Cracked #209

"Sliding Down the Family Tree" in Cracked #209 (1985) finds the crew of the Enterprising confronting the lingering mystery of their late comrade Spook, as they grapple with the eerie possibility that death might not be the end—only to face the unsettling challenge of the Klingfrees in a surreal, offbeat showdown. Penciled and inked by John Severin, the story blends absurdist humor with a touch of the uncanny, all rendered in the distinctive, gritty style that defined his work. The cover, also by Severin, captures the tale’s peculiar tone with a sharp, expressive illustration.