Pearl?

He opened the bedroom door and SHOVED PEARL IN. SHE HEARD THE LOCK CLICK BEHIND HIM... HEARD HIS LOW THROATED GIGGLE. SHE PEERED INTO THE GLOOM...

ESTHER? I BROUGHT ANOTHER

r

And then pearl saw the coffin in the gloom ...the OLO COFFIN WITH THE LID SQUEAKING OPEN. ..THE PALID WHITE FIGURE RISING FROM IT...BITS OF EARTH DROPPING FROM ITS FLOWING BLACK CAPE... THE RAZOR- SHARP SNAKErLIKE FANGS. -THE OOZING SPITTLE r

MY SOD ''H HAT

HOWIE?

.

IS

IT,

WHAT IS IT?

,

THIS IS

ESTHER.'? who's SHE?

ONE...

[Howard pushed pearl toward the froth ing.craving, [hideous CREATURE...

I

TOLD YOU

X

WANTED

YOU FOR NY WIFE'

NO.' NO' OH, LORD! I

MY WIFE,

PEARL? SHE'S A j

7 VAMPIRE' -m

WITH SATISFACTION AS HIS LIVING-DEAD WIFE SPRANG UPON THIS LATEST DESERVING VICTIM HE'D BROUGHT. HE LISTENED EAGERLY TO HER GLUTTONOUS SLURPING NOISES. HE NODDED APPROVINGLY AS THE PINK GLOW CAME BACK INTO HER SUNKEN CHEEKS, AND PEARL'S WRITHINgJlODY

ANO HOWARD SAT DOWN AND WATCHED

GREW PALER AND PALER AND

}

SO POOR PEARL FINALLY FOUND HER LAST HUSBAND-SUCKER ONLY in THIS CASE, IT WAS THE HUSBAND'S WIFE WHO WAS THE SUCKER.. BLOOD- SUCKER, THAT IS? HEH, HEH ? WELL .THE OLD WITCH AWAITS WITH ANOTHER OF HER

|

j

\

CREEPY CAULDRONCONCOCTIONS SO I'll STEP A SIDE while SHE SLINGS SLIME AT YOU. BY THE WAY, I HEAR SOME PEOPLE FINALLY JOINED THE E.C. FAN -ADDICT CLUB. THAT'S GOOD

NEWS' I WAS

BEGIN-

NING TO BE AFRAID THE MEMBERSHIP WAS GOING TO BE LIMITED TO...ER... THINGS. SHALL WE SAY GEE'

I

NOW, PEOPLE TOO' WELL, WHAT'D'YA KNOW.' 'By if

,

HEE.HEE? COME IN, CREEPS YOU'RE IN THE NIGHT PLACE FOR RETCH INS... THE HAUNT OF FEAN. MD.NOM OIFU.'.A THAT'S FRENCH. PIENDS?)...HAVE I GOT A REVOLTING TALE FOR YOU. WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S COOKING IN MY CRUODT CAST-IRON CAULDRON? WELL, YOUR OLD WITCH HAS A GORY SLAB OF GRISLY GAB ABOUT a TERROR TIME and a FAST OPERATOR who brouqht a MESSY MATTER TO A HEAD and CUT IT OFF TNEHEf SO WIPE THE DROOL FROM YOUR CHINS, BEND YOUR FLOPPY EARS THIS WAY, AND LISTEN TO THIS DELIGHTFUL TALE OF BUTCHERY CALLED... < ,

I

That ioth of march, 1795, was grim and grey with rain THREATENING IN THE OMINOUS BLACK CLOUDS THAT BILLOWED OVERHEAD. A RAW WINO HOWLED FURIOUSLY ABOUT THE CRIMSON-STAINED GUILLOTINE, BUT IT COULD NOT CLEAR THE BEFOULED AIR OF ITS ABATOIR AROMA. UNDERFOOT, COBBLESTONES WERE SLIPPERY WITH CONGEALING GORE, WHILE FRESH WARM BLOOD BUBBLED IN A CONSTANT FLOW DOWN THE GUTTERS AS THE GREAT BLADE HISSED DOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN, HEAPING THE BASKET WITH WIDE-EYED NOBLE HEADS. THERE, CALMLY, STOOO THE MAN OF THE HOUR, THE EXECUTIONER, ANDRE VACHE, AMID THE JEERING, HOOTING, RED-BONNETED CITIZENRY, READING AN URGENT MESSAGE JUST H ANDED TO * PLEASURE, AND IF A THOUSAND GOLD LOUIS ANORE...

