Roy Thomas Presents The Heap #1

In a war-torn corner of occupied Europe, the Nazi Protector of Prippet District is both terrified and intrigued by reports of the Heap—rumored to have seized a Nazi plane and slaughtered both enemy pilots and Allied troops. Faced with a creature that defies explanation, he offers a staggering 100,000 Reichsmarks to anyone who can bring it down.

In "The Heap Returns!", the legendary hero’s past is revisited with haunting clarity as the Heap—once the Baron—faces his darkest hour in occupied China. When Japanese forces capture him and his wife, Lisa, the Heap’s fury ignites as he fights to protect her, only to be betrayed by a desperate rescue attempt that ends in tragedy.

In "The Return of the Heap," famed zoologist Professor Kringle revives the monstrous Heap with a mysterious serum, unleashing a deadly force that claims his wife—and then silences anyone who investigates. As the Heap turns on its creator, Sky Wolf and Cocky must pursue the rampaging creature through the skies and across the war-torn landscape, racing to stop a horror that's far more than just a reanimated corpse.

In a quiet woodland moment that blurs the line between wonder and unease, the Heap encounters Rickie Wood when the boy’s motorized German airplane goes awry and crashes into his domain. Drawn together by the strange machine and the quiet mystery of their shared space, the two form an unlikely bond that deepens with every passing day.

In "Pursuit of the Plane," Rickie heads to New York for a model airplane contest, his heart set on the blueprints of his prized German model. The Heap, still fixated on the craft, follows him across the country, drawn by an obsession that turns the journey into a tense, shadowed chase through the city’s streets.

In "Nature's Prank!", a desperate film producer chasing a monstrous legend stumbles upon the Heap, unaware that his quest for cinematic terror has unleashed something far beyond his control. When the Heap emerges, it's not just the producer who's in danger—his reckless ambition puts the high-wire artist in mortal peril, forcing her to face the creature in a moment that could end in tragedy.

In "Von Emmelman's Pearls," young model plane enthusiast Rickie finds himself caught in a dangerous web after his friend Tom is murdered for a mysterious package. With the help of his meticulously crafted replica of Airboy’s Birdie, Rickie uses the model’s flight path to signal for help, leading the Heap to intervene—just as the stakes reach a deadly peak.

In "Hotel Disaster," millionaire Felix Tibbets buys a cursed hotel with a shocking $5 million, setting his sights on hosting a high school vacation there. When Jane tells Rickie their class has been chosen, he insists on flying them in by glider—unaware the Heap, drawn to the hotel’s dark reputation, is already on the move.

In "The Music of Paul Lustig," a young man with an unnervingly hypnotic voice sets his sights on fame and fortune, using his voice to manipulate his way into owning half a town. When secretary Winnie arrives, she unknowingly brings with her a German opera score—and the haunting melody within is the key that summons the Heap from hiding.

In "Family Ties: The Prequel," Paul von Emmelman arrives in America chasing an $8 million inheritance, only to find himself entangled in a series of eerie, life-threatening events. Drawn to Rickie at a model airplane show by a rare German plane, their brief connection sparks a dangerous encounter with crooks who target Paul for ransom. When The Heap intervenes, recognizing the family ring on Paul’s hand, the mystery deepens.

In "Heapophobia," Jo, the daughter of a corrupt airline owner, grapples with her father’s criminal empire and his inexplicable fear of planes—fear that traces back to a childhood encounter with a monstrous, tree-like creature known as The Heap. As secrets unravel and paranoia takes hold, the line between guilt, madness, and the supernatural blurs in this chilling, atmospheric tale.

In "Von Emmelmann's Castle," a disgruntled estate owner ships a mysterious European castle to America and threatens to disinherit his sons unless they reform—only for one to die in a sudden accident, leaving the other to face the castle’s unsettling secrets. As the Heap arrives and the tension escalates, the true motives behind the inheritance twist in deadly ways, leaving the fate of the remaining heirs uncertain.

In "Kill or Be Killed—The Survival of the Fittest," Jo finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of divine manipulation when Jupiter warns Ceres of growing tensions among the Roman gods. With the fate of the animal kingdom hanging in the balance, Ceres sees The Heap as her chance to reshape the world—one creature at a time.

In "The Wager of Ceres and Mars," Ceres, having transformed The Heap into a peaceful being, faces a challenge from Mars, who bets she’s wrong—claiming that place The Heap in conflict, and he’ll revert to his destructive nature. The Heap is then drawn into a brutal quest for the legendary Black Tashmal, a prize that ignites tribal war after the sacred unicorn statue is shattered.

Ceres guides the Heap to the tranquil Island of Langeen, seeking refuge and food—but peace shatters when two men plot to steal the Black Chest of Langeen, a treasure held by a native tribe, and frame the Heap for the theft.

In "The Island of Dr. Drake," Dr. Drake discovers the Heap stranded on a remote beach and brings him to his lab, convinced the creature belongs in the wilds of South America rather than on his isolated island. With his daughter’s help, he plans to transport the Heap across the sea—unaware that the ship they’ve chosen is a cover for a dangerous drug smuggling operation.

In the humid heart of South America, the Heap and Dr. Drake make landfall, drawn to the earth’s hidden rhythms as the creature begins to feed. When young Estella Lopez-O'Reilly inherits her family’s rancho from her late grandfather and father, her cousin’s arrival from Chicago brings more than just family tension—something ancient and hungry stirs beneath the soil. The Heap moves through the shadows, and when the true threat emerges, it answers with a quiet, inevitable justice.

In "Incident At Port Barrios," The Heap stumbles upon a desperate situation in the Costa Rican jungle when he witnesses Ned, a prospector, attempt to murder his partner in a quicksand pit to keep a newfound treasure to himself. Though he intervenes, saving Ned from the pit, the man’s reckless boasting in town draws the attention of ruthless thugs who drag him back to the site—where the true cost of greed begins to unfold.

In "The Destiny of Q-4," a beggar in Bombay spins a chilling tale of intrigue and hidden identities, weaving together the shadowy past of Baron von Emmelman and the elusive Q-4, a figure tied to the origins of World War I who vanished into the Argentine countryside. When a Captain Morgan receives a cryptic note from Q-4 declaring his presence, he’s drawn into a web of secrets involving a woman named Maria and a connection to the baron that defies belief.

In "The Master Jewel Thief," a notorious criminal recounts a deadly game of wits set in motion by three legendary thieves who hid the famed von Emmelman jeweled neckband behind a series of traps meant to test only the most cunning. As the story unfolds, the stakes rise and the line between triumph and ruin blurs—especially when the Heap, a figure of grim reputation, takes interest in the prize.