There’s something stubbornly compelling about the darkest corners of the world that pulls eyes over to look. The same happens to readers in the comic book stands. When the boundaries are sufficiently crossed, the print runs tend to get very low. The subject matter breeds twisted characters. Fear and fantasy blur with reality, and, once in a while, something from our imaginations can become very real. Out of those shadows creeps Evil Ernie, an erratic and tragic figure who completely disembodied the traditional blackened and blood-soaked aesthetic of 1990's horror comics.

Trying to label Ernie as simply a bad guy is a lazy analysis. He was the spark that lit an entire publisher, Chaos! Comics, into existence. And alongside him, casting a far broader shadow to this day, comes Lady Death, one of the most iconic and enduring femme fatales in comics history. Together, they represent a graphic and perturbing corner of the market that pulses with opportunity for collectors. And for one Hell of a story.

The Birth of Chaos

Evil Ernie made his debut in Evil Ernie #1, created by Brian Pulido and artist Steven Hughes under the guise of Eternity Comics. The story followed Ernest Fairchild, an adorable and lovable, yet severely abused and bullied child who develops extreme psychopathic issues while also possessing an ability to sketch and draw scenes that may come to pass. After an experimental procedure in a mental institution introduces Ernest to Lady Death in a dream in the Endless Graveyard, he abruptly murders his parents (his core abusers), as well as 35 other people on his street, and promptly loses his sanity.

After another experimental procedure electrocutes the psychopathic Ernest Fairchild, he rises as Evil Ernie - quite possibly the purest reflection of the 1990s in one single character: neon chaos wrapped in leather-wire excess, death-obsessed and cartoonishly over the top; a character who dripped with everything loud, wild, and unforgettable about the decade. To top it off, Ernie isn’t just driven by carnage; his actions are tied to Lady Death’s teased and whispered promises of eternal love and acceptance if he could only deliver her a world cleansed of humanity.

This debut issue is a sneaky demon to price out. A CGC 9.8 copy clawed its way to a $3,950 sale on August 13th, nearly resurrecting itself from the dead compared to the one-year average of $2,622. In fact, that’s the highest recorded sale in almost two and a half years. With a rumored print run of only 12,000 copies and fewer than 1,200 entombed in the CGC census, this book is as elusive as it is electric. Only 51 have earned that pristine 9.8 grade. Keep your eyes open for the next time this comes up for grabs in top grade.

Lady Death Emerges

Of course, no conversation about Evil Ernie could be complete without a hardcore nod to Lady Death. Also first appearing in Evil Ernie #1, Lady Death became a breakout sensation, quickly eclipsing Ernie in popularity. And with good reason. She steals every scene she is in over the entire 5-issue debut mini-series. Her panel appearances are deliberately larger and softer to the surrounding artwork. Velvet, plush, and striking in a world of bone and blood. Lady Death's delicate art style is beautifully contrasted to the stark planet she seeks to annihilate.

She emerged as both muse and tormentor. A vision of beauty and damnation bound together. Her first of hundreds and hundreds of cover appearances is on Evil Ernie #2, which has surprisingly recorded less than 100 total sales over the last 5 years, in any grade - CBCS included. I'll say it out loud: this book is frighteningly overlooked by the general public, and you are going to live to see the day you regret buying.

I really do wish I could tell you more about this book but the numbers are just not there. 1 9.8 sale in the last year. 9 over the last 5 years. The 9.6 isn't much different. 3 sales over the last calendar year. The numbers we are able to ascertain are telling us this essential horror key is slowly inching its way up in value, and yet the buy in is still very affordable. All you have to do is pry it from a collector's cold dead hands.

I'll spare you the vague details on the sales numbers of the last 3 issues in the initial series. You'd have a better chance of getting a response from a corpse. Here's all you need to know without the suffering. Starting with Evil Ernie #3, the print run drops to an estimated 7000 copies. Evil Ernie #4 is showing the greatest trendline of all 5 issues, with the value more than doubling over the last 2 years. And Evil Ernie #5 has a black and white advertisement for Spawn #1 in the interior, predating the May 1992 release of that classic character's debut.

Moving on.

To look upon the chromium-clad warrior pose of Lady Death #1 with your living eyes is to stare directly into the molten heart of tragic fantasy. In these pages, Lady Death recounts her transformation from Hope, a medieval girl whose father sought to overthrow Hell itself. In a desperate bid to escape execution at a fiery stake, she bargains with the underworld and is thrust into the conflict between her father and Lucifer. In the end, she conquers the Devil by absorbing his power, only to be cursed to remain in Hell until all humanity is gone.

Why should you care about this book? It marks the explosive launch of Lady Death’s insatiable solo career - a defining moment in horror comics history. She’s since gone on to star in 143 different series that are all tracked right here on GoCollect, and her covers sell regularly. So I am a little shocked when I look closer at this book and see only 216 total sales for just 621 total graded copies.

This comic isn't a bad buy. Values have remained consistent for quite a few years even with covid prices mixed in. Take note of 3 9.9s graded for this book out of 451 total universal labels, with the only sale for that grade occuring in 2017 for $316. This tells me there are very high grade copies of this book to be found in the wild. Locating one may ressurect a pretty penny or a stunning addition for your collection.

Another worthy claim could be made for finding a high grade copy of Lady Death II: Between Heaven & Hell #1. This tale has her squaring off against the foe Purgatori right in her hometown of H-E-double-hockey sticks. Two 10's have been graded by CGC for this book, and again, they last sold way back in 2015 for only $390. There are also 6 9.9s. This book doesn't cost much in any grade (until we see those top population copies sell again), but the prospect of unearthing perfection on an early Lady Death cover really gets me going.

Any Final Words?

There’s a reason these books keep clawing their way back into someone's spotlight. They embody a raw, unapologetic feel that reflects their time. Bloody, bold, and built on attitude. The market might be quiet now, but collectors who know the underworld’s rhythm can feel something stirring.

If or when Evil Ernie and Lady Death ever get properly adapted for film or television, every one of these early issues could ignite overnight. That original tale from 1991 is destined for someone like Rob Zombie to acquire and give it the true macabre-Hollywood treatment it deserves. Even without an adaptation, I truly believe that these first and early appearances are destined for higher values.

The undead don’t stay buried.