INTEREST YtfEl, THEN VISIT ME AT 49 RUE DUBOIS." HMMM? PIERRE, I MUST A LEAVE? CARRY ON FOR ME, EH?

J

AS

ANDRE HURRIED AWAY FROM THE AWFUL SCENE...

HIS BLOOD-SOAKED SHOES LEAVING RED IMPRINTS ON THE PAVING STONES ...HE EAGERLY RE-READ THE NOTE HE'D RECEIVED...

THOUSAND GOLD LOUIS? SACRE BLEU^jO^A

SoON.THE EXECUTIONER WAS BEING USHERED INTO A SPACIOUS ROOM OF

YOU MENTIONED MAKE YOURj something about Sself COM-

49 RUE DUBOIS BY A VENAL-LOOKING

ONE THOUSAND J PORTABLE, GOLD LOUIS, / M'SIEU. HERE...

MAN WITH AN UNCTUOUS MANNER ABOUT HIM. „i .

-

t

AH, M'SIEU

JEAN I GREAT A

VACHEf I AM

COURBEAU. it is A HONOR INDEED TO HAVE 90 IMPORTANT and DISTINGUISHED A VISITOR AS YOU IN MY HOME. .

CITIZEN courbeau. that IS

tf

WHY I AM

RERE.f

fjtam.

,-w

ssj

]

•

you

XD

4

UNDERSTAND?

./<

.

.

.

^J :

2

HERE IS HALF THE PAYMENT. 500 GOLD LOUIS, you will RECEIVE THE REST WHFN X HAV PROOF That my brother has 1 BEEN EXECUTED SO MANY HEADS FALL THESE DAYS...

A .'

SHOULD ANY-

TO CLAUDE,

NOT MUNokR, MON AMI. Vah.that is a DIFFERENT STORY /'you are a W/SE 1 MERELY AN ACCUSATION...

M'SIEU COURBEAU. IF YOUR BROTHER* I MAN, M'SIEU VACHE. is ONE OF THEM. A ROYALIST.. JDO NOT THINK I AM < * THEN I WILL BE GLAD TO EXPOSE NOT FOND OF MY ' BROTHER. BUT THERE ANOTHER ROYALIST HIM. IT WOULD BE MY DUTY KRE TWO THINGS X LOVE MORE...FRANCE:

/SYMPATHIZER would EVEN FOR THAT MUCH GOLD? <Cl ROLL INTO YOUR BASKET.

—

M'SIEU.

HAPPEN GET /TALL,

THING

EXPLAIN

TOU...

to the RIGHT PARTIES..

NANO THE HEAD OF I

..

FORTUNE,

A

MI0NOW...X WHY I SENT FOR

!

CITIZEN COURBEAU? SAPRISTI...YOU INSINUATE I WOULD MURDER A MAN.

'ACTUALLY, THIS HOUSE IS NOT MINE. IT BELONGS TO MY BROTHER CLAUDE.^ being the ELDER,**'* FATHER LEFT HIM EYERYTH/NS.

SOME OF THE

will

j

.

|

YOU WANT ME TO RIO YOU OF YOUR BROTHER,

)

finest wine yJFROM MY CELLAR,

and

MONEY

T YOU SHALL HAVE UNDENIABLE J EVIDENCE. ]

' CITIZEN COURBEAU.

J WILL SEE TO AND NOW, BON SOW.

ITf

.

.

a

of

CLAUDE

COURBEAU..

