See these other Heroin Comics on this site: HOOKED (1966) and TRAPPED (1951)

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COMICS WITH PROBLEMS #29 - Halloween Issue: THE MONKEY, by Al Feldstein and Joe Orlando (1953)
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THANK YOU THIS HAS BEEN

THE MONKEY
by Al Felstein and Joe Orlando



Classic heroin abuse drugscare story, from EC's SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES (issue 12, 1953, cover shown above) - posted for Halloween, Oct 2008

PROBLEM(S) DEALT WITH: Primate Urge

See also: HOOKED (1966) and TRAPPED (1951)


YOUR LETTERS

Ethan
COMICS WITH PROBLEMS #29 
 
The Monkey, by Al Feldstein and Joe Orlando 
 
Classic heroin abuse drugscare story, from EC's SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES (issue 12, 1953) - posted for Halloween, Oct 2008 
 
PROBLEM(S) DEALT WITH: Heroin, hard drugs, hoodlums 
 
See also: HOOKED (1966) and TRAPPED (1951)
10/05/2008, 23:07:53
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Stig
Eh. Not very good. The descriptive text was an effective way of getting across the frantic, addicted tone of the narrator, but there wasn't nearly enough expression of the power of 'The Monkey'.  
 
How exactly does he envision this monkey? Why envisage a monkey at all? Wouldn't it have been more interesting to express him seeing this Monkey everywhere, as a demonic expression of his suppressed guilt? 
 
Oh, and of course, the law figure is as insensitive as ever. "Hello, Kid. We're getting you off the drugs and your father is dead because you smashed his head open. Now get in the car! Hey, does 'get in the car' sound like 'have a withdrawal seizure'? I don't think so! Don't make me hit you with my torch!"
10/10/2008, 11:32:11
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Parliament Cigarettes
Hear Hear, I agree! This comic needs less junkie, more monkey!
10/10/2008, 12:09:10
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JUST ADD MILK!
DID SOMEONE SAY MONKEYS, GRAHH!!! I LOVE THEMS MONKEYS!!!! I MAKE THE ICE CREAM OUT OF THEEM ANKLE HOOFS!! HOOFS I TELL YA! THEY'RE COVERED IN HARR!
10/10/2008, 19:59:59
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K.T. Slager
This is the squishiest comic yet!
10/22/2008, 01:36:10
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katb
don't denigrate it guys. i'm almost 70. those of my generation knew little of the consequences of drug use. that's a good, unexaggerated story of the way it was back then. there was little or no help available. kids didn't know what use lead to.  
 
today, my 15 year old granddaughter knows more about drugs, stds, homosexuality and sex than i did when i got married in my 20's.
10/23/2008, 22:11:23
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Nadia
katb, you're lucky that she knows about it. Many people don't... believe me, it's worse that way.  
And what do you mean with "unexaggerated"?! I'm a pharmacist and I've never read such a manipulative story in my whole life. 
BTW doesn't the red coat on panel 1, page 8 look like it's got a face?
10/24/2008, 09:26:40
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Dope Addict
What? This story is awesome! The narration, the pace, the art! This stuff is simply some of the best comics ever made. Period!  
 
EC made the finest comics in the world, ever. I really loved this. It's like an anti-drug noir movie.
10/24/2008, 10:44:16
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Bobby Flavors
Yeah, one more vote in the 'this is awesome' category.
10/26/2008, 02:31:02
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Guidance Counselor
"THE ALLOWANCE MY MOM AND DAD GAVE ME WASN'T ENOUGH TO KEEP MY NEEDS SATISFIED NOW. I NEEDED MORE DOUGH. I GOT A JOB AFTER SCHOOL..." 
 
Now there's a kid who takes responsibility.
10/27/2008, 14:24:48
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Stig
I'm not criticising the message itself; just the delivery. It's sub-standard, mediocre work at best.
10/28/2008, 17:31:46
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lborl
BTW doesn't the red coat on panel 1, page 8 look like it's got a face? 
Nadia | 10.24.08 - 9:3 
 
I can't tell if you're actually making a subtle kind of joke there or not, but that 'red coat' *is* his mum's face. And it is speaking in the panel.
01/30/2009, 08:19:12
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EC fan
"I'm not criticising the message itself; just the delivery." 
 
What? Are you dyslexic? I think you're meaning that the other way around. Message might be a bit dented but the delivery (art, narration, style) is academy award winning.
01/30/2009, 10:04:04
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Guest
I can't tell if you're actually making a subtle kind of joke there or not, but that 'red coat' *is* his mum's face. And it is speaking in the panel. 
lborl | 01.30.09 - 8:24 am | #  
Well, I did joke about it. 
After 3-4 times reading of this, I still can't figure out what actually makes that woman's face so hot-tomato red. It doesn't look like grief is the reason, so my conclusion here is that she simply hated her hubbie, gave her kid a helping hand in killing him by adding some hidden lead weights in the otherwise harmless lamp, witnessed the whole thing (this explains her blood-covered face), called her son out load for the neighbours to hear, than called the cops and betrayed her son.
04/03/2009, 08:11:50
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Meow
I decided to get a job, too, when I started using Heroin. That's about the only realistic thing in this comic. However, I still really enjoyed reading it. I definitely agree with those who said it was awesome.
05/31/2009, 18:42:31
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Crypt Keeper Lover
I can't believe that this issue comes from the comic which was one of the ancessors of the great Tales from the Crypt show. I can only imagine what our beloved Crypt Keeper will say about this terror tale: 
Well, kiddies, I think our little HEROin had known all along that this could hAPEn to him. You know what the saying is - it takes only a SPLIT HEAD second to ruin your life. /=Heee heeee heeee heeeeeee...
02/06/2010, 19:08:43
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Trackback
Linked on http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ptitlewf26ismrv5co  
"The EC Comics story ''The Monkey'' suggests that smoking one joint will result in instant addiction, which, within three months, will lead to heroin addiction and then bashing your father's head in with a lamp for drug money."
05/18/2010, 15:46:43
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Simone, Atlanta GA
This art is some of the best shit in the world. 
(Not shit as in shit, you should know what I mean, I come from a newer generation where terms have different meanings.) 
 
http://www.ep.tc/problems/29/08.html 
Look at the emotion in that 3rd-panel. 
 
The main guy also reminds of James Dean in that one movie I've only seen the trailer for, Rebel Without A Cause, because there was a scene where he tried to kill his dad. 
Except this guy is tougher. And less gay.
07/06/2010, 22:21:37
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Manawolf
"Hooked" on marijuana after one joint.  Clearly I've been smoking the wrong stuff.
07/31/2010, 02:41:58
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Flashing Lights
So... the monkey wasn't real?  It was just an analogy for heroin withdrawl?  [/M. Night Shamaylan]
07/31/2010, 11:46:26
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