This one is a fun one. About a month or so back, we were talking about a “creeper” in the comments of a Wednesday Forum. So this Throwback Thursday goes back to 1968, to talk about First Appearance of the Creeper in Showcase #73.
The Creeper is Jack Ryder, who is a former TV Host turned security investigator.
Ryder is assigned to investigate a case where a scientist named Professor Yatz is captured by some criminals who plan to turn him over to some communists spies.
Jack Ryder dresses into a wild costume since the location he discovers the scientist is being held at is having a costume party (that just sounds silly, what criminals throw a party with a person they kidnapped at the same location?).
Ryder finds Yatz but is cut in the stomach by the criminals. Yatz devises a formula that heals Ryder but uses an activator that heals within the wound that allows him to dematerialize and rematerialize his costume at the turn of the dial while also providing energy to Ryder.
The scientst Yatz is still shot dead and then goes on to defeat the criminals trying to prevent them from escaping with his new power. During this ordeal, he is accidentally branded as a criminal as well by the police, becoming wanted by the name they called him, “The Creeper”.
Showcase #73 is still in the very affordable range for most collectors and what I think is some classic Steve Ditko artwork. Sounds like he could totally be introduced as a new DC movie character, perhaps his own movie even, couldn’t be any worse than Justice League or Batman vs Superman.
The Creeper did have his own title shortly after his debut titled Beware the Creeper that ran for 6 issues. He’s made other appearances in the DC Universe and is still active for the most part. He has died once and was resurrected.
I’ve always had a weird soft spot for the Creeper. Just such an odd character design.
Very odd indeed. I’ve never read any of this stuff myself.
change some of the colors, hes kraven
Haha, true.
I’m taking the Credit for the Nucleus of Your Idea, Mr Poyo .. 😉
Oh, I didn’t want to say in the post but you get all the credit. When I was researching first appearances for March, The Creeper showed up and I immediately knew I had to include it since you bought that Showcase #73 up in the comments. 🙂
You know I’m just playin’ with you .. honestly, I don’t know who the Comic Creeper is in Real Life that you guys were talking about in that Thread .. if anyone ever cares to disclose that, I’m all ears ..
Probably better over email if someone does want to discuss.
I’d like to add that, as far as weird characters, Marvel’s Ruby Thursday should be in the Top 10 .. a well built Woman who’s head can fully detach from her body and crawl around on it’s own .. chilling, or hilarious .. ?? You decide .. 😉
That’s just frightening..
The Defenders #32
February 1976
1st Appearance .. hey, you never know, she may end up in a film ..
Anything is possible for sure.