“

The next day, citizen marat and six other judges Of THE COMMUNE LOOKED OOWH COLOO’ AND IMPATIENTLY AT THE ACCUSED. _JKF ENEMY OF THE REVOLUTION. WHEN AN

riAM NOT AN

The chamber, thronged with angry ragged

citi-

zens, SHOOK WITH THE HOARSE CLAMORING FOR STILL ANOTHER HEAP...

EVEN SPEAKS LIKE THE NOBILITY? OzsSS,

Hfc

mr INNOCENT MAN can be DRAGGED FROM his HOME ON THE EL/MIEST OF PRETEXTS. accused of TREASON without a SHRED OF EVIDENCE, jft AND sent to the GUILLOTINE BY such a lie... fJH

DEATH

DEATH*

J

s-THEN

THIS

is NOT A TRIAL, BUT BUTCHERY.'/,

Citizen marat held up his hand AND A HUSH FELL OVER THE CHAMBER. THEN, SCOWLING DARKLY AT THE ACCUSED, HE WHISPERED. . .

this is your DEFENSE, M'SIEU COURBEAU.. THAT WE

DESTROY OUR ENEMIES ?

He

f

*

LOOKED AT HIS FELLOW JUDGES.

WHAT SAY

THE WORD ( WE HAVEEMINENT

YOU CITIZENS?> OF THE

—M Ml

s-y-f

JB

.

ARE BUTCHERS BECAUSE WE

WANTON

WlWmIm

EXECUTIONER,

ANDRE VACHE, CITIZEN

MARAT

that

6000

is

f

A

A

Citizen marat raised his hand AND DROPPED A SQUARE OF BLACK CREPE... AND WITH THIS SYMBOLIC GESTURE, THE CROWD ROARED ITS APPROVAL...

IS

—m

1

a

ENOUGH FOR US' /

REO-BONNETED CROWD WAITED IN TENSE SILENCE AS THE HEAVY KNIFE WAS HOISTED HIGH BETWEEN THE SLOTTED PARALLEL BEAMS. THEN. WITH A WHINING CRESCENDO TO ACCOMPANY

T HE

,

j

Andre caught claude*s head in A SACK AS HOT BLOOp SPURTED FROM THE SEVERED VEINS ANO ARTERIES

OF THE DECAPITATED BODY, SPRAY

Jean courbeau turned sickly green, he WHIMPERED SOFTLY.

f

M

.

THE GOLD JINGLING

IN HIS

^

The coach stopped,

a tall

man

GOT OUT AND CARRIED THE GORY BUNDLE BACK TO ANDRE. DO YOU TAKE OUR T TAKE CARE, REVOLT SO LIGHTLY /CITIZEN/ YOU THAT IT AMUSES SPEAK TO

//VACHE,

MAS

-

ABOUT THE HEAD TER OF THE OF AN ENEMY? JGUILLOTINE/ )

^

The man handed andre the

^—1

YOU TO THROW

Andre went light-heartedly through the

SACK.

,

’andi^citizen vache AM

L .

evening streets, POCKETS, THE SACK SWINGING MERRILY

AT HIS SIDE. A COACH RUMBLEO BY, AND HE PLAYFULLY TOSSED THE RED- SOAKED BAG THROUGH ITS WINDOW..

ONE Yf HERE gasp/ GET IT OUT OF HERE! CHOKE...

GET RID OF IT/ I^|

TAKE TOUR SET..

.

,

\a.

.

.

aN

MASTER OF FRANCE ) THOU..ROBESPIERRE/ ysA NO PARDONS, YOUR EXCELLENCY/

did not see the sack land IN THE bottom of a skiff that CAME FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE ARCH. THE HEAO ROLLED OUT AND THE

Andre

I

WAS

IN

to his roomhouse, he WAS greeteo by his

When andre returned

THE

SQUARE when HE SOT THIS TOOAY, HENRI? HE

HELD

Andre hurried out into the street

UP FOR

IT

The head dropped to andre's feet as it tore through the SACK’S BLOOD- ROTTED BOTTOM. THE CLOTH DISAPPEARED INTO THE DANK-REEKING DARKNESS. ANDRE HESITATED, STUPIDLY, AS AN OXCART, HEAPED WITH HEADLESS CORPSES, ROUNDED THE

with

THE BLOOD-SOAKED BAG. HE STOPPEO OVER A SEWER-GRATE.

