Eerie (comics)

''Eerie'' was an American magazine of horror comics introduced in 1966 by Warren Publishing. Like '' Mad'', it was a black-and-white magazine intended for newsstand distribution and did not submit its stories to the comic book industry's voluntary Comics Code Authority. Each issue's stories were introduced by the host character, Cousin Eerie. Its sister publications were '' Creepy'' and '' Vampirella''.

Publication history

The first issue cost 35¢, 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. Warren explained, "We launched ''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."

Official distribution began with the second issue, still priced at 35c. Behind the Frank Frazetta cover were graphic horror tales edited 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 art by Gene Colan, Johnny Craig (as Jay Taycee), Reed Crandall, Jerry Grandenetti (uncredited), Gray Morrow, Joe Orlando, 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.

Goodwin would eventually resign as the editor of ''Eerie'' after issue 11 in September 1967. Warren was going through a financial crisis at the time, forcing pay cuts for both writers and artists, driving the majority of the magazine's leading artists to leave, and making Warren fill much of their content with Goodwin-era 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.

A variety of editors would continue to manage ''Eerie'' after Goodwin's second departure including Billy Graham and J.R. 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.

In late 1971, artists from the Barcelona Studio of Spanish agency 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, Sanjulián and Enrich Torres. Additional artists from S.I.'s Valencia Studio joined Warren in 1974 including José Ortiz, Luis Bermejo, and Leopold Sanchez. Towards the end of Dubay's time as editor, artists from ''Eerie''s first golden era including Alex Toth and John Severin returned. Notable writers during Dubay's era as editor included Gerry Boudreau, Budd Lewis, Jim Stenstrum, Steve Skeates and Doug Moench.

Dubay resigned after issue #72 and was replaced by Louise Jones, his former assistant. 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 including 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 nearly 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 dominant writers 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 including Chris Adames, Timothy Moriarty held the position. Reprints would once again start predominantly appearing in the magazine, with many reprint issues being dedicated to a single artist. ''Eerie''s last issue published 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,"News Watch: Jim Warren Sues Harris Publications" ''The Comics Journal'' #211 (Apr. 1999), p. 8. Jim Warren and Warren Publishing finally regained sole ownership of all rights to his two iconic and flagship comic book franchises ''Creepy'' and ''Eerie''.

Collected editions

In February 2007, New Comic Company, LLC, after seven years of effort, completed a total rights acquisition from Warren and his entity for all rights in perpetuity to ''Creepy'' and ''Eerie''. Terms of the deal were never disclosed, although it has been rumored it was a complete buyout and all copyright renewals and trademarks have been re-established in the name of New Comic Company LLC.

Shortly after that rights acquisition deal, in June 2007, New Comic Company LLC principals 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 issues of the original ''Creepy'' and ''Eerie''. The first archival volume ''Creepy'' release date was August 2008, the second December 2008, with additional releases planned every four months. The first archival volume ''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 relied on stand alone anthology stories, ''Eerie'' would eventually become dominated by continuing series.

This started with #36 with the short-lived feature “Prince Targo of Manaii”, which reappeared 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 based on famous horror characters 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 of the series characters, along with Vampirella. Some of the recurring characters and series that appeared 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 Remohí, 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 turn of the century Boston 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 entire series was reprinted in issue #78.

“Curse of the Werewolf” - Originally written by Al Milgrom, with art by Bill DuBay