Eerie

Publication history

The first issue cost 35c, was published in September 1966 and only had a 200-issue run of an “ashcan” edition . With a logo by Ben Oda , it was created overnight by editor Archie Goodwin and letterer Gaspar Saladino to establish publisher Jim Warren’s ownership of the title when it was discovered that a rival publisher (later known as Eerie Publications ) would be using the name.  ^{[2]  [3]}  Warren Explained, “We lancé  Eerie  Because We thought  Creepy  Ought To-have an adversary. The Laurel and Hardy syndrome always appealed to me.  Creepy  and  Eerie are like Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. ”  ^[2]

Official distribution started with the second issue, still priced at 35c. Behind the Frank Frazetta is a graphic novel created by Goodwin and hosted by the lumpish Cousin Eerie, a curious character created by Jack Davis. With scripts by Goodwin, E. Nelson Bridwell and Larry Ivie , the second issue featured by Gene Colan , Johnny Craig (as Jay Taycee), Reed Crandall , Jerry Grandenetti (uncredited), Gray Morrow , Orlando Joe , John Severin , Angelo Torres and Alex Toth . Other artists during this era included Wally Wood ,Al Williamson , Neal Adams , Dan Adkins , and Steve Ditko .  Eerie  was published on a bi-monthly basis.  ^[4]

Goodwin would eventually resign the editor of  Eerie  after issue 11 in September 1967. Due to a lack of funds, the majority of the magazine’s well-known artists, and Warren was forced to rely on reprints, which would be prevalent in the magazine until issue 26 in March 1970. Editors during this period included Bill Parente and publisher Jim Warren himself. Things would pick up starting in 1969 with the premiere of  Vampirella  magazine. Some of  Eerie’s  original artists including Frazetta, Crandall and Wood would return, as would Goodwin, as Associate Editor for issues 29 through 33.  ^[4]

A variety of editors would continue to manage  Eerie  after Goodwin ‘s second departure including Billy Graham and JR Cochran. William Dubay, who first joined Warren as an artist in 1970, would become editor of the magazine for issues 43 through 72. During this period the frequency of  Eerie  and Warren’s other magazines was upped to nine issues per year. Color stories would begin appearing in  Eerie  starting with issue 54 in February 1974.  ^[4]

In late 1971, artists from Barcelona’s Studio Selecciones Illustrada started appearing in  Eerie  and other Warren magazine. These artists included Esteban Maroto , Jaime Brocal , Rafael Aura Leon , Martin Salvador, Luis Garcia , Jose Gonzalez, Jose Bea , Isidro Mones , Sanjulian and Enrich Torres. Additional artists from SI ‘s Valencia Studio joined Warren in 1974 including Jose Ortiz, Luis Bermejo , and Leopold Sanchez. Towards the end of Dubay’s time as editor, from artists  Eerie ‘  s first golden era Including Alex Tothand John Severin returned. Gerry Boudreau, Budd Lewis, Stenstrum, Steve Skeates and Doug Moench are notable writers during Dubay’s era .

Dubay resigned after issue # 72 and was replaced by Louise Jones , his assistant trainer . Jones would edit the magazine until # 110 (April 1980). Former DC Comics publisher Carmine Infantino would also join Warren shortly after she became editor. Much like the wave of Spanish artists that dominated the magazine throughout the mid-1970s, a number of artists from the Philippines would join Warren during Jones’s period as editor Alex Niño , Alfredo Alcala and Rudy Nebres and would remain at  Eerie  until its end in 1983. The Rook, an adventurer who first appeared in # 82 (March 1977), would appear in almost every issue of the magazine over the next two years and would eventually be given his own magazine. While he had resigned as editor, Dubay remained with Warren and became their dominant writer during this period. Other writers dominant During this period included Bruce Jones , Bob Toomey and Roger McKenzie.