MEN, CLAUDE C0UR8EAU' SO THEY PLAY WITH US' WELL, PERHAPS THE RATS DOWN THERE WILL FIND YOU TEMPTING.

' EH,

CORNER.

GAMES

.

VACHE! IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU' LOOKfREGO0HIZ SOME OF r YOUR CUSTOMERS?

TAKE THEM AWAY, BODIN' 00 BURY

^m

'

.

BoDIN SHRUGGED AND THE OX-CART RUMBLED OFF. ANDRE head, hiding TURNED TO THE HEAD, ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED. HE REACHED FROM THE CART-DRIVER’S VIEW. s FOR IT SAVAGELY. .

IN NO HURRY, VACHE. LETy LET ME TORMENT ME, MIL L YOU, CLAUDE COURBEAUf DRINK! OUR <a ALONE, bodin'

Andre stood over the grinning IT

.

.

I'M

US STOP FOR A

HEADLESS FRIENDS can Jr go BURY s

.

THEM!

wait/

r

mmr iw* foulsmelling S

DEAD

.

WELL, WE'LL

SEE ABOUT

THAT^^

-gj

The EXECUTIONER CAME UPON A MARKET OPEN LATE AND LIT OlMLY BY OIL LAMPS. HE PASSED THE STALLS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND SMILED AT THE JOKE HE MADE. .

NOW, M'SIEU NOBODY,

r

CABBAGES

IN

with you.

.

AMONG THE

BEHAVE.

/

AND PERHAPS YOU WILL END UP--/ IN SOMEONE’S SOUP. .

.

BURDEN, ANDRE CELEBRATED HIS NEW-FOUNO FORTUNE AT AN INN WITH A GLASS OF BRANOX THEN HE RETURNED HOME AND, MEETING HIS LANDLADY, GOOD- NATO REDLY RELIEVED HER OF HER SHOPPING BASKET.

.

.

_v

ANO

—

COME 1 SOME WEALTH

I HAVE j

'into

TONIGHT, CITI-

KIT-

.I,

i

YOU SEEM IN A JOVIAL MOOD

I

...

1-

CHOKE-

)

ZEN VACHE? A

i

J

MADAME YOU ARE A BARETTE? 6ENTLEMAN,

BOHSO/fi.

PERMIT

M

-

mePj^ML

Claude courbeau’s head grinned up at andre from AMONG THE VEGETABLES MADAM BARETTE EMPTIED OUT

A

TOGETHER AND WENT INTO THE CHEN

MOMENT LATER. MONSIEUR ETIENNE. ANOTHER BOARDER

M’SIEU VACHE.'

T HE LANDLADY MOANED

ANO TURNED AWAY, SICK. ANDRE, SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. FLUNG OPEN THE SHUTTERS

ANDRE FUMED, THE BLOOD DRAINING FROM

HIS FACE.

FROM THE TABLE. ..THEN TURNED MONSIEUR ETIENNE...

his room and WITH A RAGE THAT VERGED ON MADNESS. HE KNEELED ON THE FLOOR AND HACKED AT THE LIFELESS FLESH AND BONE UNTIL HE'D REDUCED IT INTO AN UNRECOGNIZABLE HEAP OF MINCE - /f ucat v-

Andre stumbled to

^—

rmw.Lcrs I

T HEN, WEAK AND

EXHAUSTED.

An hour passed, paris was asleep, the night was still, except for an OX-CART THAT RUMBLEO BY BELOW.

HIS

INTESTINES ROILING AND QUIVERING LIKE JELLY, THE EXECUTIONER SANK ON HIS BED IN A COM A -LIKE STUPOR

ANDRE STIRRED AT ITS NOISE AND SAT UP. HE LISTENED TO THE FRONT DOOR OPEN ...THE HEAVY DRAGGING FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIRS... THE KNOB OF HIS OWN DOOR TURN... AND

see you come*' a

sack 'NOW! NOW

GOURBEAU f.

