By Garrett Hanneken

Jeepers Creepers makes its comic book debut after spawning three movies. For fans of the franchise, this comic delivers a glimpse of what so many have wondered: what is the origin of the Creeper?

Jeepers Creepers #1 focuses on two main storylines: a grad student named Devon working on his thesis in Mexico and the Creeper working on his consumption of human flesh. Devon’s story allows the reader to familiarize themselves with our protagonist, and although I didn’t care much for Devon, I was still able to gather his character traits: geeky and awkward. The Creeper’s story, on the other hand, was much more captivating, which should be expected, as we see the creature on the prowl for food. However, the standout moment and the glimpse at an origin was the Creeper’s ties to the Aztecs.

The two differing stories work for this comic, but it may also propose some flaws. In Mexico, Devon is the tether to the Creeper’s backstory, but he doesn’t even know this. In fact, he is arbitrarily given one of the Creeper’s weapons. This will probably be explained later, but it felt a little too random and forced at the moment. Overall, I understand why this comic focuses on a character who is a country away from the Creeper, but we will have to wait and see how these two will meet.

Furthermore, the Creeper’s story is definitely the stand out between the two. As I said earlier, the flashback of the Creeper is what makes this comic unique. With a slight insight into the Creeper’s past, this comic is able to attract its own attention amongst the films.

As for the artwork, it provides a solid and distinct voice between the altering stories. Devon’s story is filled with daytime hues and the Creeper’s with nighttime colors. While the flashback’s coppery tone further enhances the scene as being a clear-cut picture. As for the character’s themselves, Devon’s nervous gestures and the Creeper’s menacing snarls help bring life to these two.

With a small insight into the Creeper’s past and an interesting but incidental setup, this comic will be enjoyable for fans of the series. However, and I may be nitpicking, the Creeper’s choice of words at the end did not seem to fit the predator’s persona. With that said, time will tell if the creators are able to deliver a frightening tale while not losing sight of the Creeper’s characteristics.

Score: 3/5

Jeepers Creepers #1
Dynamite Entertainment