Creepy Still Creeps Me Out

When I was a kid, Friday nights were something special. My dad and I had our little ritual: we’d head down to the neighborhood pizza shop for a pie or some subs, then stroll across the street to the corner store to grab a bottle of soda and a comic book. That was our routine, and, truth be told, that’s how I learned to read.

After dinner, I’d curl up beside my dad while he read aloud the latest adventures of Superman or Batman. The next day, I’d gather my friends and “read” them the same story. Really, I was just repeating what I remembered and filling in the blanks with the pictures, but that was enough to light the spark. Week after week, comic after comic, my imagination and my vocabulary just kept growing.

As I got a little older, I graduated from superheroes to something darker. Down at the pharmacy, I discovered Creepy, a black-and-white horror anthology full of monsters, madmen, and buxom women. Those stories were wild! Gruesome, spooky, and just a bit naughty. I loved every page.

One issue in particular got its claws into me: Creepy #112. Inside was a story called “Warrior’s Ritual,” written by Archie Goodwin and illustrated by John Severin. It told of a Legionnaire who drew his strength from devouring human hearts. Sounds awful, I know, but to my pre-teen brain, it was unforgettable.

Earlier this week, feeling nostalgic, I tracked down that very issue on eBay. “Warrior’s Ritual” still hits just as hard all these years later. In fact, I think I appreciate the craftsmanship even more now. Goodwin’s sharp storytelling, Severin’s rich linework are stellar. And the rest of the issue? Just as strong. There’s “Homecoming,” beautifully drawn by Al Williamson, about a man searching through dimensions for a new world after Earth’s ruin; “Nobody’s Kid,” a gut-punch of a story about child abuse; “Relic,” my first taste of Walt Simonson’s art, about creatures living on a different timescale than ours; “Beastslayer,” a haunting hunter’s tale drawn by Val Lakey; “Sunday Dinner,” written by Larry Hama and illustrated by Auraleón, serving up a cannibal’s twist; and finally, “The Last Sorcerer,” where Alex Niño turns Archie Goodwin’s script into something that feels like pure magic, with page layouts, negative space, and every panel alive with energy. I loved it so much that I sent Alex an email thanking him bringing this yarn to life. The cover by Richard Corben seals the deal: a vampire, his victim, and pure gothic glory.

All that for two bucks back in 1979, and ten dollars today on eBay. Still a bargain for something that shaped my imagination.

My grandson told me he’s getting me a “scary comic book” for Christmas, which of course means his parents are buying it. I told them to swing by a comic shop and pick up Creepy #115, another one that’s dear to my heart, and maybe just a little dark for the soul.