Cancellation and legal battles

After Louise Jones resigned as editor following issue # 110, Dubay returned to edit the magazine using the alias “Will Richardson” until issue 120. After Dubay’s departure various editors Chris Adames, Timothy Moriarty held the position. Reprints would appear once again predominantly appearing in the magazine, with many reprint issues being dedicated to a single artist.  Eerie ‘  s last issue would be issue # 139 in February 1983 when Warren went bankrupt.

In 1983, Harris Publications acquired Warren’s assets, including  Eerie  ,  Creepy  , and  Vampirella  . Harris published a single issue of  Creepy  (# 146), but legal murkiness prevented him from publishing further issues or any issues of  Eerie  . In 2000, after a protracted legal dispute with Harris,  ^{[5]  [6]}  Jim Warren and Warren Publishing finally adopted the  Creepy  and  Eerie  franchises .

Collected editions

In February 2007, New Comic Company, LLC, after seven years of effort, completed a total acquisition of Warren and his entity for all rights in perpetuity to  Creepy  and  Eerie  . New Comic Company LLC has been re-established in the name of New Comic Company LLC.

Short Coming Company, Dan Braun, Craig Haffner, Josh Braun, and Rick Brookwell completed a partnership agreement with Dark Horse Comics and its CEO Mike Richardson to republish in archival hardcover form all 285 total from the original  Creepy  and  Eerie  . The first archival  Creepy  volume release date was August 2008, the second December 2008, with additional releases planned every four months. The first archival  Eerie  release date was March 15, 2009, with additional releases every four months. In addition, Dark Horse and New Comic Company launched the new  Creepy  comic magazine in June 2009.

Recurring characters and series

Unlike its companion magazine,  Creepy  , which relies on stand alone anthology stories,  Eerie  would eventually become dominated by continuing series.

This started with # 36 with ‘Prince Targo of Manaii’, which was a short-lived feature, reappearing only in # 37 and # 40. A more lasting character debuted in # 39 (April 1972) with the series ‘Dax the Warrior’, which would run for 12 issues. By # 48 (June 1973) most if not all of each issue contained continuing series. INITIALLY MOST of the serials in  Eerie  Were you famous horror characters based Including Dracula, the Werewolf and the Mummy. Eventually they were replaced with original characters. Issue # 130 was devoted to a huge crossover story with many of the better-known characters of the series, along with Vampirella. Some of the recurring characters that appear in  Eerie  include the following:

Dax the Warrior  – Art and Writing by Esteban Maroto. Twelve parts in total, which appeared in # 39-52. This series was a reprinting of Maroto’s  Manly  , which originally appeared in Spain. It featured the often downbeat adventures of Dax, a powerful warrior. During his travels Dax would encounter many sorcerers, witches, beasts and even Death itself. Ten out of twelve parts were reprinted in issue 59, and were heavily rewritten by writer Budd Lewis, who renamed the serial  Dax the Damned  .

The Mummy Walks  – Art by Jaime Brocal, and written by Steve Skeates. Six parts in total, which appeared in issues 48-54. It starred Jerome Curry, a “warped and lowly man” in the turn of the century who was able to use the body of an Egyptian mummy to destroy his enemies and gain social status through amulet-based thought transference. The whole series was reprinted in issue 78.

Curse of the Werewolf  – Originally written by Al Milgrom, with art by Bill Dubay and Rich Buckler . Arthur Lemming was the title character, a kindly English gentleman whose werewolf curse tears his whole life apart. In successive episodes, Arthur brutally murders his wife, his daughter, a whole camp full of friendly gypsies, and various friends and neighbors, while being hunted by a haughty, self-righteous werewolf-hunter turned magician named Goodman Blacker. After the first two parts, the artists were replaced by Martin Salvador. Milgrom would eventually be replaced by Steve Skeates. This series had seven parts in total, which appeared in issues 48-56. This series and “The Mummy Walks” were combined for a three part series titled  And the Mummies Walk  in issues 61-63, with art by Joaquin Blazquez.

