Beware the Creeper

by Jason Hall, Cliff Chiang (Illustrator)

In the aftermath of World War I, the bohemian art scene explodes onto Paris -- much to the chagrin of the rich and powerful Arbogast family. Surrealist painter Judith Benoir wants desperately to make a splash -- even if it means ignoring the warnings of others. And as The Creeper, she escalates  simple cat burglaries into spectacular art crimes, establishing her as a cultural icon. But what are the true motivations behind The Creeper's actions? And how long before her antics spiral out of control and the law closes in?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Historical Fiction, Comix

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2013

About the author

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Reviews

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

A hidden/ underrated gem of a title. This is a delightful, charmingly offbeat period-piece, with JUST enough of a connection to the classic Creeper title.

And the art really serves to enhance the mood of the story.

[Michael J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I admire this ambitious attempt to infuse some literary fiction qualities into comics, it falls shy of attainting that high plateau because the story itself is too slow to unfold and overly wordy in many places. However, it's a noble effort and commendable that DC/Vertigo would publish this knowing that the audience would most likely be sparse. I'm also amazed that this 2003 work (I read it in the individual issues) was collected in a trade paperback 10 years later in 2013. While it's doubtful that it could find the proper audience in 2003, it's next to impossible now. In a word - - it's just too slow.
What kept me going was the chance to view some early art from Cliff Chiang, always worth a look or two. While this Creeper bears little resemblance to the Steve Ditko Creeper from DC's 1960's, it's both stylish and mysterious.
Hall's story makes a connection between the surrealistic art movement of the 1920's and rebellion against the French aristocratic society and their demeaning of not just perceived inferior art forms but also the lower classes, especially women. Twin sisters Judith and Madeline pursue their avocations, being art and playwriting. There's an affair with a married French police detective inspector as well as an abusive relationship with a spoiled aristocrat. At the root of Beware The Creeper is a tragic love story. Worth a look if you're a patient reader.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the title of one of Steve Ditko's DC creations, this was not what I expected. The story is set in Paris in the 1920s, after WWI. A pair of twin sisters work on the edge of the artistic community, which allows cameos of diverse artists from Hemingway to Breton. A sly reference is made to Ditko's Creeper in a Josephine Baker appearance, but the ethos of the Creeper actually takes life by taking up the cause of the Surrealists and by exposing some of the hypocrisy in the richer classes. A mystery or two are wrapped into this intriguing look at what may have been. This is, also an early example of Cliff Chiang's fantastic art.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spent most of the book wondering why Mad Harriet was in Paris.

[Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual and overlooked take on a DC character who is pretty obscure to begin with. The self-contained story and simple but expressive artwork give this a very cinematic feel.

[Damián Vives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reinvención cultural de la creación de Steve Ditko. Jason Hall narra una historia de venganza con todos los elementos de la novela negra clásica, del folletin de aventuras y con el aditamento de una muy bien lograda reconstrucción de época. Paris 1925, Europa se repone de la primera gran guerra y comienzan a presentir la cercanía de la seguda. El surrealismo conmueve a una intelectualidad cercana a las vanguardias y horroriza a la burguesía cristalizada. Dos hermanas, que funcionan como las dos caras de la misma moneda se debaten sobre el rol de la mujer en la la sociedad y en el arte. Un violador asesino que pertenece a la estirpe más alta que va dejando un rastro de cadáveres en los bajo fondos y una necesidad de venganza que da nacimiento a The Creeper...

[OmniBen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 3.75/5
This one took me by surprise quite a bit. You could go an entire lifetime of reading comics without this one ever crossing your radar (except perhaps if you were a DC reader in the nineties). The strength of an obscure little gem of a book like this speaks volumes as to the strength of the Vertigo imprint, at just how many outstanding titles have quietly come and gone. It also speaks to the travesty that is modern comics, and what was done to the Vertigo line when it was relaunched a few years ago. Should you need any inspiration to get angry, look into the short but sordid history of Vertigo's return. I assure you, You'll be rage dumping like you've just eaten a punnet of spicy prunes.
But enough stomping down memory lane. Beware the Creeper is, I would imagine, a fairly original concept. You'd certainly have to try pretty hard to come across something like it. A quasi, more realistic take on what a real superhero might look like in Paris, near a century ago. A bold yet quaint take with some historical accuracy thrown in for good measure. I'm sure there are some liberties taken too, although Cliff Chang's art, which is very hit and miss for me, was perhaps the best I've ever seen here. Especially when complimented by the amazing Dave Stewart and his superb colouring.
The story, although flawed as I mentioned, was really quite a charming little one in the end. A story where you don't really know where its leading or going to end up, as it straddles many genres, without firmly placing its feet in any of them. Noir thriller, coming of age comedy, actiony romancey sort of bits as well. There's a decent dose of all of that and a little bit more thrown in for good measure. The less I say about it the better, as It might be robbed of some intrinsic part of the experience, should you know any more.
Though not perfect, I really would recommend Beware the Creeper. A bit of extra consideration or care here and there really could have turned this from pretty good into great, there is more than enough here to warrant a reread at some point in the future. 3.75/5


OmniBen.

