Originally Published In Issue 30
Reprinted In Issue 89
First published back in March of 1972, Issue 30 of the ‘Pocket Chiller Library’ comic series was titled ‘Werewolf’. The comic was later reprinted under the alternative title ‘Creature Of The Night’ within Issue 89.
During the 1970s the ‘Pocket Chiller Library’ was a pocket-sized mainstream horror comic which ran for a total of 137 issues between 1971 and 1977. Each month, two issues of the comic were published, amounting to a total of twenty-four issues of the comic published each year.
However, it should be noted that from issue 86 onwards, the publishers started reprinting the earlier stories. Of these reprints, the first 28 reprints (issues 86 – 113) retitled the story. As such, there were only a total of 85 different stories within the series, despite there being more titles.
Unfortunately, each issue was undated, making it difficult to be sure of the date for first publication of each issue. However, it is widely understood the comics were monthly publications, with two publications released simultaneously each month, with the original stories running from January 1971. Therefore, the above date of publication is a relatively reasonable assumption.
Additionally, each issue was unfortunately uncredited to either the writer or the comic artist(s).
Della had married Charles Kerrigan – the famous skin specialist – after just five weeks of them meeting. Charles was wealthy and owned a huge castle, which Della was now moving into.
However, Della’s heart lay with another. The marriage was just a ploy to get to Charles’ wealth. Together with her lover, Martin Selby, they planned to murder Charles and spend the rest of their lives together, living off Charles’ money.
After moving into the castle, their despicable plot evolved when Della set her eyes upon the manservant – Moran. Charles had been treating the man for a particularly horrible skin disease known as porphyria. A disease that couldn’t tolerate outside light. A disease that changed the appearance of the sufferer – with thick hair growth covering much of the face.
But Moran had become besotted by Della. He was dim-witted but loyal. He would do anything for Della. Even kill for her. An opportunity Della planned to take advantage of.
With Martin staying with them in the castle under the guise of a visiting cousin, it was now time to enact their terrible plot. To convince Moran to kill Charles and afterwards, the two of them could live out their lives together…
DLS Review:
Oh, this is a good one! A classic PCL if ever there was one. It’s got all those perfect horror cliches in there – a vast old castle as the backdrop, an ogrish, dim-witted manservant, a wealthy doctor who’s fallen in love with a beautiful girl, and a dastardly plot to kill the doctor for his money.
The story is pretty much entirely focused upon Della and her actions within the days following her moving into the doctor’s castle. We see her plotting, lying, and coercing Moran into her evil plan. A plan that’s enacted quite soon after she moves in, whereupon the whole dynamics of the story is turned on its head.
Despite the ‘Universal Horror’ style setting, it’s actually a story that’ll keep you guessing. Indeed, there’s a few twists and turns in the plot that’ll have you smiling at how this whole thing is developing – with Moran taking centre stage in much of it.
You start thinking it’s a story of comeuppance. With Doran being outsmarted. But it shifts and shifts again. Honestly, you’ll be smiling at how this whole thing evolves.
Of course, Della plays your typical damsel in distress role to a tee. Albeit a damsel who’s actually the one behind the wicked plot. However, when the tables turn, she’s quick to be whimpering, pleading, sobbing and fainting. Oh, it’s glorious 1970s horror!
The illustrative artwork is perfectly suited to the tale. Plenty of exaggerated facial features, with terrified eyes and regular screams of shock and horror. Furthermore, as Moran gradually becomes a werewolf-like creature, his metamorphosis looks increasingly ghastly. From thick hair sprouting across his face, to an abomination, which lurches about desperate to make Della his forever. It’s all depicted superbly.
This is the sort of PCL story that really makes these comics such a memorable series. A classic horror with twists and turns throughout. Magnificent!
The comic book runs for a total of 64 pages.
© DLS Reviews