HEADLESS CORPSE STUMBLED TOWARD ANDRE, HAND GESTICULATING TOWARD ITS NECK, POINTING...

ITS

T HE

YOUR HEAD': '/ YOU'VE COME FOR YOUR HEAD?' CAN'T GIVE IT TO OH, LORD...CHOV.Z'...T YOU' THERE. ..W THE FLOOR ...THERE IS .

-

iwHArS L EFT CF

I

KO 'no'

barette heard the ear-splitting scream that echoed THROUGH HER ROOMING HOUSE AND RUSHEO TO ANORE'S ROOM WITH A CANOLE. BUT AS SHE REACHED THE DOOR, IT OPENED. THE BODY OF CLAUDE COURBEAU STUMBLED OUT, AND ON ITS SHOULDERS, CRIMSON DRIPFROM ITS TORN ANO RUPTURED BLOOD VESSELS SAT THE SAVAGELY

Madame

PING

KEEP

AWAY-y-^zY-y.

IT...

—

TORN-OFF HEAD OF ANDRE VACHE... f-rw-

r'"

,

,

—

Kjj||'j

CHOKE.

ONE WAY TO GET AHEAD IN THE WORLD, EH.KIDOIES? AND NOW, IT'S TIME TO CLOSE C.K.'S MUCK-MAO FOR THIS ISSUE.' HOPE YOU WEREN'T GORED STIFF.' WE’LL ALL SEE YOU NEXT IN THE VAULT OF HORROR... WHEN WE'LL BE HEADING ^ - - -1 BACK Y0UR WAY WITH 'ifWltTTrr M0RE TOP HORROR i YARNS' till THEN, THINK ABOUT HEE.HEE' WELL, THAT'S

i

KMMMBBHjEr

JOINING THE E.O.FAN-

ADDICT CLUB?

|k

DON'T BE

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A

HEH, HEH! WELL,

WE

MEET AGAIN, BOILS AND

^

GHOULS'.

^

IT’S BEEN TOO LONG, MISSED YOU- ^ BUT MY AIM IS GETTING MUCH BETTER! YOU DISMEMBER MY TWO FIENDS AND ME, DON’T YOU? WE’RE GHOULUNATICS, TELLERS OF TWISTED TALES OF TERROR AND SHOCK SUSPENS TORIESl I’M THE CRYPT-KEEPER HE’S THE VAULT-KEEPER, AND SHE'S THE OLD WITCH'.

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NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS IN THE TOWN OP CRANWELL, NEW JERSEY. THAT'S WHY, WHEN ELDERLY GLADYS PRICE PEOPLE NOTICED, ESPECIALLY MIKE AND LINDA ANDERSON, THE MARRIED COUPLE WHO LIVED NEXT DOOR.

DIED,

I

WONDER

WHO'S OOINO TO MOVE INTO HER HOUSE. .

~IT'S HARD TO” BELIEVE SHE'S OONE. SHE WAS OLD EVEN WHEN .

I WAS A KID.^

v

WVVn

DURINO THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, ALL THE CUSTOMERS AT THE LOCAL DINER LINDA, AS A WAITRESS, HAD IDEAS. ..

WHERE MIKE WORKED AS A COOK, AND

" I HEARDN SOME WEALTHY COMPUTER OUY WAS LOOKING THE PLACE OVER. A

k

MILLIE

AT^B 1

THE REAL

*

'ESTATE office’ SAID A

DOCTOR HAD EXPRESSED i INTEREST.^ ,

L

k

r C'MON,

LET'S

W

^

r

HE OOES.

YEAH,

THAT'S^!

MY IDEA OF ^ FUN-TAILINO SOME WEIRDO IN THE J MIDDLE OF THE J

FOLLOW HIM AND SEE WHERE v

S.

NIOHT/

7^ .

THIS COULD

BE A WILD OOOSE CHASE, BUT I DON'T CARE. I WANT ,

ANSWERS.

^

I'D LIKE

ANSWERS

^

TOO.

LIKE WHAT MADE ME SAY, "l DO" FIFTEEN

yEARS AGO?

