The Creeper

Showcase No. 73
March-April 1968
Cover: The Creeper //Steve Ditko
Story: "The Coming of the Creeper" (23 pages)
Editor: Murray Boltinoff
Writer: Don Seagall
Artist: Steve Ditko
Intro and origin: The Creeper (Jack Ryder; next appears in BEWARE THE CREEPER #1)
Supporting Character: Bill Brane (next appears in BEWARE THE CREEPER #1)
Intro: Dr. Clayton Wetley (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #178), Professor Yatz (dies in this story), Pete, Mr. Pell (only appearance for both)
Villains: Angel Devilin (next appears in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #250) and his gang (including Vince and Charley), Major Smej, Communist spies, various gangsters (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: Jack Ryder, a TV host turned network security investigator when he loses his former job, is assigned to investigate the case of Professor Yatz, a scientist captured by criminals and about to be turned over to Communist spies for shipping back to the Soviet Union.  Since the place where Yatz is being held is throwing a costume party, Ryder buys a costume made of odds and ends, including a green wig and a red sheepskin "cape."  He finds Yatz, but not before getting cut in the stomach by a knife.  Yatz heals his wound with a special formula of his devising, and plants in the wound an activator, whose mate the costumed Ryder has in his hand.  The activator allows Ryder the ability to dematerialize or rematerialize his costume at the twist of a dial.  The professor's formula also energizes him physically.
 Yatz is shot dead, but Ryder, in costume, defeats the hoods and spies.  In the process, he is branded falsely as a crook, and becomes wanted by both the police and underworld under the name of "the Creeper".

Beware the Creeper No. 1
May-June 1968
Cover: The Creeper and the Terror //Steve Ditko (signed)
Story: "Where Lurks the Menace?"  (23 pages)
Editor: Dick Giordano
Plotter, artist: Steve Ditko
Scripter: Denny O'Neil (as "Sergius O'Shaugnessy")
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in SHOWCASE #73)
Supporting Characters: Bill Brane (last appearance in SHOWCASE #73), Vera Sweet (first appearance)
Intro: Jurgen, Hack Axeley (both die in this story), Vance Cleary (only appearance)
Villains: The Terror (Forbes), Baldy Pate, Gerk Kreg, Stosh, Ida Horn, various crooks (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: A masked strongarm man called the Terror begins leaning on gangsters for a cut of their profits, and the Creeper must discover his identity.

Beware the Creeper No. 2
July-August 1968
Cover: Creeper and faces of Proteus //Steve Ditko
Story: "The Many Faces of Proteus" (24 pages)
Editor: Dick Giordano
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Artist: Steve Ditko
Feature Character: The Creeper
Supporting Characters: Bill Brane, Vera Sweet
Intro: Susie (only appearance)
Villains: Proteus (Remington Percival "Rip" Cord; first appearance), Legs Larsen (first appearance; dies in this story), various crooks
Comment: Title taken from cover.
Synopsis: The Creeper matches wits with Proteus, a criminal who changeable face makes him a master of disguise.

Beware the Creeper No. 3
September-October 1968
Cover: The Creeper vs. the Supreme One and his gang //Steve Ditko
Story: "The Isle of Fear" (23 pages)
Editor: Dick Giordano
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Artist: Steve Ditko
Feature Character: The Creeper (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #80)
Supporting Characters: Bill Brane, Vera Sweet
Villains: The Supreme One (Claw), Wingy Ames (first appearance for both; both die in this story), Dr. Littlejohn, various crooks (first and only appearance for all),, Rip Cord (Proteus)
Comments: Title taken from cover.
 Shortly after this story the Creeper teams with Batman to fight Hellgrammite in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #80.
Synopsis: The Creeper trails an escaped hood to an island where an armored gangster maintains a refuge and hideout for other crooks and terrorizes the natives.

Beware the Creeper No. 4
November-December 1968
Cover: Creeper, face of Proteus, and Proteus's hoods //Steve Ditko
Story: "Which Face Hides My Enemy?"  (23 pages)
Editor: Dick Giordano
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Artist: Steve Ditko
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #80)
Supporting Character: Bill Brane
Villains: Proteus, Sumo, Bulldog Bird (first appearance for latter two), Pipey Boles, Yogi Bizerk (first appearance for both; both die in this story), the Avenging Terrors, various crooks (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper cracks down on various henchmen of Proteus, trying to learn who his faceless enemy really is, but the ones who could lead him to his foe are killed before they can give him information.

