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.

Noir at the Bar – A Great Night in Baltimore!

Last night’s Noir at the Bar in Baltimore, part of the CHILLED TO THE MARROW N@B series, was fantastic.

Host Nik Korpon put together a great lineup of authors to to help raise funds to cover medical expenses for Evie Swierczynski, who was recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Evie is awesome, and she’s the daughter of Duane Swierczynski, author of a lot of amazing novels and comic books.

For more information about supporting #TeamEvie, visit this GoFundMe page.

The lineup of authors included:

• Kim Alexander
• S.A. Cosby
• Jessica McHugh
• Andrew Novak
• Damien Angelica Walters

The show was held at Zella’s Pizzeria, and I can personally (and heartily) recommend the calzone.

Noir at the Bar in Baltimore – Tonight! (Oct. 21)

I’ll be joining a crew of great writers in Baltimore tonight for another Noir at the Bar!

The show begins at 6:30 p.m. at Zella’s Pizzeria, 1145 Hollins St., Baltimore. Admission is free, and the restaurant serves great food, so join us!

This is part of a series of Noir at the Bar events called CHILLED TO THE MARROW. Authors around the world are participating in Noir at the Bar events to help raise funds to cover medical expenses for Evie Swierczynski, who was recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Evie is awesome, and she’s the daughter of Duane Swierczynski, author of a lot of amazing novels and comic books.

For more information about supporting #TeamEvie, visit this GoFundMe page.

The lineup of authors includes:

• Kim Alexander
• S.A. Cosby
• Jessica McHugh
• Andrew Novak
• Damien Angelica Walters

And the whole thing is hosted by the great Nik Korpon.

I hope to see you tonight in Baltimore!

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.

This Saturday, 3/19: N@B in Philadelphia

NOIR AT THE BAR is returning to Philadelphia this Saturday, March 19, at Society Hill Playhouse.

The playhouse, founded in 1959 by Jay and Deen Kogan, will soon close for good — so help us give it a proper sendoff! Noir at the Bar starts at 6:45 p.m. SHP is located at 507 S. 8th St. in Philly. (Click the poster for all the details.)

I can’t wait to read some of my fiction alongside this amazing lineup of writers:

• Scott Adlerberg
• Jen Conley
• T. Fox Dunham
• Dana King
• William Lashner
• Jon McGoran
• Adrian McKinty
• Richie Narvaez
• Rick Ollerman
• Edward Pettit
• Joe Samuel Starnes
• Wallace Stroby
• Duane Swierczynski
• David Swinson
• Dennis Tafoya

I hope to see you there!

Bottom photo via Google Street View.

N@B Returns to Philly on March 19

Philadelphia’s Society Hill Playhouse, founded in 1959 by Jay and Deen Kogan, has been the site of countless memorable performances (including several editions of the great NoirCon conference).

Society Hill Playhouse is closing its doors for good soon, but not before a group of 16 crime writers take to the stage for what promises to be an epic NOIR AT THE BAR event.

NOIR AT THE BAR at Society Hill Playhouse will take place on Saturday, March 19, 2016. The show starts at 6:45 p.m. SHP is located at 507 S. 8th St. in Philly. (Click on the poster for all the details.)

Philadelphia is the original home of N@B, so it’s always a special time when it returns to the City of Brotherly Love.

I’m excited and honored to be reading my fiction at this N@B, which will also feature readings by a killer group of writers:

• Scott Adlerberg
• Jen Conley
• T. Fox Dunham
• Dana King
• William Lashner
• Jon McGoran
• Adrian McKinty
• Richie Narvaez
• Rick Ollerman
• Edward Pettit
• Joe Samuel Starnes
• Wallace Stroby
• Duane Swierczynski
• David Swinson
• Dennis Tafoya

That’s an amazing lineup, and I hope to see you there!

Bottom photo via Google Street View.

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).