The Boy in the Box

The following short essay about one of Philadelphia’s most haunting unsolved crimes first appeared in an issue of The Black Hood comic book by Duane Swierczynski, published by Dark Circle Comics under the watchful eye of editor Alex Segura. It also appears in my book The Throes of Crime.

Following the essay is a link to a new report about the case from reporter Claudia Vargas at NBC10 in Philadelphia.

The Boy in the Box
by Erik Arneson

For a terrible week in the late winter of 1957, two stories dominated the Philadelphia Inquirer’s front page: a missing four-year-old girl and a dead, unidentified boy in a cardboard box.

The girl, Mary Jane Barker, was found dead six days after disappearing. Police concluded she locked herself in a closet while playing in an empty house near her home.

The boy, four to six years old, has remained unidentified for nearly six decades.

Discussing FORTUNE on The Comics Panel

I recently appeared on The Comics Panel, a YouTube show produced locally that takes on all sorts of comic-related topics.

The gang was kind enough to let me talk about FORTUNE, the comic book I created with Dillon Samuelson. We also talked about the true-crime essays I’ve written for the back of THE BLACK HOOD comic book.

Many thanks to the entire Comics Panel team! I had a great time.

If you’d like to read FORTUNE, it’s available here:

• Digital Edition ($0.99) from Comixology
• Print Edition ($3.99) and Digital Edition ($0.99) from Indy Planet
• Free PDF Download from NoiseTrade

Black Hood #10 – Available May 4

Issue #10 of THE BLACK HOOD, Duane Swierczynski’s tremendous comic book about a cop addicted to painkillers who’s trying (in his own twisted way) to the streets of Philadelphia safe, will be available tomorrow, May 4.

Greg Scott’s art, Kelly Fitzpatrick’s coloring, and Rachel Deering’s lettering are perfect for the gritty story that Duane’s telling in THE BLACK HOOD.

If you still need to be convinced, a preview of issue #10 is available at Comic Book Resources.

This issue also includes an essay I wrote about a child who is best known, tragically, as the Boy in the Box. His remains were found in Philadelphia in February 1957 and he’s never been identified.

This is my sixth essay for THE BLACK HOOD, and it’s probably the one I’m most proud of. Even if you already know something about the Boy in the Box, I think you’ll learn a few new details. I read many of the original newspaper articles written in 1957 immediately after the body was found. In those early days, there was a lot of optimism that the boy would be identified and his killer(s) brought to justice.

Many thanks to Duane and editor Alex Segura for including my essay. The main cover is above right; the variant cover is below.

Pennsylvania’s Last Hanging in Black Hood #9

Issue #9 of THE BLACK HOOD is out now.

Writer Duane Swierczynski‘s excellent crime story continues to gain steam and new artist Greg Scott is outstanding.

And tucked neatly into the back of the issue is a non-fiction essay I wrote about the last prisoner to be executed by hanging in Pennsylvania.

This is my fifth essay for THE BLACK HOOD, and it’s always an honor to have my work included in the pages of such a great comic. Huge thanks to Duane and editor Alex Segura for including me.

THE BLACK HOOD is published by Dark Circle Comics.

Black Hood #9 – Due Out Feb. 17

THE BLACK HOOD #9 will be out two weeks from today (i.e., on Feb. 17). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: THE BLACK HOOD is a superb crime comic.

Writer Duane Swierczynski is joined by a new artist, Greg Scott (Sam Hill, Strange Attractors), and the preview pages look amazing.

I’m once again thrilled to have a non-fiction essay about Philadelphia crime in the back of this issue. This time, I wrote about the last Pennsylvania prisoner to be executed by hanging.

Tell your local comic book store that you want a copy of THE BLACK HOOD #9 (published by Dark Circle Comics), or get it digitally! The main cover is to the right; the variant cover is below.

Post updated to correct the release date and the topic of my essay.

Duane Swierczynski Interviewed at Geekadelphia

Duane Swierczynski, writer of the tremendous comic book series THE BLACK HOOD, was interviewed recently by Peak Johnson for Geekadelphia. Good stuff.

