Matthew McCreep (Empath stories)

Matthew McCreep is a character who is part of the EMPATH: The Luckiest Smurf story series, mostly appearing in a flashback retelling of how the Smurfs first met Johan and Peewit. He is a traveling thief and musician who came across the word of a six-holed flute that the Smurfs were after and sought after its current owner Peewit, who revealed to McCreep that the flute causes people to dance to its tune when played. McCreep then used the flute on Peewit so he could steal it and then use the flute to rob the townsfolk of its valuables. Johan and Peewit sought to capture McCreep and get back the flute, but were unsuccessful.

With his stolen goods, McCreep paid a visit to his associate Earl Flatbroke, seeking a partnership with him to take over the Good King's kingdom by providing the mercenaries from an island off the port city of Terminac. A few Smurfs overheard this and relayed the information to Papa Smurf, who went with Johan and Peewit to Terminac to stop McCreep, only to arrive too late as his ship departed. Johan then sent a letter to Earl Flatbroke in McCreep's name, telling him to meet his associate on the island, which prompted Flatbroke to get on board a ship with Johan and Peewit disguised as sailors who would follow him. As the two tried to follow Flatbroke, they came across him and McCreep, the latter of which pulled out the magic flute just as Peewit pulled out the one the Smurfs had just completed. McCreep and Peewit were locked in a musical duel which lasted until both players stopped to catch their breaths, which gave Peewit the opportunity to knock McCreep out with a short musical blast.

McCreep and Flatbroke were then turned over to the authorities, the stolen goods were returned to their rightful owners, and the magic flutes were returned to the Smurfs.