APW - My Fucked Up Childhood (1898 hits)
Category: GraphicsRating: 1.87 on 47 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Cali (View user info) at 2007-08-29 13:07:24 EDT
In the 3rd grade, I was introduced to a set of books titled 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark'. A few of you may have remembered these.
And for those of you who do, I guarantee what sticks out are not the stories. For they were rather bland, somewhat older, campfire tales about hitchhikers, missing children and haunted houses. No, these are not the reason you would remember the books.
It's the pictures included with the stories that stick out.
As you will see, Stephen Gammell's artwork is absolutely grotesque. And to think they were featured in a book targeted to children is absurd. Getting a second look at these, I might be one step closer to finding out why I'm so fucked up. But I have a Hell of a long way to go still.
They even won awards from the Library of Congress.
These are just a few pictures. There are plenty more here http://www.imgdump.info/. It also includes all the stories. They are at the very bottom of the category list.
User Reviews
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2007-09-04 19:31:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yeah dude, i was at home over the weekend, and my parents set aside a bunch of shit from the basement after it got flooded last week, and they threw all my childhood books on my bed. i was thumbing through some shel silverstein, some stinky cheese man, and then these scary stories to tell in the dark. i remember when i was a kid i was absolutely horrified by that book and after rereading some of it, its understandable. that book is probably the reason i dont like scary movies now.
Submitted by BranDo (user info) at 2007-09-04 19:27:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Great art!
Submitted by Lmarie22000 (user info) at 2007-09-04 16:43:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I read these too! The illustrations would never get approved for children's books today.
We had the hardcore shit back in the day, huh?
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-08-30 11:08:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-08-30 10:34:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-08-30 08:38:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I read those; I would cover up the pictures with my hand while I was reading, I just couldn't stand to look at them.
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-08-30 07:34:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You were right those stories really do suck.
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2007-08-30 07:07:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck. Yes.
I remember these now. I'm sure these were just another thing I repressed about my childhood, but I certainly remember owning the book and subsequently having nightmares about an evil leprechaun with a fishing pole.
Submitted by Mike-Mc (user info) at 2007-08-30 06:09:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
No Comment
Submitted by DeathJester (user info) at 2007-08-30 05:37:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
People with no eyes are creepy.
Submitted by Flying_buttmonkey (user info) at 2007-08-30 03:05:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Thanks for giving me nightmares forever, fuckarse.
>cries<
(perhaps 'fuckarse' was a little strong, but still.)
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2007-08-29 23:53:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The whole time I was saying, "Oh wow, this artist is brilliantly talented..." but when I scrolled to the bottom picture I think part of my soul was getting eaten.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2007-08-29 22:47:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
YES. These books scared my little sister so bad that she asked me to take them not only out of her room but out of the house. I laughed at her and called her weak, then I read them and they scared the bejesus out of me too. Owned.
Submitted by Empathetic (user info) at 2007-08-29 21:32:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
SWEET ZOMBIE CHRIST!
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2007-08-29 20:33:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by zoobie2000 (user info) at 2007-08-29 20:12:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
the left gaping eyeball is due to my penile erection
Submitted by CrazyHorse (user info) at 2007-08-29 19:56:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
**rocks back and forth**
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2007-08-29 18:10:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
the spider eggs in the face was awesome
Submitted by zajebisty (user info) at 2007-08-29 18:00:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
great art, the spiders in the cheek thing gave me nightmares as a kid. that and the dog...
Submitted by ticklish_squirrel (user info) at 2007-08-29 17:36:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
OMFG Cali! I TOTALLY remember these freaky-ass pictures, dude! Holy shit! Yeah, the stories blew but the pictures haunted my childhood dreams.
...thanks for reawakening the pussy inside me. I won't sleep now.
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2007-08-29 17:21:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
never seen it. must be a yank thing.
Submitted by jamowilly40 (user info) at 2007-08-29 16:12:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I remember that book.
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2007-08-29 15:48:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude, I fucking remember this shit. There was one picture that I saw that I refused to look at ever again as a kid. I don't even remember what it was now, but thank God it wasn't posted.
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2007-08-29 15:38:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I remember those books. The illustrations were fantastic! And scary. Sleeping with garlic tonight.
Submitted by Hookhand (user info) at 2007-08-29 15:37:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The stories were a bit predictable, but a few of them were REALLY scary as fuck. And that art; Jesus, that was some awful stuff. Even the subtle details like a big fat woman with a black fingernail for no reason, or how beady the eyes were drawn...ugh.
Submitted by ICO (user info) at 2007-08-29 15:28:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fantastic. I'm into Ralph Steadman, myself, even though he has absolutely nothing to do with this.
Submitted by Avals (user info) at 2007-08-29 15:27:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That's some fucking amazing artwork.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2007-08-29 15:18:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
past --------------> blast
Submitted by whiskey_jack (user info) at 2007-08-29 15:17:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy terrifying blast from the past Batman!
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2007-08-29 14:52:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I remember those, they're incredible. Not in a good way though.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-08-29 14:26:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I can't wait to have kids.
In the meantime I have a nephew who will be getting a nightmare inducing book for christmas.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2007-08-29 14:22:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
these still make my skin crawl.
i wish i could do stuff like that.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-08-29 14:16:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That there is some crazy shit.
I dig it.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-08-29 14:00:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by sir_cowman (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:57:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
good
i liked these books as a kid, too
Submitted by DirtyHarry (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:55:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:43:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome.
thanks for bringing these to light. i had forgotten all about them.
Submitted by ShapeShifter (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:32:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I forgot, or thought I completely forgot about these until I had a synaptic visual stimulatory response with the images. I was completely spooked as well.
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:29:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy fuck I remember these.
Burried deep within my subconscious.
Wow.
Awesome.
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:26:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
HOLY FUCKING SHIT
that one about the spider laying eggs in the girls face scared the shit out of me
arachnophobia forever now, motherfuckers.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:20:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You see a scary skeleton woman with lipstick.
*I* see an opportunity to eye-fuck someone.
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:19:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You're absolutely right in saying it wasn't the stories that made one lie awake at night, terrified and wide-eyed, it was those PICTURES. They still scare the holy hell out of me, THANK YOU FOR RE-INTRODUCING THEM TO MY MIND'S EYE, JERK.
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:17:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That artwork is phenomenal.
Submitted by Yozz (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:15:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That IS fucked up.
Submitted by Zampano (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:11:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
These books are still scary shit. Well, creepy. Or grotesque. Maybe that's the word.
Visceral?
Nah. Although every picture had that look of rot and bodily ruin.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:10:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That is some fantastic artwork though.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2007-08-29 13:10:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yes, these images are what nightmares are made of.