Eerie #5

Published by: Dark Horse Comics
Released on: July 9, 2014
Writer: Various
Artist: Various
Cover: Jim Pavelec
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The latest installment in Dark Horse's re-launched title brings two new tales, one reprinted tale from the Warren days, and an grotesquely beautiful painted cover, once again from Jim Pavelec. As to what the creature is would be something the artist would have to divulge, but it's nasty all the same. Damon Gentry provides a pinup in the front, and then it's on to the black and white eeriness hosted by Cousin Eerie. At the books end, Bernie Wrightson provides a fantastically detailed pinup of Cousin Eerie. It's kind of odd that he's not at all mentioned on the cover (the other pinup artist in the issue is), nor in the table of contents (again, the other artist is). Maybe it was meant as a surprise? Yeah let's just go with that.

“Joy of Life” by John Arcudi and Aaron Conley tells the tale of a prehistoric spore that has been found in the stomach of the well-preserved carcass of a beast from 40,000 years ago, analyzed by a crazy cat lady scientist named Dr. Gulan. Once her findings reach the ears of the government, the research on this fungus and the intense pleasure it brings to a test monkey come to an abrupt halt. Everything is destroyed and the retired old scientist is kicked out. But she took one of the pleasure mushrooms they harvested the results are trippy. Aaron Conley can certainly draw well and panel construction is interesting, but the work on this story is just way too busy and distracting. This would be a good example of “less is more”. Thankfully the script is a good one, utilizing the 10 pages well to get a lot of story info jammed in, and on that level it's an enjoyable piece.

“The King of All Monsters” by Brandon Montclare and Henry Flint. An actor in a Japanese-produced giant monster movie series featuring him as the Godzilla-esque “ Mon-Star” is tired of his craft being phased out by computer generated effects. Haruo Furuya's anger combined with a freak accident on set turns him into the 100-foot monster for real, and the movies turn to reality as he tears up the city, giving his producers a “performance they'll never forget”. A lot of action is crammed into the 8-page story, with detail that isn't intricate but creates a dark atmosphere.

“Journey Into Wonder” by Bill Parente and Ken Barr. Reprinted from the original run, Eerie #27 published in May of 1970. A dwarf named Grendel, who is hideously ugly, asks the king to make him a knight. At the jest of his small council, the king sends the dwarf off to capture the local sorceress Eleen, a task no one has ever returned from. There are obstacles along the way, but the ugly and misshapen man might prove himself worthy after all. While a fun short story with great Ken Barr pencils and inks, it certainly isn't the best Eerie story to have chosen to reprint from the hundreds of stories at Dark Horse's disposal.

Six months is a long time between issues and with only two of the three stories being new, one has to wonder what takes so long to put this book out. It's got a built in audience and there can't be a shortage of material to use, as there are so many artists and writers looking to gain attention and get published. DH could crank these fantasy/sci-fi/horror anthologies out like publishers did back in the old days. Instead we get flooded with superheroes and licensed stuff. Make Eerie a testing ground, man! Start some serial stories like the old mag did. Get controversial. Push the envelope of acceptable material and poor taste. Bring back horror anthologies in a big way. That said, the issue is a good one overall and a welcomed addition to the collection, and the series has yet to disappoint in content, despite the long period we have to wait for more.