Eerie Archives Volume 2 [Hardcover]

Dark Horse Comics presents "EERIE ARCHIVES VOL.2 HC" [Hardcover], Contains the issues of Eerie #6-10 ~ Started collecting the 'Eerie' and 'Creepy' Archives, which I own the originals, but love the way Dark Horse has put them together with tender loving care.

Covers by Dan Adkins (cover #9), Frank Frazetta (covers #7 & 8) and Gray Morrow (original covers #6 & 10) which could not be better. Plus Neal Adams, Dan Adkins, Gene Colan, Johnny Craig, Reed Crandall, Steve Ditko, Jerry Grandenetti, Roy D. Krenkel, Rocco Mastroserio, Joe Orlando, John Severin, Jay Taycee, Angelo Torres, Alex Toth, Al Williamson, Wally Wood ~ with Jim Warren, publisher at the helm.

Often these great artists have the ability to convincingly pen atmosphere into their work. One of my favorites stories is by who else, Archie Goodwin and fantastic graphics by Steve Ditko. As the story opens you EERIE ENTHUSIASTS are just in time to take part in a little terror transaction I'm arranging...as usual in my demoniacal deals, there are a few strings attached, as jeweler LESTER DARROW finds out in this little gem we call...'DEEP RUBY' ~ as you're being pulled into the tale and art panels, you soon learn the price you must pay to escape that deep ruby red hell....As Cousin Eerie closes this segment ~ "Well, writhing readers, How's your sales resistance, Don't examine the merchandise too closely or you may finish the issue from inside the Ruby. Better play is safe and run on to the next of my nauseating novelettes. Believe the artwork is some of the best from Steve Ditko, he's always been a favorite of mine during the Atlas and Marvel comic days, but with 'Eerie', he's above and beyond.

For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review.

By the way, two of my new favorite artists are Jerry Grandenetti (worked with Marvel Comics) and Dan Adkins (who was with Tower Comics), bring such a tense pleasure to their art, can't get enough.

* Special footnote: -- Artist Steve Ditko, from Johnstown, PA, born November 2, 1927, wrote and illustrated several independently published comic books that were heavily inspired by the theory of "Objectivism", promoted by philosopher/writer Ayn Rand. His heavy-handed and often preachy writing style in these books earned him the derisive nickname "Ditko the Dictator" ~ He is well known for designing superheroes that wear masks that show absolutely no facial features. Such examples are Spider-Man and the DC Comics character the Question. ~ Ditko's artwork for Warren Publications has been a big asset to their magazines 'Creepy' and 'Eerie'.

Brings back those memories, many I've nearly forgotten ~ Highly recommend.

Total Page: 240 Pages ~ Dark Horse Comics #ISBN-13: 978-1595823151 ~ (August 25, 2009)

The magazines Creepy and Eerie (from Warren Publishing) were a major influence on me when I was a teen. The stories and artwork were an evolutionary step above comic books at that time, and featured many of the same artists and writers, as well as some exciting new names. I have managed to hang on to a few of my Eeries from the 70s and 80s, but rarely look at them so they don't get damaged.

That's why Dark Horse's hardcover compilations are so welcome: they provide bright, beautifully-reproduced artwork on heavy coated paper, which will last a lifetime and stay gorgeous for years.

I highly recommend this book to past fans of Warren magazines, or to new readers who want to experience a darker and more serious tone of comic book storytelling, that successfully bridged the gap between the EC horror and sci-fi comics of the 50s, and the "Heavy Metal" era of the 80s.

Here is a prime example of Warren getting away from the EC material and into more "adult" oriented stuff. Good sampling of Steve Didko, Neal Adams and Gene Colon and others. Bring on Eerie #3!!!