Tales from the Crypt #1: Ghouls Gone Wild

Tales from the Crypt Graphic Novels #1

by Don McGregor, Mark Bilgrey, Exes (Illustrations)

TALES FROM THE CRYPT is the acknowledged premier horror comic of all time.
The original series suspended publication over fifty years ago. Papercutz has obtained the exclusive rights to revive this frightful franchise and to create all-new TALES FROM THE CRYPT comics, in our full-color digest-sized format. The debut volume features four tales of
"Body of Work," reveals how two nosy and somewhat murderous neighbors discover the shocking inspiration for Jack Kroll's outsider artwork. "Runway Roadkill" presents a behind the scenes look at what is destined to be fashion designer Kimberly Kinselling's final show. "For Serious Collectors Only" proves that even connoisseurs of Japanese action figures should always carefully read the labels-or risk deadly consequences.
"The Tenant" features the fearsome fate of slumlord James Winchell, who, after one of his tenants dies due to his neglect, is forced to live in one of his buildings by a creepy
cemetery. All stories, painfully introduced by the perpetually-punning
GhouLunatics, The Crypt-Keeper, The Old Witch, and the Vault-Keeper

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels Manga, Young Adult, Fiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2007

About the author

Donald Francis McGregor is an American comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel Comics, and the author of one of their first graphic novels.

Reviews

[Melanie (TBR and Beyond) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick little read. I grew up on Tales from The Crypt and these stories were very on brand for them. I wish the book had been full sized and maybe had a few more stories in it. I was thrown a little by the illustrations of the Crypt Keeper himself because I grew up on the adult television show and later the kids cartoon. He didn't look anything like the skelton guy that most of us associate with the Crypt Keeper but I guess that is being nit picky.

Overall, it was alright. A bit of a let down though.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing brings me back like some creepy stories from my favourite Cryptkeeper!

[Just A Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how almost every story in this book has a different art style. It keeps things fresh.
The stories are also pretty short, and gruesome so I adore it.

I love the witty narrators "I missed you- but my aim is getting much better"

The first story was really good, creepy though, they had no pupils.
But it was full of comedy.
"Hey I talk to you all the time and believe me he's not missing anything."

"I'd like answers too like what made me say "I do" 15 years ago."

"Maybe he's visiting the last couple that followed him around at night."

The main guy in this doesn't have a normal mouth or jaw... His mouth opens up all the way to the back of his head, it's really creepy looking lol.

"Look at all this junk it looks like a rummage sale at Stephen Kings house."

Maybe they would have survived if they realized, you shouldn't be messing with a man who reminds you of Stephen King. Have you ever read Stephen King? Yeah bad idea!

The second story, all I can say is, I feel bad for his mother.

The third story I could relate way to much to. A scum lord landlord finally gets what he deserves, he even killed a woman by sucking at taking care of heat and maintenance problems!

The last story had my favorite art work but it was the least interesting story.

Overall it's creepy, and I can't wait to read the rest in this series and see more creepy artwork!

[Woody Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was torn on this one - 4 or 5 stars? Add this book to my Reading Challenge or not? In the end, I chose 4 & yes.

I am currently working as a day-to-day substitute teacher and just like Maxwell Smart ... And loving it! I (generally) steer clear of multi-day assignments since guest teachers just like houseguests & fish in the reefer, begin to grow old & stale after a few days. I have those buildings that I really like & readily accept those assignments when available. Why do I mention all of this? Yesterday, I was at Ross Elementary School, just a block or so north of my house, when a 5th grader showed me her copy of #9 - "Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid"! I was flabbergasted! The original stories were what got comic books a bad name in the 1950s & kids were forbidden from reading them. Now, we can barely get kids to read & this is what a young girl picked out! Ha ha. I copied down the info & hied off to the local library to see if they had any of the series. Sadly, this was the only one available as all of the others had been filched by unscrupulous types! Waahh.

I have ordered the others from betterworldbooks.com, a great source for books.

This was a nice, quick read. It was very evocative of the original comics. Loads of puns & the content was not so scary as to make it unsuitable for children. I am so glad that I got turned onto this series!

[Mely · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the Tales from the Crypt show as a kid. I know it was originally based off of a comic book series. This new collection is a big disappointment. First off, the Crypt Keeper isn't the same skeleton character from the series. And he has two stooges that don't do much for the story. There are 4 stories included in this volume; neither of which were very good. They were all a bit cheesy. Also, different illustrators contributed to the artwork of this book and I didn't care for the illustrations either.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the return to a childhood favourite! The graphic novel included four stories of people who make poor choices and are righted in a very creepy way. This one had a story of a cheap apartment owner, evil fashionista, greedy neighbors, and a thief who collects toys.

[The Reading Writing Puppet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute book has 4 fun scary stories, in the same style as the tv show. It’s colorful and fun/funny. I liked the first 3 stories, amazingly fun, but didn’t really like the last one. I hope I can find the rest of these graphic novel books 😁

[Mouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t feel like the original Tales From the Crypt to me. Felt more like Goosebumps! Found this book in the kids section of the library so it’s definitely watered down for that age level. The Crypt Keeper would be rolling in his grave if he knew!

