One of the stories you’ll be in store with in Bringing in the Creeps is titled “Meteor Shit.” Stemmed from difficult times I went through in 6th and 7th grade, it’s a gory period piece focusing on a tormented tween circa 1982 whose nasty revenge is bestowed him from the stars. You would be correct in assuming this tale is a loving tribute to Stephen King’s “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verill” from the original Creepshow, doing my own thing entirely. It also comes from John Carpenter’s masterpiece of sci-fi terror, his ’82 remake of The Thing. At the time, I had been grounded for poor grades and attitude, most of my rut coming from a long period of bullying. My time of redemption came when enough was enough when I trashed five boys for saying something derogatory about my mom.

My extensive grounding back then was having everything removed of me except for my schoolwork and fun reading material. No t.v., no Atari, no going outside. Today’s generation would never be able to cope. When Carpenter’s version of The Thing hit HBO 1982 going into ’83, my folks knew it what it would mean to me. After screening it, they gave me a one-night reprieve to come down and watch it. All that gore and frozen terror blew my living mind, and it changed my course as a kid entirely. “Meteor Shit” is just as much for you, Mr. Carpenter as you, Mr. King.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.