Sneak Peek: Ken Reid’s Creepy Creations

By John Freeman on October 23, 2018

Ken Reid’s Creepy Creations is available to order now from publisher Rebellion’s web shop, ahead of its release at the end of November.

Debuting in March 1973, in the first issue of Shiver and Shake, a two comics in one comic just like Whizzer and Chips, “Creepy Creations” was a back page feature that enabled Ken to let his imagination run riot when it came to creating weird monsters.

A mix of comedy horror and more traditional fare edited by “Shiver” the Ghost and “Shake”, an elephant, readers of the weekly, were treated to ‘A crazy “Monster Piece” for you to cut out and collect!’, the first gloriously gruesome entry titled ‘The One-Eyed Wonk of Wigan’.

Readers were invited to send in their sketches for further instalments.

Winners would receive a pound note for their work and see their creation brought to full-colour life by various Shiver and Shake artists (mainly by Ken, but also by Reg Parlett and Robert Nixon).

79 “Creepy Creations” appeared in total, with further entries appearing in annuals and specials, and they’re all in this book, which also includes a fascinating background article on the origins of the feature by Irmantas Povilaika, publisher of the terrific The POWer Pack of Ken Reid books which collected all Ken’s Wham!, Smash! and POW! strips, released earlier this year.

Antony J. Reid also provides a wonderful memory of his father that will ensure you never trust a pressure cooker again, and there are a number of other extras, too, including a preview for another great comedy collection featuring g work by more great comic creators, out next year.

We’ve had a sneak peek here at downthetubes – and the collection is great fun, and will definitely bring back some great memories for those of you who remember the “Creepy Creations ” first time around.

If you already bought the first Faceache collection from Rebellion and The POWer Pack of Ken Reid books (reviewed here), then this is a must have.

Now, let’s have some of these bonkers artworks on some t-shirts!

• You can pre-order Creepy Creations here from the Treasury of British Comics web site

CREATIVE TEAM: Ken Reid and others
RELEASE DATE: 29th November 2018 (UK) 5th December (US)
HARDCOVER, 117 pages
PRICE: £17.99 (UK) $21.99 (US)
ISBN: 9781781086605
DIAMOND: OCT181869

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Ken Reid’s Creepy Creations copyright Rebellion Publishing Ltd

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.