Description

Tales from the Plague                                                 Magazine-sized Soft Cover
Featuring Richard Corben’s first published story.  Awesome!
Writer: Dennis Cunningham
Artist: Richard Corben
Cover by: Richard Corben

This is Corben’s first attempt at a comic book, although the art is far from comic. Corben was 28 years old and still working at Calvin Productions when he began working on “Tales From the Plague”. Dennis Cunningham was the first person to use Corben’s art in the comic book field. Back in the late sixties and early seventies Cunningham published a series of underground comics titled Weirdom Illustrated, it was here in number 13, the “Special Plague Issue”, that Corben’s artwork first surfaced. It didn’t take long before Corben was recognized as one of the top artists in the country.

“Tales From the Plague” was previously printed by Cunningham on two separate occasions. First, in April 1969, falling under the title Weirdom Illustrated, Number 13, Special Plague Issue. This was a small edition (5 1/4″ x 8 1/4″) printed by Dennis himself, while on leave from the Army. There were only 10,000 of these printed, and they are extremely rare. The cover of this first edition was printed in two colors (black line with a brown wash) on a heavy cardstock. The second printing came two years later in November 1971. This book had a new full color cover, which consisted of panels taken from the story. It was printed larger than the first edition (6 1/2″ x 10 1/8″) on newsprint and with a lighter weight cover stock. This print run numbered only 10,000, which makes it a hard-to-find item today.

Story/Spoilers
The Elizabethan Witchcraft Act of 1563 had outlawed Black Magic in England. James Hopkins, the writer of first chapter of “Tales from the Plague”, arrests Ann Ashby for taken an interest of witchcraft. There is a league of people witnessing her acts, which leads to punishment. The very following days The Black Death spreads its wings. Second chapter is catalogue of ways to force people to say “yes” on a question to be a witch or not. There is also a map with years how The Black Death spreads. It is written by Ann Ashby in the darkness of prison, before her punishment.

Softcover reprints/collects: Tales from the Plague (1971) #1.  Weirdom Publications

Magazine-sized Soft Cover is bagged & double boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: Eclipse
Publication Date: 1986
Format: BW, 32 Pages, TPB, 11″ x 8.5″
ISBN: None Stated

Collectible Entertainment note: Magazine-Sized Softcover is in Fine to Fine + condition.  Nice!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Richard Corben collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended.

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