Comic Title: Secret Origins #18
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: September 1987
On Sale Date: June 9, 1987 Newsstand Date June 9, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #40

Newsstand Date June 9, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #118

Shipping Date May 19, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #118

Newsstand Date June 9, 1987
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #702, #704

Copyright Date May 19, 1987
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1987
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date May 19, 1987
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #702, #704

Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 48
Editor: Greg Weisman

Title: "Before and After Science"
Pages: 16

Feature(s):
Creeper (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Andrew Helfer
Plotter/Penciller: Keith Giffen
Inker: Rick J. Bryant
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Feature Character(s)

• Creeper (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Justice League #2)

Villain(s)

• Manny (a mob boss; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Moe and Galt (Manny's henchmen; both die in this story; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Emil Yatz (a scientist; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Carol (Manny's secretary; no further appearances)
• Doloris (Jack Ryder's co-worker; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Investigative reporter Jack Ryder angers a mob boss, Manny, with a series of articles. He then crashes a costume party to gather more evidence. Manny's henchmen catch Ryder and drug him. They then dress him in a jester costume and allow the party guests to beat him senseless. After Ryder is beaten, they take him outside and shoot him.

Ryder's body is found by Emil Yatz, a scientist who has invented a matter transference device. The mob has been funding Yatz, but he does not want the device to fall into their hands. He saves Ryder's life and implants the device in his body. However, Yatz had to rush to save Ryder, so the costume and drugs were imprinted onto the device.

Galt, one of Manny's henchmen, then arrives at the lab. He shoots Yatz. Ryder activates the device and becomes the Creeper. The costume reappears and the drugs cause him to act insane. He kills Galt, then returns to the party. Manny and Moe, his lead enforcer, are then killed by the Creeper. After the fight, Ryder wakes up in the newsroom and writes the story without revealing his role in the events.