Monstrous Books is back to drag readers into the shadows—this time with a brand‑new prose nightmare engineered for maximum chills. Working along with Evoke Entertainment, Creepshow: 13 Tales of Terror marks the next evolution of the iconic horror franchise. At the center of it all (as he usually is) stands editor James Aquilone, the architect stitching together this wicked new anthology of moral mayhem, monstrous comeuppance, and pitch‑black humor.
What makes this collection special isn’t just the pedigree of its contributors (which is plentiful and impressive)—it’s the way Aquilone curates the Creepshow DNA. The garish EC‑style irony, the pulp‑infused nastiness, the grin‑while‑you‑scream energy… It’s all here, but sharpened for a modern audience hungry for fresh frights. These thirteen stories don’t just pay homage to the franchise’s legacy—they twist it, stretch it, and let it bleed in new directions.
In this recent conversation, we dig into how Aquilone built a prose anthology that still feels like Creepshow, how he guided writers toward that perfect blend of camp and cruelty, and why the franchise remains one of horror’s most delightfully wicked playgrounds. So, let’s welcome back writer and editor James Aquilone to GVN Talking Comics.
Creative Guardrails
GVN: Thank you once again, James, for visiting with us. With so many great projects coming from you and Monstrous, we seem to be getting together a lot. So, let’s get right to it with Creepshow: 13 Tales of Terror. Creepshow has always thrived on its blend of EC‑style morality tales and pitch‑black humor. When you set out to build the first‑ever prose collection, what creative guardrails did you put in place to make sure the stories “felt” like Creepshow while still giving each author room to play?
JAMES: The first thing I told the contributors was that Creepshow isn’t just a horror brand — it’s a storytelling tradition. The stories needed to embrace the core ingredients that have defined Creepshow from the beginning: irony, comeuppance, greed, revenge, monsters, bad decisions, and those wonderfully satisfying twists. Beyond that, I wanted the writers to have freedom. We weren’t interested in producing thirteen versions of the same story. We wanted thirteen unique voices exploring different corners of the Creepshow universe. The challenge was maintaining the spirit without imposing a formula, and I think our contributors struck that balance beautifully.
A Stable of Horror Talent
GVN: You assembled a murderer’s row of horror talent—Jonathan Maberry, Nancy A. Collins, Steve Niles, Thomas E. Sniegoski, among others. What surprised you most about how these writers approached Creepshow’s tone, structure, or sense of mischief?
JAMES: What impressed me most was how instinctively they understood the assignment. These are accomplished storytellers with very distinct voices, but they all seemed to tap into the same mischievous energy that makes Creepshow so much fun. Some leaned into dark humor, some focused on emotional horror, and others embraced classic monster storytelling. What surprised me was how varied the stories became while still feeling like they belonged together.
Translating Visual to Prose
GVN: Creepshow is known for its visual punch: garish colors, comic‑panel framing, and that iconic Creep. What were the biggest challenges in translating such a visual brand into pure prose without losing the series’ campy bite?
JAMES: That was probably the biggest challenge of the entire project. In film and comics, Creepshow can rely on visual language to establish its tone immediately. In prose, you have to recreate that feeling through atmosphere, pacing, and voice. We couldn’t simply imitate the visuals — we had to capture the experience of Creepshow. Fortunately, horror literature has always excelled at engaging the reader’s imagination. Once readers settle into these stories, they start creating their own version of those vivid images in their minds. In many ways, prose allows the horror to become even more personal.
Balancing Horror and Fun
GVN: As a long-time fan, Creepshow walks a tightrope between gruesome horror and tongue‑in‑cheek fun. As editor, how did you guide contributors toward that balance, so the collection feels cohesive rather than swinging too far in one direction?
JAMES: I encouraged everyone to remember that Creepshow has always had a wicked grin beneath the blood and monsters. Even at its darkest, there’s a sense of fun. That doesn’t mean every story needed jokes, but they all needed to embrace the spirit of entertainment. Horror works best when readers are enjoying the ride, even as terrible things happen to the characters. We wanted stories that were scary, surprising, and occasionally outrageous. That’s part of the franchise’s charm.
The “Creepshow” Special Ingredients
GVN: When curating the anthology and the writers you approached, what were the key ingredients you looked for—types of monsters, moral twists, narrative structure—to make sure the book delivered the full Creepshow buffet of frights and comeuppance?
JAMES: Variety was essential. I wanted readers to encounter different kinds of horror as they moved through the book. There are monsters, supernatural threats, psychological horrors, and plenty of unfortunate souls making catastrophically bad decisions. But above all, I wanted strong endings. The classic EC comics and Creepshow stories often leave readers with that final sting in the tail — that moment where everything clicks into place. Those are the stories people remember, and I think readers will find plenty of those moments throughout the collection.
New Territories
GVN: With that variety in mind, did any of the stories push the Creepshow formula into new territory—new subgenres, new narrative voices, new kinds of “punishment”—that you think fans will be especially shocked or delighted by?
JAMES: Absolutely. One of the joys of working with talented creators is seeing them take familiar ingredients and cook up something unexpected. Without giving too much away, readers will encounter stories that expand what they think a Creepshow tale can be while remaining faithful to its roots. There are fresh takes on classic horror themes, unusual monsters, inventive twists, and a few stories that I think will catch even longtime horror readers off guard. That’s exactly what we hoped to achieve.
The Possibility of Creepshow Volume 2
GVN: Thank you, as always, James. Finally, now that this first prose collection exists, do you see Creepshow becoming a recurring prose line? Are there horror authors you’re already eyeing for a potential Volume Two?
JAMES: I certainly hope so. One of the most exciting things about Creepshow is that its format is practically limitless. Go buy the book and make sure there is a Volume Two!
Monstrous Books and Evoke Entertainment’s Creepshow: 13 Tales of Terror
Upon ending our conversation with James, one truth stands tall in the fading candlelight: Creepshow endures because creators like him know exactly how to honor its wicked heart while still carving out new scars. Creepshow: 13 Tales of Terror isn’t just another anthology—it’s a reminder of why this franchise has survived decades of shifting horror trends. It adapts. It mutates. Creepshow laughs as it drags you, screaming, into the dark… and it makes it fun.
Monstrous Books and Evoke Entertainment’s Creepshow: 13 Tales of Terror is available now, where great books are sold.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