Dracula  – Art by Tom Sutton, and written by Bill Dubay. This series has been developed as a Vampirella, a relatively conscientious lord of the vampire world who traveled to the world seeking help while researching a cure for his ancient curse. Three parts in total, appearing in issues 46-48. An additional 3 part series starring Dracula would appear in Vampirella in issues 39-41.

Dr. Archaeus  – Art by Isidro Mones, and written by Gerry Boudreau. Seven parts in total, appearing in issues 54-61. This series revived around a man who had been sentenced to death, but survived his arrest and sought revenge on the jury, killing them in a manner inspired by the 12 days of Christmas.

Hunter  – Art by Paul Neary, and written by Rich Margopoulos, Budd Lewis and Bill Dubay. Six parts in total, appearing in issues 52-57. Set in a near-future world Devastated by nuclear war , it features Damien Hunter, a half-man, half demon Who seeks to destroy all the demons on Earth, Including His Father Oephal. As a half-breed consumed by self-loathing, Hunter frequently moralized on racial issues in contemporary America. The whole series would be reprinted in issue 69. Although Hunter died in the final part, a new character titled  Hunter II  appeared in issues 67, 68, 70-72, and 101. A “Hunter III” spoof appeared in # 87. A crossover story with Darklon the Mystic appeared in # 121.

Schreck  – Art by Vicente Alcazar and Neal Adams (first appearance only), and written by Doug Moench. Four parts in total, appearing in issues 53-55. Radiation from nuclear testing causes mutations to occur to many people on Earth, turning them into bloodthirsty zombies. The title character would later re-appear in the later “Hunter” series towards its end.

Child  – Art by Richard Corben, and written by Greg Potter and Budd Lewis (last part only). A retelling of the Frankenstein story, with the monster being a childlike creature. Three parts in total, appearing in issues 57-60.

The Spook  – Originally written by Doug Moench, with art by Esteban Maroto. They would be replaced by writer Budd Lewis and artist Leopold Sanchez after the first few stories. This series explored slavery and race relations in the Old South by the adventures of a proud black zombie in the 19th century. Seven parts in total, appearing in issues 57-66. A spinoff story titled ‘Papa Voodoo’ appeared in issue 67.

Night of the Jackass  – Art by José Ortiz, and written by Bruce Bezaire. Four parts in total, in issues 60-65. The story features a drug, Hyde 25 (m), which causes anyone who uses it to become a powerful monster, but brings death after 24 hours. All four parts would be reprinted in issue 115.

Exterminator One  – Art by Paul Neary, and written by Bill Dubay. Three parts in total, in issues 60, 63 and 64. It’s a cyborg assassin known as Exterminator One. Exterminator would also appear in the “Hunter II” series.

Apocalypse  – Art by Jose Ortiz, and written by Budd Lewis. Four parts in total, in issues 61-65. Features the oven horsemen of the Apocalypse – War, Famine, Plague and Death.

Coffin  – Art by Jose Ortiz, and written by Budd Lewis. In the Old West, Coffin is a “dude” from East who mistakenly attacks Native American village. Coffin received false information that the tribe attacked a stagecoach he was on. After being captured, he is stuck to the ground and horrifically mutilated. He is then the last remaining Native American to live forever, and spends the rest of the series trying to redeem itself and find a way to die. Four parts in total, in issues 61, 67, 68 and 70.

”  The Rook  ” – Art and writing by Bill Dubay. The Rook is Scientist Restin Dane, who comes from a family of scientists whose members include the unnamed protagonist of the novel The Time Machine by HG Wells. Dane gains his nickname from the fact that his time machine resembles a giant chess rook. Taking to wearing a Western-style clothing and a gun belt, he has his first time at the Alamo in order to save an ancestor. Bishop Dane, who accompanies him on many of his adventures, along with two robots Restin has built.  Eerie  issues 82-85, 87-96, 98-105.  The Rook  issues 1-14.  Eerie  issues 132, 134, and 136.  Vampirella  70. Warren Comics Presents  2.

References