It's Zombie Sunday Funday, and time for another variable spin on the 'ol monkey's paw-esque creeping dead classic, via the Sept. - October 1954 issue of Voodoo #17! Yes, sometimes paying a gruesome price to get your loved one back actually (sort of) pays off. I'd say "Be careful what you wish for!" --but in the end, it's not so judassy after all, --eh, Dr. Judas?
Sometimes these older precode horror tales feel extra mean spirited and grimy, as well as unintentionally hilarious. Take for example this "Tales of Terror" entry from the June 1946 issue of Yellowjacket Comics #10. Alan Mandel's artistic action blend of amaturish awkwardness in the character posing adds a sort of surreal edge to everything, whether it's slapping, kicking, bashing, or doing whatever. And that goofy lookin' horror host hag is a truly horrible hoot too!
As some of you already know, I like to throw a superhero horror tale atcha here every once in a while to keep things interesting. And this one is not only very innnnteresting, it's also The Duke of Darknessessess's very first action-packed appearance, --and it's all pretty damn funny too! From the October 1945 issue of K-O Komics #1 (PLEASE NOTE that I usually link to the GCD issue info here, but it doesn't seem to be responding at the moment for whatever reason, and you definitely don't want to miss the great Jack Kirby cover on this one too!) Anyway, if you're one to skip these horror hero posts because you're too cool 'n snobby, then I beg you to reconsider and at least give it a try, it's tons of fun (and funny), especially if you enjoy supernatural stuff like The Spirit, or The Spectre. Did I mention this story is also funny?
I'm working feverishly on a larger post that will be coming midwee-eeek, --in the meantime, here's a two page, factually creepy, moving coffin mystery for ya, from the March 1942 issue of Bang-Up Comics #2. Uh, does anybody actually ever read these text tales? I know as a kid, if one had a wild header spot illustration it would make me break down and read one, absolutely. And this one benefits from a cool little, leering ghost host character at the very start of the first paragraph too! *Gasp! Man, that guy needs his own comic book series!
Lately the world seems to be overflowing with miserable cultists creating nonstop, needless chaos. Their lies and actions inflicting pain, suffering, and yes, even death is totally unacceptable. Fueled by outdated, and very unwanted beliefs and agendas, this way of thinking has no place in modern society, and we at THOIA aim our middle fingers high, equally condemning all wannabe tyrants and so-called kings and rulers who pointlessly crave the ruination of our lives, as well as the lives of our brothers and sisters. With that said, let's take a look at a similar form of historic, though no less Hellish hypocrisy-- The Inquisition, from the February 1974 issue of Skywald's Nightmare #17. And yes, this is also yet another gruesome glimpse / expose into how certain untrustworthy news media outlets spin and spew their garbage narratives completely out of control. (The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same, no?) And if you're one who still doesn't believe that things are in fact, very out of control today, then you my friend are simply not paying attention.
(Last scan below: "The Inquisition" oil painting on canvas by Victor Schivert, 1900.)
Another Toby tale shambles forth from the ominous ocean, via the January 1953 issue of Tales of Horror #4. Pro team pals, Ben Brown and David Gantz amp up the atmospherics, with supernatural scare settings on SUPER SOAKER, as a cute blonde reporter on vacation finds herself in the middle of some rather sinister, seaside shenanigans! Also of interest: this tale was reworked for Road to Disaster (1982), one of the many wild Gredown horror reprint one-shot mags from Australia, and retitled, "The Slimy Haunt." As much as I'd love to see that, I'm actually much more curious about the cover story, "Supper in the Graveyard" (aka, "Michael's Last Supper"), you must see the last scan below-- I love that crazy cover!
I think we'll stick with these golden age Toby stories for a few more posts, and this time it's another one from good 'ol Myron Fass again, and from the June 1952 debut issue of Tales of Horror #1. This entry also contains an unnamed, high-collared horror host (resembling Ditko's "Mysterious Traveler" just a bit) who is possibly making his debut here at THOIA, --does anyone know for sure? So okay, with rats inheriting the Earth in our previous post (HERE!), it's now time to find out what happens when demons blow us! Wait, that's not right...
