One of the greatest revenge stories of all time.

Looks like Michael Golden art, either him or Bill Willingham.

So few words so well used.

Chris: also looks like the comic "Classics Illustrated" but I could be wrong on that. There were so many similar and, yes, they used good artists to illustrated them. I couldn't see a signature in any of the panels but, sigh, my 67 yr old eyes don't see so very good. Perhaps one of our more erudite commenters will chime in here ... y'know, somebody what's got higher learning.

The cheapest ink is better than the finest memory.

Chris Taylor, you are a WINNER! Chasmatic has a sort of win with the Classics guess.

Diversions of the Groovy Kind: Famous First Fridays: Introducing Michael Golden According to an interview in TwoMorrow's Modern Masters #12 (which focused on Mr. Golden, natch), although Golden began his career at DC, his first published work appeared in a Marvel mag. And not just any Marvel mag, but in Marvel Classics Comics #28's (1977) paean to Edgar Allen Poe.

Michael Golden did my favorite Dr Strange episode of all time where D'Spayre attacks him at his lowest point. Amazing art, great story. Been a huge fan ever since.

The reason for now lost, this tale was for my schoolmates and me our introduction to Poe. Not the girls mind you, but our motley cabal of eager reader boys desirous of entering the world of men. The schools, even the parochial ones, in those days were liberal in their desire to see their charges reach full reasoning manhood, and gave us bounties of opportunity to learn quick and well.

I remember well the struggle to make some sense of it. For what could be the mysterious Amontillado that can drag a man to his death? And the subtlety of the cause for revenge left us dazed that such an enormous thing could be planned and acted upon, without the proportional explanation of the cause.

At times we whispered among ourselves, repeating the dramatic lines, attempting to understand the emotions of the two men.

Even now, far removed from those days, the two exclamations "The Amontillado!", and "For the love of God, Montresor!", will echo unbidden in our memories.

I pity those boys of today, from whom we have robbed the culture that made us. I hope without hope that in their rage upon discovering what insult we have heaped upon them, that the punishment will not be too severe.

The mild social pressurization of a functional and temperate society keeps the monsters at bay and in the shadows where they belong.

Its only when Tyranny, or Civil Disorder break out do the monsters feel safe enough to show us who they reaaaaally are: and sadly its usually when they have the upper hand.

Unfortunately for this fellow, a monster had the opportunity and indulged himself.

I remember reading this story as a teen and found it unsettling.