Beware the Creeper No. 5
January-February 1969
Cover: Proteus and trapped Creeper //Steve Ditko
Story: "The Color of Rain Is Death" (24 pages)
Editor: Dick Giordano
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Penciller: Steve Ditko
Inker: Mike Peppe
Feature Character: The Creeper
Supporting Characters: Bill Brane, Vera Sweet
Villains: Proteus, Bulldog Bird (dies in this story), Sumo (last appearance), various crooks (first and only appearance)
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper and Proteus come face-to-face, and, after defeating him in battle, Proteus leaves him tied to a sewer grating as the water level comes up and threatens to drown him.

Beware the Creeper No. 6
March-April 1969
Cover: Proteus and trapped Creeper //Gil Kane (signed)
Story: "A Time To Die" (24 pages)
Editor: Dick Giordano
Writer: Denny O'Neil
Pencillers: Steve Ditko (pgs. 1-11), Jack Sparling (pgs. 12-24)
Inker: Mike Peppe
Feature Character: The Creeper (next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #70)
Supporting Characters: Bill Brane (last appearance), Vera Sweet (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #178)
Intro: Gov. Harley Ellison (only appearance)
Villains: Proteus (does not die in this story; next appears in SUPER-TEAM FAMILY #2) and his gang (first and only appearance)
Comment: Gov. Harley Ellison is named after famed science fiction writer Harlan Ellison.
 BEWARE THE CREEPER ceases publication with this issue.
 Shortly after this story, the Creeper helps the Justice League fight aliens in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #70, then fights Batman on behalf of Ephraim Yatz in DETECTIVE COMICS #418, then helps Batman fight Ra's Al Ghul in DETECTIVE COMICS #445, 447-448, then battles the Joker in THE JOKER #3.
Synopsis: The Creeper manages to free himself from the deathtrap and goes after Proteus to stop his foe from destroying a dam.

First Issue Special No. 7
October 1975
Cover: The Firefly vs. the Creeper //Steve Ditko
Story: "Menace of the Human Firefly" (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Michael Fleisher
Penciller: Steve Ditko
Inker: Mike Royer
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in THE JOKER #3; next appears in SUPER-TEAM FAMILY #2)
Supporting Character: Hugo Marlies (first appearance; next appears in ADVENTURE COMICS #445)
Intro: Warden Fantin, Phil (only appearance for both)
Villains: The Firefly (of Earth-One; Garfield Lynns; first appearance; dies in this story) and his gang (including Hymie and Skeeter; first and only appearance), Two-Face (last appearance in THE JOKER #1; next appears in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #125), the Scarecrow (last appearance in BATMAN #262; next appears in THE JOKER #8)
Comment: Shortly after this story the Creeper teams with Wildcat to fight Proteus in SUPER-TEAM FAMILY #2.
Synopsis: The Firefly, one of Batman's old enemies, breaks jail and begins using his light-weapons for criminal purposes, incurring the wrath of the Creeper.

Adventure Comics No. 445
May-June 1976
Story: "Deadly Medicine" (6 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Ric Estrada
Inker: Joe Staton
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in SUPER-TEAM FAMILY #2)
Supporting Character: Hugo Marlies (last appearance in FIRST ISSUE SPECIAL #7)
Intro: Dr. Joanne Russell, Vernon Maddox, a therapist (dies in this story)
Villain: Manfred (a robot; first appearance)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper investigates a series of deaths at the Humbolt Institute and saves a woman therapist from a robot murderer, but is mistaken for the killer by the police.

Adventure Comics No. 446
July-August 1976
Story: "Mind Over Murder" (6 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Ric Estrada
Inker: Joe Staton
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Feature Character: The Creeper
Supporting Character: Hugo Marlies (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #178)
Other Characters: Dr. Joanne Russell, Vernon Maddox
Villain: Manfred
Comment: This story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper learns that the robot, named Manfred, is being telekinetically controlled by Vernon Maddox's unconscious mind.  While the Creeper fights Manfred, Joanne Russell is in danger of falling from a high ledge to her death.

Adventure Comics No. 447
September-October 1976
Story: "Death Walk" (6 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Ric Estrada
Inker: Joe Staton
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Feature Character: The Creeper (next appears in SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #9)
Other Characters: Vernon Maddox (dies in this story), Dr. Joanne Russell (next appears in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #252; learns the Creeper's secret identity in this story)
Villain: Manfred (destroyed in this story)
Comment: Shortly after this story, the Creeper briefly joins the Secret Society of Super-Villains in SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #9-10.
Synopsis: The Creeper battles Manfred again and forces Vernon Maddox to realize that his hostility is making the robot try to murder Joanne Russell.

