Old-fashioned, new-wave chills: Creepy

Hey kids! You like to be scared, don't you? So naturally, you'd like a comic that brings you tales of the horrible, the supernatural, and the just plain weird, right? I mean, who can pass up the comic book equivalent of sitting on the lap of a scary old man, who smells a bit, and hearing stories that plumb the depths of human awfulness? If you said, "Not me!" then you are the perfect audience for Dark Horse's revival of an old favorite: Creepy!


The original Creepy, from Warren Publishing, ran from 1964-1983. This horror anthology, hosted by the gruesome Uncle Creepy, brought readers a variety of stories calculated to creep them out and keep them from sleeping soundly. To bypass the restrictions of the Comics Code, Creepy was published as a magazine, rather than a comic. The impressive run of the original featured work by many of the greats, guys like Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, and Alex Toth.

Dark Horse's new Creepy is set to carry on the unsettling tradition of the original in grand, if disturbing, style. Uncle Creepy is back in fine form as he takes the reins once again to lead us through the darkest corridors of the human mind. This first issue has five new tales of unsettling horror, and one classic reprint from the Creepy vaults. If I say too much about the stories, I may rob you of the chill you will feel when you unearth them for yourself, but I can tell you that these fetid fictions are brought to you by the likes of Joe Harris, Dan Braun, Jason Shawn Alexander, Angelo Torres, Hilary Barta, and many others too terrifying to list. There's even a piece in here by the nightmarish Bernie Wrightson! To throw a final shovelful of dirt on the grave, the whole disturbing package is wrapped in a wonderfully awful portrait of the entire Creepy clan by the amazing Eric Powell.

If you like scary tales that chill the cockles of your heart, and maybe offer up some heaping helpings of righteous retribution to some deserving victims, you'll find something to love in the return of this classic horror anthology. If, however, you were hoping Uncle Creepy would reveal his famous recipe for Cat Brain Soup, you will be a little disapointed. Maybe next issue...



Anyway, don't miss out! Lurch over to Four Color Fantasies today and hand over a few moldy bills to try out Creepy #1. It is our guaranteed Book of the Week, so you have nothing to lose but your sanity. (And really, you weren't using that anyway.) Of course, if you don't try it, Uncle Creepy may have to send around a few of his more "unsettling" family members to persuade you, and I really don't think you want that.

Hilarious Hilarity: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1

Greetings and salutations, gentle readers! This is Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool, here to talk comics with you cool cats. What? You're claiming to be Deadpool now? That's just lame. Who do you think you're kidding? I am too Deadpool! Stop embarassing me in front of the readers. You're embarassing yourself, bucko. It's nothing to do with me. Well, cut it out. Why do you always do this? I just want to talk about this week's Book of the Week, so leave me alone. Fine, but you are no Wade Wilson. That's all I'm saying.

So anyway, most of you probably already know that Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth, is Marvel's all-time greatest character. He's the best there is at what he does, and what he does is be awesome. He's a suave cat who's a hit with the ladies. He's the greatest fighter the world has ever known. He's the guy who can get any job done, no matter how tough. He can heal from any injury, no matter how horrific and painful. He once kicked Captain America in his joy department. Oh, and he loves a good chimichanga, so he's a cheap date ladies! Dude, get to the point already!

OK, OK, the point. The fine folks at Marvel Comics have finally come to appreciate just how intensely amazing ol' Wade is, so, with absolutely no coercion at all, they've decided to launch a second ongoing Deadpool title appropriately named Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth. NO coercion? What are we calling that whole hostage-taking, police standoff on Tuesday then? Shut up! Never speak of that again. Anyway, this incredible new book is written by talented writing guy Victor Gischler, with pretty pictures from excellent drawing guy, and awesome name afficionado, Bong Dazo. The best part is the sexy, yet sensitive, way he draws me- Deadpool! I thought we settled this! You're NOT Deapool. Other great things drawn in this issue include dinosaurs, cave men, Johnny Weismuller, and AIM scientist Dr. Betty. Man, that Dr. Betty is a hottie. She's got a whole naughty librarian thing going on that... Hey! Back to the point "Wade."

Anyway, in this first issue I..er..Deadpool, has to solve a problem no one else can handle. Like being shot from orbit into the savage land without the benefit of a parachute, or airbrakes, or any other sort of slowing down the rapidly burning up pod equipment, to get his mitts on a top secret bio-weapon that those bad boys from AIM and Hydra are both after. If he succeeds, AIM has promised Wade 2 million big ones AND a jar of their best premium honey. Mmmm, honey. Man, that stuff goes on anything. Moving on!

So if you like manly action, hilarious hilarity, extreme violence, and guys in beekeeper suits, you will LOVE Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1. Let me just jump in here to point out that these guys do an awesome job presenting Deadpool's schizophrenic world view. The voices in his head and his "Deadpool Vision" come across as a natural part of the narrative. Believe me, it is much funnier than this idiot's attempt at duplicating the same idea. Not only is this first issue 100% cool beans, but your 4 bucks also gets you a complete classic Deadpool reprint, by Joe Kelly and Ed McGuiness, in which our hero totally kicks the Hulk's big, green, rear end. All that, AND your satisfaction is guaranteed! Now get down to Four Color Fantasies and buy this book, before someone (and I'm kind of implying that it will be you) gets hurt. Sorry about this folks, he thinks he's funny. Sigh.