Tales from the Crypt

[Abnormal Freak]

So, I've been enjoying the hell out of this show. Recently saw the first four seasons for pretty cheap at Target and snatched them up. Never really got to watch the show as a kid, 'cos even when we did have cable it was pretty basic, so we didn't get HBO—and no way would I have ever been allowed to watch it if we did.

I'd catch censored re-runs on Fox from time to time, and adored them, even though they scared the poopee out of me.

Seeing this show now and uncut has really made me appreciate the show. One episode is even directed and co-hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. How cool is that???

Now, I'm tracking down some of the comics from the '50s. I ordered a few of the EC Archives collections from Amazon of the titles Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, and Shock SuspenStories (greatest comic book title EVER!). Haven't received them yet, and I'm pretty worried about the "remastered" coloring, but I'm hoping I like these collections. If not, I'll just have to track down the older color reprints.

Also, last summer I believe, I snagged from a Walmart $5 bin a double feature of the early '70s movies Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. The first is fantastic, though the second left me feeling a little dissatisfied—even after watching the uncut scenes on YouTube. Still, I'd like to have an uncut, widescreen DVD of it. Perhaps seeing it uncut from start to finish and in proper quality will allow me to appreciate it more.

So, who digs Tales from the Crypt, whether the comics or '70s movies or TV series or movies based on the TV series or the Tales from the Cryptkeeper cartoon or what have you? Or, alternately, did you loathe any or all of it? I'd like to know.

The Cryptkeeper was like the Halloween mascot for a while. Shame he's not still around. Always loved seeing the full-sized displays in stores (though remember being freaked out in the shower sometimes, thinking I'd see him pop out over the curtains to laugh and do ghastly things to me).