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection was very strange and wild -as befits the Creeper created by Steve Ditko. While not at all what he'd had in mind, the spirit of the character was brought back to life for the new millennium.
Set during the years after WWI in Paris, twin sisters live together, one writing scripts for plays, the other doing 'art' based on her dreams. One, a wild child, the other so staid and drab in her life, that the only thing that comes to mind to describe her is Marion the Librarian. Then one is raped, and soon disappears - while the central figure from her dreams comes to life. Reading this was terror and pleasure, fury and passion together. The art was evocative of Ditko's and served the story better than any artist's work I've seen since Ross on Kingdom Come. I wish Goodreads had 10 stars available, but then, I'd just fill those up, and wish for 20.

[Eduardo Remolins · Rating 3 out of 5]

No decepciona como cualquier otra cosa que venga de parte de Vértigo, pero me ha parecido una historia bastante mediocre. Es una lectura agradable, pero no veo ningún motivo por el que le recomendaría este cómic a nadie. Sencillamente es una buena opción para pasar el rato: es corto, autoconclusivo y de calidad, pero nada más.

[Hazza M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chauvinist drivel.

Being aware that you're writing Chauvinist drivel doesn't excuse it.

Jason Hall is no champion of the opressed, he's just yet another ass who wrote an irritating story of prostitutes being murdered. Any grand point fell flat on it's face. I only wish I were around at the time of release to write in and call him a twat.

[Tina Speece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting with a manic pace: a mashup of 50s style pulp noir with the Paris shopping montage/musical number in the animated 'Anastasia'. HOWEVER, multiple mentions and a few depictions of SA and violence, so take care if those kinds of plot elements upset you deeply.

[Brian Spath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chiang’s art carries the story, but Hall’s work contains a surprise or two.

[Tim Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story feels a little muddled, and whilst some of the art is great, other bits are less good. Middling.

[Grzegorz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ostatecznie wygląda to jak jakaś kolejny wyrób disneyopodobny. Paryż lat 20. robiony na zasadzie odhaczania kolejnych punktów tak jaki nawiązania do postaci z DC

[Luis Fe Domínguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funciona para mi. Drama, una antiheroina, historia y un maravilloso formato de diseño.

Entretenida.👍🏽

[Mikel Maeztu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha sido toda una sorpresa. Un dibujo de Cliff muy bueno pero es que el color es excelente y la historia muy buena

[Nate Deprey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story and art but the violence against women, particularly sex workers, made this a rough hang for me.

[MrCervero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una gran oportunidad perdida.

El primer número no motiva, pero continué por un final con posibilidades, por la ambientación de época y por el cambio de sexo de Creeper. Se plantean además varios elementos: arte, lucha de clases, venganza, identidad, que podrían tener un gran desarrollo, solo para hacer lo de siempre.

El dibujo es el punto fuerte, especialmente el diseño de la protagonista. El problema es el color, comprendo la intencionalidad de las acuarelas, pero creo que no favorece al dibujo de Chiang y para muestra los bocetos sin color del final.

Sencilla historia de venganza llena de clichés que no puedo recomendar a menos que esté regalada y no tengas otra cosa que leer. Convencional. 3/10

Edición: Rústica mala. Varias páginas estropeadas al traer cola entre ellas. Además la traducción regular, cambiando el sentido en varias conversaciones trascendentes. Incluye bocetos y portadas alternativas.

Un saludo.

Guión-2 Dibujo-4 Edición-2

[Julciak · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a story that talks so much about surrealism it's dissapointingly grounded and realistic. The potential was there but it was wasted in favour of good but otherwise predictable and unremarkable plot and structure.

Art is definitly this comic strong side. It's great enough for me to raise my rating from two to three stars.

Side note, author doesn't seem to know how catholic confessions work. In real life priest would not call out someone by name during their confession neither would he be obligated to call police on them. Quite the opposite. Confessors are sworn to secrecy. They may try to convince a murderer to turn themselves to the police but they can't do this on their own. It's a small nitpick but it's also a thing that should be easy to write right with minimal reaserch.

[Jeannie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the look and feel of this period piece, the twisty mystery yarn, and the conceit: what if the Surrealists had taken the next step in their pranksterism and became costumed vigilantes, a sort of Bohemian Batman. Given that the script has 1925 French cops reading a nearly verbatim French translation of the Miranda warning during an arrest, I can only assume that some other bits of the history here are dubious, but it's fun to see our protagonists rub elbows with Man Ray, Kiki de Montparnasse and Hemingway, and it would make a very cool movie.

[Alex Sarll]

Acts of surrealist extremism in twenties Paris; the art captures the era wonderfully, even if the treatment of the setting sometimes recalls Linehan & Mathews' underrated Paris while apparently being meant seriously - the characters can barely go for a coffee without tripping over Man Ray, Hemingway or Josephine Baker. Any link to the original Joker-as-hero Creeper seems fairly incidental.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In post-war Paris, a surrealist painter turns to performance art as the Creeper, triggering chaos and violence wherever she goes. Interesting.

[Jasmiina F · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing I liked the most in this comic was the Creeper's design and most of the characters. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the story that much, but it was better than I thought it would be.

[Cherisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story and equally amazing art. I couldn't put it down.
If you like historical fiction/psychological/action drama-- read it.

[La Revistería Comics]

¡Ojito con Espanto!
Reedición a cargo de ECC con esta vertigodeceística saga de uno de los personajes más carismáticos que Steve Ditko le legó a DC.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun take on the Creeper.

[Eric]

Prenez garde au Creeper!