Red Circle; October 1973
Cover by Gray Morrow

Title: “Cat!”
Synopsis: A downtrodden cat burglar’s hope for a final big score goes wrong when his marks turn out to be magicians.

Writer: Gray Morrow
Penciler: Morrow
Inker: Morrow

Review: Despite some supernatural or sci-fi elements, this issue’s tales hardly live up to the monster mayhem promised by the cover. Gray Morrow’s rendering is realistic and his page layouts have a nice, organic feel. But, as a writer, Morrow’s prose is overly dense and his stories lack creative spark.

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Title: “Missing Link”
Synopsis A time travelling scientist gets stranded in the past – and plays a roll in creating the missing link he was seeking!

Writer: Gray Morrow
Penciler: Morrow
Inker: Morrow

Review: There’s not much “chilling” to this sci-fi-flavored tale. Gray Morrow’s script is overly wordy, but his art is quite nice.

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Title: “Immortality Factor”
Synopsis A man researching his sister’s mysterious death at a sanitarium runs afoul of a devious doctor … and vampires!

Writer: Gray Morrow
Penciler: Morrow
Inker: Morrow

Review: The most horrific of this issue’s tales holds form: Above-average art, too many words, not enough originality.

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Title: “Haunted Gallery”
Synopsis When a trusted lawyer murders an elderly millionaire, the deceased’s niece plots her revenge using seemingly haunted images.

Writer: Gray Morrow
Penciler: Morrow
Inker: Morrow

Review: A convoluted plot and silly “shock” ending make this one a stinker. But, again, Gray Morrow delivers nice art.

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Title: “Essays into the Supernatural”
Synopsis: A one-page look at how old, animal-inspired gods became the devils of more modern religions.

Writer: Phil Sueling
Penciler: Gray Morrow
Inker: Morrow

Review: With the exception of an inquisitive final panel, this one-pager is more illustrated essay than entertaining story.

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Grade (for the whole issue): B-

Cool factor: It certainly looks cool …
Not-so-cool factor: … but Gray Morrow needs a writer (or at least an editor!)

Notable: Also includes a one-page text story titled “A Stab in the Dark.” … First of Archie’s Red Circle line of comics. … The first two issues of this series were titled Chilling Adventures in Sorcery as Told by Sabrina.

Character quotable: “You’re madder than any of your inmates, Dr.” — Arden Miller (who was crazy enough to break into a sanitarium!)

Copyright ©2015 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, SequentialReaction.com.