Stephen King’s Creepshow

Graphic Novel name: Stephen King’s Creepshow
Based on a film by George A. Romero
Art by: Berni Wrightson
Cover Art by: Jack Kamen
Text copyright@ 1982 by Philtrum Corp.
Illustrations copyright @ 1982 by Laurel-Show, Inc.
New American Library, Inc. (Plume)
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
Jazma Online

“Creepshow” graphic novel is based on movie of same name. The stories were wrote by author Stephen King. The movie was directed by George A. Romero. Berni Wrightson did the art for graphic novel. I liked how cover art showed boy reading “Creepshow” comic book. The comic cost ten cents. I also liked how boy had posters on his wall from Stephen King’s movies “The Shining” and “Carrie”. There was also poster from George A Romero “Dawn of the Dead” movie. The boy had an evil look on face as read stories in “Creepshow” comic book. The cover image on comic book showed Nathan Grantham from first story in graphic novel called “Father’s Day”. The scary monster in window looking in as boy read comic book during full moon night setting set up mood for internal stories.

There were five horror stories in graphic novel based on movie stories in Stephen King’s Creepshow”.

The first story was called “Father’s Day”. Berni Wrightson really knows how to draw visual images of things like Nathan Grantham coming out of grave to give revenge to family that did not give him Father’s Day gift. It was frightening to see way body was drawn as came out of grave. It was spooky since morals and reason seemed realistic since Nathan caused death of Bedilia’s person she had become engaged to marry. Than Bedelia went crazy after seeing her future husband (Peter) in morgue. It was termed a hunting accident. Bedilia became caretaker of Nathan. He would not die from natural causes. One Father’s day the old man who was in wheel chair pushed to hard emotionally screaming for his Father’s Day cake. That was seven years in time ago. Bedilia Grantham was Nathan’s daughter. Nathan came back to life to give revenge to Bedilia as she was visiting family plot where her father was buried near family estate. It was rather gruesome how dead corpse of Nathan got his Father’s Day cake. One might say the cake was a part of the family that gathered every year to remember Nathan’s death.

My favorite story was “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill”. Jordy Verrill was the proverbial Jack of all trades and master of none...but, for a rather simple – minded fellow Jordy did alright...he managed, just barely, to hold body and soul together...until that fateful summer night he happened to look at the sky at just the right moment...or maybe the wrong one....A meteor landed near his house near Ole Blueberry Creek. Jordy finds meteor. He thinks he is going to make a fortune selling meteor. Gordy attempts to cool off meteor with bucket of water. The meteor breaks and Jordy’s dreams of money vanish. Jordy releases insides of meteor into ground. He also gets some of liquid on his fingers. He soon has green grass like substance growing on hands and any part of his body that he touches. He is frightened to call doctor. He is afraid doctor will say the fingers will have to be amputated. The grass like stuff grows all over in yard. Jordy even has stuff growing on tongue. It itches. He tries to drink something. This only makes situation worse. Jordy soon can no longer take itching sensation. He has vision of his father talking to him in mirror. The only problem with this is Jordy’s father is dead. His father had been dead for three years. Jordy wanted to get into tub and try to stop intense itch from meteor liquid. His father attempts to tell Jordy that it is water the itch wants. It will lead to Jordy’s end of life. Jordy reasons in head that the itch is ten thousand times worse than poison ivy. Jordy gets into tub filled with water. The end for Jordy is very gruesome. The story ends with television saying rain is in forecast in station WKBS broadcasting area. This means to me that meteor grass will quickly spread to other areas. I also liked how Stephen King played Jordy Verrill in movie version.

There were three other stories. “The Crate”, “Something to Tide You Over”, and They’re Creeping Up On You”. The stories in graphic novel were told through eye of scary narrator. I think mystical character. Look at cover image to see that I really mean through the eye not eyes of narrator.

The boy on front cover in movie was Joe King. This is Stephen King’s oldest son. Joe also in present time writes novels and even wrote “Locke and Key” comic book series.

There was a sequel to “Creepshow”. This movie was in theaters in 1987. I did not notice a graphic novel for “Creepshow 2”

I think teen to adult graphic novel with emphasis to horror fiction. PG 13 rating.

When published graphic novel cost $ 6.95. I got my copy through inter-library loan. The first printing was in July, 1982.

Here is what Amazon says about graphic novel.

The graphic novel adaptation of the classic horror anthology film written by Stephen King, with art by Bernie Wrightson!

Now back in print: the graphic novel adaptation of Stephen King’s Creepshow, based on the 1982 horror anthology and cult classic film directed by George Romero (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead)—and featuring stunning illustrations by the legendary Bernie Wrightson and cover art by the acclaimed Jack Kamen! A harrowing and darkly humorous tribute to the controversial and influential horror comics of the 1950s, Creepshow presents five sinister stories from the #1 New York Times bestselling author—“Father’s Day,” “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill,” “Something to Tide You Over,” “The Crate,” and “They’re Creeping Up on You”...unforgettable tales of terror to haunt your days and nights!

Allen Klingelhoets