Thursday, May 29, 2008
Fiend of the Undead
Like yesterday’s post, today’s story also comes from the Dec-Jan ‘52/53 issue of Out of the Night #6. It’s a particularly good issue with lots of spook factor and great art… I’ve praised Jon Blummer many times in the past and his work here, (especially the superbly atmospheric splash), speaks for itself.
Zombie hypnotist -- now there's a plot you don't hear about too often.
ReplyDeleteA good story, in spite of the too-common anagrammed name ploy. The artist did the aging quite well. But what in the world are Jean's hands supposed to be doing in the middle of the last page? And where's the money shot of Bimoze getting the business end of that spike?
I love the line from the cop about having the guy's head candled -- how many people today would have any idea what that means? I only know because of a Loony Tunes where they candled eggs to see what was inside.
I first thought the title was "Friend of the Undead" -- I was going to nominate Karswell. Thanks for sharing all the horrible goodness.
What's with the giant sardine can opener?
ReplyDelete"Ye Gods! Thank Gosh! You're not hypnotyzed NOW, baby!"
ReplyDeleteSome really great dialog--er, monolog--here! I love the "narrator" passages too:
"Like robots activated by evil!"
"In he next horror-laden second..."
I can't help imagining that in the voice of the narrator from "Superfriends." If only Solomon Grundy had been a little smarter, HE might have come up with something like this!
I don't quite get the whole "aging" angle, but still, a wild tale with some great art. Kudos!
The next time that I'm really in the mood for a good stiff drink, I'm gonna belly up to the local bar and order an "Atmospheric Splash".
ReplyDeleteThat sounds refreshing!
ACG HAD GREAT ARTISTS BUT ONE DRAWBACK IS THE STORIES ALWAYS HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS AND REDUNDANT PLOTS. I'M NOT COMPLAINING, MOST OF THE GREAT CLASSIC HORROR MOVIES OF ALL TIME FOLLOW THIS SAME FORMAT- MAN / GIRL IN PERIL, DEFEATS EVIL AT THE LAST MOMENT. WORKS FOR ME!
ReplyDeleteTHE STORIES ALWAYS HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS AND REDUNDANT PLOTS ... MAN / GIRL IN PERIL, DEFEATS EVIL AT THE LAST MOMENT.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget the last panel where the girl never finds out what she's been through:
"What happened to me?"
"Never mind, baby. It's all over now."
>I first thought the title was "Friend of the Undead" -- I was going to nominate Karswell.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeffos, your Friendship Medallion is in the mail!
Chuck, set me up with an Atmospheric Splash too, they go down so good, but with a chill.
>"Like robots activated by evil!"
Sounds like some fellow bloggers we know, eh Vic?
killer post!!!
ReplyDeleteas if the story isn't creepy enough blummers kick ass art really nails it
Not to detract from the horror mood here,but the comment about ACG plots really makes me realize somenthing;many of the comics artists and writers took to horror so fast was because they'd already been doing these kind of "weird mystery" plots in the superhero books,read some of early superhero stories,the whole jist is there;weird plots,anagramed names,hero rescuing forgetful girlfriends,they had it down pat,retouch the art and this could be a DR. FATE or SPECTRE story,or a Simon & Kirby story,only that the S&K often used a Scooby Doo ending and war propaganda.but still the pulp magazine/WEIRD TALES influence can be felt just as much as in these horror comics as the superhero books,you yourself showed us that with the creepy ZEBRA story.
ReplyDeleteHaha, the dialog had me cracking up but I enjoyed the story...the first page is just killer (puns! ?).
ReplyDelete