Freddy Krueger’s A Nightmare on Elm Street #1
Written by Steve Gerber
Art by Rich Buckler, Tony DeZuniga, and Joe Jusko
Released: 1989
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Story: Dreamstalkers Part 1
Premise: In 1989, Marvel Comics began publishing the first comic book series to feature Freddy Krueger and the Nightmare on Elm Street mythos. Freddy Krueger’s A Nightmare on Elm Street was published in classic black and white, on magazine sized stock, running for two issues before it was cancelled.
Plot Breakdown (spoilers): In Springwood, paramedics are called to the home of Allison Hayes. Allison, a teenage girl, was found by her parents in bed, severely wounded and barley breathing. The paramedics, thinking Allison’s parents abused her, call the police to investigate. Meanwhile, in New York City, Dr. Juliann Quinn is in the process of moving back to Springwood. She is having nightmares relating to child murderer Fred Krueger, and wants to find a way to confront and stop the horrific dreams. On the plane ride over, Juliann reads a letter from a nun who worked with Amanda Krueger, Freddy’s birth mother. The nun details the events of Amanda’s rape at the hands of the one hundred patients at Our Lady of Sorrows mental institution. Following the letter, Juliann examines the psychologist’s report on Krueger, compiled during his trial. The next morning, after another terrifying nightmare, Juliann attends a meeting at Westin Hills Psychiatric Hospital, where she is assigned Allison’s case. Allison survived her ordeal and now refuses to sleep. Juliann meets with the girl, and the two discover they share the same nightmare about Fred Krueger. Juliann is concerned, as she knows Krueger has targeted her because her parents were part of the mob that burned him alive, but she doesn’t understand why he has targeted Allison. Later, Juliann convinces Allison to partake in a dream exercise, which will allow Allison to exert control over dreams. Allison reluctantly agrees. Starting out, Juliann draws a picture of a rock formation and hypnotically suggests to Allison that the two can meet there in the dream. After they fall asleep, they soon awake on top of the rock formation in Juliann’s drawing. Juliann takes Allison through some dream exercises, allowing Allison to tap into her “dream power.” Just as the two dreamers make some progress, Freddy appears and threatens to kill them both. The rock under the girls’ feet begins to change to a tissue substance, making them sink into the ground. Freddy, gloating over their impending doom, reveals the rock formation is his head and they are sinking in his brain.
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