Does anyone else here remember sitting under the blankets, curled up and waiting to hear the voice of “The Cryptkeeper”? Although the days of one of the most campy, fun and “punny” horror shows is over, we can re-live the same sort of joy, with the 6th volume of EERIE, brought to us by Dark Horse Archives.
I was never really a serious reader of horror comics until I started receiving this material from Dark Horse Comics. I have to say, they might be converting me! I was one of those kids who lived to hear the cackle of The Cryptkeeper because that meant there would be a 1/2 hour of horror that came, sandwiched in between the pun-filled introductions and conclusions. I think those were my favorite parts. EERIE comics are hosted in the same way, except with an odd looking man named “Cousin Eerie” who speaks in the same manner. I was instantly transported to my childhood when reading the words of Cousin Eerie. That’s something powerful, when a few panels, can instantly make you 8 years old again…sitting on your grandmother’s sofa, huddling with your cousins.
Now, this book: EERIE- Volume 6, gives us an interview of Doug Moench: King of Black and White Magazines, by Steve Ringgenberg. It’s quite an interesting read, on it’s own. I do have to say… if you love comics filled with colors, this baby isn’t for you. The covers are traditional pulp style and do have plenty of color, but the books themselves are all black and white. I actually liked that.. I have never really sat down and read 240+ pages of simply black and white comics before. I LOVE the way people’s faces are drawn in certain comics. Isn’t it funny, how witches all seem to have super high arched brows? Think Vampira or Morticia Addams!
The thing about these comics is, I think if my bad ass cousins didn’t force me to see movies by Clive Barker and Stephen King when I was so young and I wasn’t the age I am now, some of them might actually scare me! Reading them, by the light of a few flickering candles (which is how I did it) certainly adds the element of spooky that just might be necessary to actually bring about the full on fright.
The comics themselves are beautifully drawn. One in particular, was my favorite. The art and words are both brought to us by Bill Dubay. This comic can be found on page 207 and it’s called “The Devil’s Hand”. It even comes with it’s own warning by Cousin Eerie, that reading it might cause death!
The short synopsis: An English coven wanted to have the power of Satan, all they needed was a piece of his flesh. He is summoned, they cut off his hand and it is inevitably passed down from generation to generation, hiding the hand from Satan, until a greedy duo get their *hands* on it. They are then forced to face the wrath of their own wicked ideas. The witches totally have the Vampira eyebrows, Satan looked like well.. like a Halloween costume, and the hand was remnant of Thing from The Addams Family, but with long fingernails …AND I LOVED IT!! Sometimes I want to read something fun and campy in addition to something horrifying. I mean, let’s be realistic here.. at the end of the day, it is a comic.. right? I was totally into the betrayal and murders in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the story lines from these comics, which were originally brought to us in 1970 and 1971.
The EERIE books are for serious fans of horror comics, in black and white. If you are a casual reader of them, you might be happier with individual issues. If you’re a real deal collector, start with Volume 1 and work your way down. Of course, these books don’t come cheap. They are beautifully put together, hardcover collections of over 20 out of print comics each, so they’re around $50 a pop. If you are a hardcore collector, then that doesn’t seem too steep, if you’re not an avid reader, than maybe you might want to ask for one for your birthday, or whatever gift giving holidays you celebrate. I’m the type of lady who’d want one for Valentine’s Day!
I do want to end on one note. I had mentioned before, while reviewing the Boris Karloff book, that I appreciate monsters being monsters sometimes, not these stunning, seductive creatures of the night that someone would give their soul to be with. Here, that request is granted.. MY MONSTERS ARE MONSTERS AGAIN! Thank you, Cousin Eerie!
