| "How Spoilers Bleed" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tapping the Vein | |
| Title: | "How Spoilers Bleed" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 5 |
| Cover price: | $7.95 |
| Cover date: | January, 1992 |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Catherine Yronwode |
| Ex. Ed: | Clive Barker |
| Writers: | Steve Niles; Fred Burke |
| Pencilers: | Hector Gomez |
| Inkers: | Hector Gomez |
| Cover artists: | Les Edwards |
| Cover inker: | Les Edwards |
| Cover colorist: | Les Edwards |
| Colorists: | Hector Gomez |
| Letterers: | Willie Schubert |
| Editors: | Valarie Jones; Fred Burke |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Tapping the Vein #4 |
| Next: | — |
"How Spoilers Bleed" is the first story featured in issue #5 of the Tapping the Vein horror anthology series published by Eclipse Comics. It was written by Steve Niles & Fred Burke with painted illustrations by Hector Gomez. It was lettered by Willie Schubert. The second story is an adaptation of "Down, Satan" by Steve Niles and artist Tim Conrad. Both stories were edited by Valarie Jones and Fred Burke. This issue shipped in January, 1992 and carries a $7.95 cover price.
"How Spoilers Bleed"[]
| "How Spoilers Bleed" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title: | "How Spoilers Bleed" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Steve Niles; Fred Burke |
| Pencilers: | Hector Gomez |
| Inkers: | Hector Gomez |
| Colorists: | Hector Gomez |
| Letterers: | Willie Schubert |
| Editors: | Fred Burke |
Several European mercenaries, led by a cold-hearted man named Locke, have bought land in the jungles of South America that is inhabited by a tribe of Amazonian natives.
When the tribe refuse to leave, one of Locke's cohorts impulsively and accidentally shoots a native child dead. The elder of the tribe puts a curse on the men which strikes them down one by one with a gruesome condition that makes their bodies incredibly delicate; a mote of dust can slice their skin open, the soles of their feet crack when they stand, etc.
After his men die off, Locke returns to the tribe to beg for forgiveness. However, when he gets there, the tribe has been massacred by some of his other colleagues. Locke begins to suffer the symptoms of the deadly curse just as he realizes there is now no way of having it removed.
Featured characters
- Locke
- Stumpf
Supporting characters
- Cherrick
- Dancy
- Tetelman
Villains
Minor characters
- Bjronstrom
- Chieftain
- Little boy
Organizations
- Amazonian tribe
Races & Animals
Locations
- Averio
- Outpost
- Santarem
- Sacrado Coragão de Maria
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
- Curses
- Female rear nudity
- Female topless nudity
- Gore
- Gunshot victims
- Hospital
- Jungle
- Male frontal nudity
- Male rear nudity
- Nightmares
- Profanity
- Smoking
"Down Satan"[]
| "Down, Satan" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title: | "Down, Satan" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Steve Niles |
| Pencilers: | Tim Conrad |
| Inkers: | Tim Conrad |
| Colorists: | Tim Conrad |
| Letterers: | Willie Schubert |
| Editors: | Fred Burke |
The shortest story of the collection relates the tale of a wealthy middle-aged businessman, Gregorius, who becomes depressed when he believes God has deserted him, and he comes up with a plan to build a Hell on Earth to summon Satan, believing that God will then sweep him (Gregorius) out of Satan's clutches and into his heavenly fold.
In North Africa, in his vast Satanic Cathedral, Gregorius soon loses sight of his original intention of attracting God's attention and is captured after torturing hundreds of people to death in the well-equipped torture chambers. It is deliberately left ambiguous whether Gregorius went insane, or if he really did succeed in tempting Satan into taking residence in his own personal Hell. While Gregorius languishes in prison, a man bearing the accoutrements of a priest enters the cell and shoots him in the head with a revolver.
Featured characters
- Gregorius (Only appearance; dies)
Supporting characters
- Warren Dickerson
Villains
- Gregorius
- Satan (Referenced only)
Minor characters
- Leopardo (Only appearance; dies)
Organizations
- North African military
Races & Animals
Locations
- Hell (Referenced only)
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
- Falling from a great height
- Gore
- Gunshot victims
- Military units
- Prison
- Ritualism
- Satanism
- Shot in the head
- Suicide (Unconfirmed)
Notes & Trivia[]
- This is the final issue of the series.
- This issue is 68 pages.
- "How Spoilers Bleed" was originally published in Books of Blood, Volume 6, released in January, 1988.
- "Down, Satan" was originally published in Books of Blood, Volume 4, released in July, 1985.
- "Down, Satan" is reprinted in the Dread graphic novel, published by Eclipse in May, 1993.
Recommended Reading[]
- Books of Blood, Volume 1
- Books of Blood, Volume 2
- Books of Blood, Volume 3
- Books of Blood, Volume 4
- Books of Blood, Volume 5
- Books of Blood, Volume 6
- Tapping the Vein Vol 1
See also[]
- Dread
- Rawhead Rex
- Tales from the Darkside: The Yattering and Jack
- The Forbidden
- The Others: Don't Dream It's Over