Tales from the Crypt #5
In "‘Tain't the Meat...It's the Humanity!", biologists Vic and Joe—longtime friends and lab partners—find their bond tested when a tragic accident turns deadly. Written by Otto Binder and illustrated by Reed Crandall, with colors by Marie Severin, this chilling tale from Tales from the Crypt #5 (1992) unfolds with a shocking twist that redefines trust and irony. The cover by Jack Davis captures the story’s darkly playful tone, a fitting frame for a story where April Fool’s Day becomes a matter of life and death.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Vic and Joe are biologists who work in the same lab. Longtime friends, they're both horrified when Joe trips and accidentally injects Vic with Black Plague. Vic goes for a walk, then stops by Joe's house to commiserate with him. But, Joe's not home, and when the phone rings, Vic answers. It's Joe, who wastes no time gloating that the "accident" was intentional, revenge for Vic always getting credit for discoveries. So, Vic tracks Joe down and kills him. Only then does he find the note explaining it was all just a joke meant to lighten the mood in the lab. It IS April 1st, after all.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).