Creepy Things #1
Published and © by Charlton, July 1975
Title: “Read the Signs”
Synopsis: On a stormy night, a young man hitches a ride from a vampire – and lives to tell the tale!
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Enrique Nieto
Review: Wow … this is an awful lead feature. Cliché plot. Awful scripting. Sub-par art. And a silly, twist ending in service of a bad pun. Creepy Things is not off to a good start!
•••
Title: “The Lurker in the Pit”
Synopsis: A greedy nephew shows up to claim his inheritance – and instead finds the lurker in the pit!
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Dick Piscopo
Review: Slightly better art in service of a cliché Lovecraftian story. This one has a better twist ending – barely.
•••
Title: “Indian Summer”
Synopsis: One autumn day, “injun speerits” take revenge on the “premier injun hunter” of the Dakota Territory.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Enrique Nieto
Review: This issue is now zero for three thanks to this simple revenge tale featuring more lackluster Enrique Nieto art. Weak.
•••
Title: “The Well”
Synopsis: A man becomes wealthy listening to an unseen voice from a deep well – then finds his doom!
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Tom Sutton
Review: The tale that inspired this issue’s cover. Not a great story, but Tom Sutton’s art stands out against the chaff.
Grade (for the entire issue): C-
Cool factor: Did you see that cover?!
Not-so-cool factor: There are some real stinkers in this one! (Tom Sutton’s art is this comic’s only saving grace.)
Notable: The “Creep Mail” letters page offers an introductory essay.
Character quotable: “Look, we don’t know what’s prowling in this house, so let’s split up.” – David Montegue, greedy nephew, cousin abuser and, obviously, one smart fella!
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Oct. 1, 2012.
