Beware the Creeper
Encyclopedia
Beware the Creeper is the name of two comic book
series published by DC Comics
. The first debuted in 1968
and starred the Creeper. This series
was cancelled after six issues. The second was a five-issue limited series
published in 2003
by DC under their Vertigo imprint
.
Beware the Creeper began in the March/April dated, Showcase
#73 in 1968
, in a story plotted and drawn by Steve Ditko
, with Don Segall assisting with the dialog. DC's policy at the time was to give a character a single appearance in Showcase as an introduction before launching their series. Two months later. the first issue of Beware the Creeper was released with a cover date of June 1968.
Beware the Creeper was cancelled after six issues, the victim, per columnist and artist Fred Hembeck
, of "bean-counters [who] were a little quick to yank the rug out from underneath a new series during that particular stage of DC's history...."
The storyline started in the six issues of Beware the Creeper would eventually be concluded seven years later in Super-Team Family
#2, published in 1975
.
With no obvious connection to the original series (though with subtle ties to DC Universe
continuity), DC released Beware the Creeper, a five issue limited series, under their Vertigo imprint in 2003
.
Set in 1925 Paris
, Beware the Creeper tells the story of Judith and Madeline Benoir, twin sisters, one a surrealist
painter, the other a playwright.
The situation quickly spirals out of control as the Arbogasts begin to seek revenge in turn, and lives are eventually lost.
There is also a major sub-plot involving Ric Allain, the inspector in charge of the Creeper investigation. He is in love with Judith based on letters sent to him while he was fighting in the Great War
. Unknown to him Madeline wrote the letters but was too shy to sign them; instead having Judith sign them for her.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The first debuted in 1968
1968 in comics
See also:1968 in comics,other events of 1968,1969 in comics,1960s in comics and thelist of years in comics- Year overall :* With Kinney National Company's acquisition of Warner Bros., DC Comics becomes part of what eventually will be known as Warner Communications.* DC Comics art director Carmine...
and starred the Creeper. This series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
was cancelled after six issues. The second was a five-issue limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
published in 2003
2003 in comics
-January:* January 2: Kid Colt artist Jack Keller dies at age 80.- April :* Action Comics #800: Double-sized anniversary issue, "A Hero's Journey," by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry, and Duncan Rouleau...
by DC under their Vertigo imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
.
1968 series
Showcase (comics)
Showcase has been the title of several comic anthology series published by DC Comics. The general theme of these series has been to feature new and minor characters as a way to gauge reader interest in them, without the difficulty and risk of featuring "untested" characters in their own ongoing...
#73 in 1968
1968 in comics
See also:1968 in comics,other events of 1968,1969 in comics,1960s in comics and thelist of years in comics- Year overall :* With Kinney National Company's acquisition of Warner Bros., DC Comics becomes part of what eventually will be known as Warner Communications.* DC Comics art director Carmine...
, in a story plotted and drawn by Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, with Don Segall assisting with the dialog. DC's policy at the time was to give a character a single appearance in Showcase as an introduction before launching their series. Two months later. the first issue of Beware the Creeper was released with a cover date of June 1968.
Beware the Creeper was cancelled after six issues, the victim, per columnist and artist Fred Hembeck
Fred Hembeck
Fred Hembeck is an American cartoonist best known for his parodies of characters from major American comic book publishers. His work has frequently been published by the firms whose characters he spoofs. His characters are always drawn with curlicues at the elbows and knees...
, of "bean-counters [who] were a little quick to yank the rug out from underneath a new series during that particular stage of DC's history...."
The storyline started in the six issues of Beware the Creeper would eventually be concluded seven years later in Super-Team Family
Super-Team Family
Super-Team Family is an comic book anthology series published by DC Comics in the 1970s that lasted for fifteen issues. The series published a mix of original and reprinted stories.- Publication history :...
#2, published in 1975
1975 in comics
This is a list of comics-related events in 1975.- Year overall :* Following up their various Giant-Size series from 1974, Marvel publishes a number of one-shot Giant-Size annuals featuring reprints of "classic" Captain America, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Invaders, Iron Man,...
.
Creators
- Denny O'NeilDennis O'NeilDennis J. "Denny" O'Neil is an American comic book writer and editor, principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of books until his retirement....
- Writer - Steve DitkoSteve DitkoStephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
- Penciller and Inker (Co-Writer Issue #1) - Mike Peppe - Inker (Issues #5 and 6)
- Jack Sparling - Penciller (Pages #12-24 of Issue #6)
2003 series
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
continuity), DC released Beware the Creeper, a five issue limited series, under their Vertigo imprint in 2003
2003 in comics
-January:* January 2: Kid Colt artist Jack Keller dies at age 80.- April :* Action Comics #800: Double-sized anniversary issue, "A Hero's Journey," by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry, and Duncan Rouleau...
.
Set in 1925 Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Beware the Creeper tells the story of Judith and Madeline Benoir, twin sisters, one a surrealist
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
painter, the other a playwright.
Plot
After Judith is raped by Mathieu Arbogast, a man from a rich upper class family, a woman calling herself the Creeper begins to terrorize the Arbogast family. The Creeper uses methods that appear to be based out of the surrealist movement.The situation quickly spirals out of control as the Arbogasts begin to seek revenge in turn, and lives are eventually lost.
There is also a major sub-plot involving Ric Allain, the inspector in charge of the Creeper investigation. He is in love with Judith based on letters sent to him while he was fighting in the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Unknown to him Madeline wrote the letters but was too shy to sign them; instead having Judith sign them for her.
Creators
- Jason Hall - Writer
- Cliff ChiangCliff ChiangCliff Chiang is an American comic book artist. Formerly an assistant editor at DC Comics, he is now an illustrator, best known for his work on Human Target, Beware the Creeper and Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre. A recent project has been the Dr...
- Penciller and Inker - Dave StewartDave Stewart (artist)Dave Stewart is an artist who has worked as a colorist in the comics industry. He is known for his work at Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics and Marvel Comics, as well as colouring Tim Sale's art in Heroes.-Dark Horse Comics:...
- Colourist - John WorkmanJohn WorkmanJohn Workman is an editor, writer, artist, designer, colorist and letterer in the comic book industry...
- Letterer