World's Finest Comics No. 249
February-March 1978
Story: "Moon Lady and the Monster" (8 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS #10; next appears in the Superman, Batman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Earth-Two Wonder Woman story in next issue)
Supporting Characters: Fran Daye, Sam Hagen, Dump (first appearance for all)
Intro: Moon Lady, POWS (Protectors Of Watchers' Sensibilities; only appearance for all)
Villains: The Monster (Ike Keller), a member of POWS (first and only appearance for both)
Comment: Shortly after this story the Creeper briefly appears in the Superman, Batman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Earth-Two Wonder Woman story in the next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper tries to protect a horror-movie host from a vengeful character called the Monster.

World's Finest Comics No. 250
April-May 1978
Cover: Superman, Batman, Black Canary, Earth-Two Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, the Creeper against background of old WORLD'S FINEST covers //Jim Aparo (signed)
Story: "Return of the Past" (8 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in first story in this issue; next appears in SHOWCASE #100; origin retold in this story)
Supporting Characters: Sam Hagen, Fran Daye, Dump, Ben "Bruise" Briely (first appearance)
Intro: Judge Holte (only appearance)
Cameo appearances: Prof. Yatz, Major Smej (both in flashback)
Villains: Angel Devilin (spelled Deviln in this story; last appearance in SHOWCASE #73; last appearance) and his gang, Mugsy Moore (first and only appearance for all)
Comment:   Shortly after this story the Creeper joins the heroes of Earth to fight an alien in SHOWCASE #100.
Synopsis: Angel Devilin, the first crook the Creeper ever captured, is out of jail with a plan for revenge on the judge that sentenced him and the Creeper himself.

World's Finest Comics No. 251
June-July 1978
Story: "The Disruptor" (8 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Bill Morse
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in SHOWCASE #100)
Supporting Characters: Fran Daye, Sam Hagen, Dump
Villains: The Disruptor (Epo) and his gang (first and only appearance for all), Porter (first appearance; dies in this story)
Synopsis: The Creeper fights the Disruptor, a murderer and extortionist who intends to make Cosmic Broadcasting pay protection money or suffer accidents.

World's Finest Comics No. 252
August-September 1978
Story: "The Keeper of Secrets Is Death" (8 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: The Creeper (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #143)
Supporting Characters: Bruise Briely (last appearance in issue #250), Lt. Bolt (first appearance)
Other Character: Dr. Joanne Russell (last appearance in ADVENTURE COMICS #447; dies in this story)
Villains: Olga Kens, Ace Rocco, Lou Knocko (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story the Creeper teams with Batman to fight Monty Walcott in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #147.
Synopsis: Shortly after Bruise Briely announces that Dr. Joanne Russell knows the Creeper's secret identity on network TV, Dr. Russell turns up murdered, and the Creeper must learn who is blackmailing people in her name.

World's Finest Comics No. 253
October-November 1978
Story: "The Wrecker" (8 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Shelly Leferman
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #147)
Supporting Characters: Sam Hagen, Fran Daye, Dump
Villains: Rollo (a robot; first appearance; destroyed in this story) and his master (first appearance; dies in this story)
Synopsis: The Creeper opposes a round machine of destruction which is sent to destroy Cosmic Broadcasting.

World's Finest Comics No. 254
December 1978 / January 1979
Story: "Beware Mr. Wrinkles" (8 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: The Creeper
Supporting Characters: Dump, Bruise Briely (last appearance)
Villains: Mr. Wrinkles, Atlas Adonis, Bo, Zeke (first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The Creeper fights Mr. Wrinkles, a villain who has the appearance of a child but the intelligence of an old man, and who can age others at will.

World's Finest Comics No. 255
February-March 1979
Story: "Furious Fran and the Dagger Lady" (8 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Milt Snapinn
Colorist: Jerry Serpe
Feature Character: The Creeper (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #178)
Supporting Characters: Dump (last appearance), Fran Kaye, Sam Hagen (both next appear in CANCELLED COMIC CAVALCADE #2)
Intro: Lulu Trane (only appearance)
Villains: The Dagger Lady and her gang (first and only appearance for all), Polly the Charmer (first appearance; dies in this story)
Synopsis: The Creeper incurs the wrath of the knife-throwing Dagger Lady when Jack Ryder intervenes in a blackmail plot against a network star.