WHERE'S HE ^ rOOINO? WE'VE BEEN DRIVINO FOR 10

MINUTES ALREADy.

AND I'M LOSINO MY

^ BEAUT/ SLEEP,

a

NOTHING

IN

THIS

DIRECTION, THAT IS EXCEPT... a

^

F\..THE r

THERE HE

A

ANR WE

RON'T

Ik

IS/^

CREEP// EVEN

r

KEEP YOUR

^

VOICE ROWN; WE RON'T WANT HIM TO HEAR US.

~

WANT

TO WAKE UP v

ANYONE. >

HE'S PAINTING A PICTURE/

mu,

i

~

GUESS STAMP COLLECTING ISN'T

.FOR EVERYONE.

.

MAYBE HE'S

^

VISITING THE LAST' COUPLE THAT FOLHIM AROUNRi AT NIGHT.

LOWER

^

THIS IS REALLY

.SCARIER THAN OUR. Ik HONEYMOON/

r

'

WHERE

BEEN GOING/, BUT WH/?

L.

r

W

TOWN^1

CEMETERY/ 50 THAT'S

.HE'S

A

THESE MUST BE SOME OF HIS PAINTINGS/ UOOK AT ALL THOSE CORPSES' YOU PON'T THINK HE

r

rVACTUALLYpo you?THEM PICS

v

.

up,

rMARTY

IF HE HAP,

^ 1

AT THE

POLICE STATION

WOULP'VE SAIP SOMETHING AT OUR WEEKLy POKER ,

v

V

C-AME.

X

/ KROLL'S PAINTINGS OF ORAVEYARDS AND CORPSES ARE PART OF AN IMPORTANT

NEW ART MOVEMENT

CALLED, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;OUTSIDER ART.'" YOU MEAN

x

N

.

A WEEK

WENT 8/ ANP THEN THE PAV CAME...

K ROLL'S OETTINO~

A PEW MINUTES THAT

INTO HIS CAR. IN

CREEP WILL BE

t

ON HIS WAV' TO > NEW VORK-^SS

^

r

IT TAKES AT LEAST AN HOUR ANP A HALF TO OET TO THf CITY, PLUS WITH THE TRAFFIC AT THIS HOUR, YOU CAN APP AT LEAST ANOTHER A

V

HALF HOUR.

^

TWO HOURS

LATER.

'

WE'RE IN HIS \ BACKYARP/ WE'RE HALFWAY THERE. A

T NOW

REMEMBER,

YOU'RE STANPING

^

WATCH OUTSIPE. CALL ME ON YOUR CELL IF THERE ARE ANY SIGNS. L- OF TROUBLE.

^

HEY, KEEP fYOUR SHIRT

>

ON,

TOM

\

CRUISE--THIS

ISN'T MISSION

IMPOSSIBLE/

V

MIKE PRIES OPEN A WINPOW ANP LOWERS IJIAACCI llirn HIS IJIC NEIGHBOR'S MCI/^IJQOD'C BASEMENT. £2 AAChlT HIMSELFC INTO

AT ALL ^ rTHISLOOK JUNK, LOOKS IT

LIKE A RUMMAGE SALE AT STEPHEN KING'S HOUSE.

L .

II ’

T

I

\

/

MR

TOO RISK// WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUOH/ PON'

XT'S

\

you THINK TOO SMALL. WAIT HERE, I'LL BE BACK IN TEN MINUTES.

.OET OREEPy'^.

BACK AT KROLL'S HOUSE.

WHEN THE^^M ALARM IN MY CAR I HAP TO COME BACK ANP INVESTIOATE--WELL,

~

HOUSE r WENT OFF WELL, tv

IF IT

ISN'T

MY NEXT-POOR NEIGHBOR/

A

PON'T MOVE

OR I'LL shoot you/

F r

KROLL?/

BUT

^1

yOU'RE

SUPFOSEP TO BE AT THE OALLERy IN NEW A yORK/

i

l

L

^

LOOK, UH, X CAN EXPLAIN...

