Monday, August 6, 2007

Corpse That Came to Dinner

I could just say the words “Reed Crandell pencils” here and that would probably be enough… but I also must add that this is without a doubt one of the finest examples of a non-EC, pre-code zombie horror story with a twist. You’ll laugh, you’ll barf, and you’ll hide under the covers when you try go to sleep later tonight. NOTE: My copy of this issue is a bit water damaged so the pages are a little wavey... all apologies!

From the July 1953 issue of Out of the Shadows #9








10 comments:

Anonymous said...

ha ha awesome story..... didn't realise that reed did work for standard

thanx for the great post today!!!!!

Mr. Karswell said...

And speaking of Standard Comics, don't forget to look for their banner, it is your guarantee of "wholesome reading." Even in a story about a guy who apparently commits suicide and then comes back as a flesh eating zombie to torment his friends who in turn poison him and then bury him alive.

Can't get much more wholesome than that!

Anonymous said...

I LIKE HOW ITS NOT ENOUGH THAT HE'S SCARING THEM TO DEATH BY JUST BEING A ZOMBIE BUT THAT HE HAS TO BECOME ANNOYING TOO BY PLAYING UGG DRUMS. GREAT STUFF!

Anonymous said...

Poor Henry,it would be great(even though it would ruin the ending,even though I kind of saw it coming since he was so decayed after being dead for say,a day.)if he really DID get to come back as a zombie and drive them insane,but still the pages before they poison him are pure,unadulterated joy,I think thats how I'm going to come back to my ex,ah revenge ideas and an admirable villain one wishes to imitate,truly this IS "wholesome" entertaiment.

Mr. Karswell said...

On the first page the woman is talking about their honeymoon and the "glorious three weeks" they just spent, so Henry would have actually been dead more than a day. My gripe is that when hubby shoots him he doesn't aim for the brain, where everyone knows is the proper place to shoot a zombie. Bullet proof vest or not, a lead slug in the grey matter would have ended that charade immediately.

BatmanisBw said...

This is Absolutely Insane. Good. Lord. I give it 10/10

Jordan179 said...

Darkly hilarious. Especially the obnoxious drumming.

Bill the Butcher said...

So a poison that paralyses a ghost would work on a living operation as well. How, by paralysing his inner ghost? And how long did Henry lie in wait underground for them to visit his grave before emerging, anyway?

Todd said...

This one was a hoot! And since they didn't really do anything wrong in the first place, I'm glad they finally got a happy ending. I don't feel too bad for what's-his-face because he must have let his joke go for months. Impressive he made his makeup last that long, though!

MrSteven said...

I think this was my first exposure to Reed Crandell, and it was marvelous!Every panel was perfect, especially page 5. Thanks Mr K - More Reed is all good!!