Cancelled Comic Cavalcade No. 2
Fall 1978
Cover: The Creeper being changed back to Jack Ryder by Dr. Storme  //Steve Ditko
Story: "Enter Doctor Storme" (25 pages)
Editor: Jack C. Harris
Writer, artist: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Karin
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #255; next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #178)
Supporting Characters:  Fran Kaye, Sam Hagen (last appearance of both in WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #255; last appearance for both)
Intro: Luke Mott, Sunny Daze, Joe, Al (only appearance for all)
Cameo appearance: The Odd Man (portrayed by an actor)
Villain: Dr. Storme (Al Whetley; first appearance; dies in this story)
Comment: After this story the Creeper teams with Batman to fight the creations of Dr. Wetley in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #178.
Synopsis: A weather-powered villain targets Cosmic TV's weathergirl, Sunny Daze, for revenge.  When the Creeper tries to intervene, he finds that Dr. Storme's weapon causes him to change back to Jack Ryder, and vice versa.
 

The Flash No. 318
February 1983
Story: "New Hopes, New Fears" (7 pages)
Editor: Ernie Colon
Writer: Carl Gafford
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Feature Character: The Creeper (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #178)
Supporting Characters: Commissioner Gordon (between ? And ?), Wendy Fargo, H. J. Harrigan, Jamie Harrigan (named in issue #320; first appearance for all)
Intro: Doc Goldstein (only appearance)
Villains: Tom "Thumbs" Tamblin, Wesley Winterborn III, various crooks (first appearance for all)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Jack Ryder gets a new job in Boston, and the Creeper takes on an extortion ring in that city but picks up some lead in the process.

The Flash No. 319
March 1983
Story: "Turnabout Is Deadly Play" (7 pages)
Editor: Ernie Colon
Writer: Carl Gafford
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Feature Character: The Creeper (origin retold in flashback)
Cameo appearance: Professor Yatz (in flashback)
Supporting characters: Wendy Fargo, H. J. Harrigan
Intro: Dr. Hartnell, Dr. Thomas Baker (dies in this story)
Villains:  Tom "Thumbs" Tamblin (last appearance), Wesley Winterborn III, Deadeye (first and only appearance), various crooks
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper continues his war against Wesley Winterborn's extortion gang, but one of the gang's marks pays with his life.

The Flash No. 320
April 1983
Story: "I Gave Him Everything He Ever Wanted" (5 pages)
Editor: Ernie Colon
Writer: Carl Gafford
Penciller, colorist: Chuck Patton
Inker:  Sal Trapani
Letterer: Phil Felix
Feature Character: The Creeper
Supporting Characters: H. J. Harrigan, Jamie Harrigan (last appearance)
Other Character: Dr. Hartnell (last appearance)
Villains: Jamie Harrigan, Ben (first appearance)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: A strange drug reaction turns Jamie Harrigan and Dr. Hartnell's nephew Ben into monsters, and the Creeper must oppose them.

The Flash No. 321
May 1983
Story: "Playgrounds" (6 pages)
Editor: Ernie Colon
Writer: Carl Gafford
Penciller: Chuck Patton
Inker: Mike DeCarlo
Letterer: Andrews
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Feature Character: The Creeper
Intro: Joanie Newman (dies in this story), Hilda (only appearance)
Villain: George Delaney (first and only appearance)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper traces the source of the tainted cocaine that is turning junkies into monsters.

The Flash No. 322
June 1983
Story: "Ye Who Enter Here" (6 pages)
Editor: Ernie Colon
Writer: Nicola Cuti
Artist: Chuck Patton
Letterer: Andrews
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Feature Character: The Creeper
Villains: Hal Kraken, Cris Kraken, Ligget (first appearance for both), Wesley Winterborn III, various crooks
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: The Creeper invades the Kraken Clinic to try and stop the spread of the monster drug.
The Flash No. 323
July 1983
Story: "All-Demons Adieu" (6 pages)
Editor: Ernie Colon
Writer: Nicola Cuti
Pencillers: Chuck Patton (pages 1-5), Keith Giffen (page 6)
Inker: Gary Martin
Letterer: Shelley Leferman
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Feature Character: The Creeper (next appears in BLUE DEVIL ANNUAL #1)
Supporting Characters: H. J. Harrigan, Wendy Fargo (both die in this story)
Villains: Hal Kraken, Cris Kraken, Wesley Winterborn III, Ligget, an unnamed crook (all die in this story)
Comments: After this story the Creeper teams with Blue Devil and other heroes to fight Felix Faust in BLUE DEVIL ANNUAL #1, then helps the heroes of Earth battle the Anti-Monitor in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #5, then teams with Superman to fight a demon in DC COMICS PRESENTS #88, then resumes the fight against the Anti-Monitor in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #9-10, his last Earth-One appearance.
 The Keith Giffen Creeper series announced at the end of this story was never published.
Synopsis: The Creeper has a showdown with Cris Kraken, the drug supplier who is being turned into a monster by his own product.