[VampAmber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate giving a two star review unless something was seriously wrong with the story, but this time it's because the whole thing was just sooooooo boring. I absolutely adore the Tales From The Crypt tv show (I've watched it since I was a kid), so this book came as a double disappointment. 😞

[Gerald Sessions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book contains 4 stories all different the stories are good simple graphics and easy to follow dialogue ballon’s the funniest part is the crypt keeper and company and their great wrap up and intro’s

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My two favorites:
Body of works
The tenant

For serious collectors only - ehh
Runway roadkill - 🙄

[Josée Leon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok for me, slightly entertaining. This is intended for ages 10 and up so there is minimal gore. The style is intended to match the original comicbooks from the 50s.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

The art in this is bad --and not in a so bad it's good kind of way. I was so excited to see this title revived and then incredibly disappointed with what they did with it.

[Jerrad · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is better, but the story telling is not great

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A revival of the old EC classic series with a modern twist.

[KK · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Body of Work - 3*
2. For Serious Collectors only - 4*
3. The Tenant - 4*
4. Runaway Roadkill - 4*

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Papercutz, after resurrecting in comic form the career of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew (the former in a very enjoyable way, I might add), gets out its spade and Frankenstein setup and pours volts of electricity into Tales from the Crypt, with Jim Scalirup (of Spider-Man editor fame) heading up the idea and providing the Crypt Keeper material between four stories that, while modern, have the same feel as the old stories. We're dealing with fairly simple-minded and evil characters meeting gruesome ends here folks--no major plots or dialog, just good clean fun that's about 20 minutes or so of entertainment. Just like the TV adaptation.

The first and last stories are the best, with a bit more fleshing out of the players and particularly clever demises based on what they do. Art thieves are taken out of the picture while a evil designer has a fashion accident. The other two are okay, but I've seen killer toys done better and tenant stories are best left to Eisner.

Again, there's nothing super-duper about this one, it's just a fun read for those who like Tales from the Crypt and are okay with seeing it pitched for a teen audience. For everyone else, check out the Rick Parker art on the bumper stories and the nifty Kyle Baker back cover. I liked this; it's entirely possible that enjoyment would be unique to me. (Library, 04/08)

Trebby's Take: Enjoyable quick summer read. (Yes, I know it's not summer, work with me here.)

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of 4 horror fables in graphic novel form. You've got the couple who finds out that their neighbour's paintings sell for $50,000 each and decide they want to steal some. There's the guy with the 'fully-poseable, micro-articulated action figures' who'd do anything for the newest find at the Dragon's Hoard shop. Next comes the slumlord who gets a taste of his own medicine. The fourth and final story is about a cruel fashion designer obsessed with being the best and intimidating everyone else, even the veteran who comes to show her some very, very good designs.

The second and third stories have very similar graphics, but they vary greatly from the first and fourth. I think the variety might make it easier for some people to get into this graphic novel. I also like the idea of arranging them in short stories (fables, really). The fourth story reminds me very much of a certain Anne Hathaway movie and I gotta say I really loved this interpretation.

[Khalid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales from the crypt by Don McGregor. This book is a book that has four different story's. The first story is about a women and a guy who find out that there neighbor draws paintings that cost thousands of dollars for each one and they try to steal the painting but the paintings come to life. The second story is about a guy who loves toys and he does not have enough money to buy them so he steels money and buys the toy and it turns out that the toy comes to life. The third story is about a guy who owns an apartment in a place that snows a lot and is very cold. The people who live there keep telling him that he should fix the heater but he does not want to because he doesn't want to spend his money. The women dies of the cold and becomes a zombie. The fourth one is about a fashion designer who is mean too everyone and doesn't like anyone. I kind of liked this book it was interesting and exciting.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reason that I felt this book was OK was that it was thankfully a short one. I remember the original movie, the very first one, when it came out. This however is nothing like that. The cryptkeeper looks like a dirty old man/child molester in a bad nightshirt costume and the stories tend to lack any substance. Perhaps there is an original Tales comic out there, and if so it would put this mess too shame.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember watching Tales from the Crypt as a kid and so when I saw this at the library thought I'd pick it up.

It was a pretty fun read. It was the usual people do bad things and karma comes back to get them. I liked the first few stories the best and the others were okay, but did like the book. I'd definitely read others from this series.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was interesting enough but certainly for juvenile, sadistic children. I mean why do things like this exist? Well, I give it one thing, these are fun stories, and slightly if not very disturbing. If Stephen King had his way with these, a whole new generation could be insomniatic.

I still enjoyed it, but the sub plot was cheesy and unoriginal. Just weird really.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mildly entertaining re-vamp of EC's 1950's series written for a younger and more modern audience. Unfortunately this book doesn't do justice to the quality that the original series offered and the overall horror is definitely watered down but if you take it for what it is, you may find this book a decent way to kill 30 minutes or so.

[Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generous three stars.

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not impressed.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I don't know what YOU would expect of a Tales From The Crypt graphic novel, but I got exactly what I expected.

[Andrew Kubasek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, but not great. Nostalgic more than creative. Two of the stories were decent, but the other two felt flat.

[Nathan Faries · Rating 3 out of 5]

actually listened to a seeing ear theater audiobook collection of stories, mostly based on EC comics, so not this exact book

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

[Eryk Younger · Rating 5 out of 5]

great stories