1|

J

£

YOU CAN EXPLAIN ALL

YOU

LIKE TO THE POLICE.

THERE'S NO NEED TO CALL THE COPS...

i

m % eTH

ka

m ,

AFTER OETTINO BACK TO HIS HOUSE, M IKE TOLD LINDA WHAT HAPPENED. THEN HE SHOWERED, CHANGED CLOTHES, AND TOGETHER, THEY OOT INTO THEIR CAR AND DROVE TO THEIR STORAGE UNIT OUTSIDE OF THE NEXT TOWN...

A FEW DAYS LATER, THE OWNER OF THE NEW YORK ART OALLERY CALLED THE

CRANWELL POLICE TO REPORT THAT THEY HAD BEEN UNABLE TO REACH KROLL. THE POLICE CHECKED KROLL'S

HOUSE AND FOUND

HIS BODY...

A /EAR WENT

BY,

AW

LIFE WENT ON IN THE TOWN OF CRANWELL. ANP PEOPLE FOROOT

/ABOUT THE ARTIST

WHO WAS MURPEREP. BUT THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE WHO PIP NOT FOROET...

BUT BEFORE MIKE AND LINDA COULD TAKE ANY MORE OF THE PAINTINOS OUT, THEY" HEARD THE SOUND OF SOMETHING SCRAPINO AOAINST THE ASPHALT ON THE OROUND. AND THEN THAT TERRIBLE SMELL SUDDENLY COT MUCH, MUCH WORSE...

OH,

MY LORDrVl

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JUST

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MK

THE NEXT DAY THE POLICE FOUND MIKE AND LINDA DEAD. THEY'D BOTH HAD HEART ATTACKS. THE ODDS OF THAT HAPPENING, ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, INCS WERE RECOVERED, AND SENT TO JACK KROLL'S ONLY LIVINO RELATIVEj AN OLD £UNT, WHOM, FOR SOME REASON, THOUGHT THEY WERE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINOS SHE D EVER SEEN.

YOU GOT TO ADMIT, THOSE MORBID MASTERPIECES ARE WORTH DIEING FOR! EXCUSE

ME FOR A SECOND AS GET ALL BIBLICAL ON MY CRYPT-GUESTS...

^

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Translation:

“SUPER EVIL DEMON ROBOT!

“COMES TO LIFE! WRECKS YOUR HOME!

“NOW 250% MORE CURSED!"

“FOR SERIOUS

COLLECTORS ONLY”

MAKE SURE TO ACCURATELY DEGRADE! AFTER ...I ALL, IF THERE’S ANYTHING YOU LEARN IN A CRYPT, IT’S HOW TO GET YOUR COLLECTIBLES SLABBED! AND CERTAINLY MADE SURE TO PACK EVERYTHING SECURELY! FIND THAT PINE BOXES WORK BEST FOR ME— ALTHOUGH THE SHRED-EX GUY DOESN’T SEEM TO APPRECIATE IT! I

L

I

^

.

SO, LET’S NOT WAIT ^ A HALF CENTURY UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN! BE BACK IN JUST SIXTY DAYS FOR MORE TALES .

FROM THE CRYPT!

Return of

TALES FRO THE CRYPT t's

one of

I before all-new flagship

Keeper,

EC

world of comics And graphic novel publishing! Shortly Papercutz announced that we would be publishing

the biggest surprises in the

2007

the

New York

Comic Con,

FROM THE CRYPT comics.

TALES

After

more

than 50 years,

EC

Comics' legendary

returns with all-new shocking SuspenStories, narrated by the original Crypt-

title

Old Witch, and Vault

Keeper. Each issue will feature

two 20-page

tales

of terror in the

tradition!

Reactions ranged from excitement -from fans thrilled to see the most famous horror comicbook ever return after over

known

for

fifty

years, to

graphic novels such as

its

suitable for all-ages, as the

amount of adult

it

HBO TALES FROM THE CRYPT series certainly contained

a

fair

content.

