Creepy Archives, Vol. 9

Creepy Archives #9

by Philip R. Simon

The latest volume in Dark Horse's award-winning Creepy Archives hardcover run will shake, rattle, and obliterate your sanity, as the stories from issues #42-#45 of Warren Publishing's landmark horror series arrive as perfect antidotes to seasonal melancholy. In the early 1970s, comic-book legends like Bruce Jones, Gardner Fox, Richard Corben, Dave Cockrum, and Mike Ploog conspired to bring readers wonderfully mixed anthologies of terror and suspense This volume also features a cover by celebrated fantasy and horror illustrator Sanjulian and a brand-new foreword by comic-book historian and writer Richard Arndt.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comic Book, Supernatural, Mystery

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Philip R. Simon was raised in the heart of Cajun Louisiana and has been in Portland, Oregon, for eighteen years. He lives with his wife, two geriatric cats, over 150 filled comic book boxes, and a decent collection of vinyl records. Philip has worked in the editorial department at Dark Horse Comics for over twelve years, spearheading a wide variety of comic book and art book projects. He’s the editor of the long-running “Blade of the Immortal” manga series, and he helped launch Dark Horse’s Korean comics line, expanded Robert E. Howard fantasy line, and archival pre-Code hardcover line.

Reviews

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the series isn't as strong as it was in early issues, it's still entertaining with some very talented writers and artists. Warren Publishing did a great job of resurrecting the horror anthology once EC Comics was no longer around.

You had some gems in this volume as well as a few...not gems. Overall, another solid read.

[Deacon D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

These hardcover archival editions of Creepy magazine are all pretty freaking awesome and this one is particularly cool with a lot of trippy artwork and equally trippy stories, including early work by one of my personal favorites, Jan Strnad.

I love how Dark Horse included full-color cover art for each issue and even retained the old ads and letters pages.

If you can get your hands on any of these great hardcovers, do it!

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally a nostalgia read for me. I remember in my youth my older brother not infrequently having a few copies of Creepy and/or Eerie magazines laying about. Never being much of a reader himself, it's likely he was as interested (or more so) in the provocative cover art as he was in the stories within. When I happened across this volume, I certainly recalled having seen that cover before. No doubt for that same reason -- I was an impressionable kid after all. The stories contained here are fun if not particularly imaginative or memorable. All are essentially tropes that have been done to death over the years, but most are variations on classic werewolf, vampire, monster, etc. tales which are...comfortable if not creative. Just as much fun as the stories, however, is the time-capsule look at the society and pop culture this 1972 volume puts on display. What's the word I'm looking for here: dated (sure); quaint; goofy...? Well yeah, probably all of those things. Oh those wacky 1970s! So if you're looking for a bit of mindless pulp horror to kick up a memory or two, or if you just find a little taste of That 70s culture amusing, this volume (or probably any volume, really) of Creepy Archives will do the trick.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a couple of good stories. And a couple more with good, interesting art. But on the whole it's pretty dreadful.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featuring the first cover by Aurelion, this is a pretty good collection. This is a difficult collection to pin down though, because there is no stand-out artist that keeps coming back. Instead we get a bunch of great artists turning in wonderful work, but for only one or (at most) two stories in the entire volume. Standout art coming from Frank Brunner, Jerry Grandenetti (again), Tom Sutton, Jaime Brocal, Mike Ploog (I think his first appearance for Creepy), and Jorge Galvez. But for all of these great stories are mixed in the occasional clunker with stories that make no sense and sub par art.

[Marius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this classic horror anthology. Top notch art that creates a perfect horror atmosphere. I enjoyed most of the stories in this volume. Perfect book to get in the right mood for halloween.
High recommendation for horror comic fans.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

While these archive editions are always a mixed bag, I have to say that I think this volume is one of the better ones. Some stories were so-so, but some were very good indeed, and the artwork was great. And that cover -- yowza!

[Mike Bodak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The covers are amazing, the stories are not bad. There is a couple one pagers from Richard Corben, the master of creepy, eerie and everything he touched.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great art, but the writing tends toward underwhelming.

[Kris Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This era of the title had some stories with incredible artwork and mediocre writing, while others have good writing and subpar art. There is early work from writers and artists who would go on to make huge waves at Marvel Comics in the '70s, such as Don McGregor, Gerry Conway, Dave Cockrum, and Mike Ploog. Ploog is especially important to me, as he went on to draw my beloved Werewolf By Night.

Some of these stories are truly inspired. The Ultimate High! by Steve Skeates and Martin Salvador is a cautionary tale about doing drugs. The Warren Magazines were free from the confines of the Comics Code Authority since they weren't technically comic books and could therefore get away with murder. Literally. One must recall that the Code wasn't relaxed until 1972, and the creative freedom of the Direct Market and independent publishers was well over a decade away.

They say that a high tide raises all ships. Well, there are some real duds in this book that threaten to sink it, such as Grandenetti's mediocre artwork. While many of these stories are tame and dated by modern standards, there are a number of winners. I'm surprised by the diversity of the genres in this title.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky and collected a full set of these magazines and got a chance to read the fantastic stories and enjoy the incredible art from many of the greats, many of who got their start here, from the comic world. If you like offbeat horror, supernatural, SiFi and just plan different stories then these are the magazines for you. Very recommended

[Ruz El · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars make it sound terrible, but it's not. It's more Creepy and it is what it is. None of the stories really stood out for me in this one. Too many Spanish artist stuff which is fantastic art wise but seems to plod along as far as pacing goes. The whole thing seems uninspired.

[Bart Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of stories and art, but so many of the stories would not be considered spectacular.