Eerie
Eerie was a magazine of
horror comics introduced in 1966 by
Warren Publishing, however by around issue #80 it leaned more toward science fiction/adventure fantasy (with a horror theme). The first issue, in early 1966, had only a small limited 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. 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 (March, 1966), priced at 35 cents. 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,
Reed Crandall,
Bill Draut,
Jerry Grandenetti,
John Severin,
Angelo Torres and
Alex Toth.
The magazine had a long run, concluding with issue 139 in February, 1983.
While mainly being an anthology, the title did feature several serial characters. In fact, with issue #48, this became the main focus (and something that was explicitly stated). Among the many series was "Hunter" (#52-57, a mutant hero set in a future world devistated by several nuclear wars, fighting other mutants, while wearing a flight suit and fighter pilot helmet; all reprinted in #69), "Exterminator One" (#60, 63, 64, a robot soldier- really a cyborg- sent to kill and is killed at the end. Several other models would show up in sucessive series), "Hunter II" (#67-68, 70-73. 101, successor to Hunter and joined by an Exterminator 'robot'), "
The Rook" (#82-85, 87-95, 98-105, 116, 120, 130, 132, 134, 136, time traveler), "Dax the Warrior" (#39-41, 43-50, 52; most reprinted in #59), "Coffin" (#61, 67, 68, 70) and others.
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An Eerie Tale*
The Warren Magazines*
Eerie cover gallery
