The Best of Creepy edited and published by James Warren

(1964, 1971: regular paperback-sized graphic novel. “Introduction” by

Archie Goodwin)

Overall review

Creepy is an excellent sampler of the titular magazine’s superb early, macabre morality tales, one that thrilled me as a preteen and thrilled me anew as a fifty-year-old man. If these succinct stories are predictable and doomy, they have something that a lot of newer horror works don’t: succinct, plot- and character-driven storylines, great iconic artwork and an Aesop’s Fables vibe that makes these Creepy entries stick in one’s mind. Highly recommended for readers who love older horror stories, comic books and great illustrations.

Stories

“Sand Doom” – Archie Goodwin (author), Al Williamson (illustrator): A ruthless, desert adventurer accidentally falls into treasure room a scantily clad priestess of Nepthy and lots of snakes.

“Overworked” – Archie Goodwin (author), Wallace Wood & Dan Adkins (illustrators): Allan, a comic book writer/artist, finds that his life is being swallowed by his relentless job demands.

“Untimely Tomb!” – Archie Goodwin (author), Angelo Torres (illustrator): After a doctor (Beamish) accidentally contributes to a woman being married alive, his life take a turn toward murder and further horror.

“Vampires Fly at Dusk!” – Archie Goodwin (author), Reed Crandall (illustrator): Carlos and Elena Orsini, a count and countess, move into an old villa in a small village and a rapid string of killings ensue. Do they have something to do with them?

“Werewolf” – Larry Ivie (author), Frank Frazetta (illustrator): In the Gonteekwa Valley in Africa, a confident big-game hunter is hired to track and shoot a giant wolf, thought to be a supernatural creature.

“Grave Undertaking” – Archie Goodwin (author), Alex Toth (illustrator): In Merry Olde England, two resurrectionists get too greedy and pay a grisly price.

“Curse of the Full Moon!” – Archie Goodwin (author), Reed Crandall (illustrator): Bavaria. Sir Henry Langston’s coachman is ripped apart by a werewolf, leading him to deal with gypsies and hunt it.

“Collector’s Edition!” – Archie Goodwin (author), Steve Ditko (illustrator): An intense bibliophile and lover of rare books, Colin Danforth, seeks such a tome (Marquis Lemode’s Dark Visions), unaware that it most certainly will illustrate his doom.

Essential Marvel: The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 by “Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, John Romita & Friends”

(pb; 1965, 1966 and 2005: Collects The Amazing Spider-Man #21-43 and Annual issues #2-3)

From the back cover

"The bite of an irradiated spider granted high-school student Peter Parker incredible, arachnid-like powers. When a burglar killed his beloved Uncle Ben, a grief-stricken Peter vowed to use his amazing abilities to protect his fellow man. He had learned an invaluable lesson: With great power, there must also come great responsibility! Through all his trials, Spider-Man remains steadfast in his determination to use his gifts for the benefit of all!"

Review

The artwork in this comic book omnibus is excellent and realistic (particularly the figure work), the action is visually exciting and fun. My only criticism of Volume 2 is that the comic’s good-natured chatty narrative and dialogue can, at times, can be melodramatic, even for tales centering around an adolescent, emotionally muddled protagonist. This is a minor nit, though – after all, the writers and artists did this with their target audience in mind. Volume 2 is worth owning, if you are okay with the latter criticism and appreciate excellent, classic artwork.

Followed by Marvel Essential: The AmazingSpider-Man Volume 3.