Issue #8 of THE BLACK HOOD (that’s the variant cover to the right) is out now, and issue #9 is scheduled for release on February 10.

It’s set in Philadelphia. It’s awesome. And it keeps getting better.

Black Hood #8 Available 1/13

THE BLACK HOOD #8 goes on sale January 13, 2016!

Along with a great story written by Duane Swierczynski and superb art by Robert Hack, this issue features an essay I wrote about crime in Philadelphia in the fall of 1940 (when The Black Hood first appeared in comics). It’s a real thrill to be in The Black Hood again.

You can order a copy from your local comic book store or on Comixology.

You can read more about The Black Hood #8 (published by Dark Circle Comics, edited by Alex Segura) at the Archie Comics website.

There are two available covers for issue #8. The main cover is above; the variant cover is below.

Both are very cool, but I think this variant may be the best Black Hood cover yet (and that’s saying something).

The Black Hood #7 – Out on 11/25

Issue #7 of THE BLACK HOOD will be available one week from today — on Wednesday, Nov. 25 — and by my estimation this is the best issue of what’s already a great series.

This issue begins a new story arc (so it’s a great time to start reading even if you haven’t been following the series from the start), and writer Duane Swierczynski has crafted a terrific plot. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

He also nails the complex, emotional relationship between Greg Hettinger (the police officer who is also the vigilante known as The Black Hood) and his speech therapist, Jessie Dupree. And Greg’s self-doubt… and everything else.

The art by Michael Gaydos is amazing, of course, and I love the special Philly touches sprinkled throughout. Colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick is likewise outstanding.

Finally, I’m excited to once again have a non-fiction piece in the back of The Black Hood. This one’s about H.H. Holmes, often referred to as America’s first serial killer. He killed dozens of people in Chicago, just one in Philadelphia — but that one… well, it’s all right there in the comic.

Issue #7 will be available with two different covers, the main cover (above) and one variant (below). The Black Hood is edited by Alex Segura and published by Dark Circle Comics.

The Black Hood #6 – Out on 10/28

Issue #6 of THE BLACK HOOD releases later this month — Oct. 28, 2015, to be precise. And I’m excited to have another essay featured inside.

If you’re not familiar with THE BLACK HOOD, a bit of background: It’s a great crime comic written by Duane Swierczynski and set in Philadelphia. The protagonist, Gregory Hettinger, is a Philly cop who gets addicted to painkillers and lives a secret life as the vigilante known as The Black Hood.

Each issue includes a true-crime essay. In issue #4, Duane and editor Alex Segura published an essay I wrote about political corruption in Philadelphia. In issue #6, I’ll be back in the back of THE BLACK HOOD, this time writing about a bizarre Philadelphia murder ring which operated in the late 1930s and claimed dozens of lives — perhaps more than a hundred.

THE BLACK HOOD #6 also features art by the legendary Howard Chaykin.

It’s never too early to order THE BLACK HOOD (published by Dark Circle Comics) at your local comic shop! Issue #6 will be available with four different covers, the main cover (above) and three variants.

The Black Hood #4

Today’s publication day for THE BLACK HOOD #4, the fourth (you probably guessed that) issue of Duane Swierczynski’s kick-ass comic book about Greg Hettinger, a Philadelphia police officer who gets addicted to painkillers and lives a secret life as the vigilante known as The Black Hood.

(Published by Dark Circle Comics, THE BLACK HOOD also features incredible art by Michael Gaydos.)

I love this comic, but I’m especially excited about this issue because it includes an essay I wrote about political corruption in Philadelphia.

Each issue of THE BLACK HOOD features a non-fiction article based on some aspect of crime in Philadelphia. Previous issues have featured articles by Jon McGoran, Edward Pettit, and Dennis Tafoya. It’s a real honor to join their number. Huge thanks to Duane and editor Alex Segura for letting me in!

Here’s a sneak peek at my article in THE BLACK HOOD #4:

THE BLACK HOOD Back Page Writers, L to R: Jon McGoran, editor Alex Segura, Dennis Tafoya, Erik Arneson. Not pictured (because McGoran and Tafoya forgot to take him out of the car trunk): Edward Pettit.