"People forget that the original

Comics back

was to be coming from a publisher primarily Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys which contain material

shock-that

in the 50s,

was

FROM THE CRYPT comicbook,

TALES

also intended for all-ages,

and

its

published by the EC primary readership was young

boys,” Papercutz Editor-in-Chief Jim Salicrup is quick to point out. But that may be exactly what fans find so controversial. The original TALES FROM TE1E CRYPT comics, featuring stories dreamed up by EC publisher William M. Gaines and his editor A1 Feldstein, and drawn by Feldstein, as well as Graham Ingles, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Joe Orlando, Wally Wood, Harvey Kurtzman, Bill Elder, Reed Crandall, Johnny Craig, A1 Williamson, George Evans, and colored

by Marie Severin, started a horror comics craze that soon drew the attention of psychiatrist Dr. Frederick Wertham.

Wertham reacted to horror comics' popularity with children by writing a book called "Seduction of the Innocent,” which maintained that comics led to juvenile delinquency and even worse behavior.

Parents were understandably alarmed, and soon the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency was taking a hard look at comicbooks. EC Comics publisher Bill Gaines spoke before the Subcommittee, but was unable to convince them that his comics were entertaining stories told in good taste. Ultimately, comicbook publishers adversely affected by the negative publicity created the Comics Magazine Association of America which would review comics and award a seal of approval to assure parents that the comic's contents were safe,

wholesome

entertainment.

it was too late for many publishers, as the negative publicity had so hurt sales of many comicbook companies went out of business. EC Comics, tried to hang in new titles such as "Valor” and MAD comics, in a new magazine format, survived.

The question is, was TALES FROM CRYPT really all that bad? “Of course not!” Salicrup insists.

“Ironically, many of the original stories would be approved by today's revised Comics Code, but sure, there were some stories that still wouldn’t get by. The point here is that the stories that

Unfortunately,

comics that

but despite canceling their horror comics, and creating

there,

"Psychoanalysis,” only

Papercutz will be creating will be aimed at readers age 10 and up. Instead of excessive blood and gore, we’ll be sticking to the esting characters, lots of dark

But ultimately

it’s

you who

TALES

Place, Ste. 1308, issue,

which

When and

it’s

is

FROM THE CRYPT tradition of stories filled with

humor, and of

will decide

salicrup@papercutz.com or to

if

we

course, the trademarked

succeeded or

failed.

EC "shock”

inter-

endings!"

Send your comments

to us at

THE CRYPT-KEEPER’S CORNER, PAPERCUTZ,

New York, NY

coming your way

10005. We'll run the in just

60

most

interesting

days.

reached for comment, The Crypt-Keeper said,

about time! Ahahahah!”

40 Exchange comments in our next

"It's

good

to be back, boils

and ghouls-

CATCHUP WITH AMERICA’S FAVORITE TEEN DETECTIVES! zWi

NANCY

NANCY DREW graphic novel #9 “Ghost In The Machinery”

By STEFAN PETRUCHA and SHO MURASE

DREW MEETS

NANCY A HAUNTED TANK?

GHOST IN THE MACHINERY

Has Nancy Drew solved the world’s energy crisis? On a mission, sponsored by young, rich, and handsome Ralph Credo, Nancy teams up with eccentric scientist Roy Hinkley, to find an amazing engine able to get 200 miles per gallon!

112 full-color pages, paperback:

$7.95 ($9.95 Can.) 1-59707-058-0 978-1-59707-058-4

Hardcover: $12.95 ($15.95 Can.) 1-59707-061-0 978-1-59707-061-4

Nancy Drew ® Simon & Schuster

THE HARDY BOYS

graphic novel #9 “To Die Or Not To Die?”

By SCOTT LOBDELL and PAULO HENRIQUE EXIT STAGE LEFT— AND DIE! At a nationwide drama competition, Frank and Joe Hardy must go undercover to discover which contestant has been knocking off the competition by any means possible!

112 full-color pages, paperback: $7.95 ($9.95 Can.) 1-59707-062-9 978-1-59707-062-1

—

Hardcover: $12.95 ($15.95 Can.) 1-59707-063-7 978-1-59707-063-8

Hardy Boys ® Simon & Schuster

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