From the Oct '52 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #11
Friday, May 30, 2008
Twanng!
Someone over at the Atlas Tales site thinks the art here is by Larry Woromay, can anyone confirm this? My friend Jason thinks this style is better suited to “funny books” instead of horror but I totally disagree. To me, this is some super slick stylized art that exudes loads of manic fun, intensity, and energy. Sure it’s a bit cartoony, but that’s the point. Enjoy!
From the Oct '52 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #11
From the Oct '52 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #11
I believe the Woromay identifivation came not just from someone but from art spotter extraordinair Doc Vasallo. He has copies of almost every story in binders and can physically compare many stories to find common traits in styles. It doesn't look like Woromay to me either, but maybe Doc had some comparison I didn't have. There certainly is no other story like it in all of Timely Atlas.Woromay always worked in a mock Jack Davis style - but that was a superficial affectation, so who knows.
ReplyDeleteSo Tod Browning DID write for comics....
ReplyDeletefantastic!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletevery very nice... this story is very great!
jeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
So Twanng! is really the title? I had to look twice...well, it's short and catchy and easy to remember, hah.
ReplyDeleteA boomerang knife. I did not see that coming AT ALL.
The final panel of the third page is really creepy and well drawn, too, and the knife practice panel...I didn't even start thinking about the "cartoony" style of the comic until that part...
Twanng!
ReplyDeleteThat is a hilarious title, and I'd like to make a joke out of it myself, but the only thing that comes to mind is the recent marital breakup of country music chanteuse "Shania Twanng".
(I couldn't resist. Sorry!) And yes, I would hit that.
Yes... it's Woromay. I love this guy.
ReplyDeleteMike H
FUN IS INDEED THE WORD HERE! A BIT LIGHTHEARTED COMPARED TO MOST OF THE HORRIFIC STUFF YOU POST HERE BUT STILL GREAT WITH A COOL ENDING. I'D LOVE TO SEE ANOTHER WOROMAY EXAMPLE TO COMPARE THE STYLE
ReplyDelete"There's a guy like Hector in every crowd...the shmoe, the jerk, the guy who makes you laugh just to look at him..."
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, I could never find him in the crowd I was in...hey, waitaminnit!
I don't mind the cartoonishness--I think it's expressionistic. Love the "mad" shot of Hector at the bottom of pg. 3.
Of course on pg. 1 it looks like he's more in love with Jumbo than Sonia--and from the look of things, the pachyderm reciprocates!
But couldn't that knife-thrower have been more specific? Would it have killed him to say, "No, I don't dare throw that knife...BECAUSE IT'S A FREAKIN' BOOMERANG?" Oh, wait, I guess it would have...
Cool stuff!
Looking at Woromay's page on GCD I was surprised at the minimal amount of comic book output cataloged. Surely a guy with this much talented created more than these handful of stories:
ReplyDeletehttp://comics.org/search.lasso?query=Larry+Woromay&type=credit&sort=alpha&Submit=Search
But then I read his bio on Lambiek and realize he had other interests as well, like oil painting and puppetry.
A boomerang knife. I did not see that coming AT ALL.
ReplyDeleteNeither did Hector. (cue laugh track)
Maybe Rocco knew Hector was jealous and deliberately left that boomerang knife where Hector would find it and kill himself. That would have been a nice twist.
Yes, more lighthearted than the usual THOIA fare, but definitely an enjoyable story. I don't mind the more cartoon-like art. The last panel of p2 reminds me a bit of the Grinch.
If you're still taking story requests, Karswell, how about more everyday horror like this? There are plenty of graveyards, dungeons, and dank castles. How about stories in places where you don't expect to find horror? "Nasty Little Man" was a good example.
What a great little story! This one is easily the equal of the very best of any pre-code horror comics.
ReplyDeleteI think that the art works well with the story here too. I think page 3 is my favorite. There's some really great stuff happening there.
ReplyDeleteI guess Hector practiced with a different knife. Dum dum Hector.
ReplyDeleteKarswell: I love Woromay! For anyone wishing to see Woromay's fast and loose style with Eerie Publishing: http://www.bloodypulptales.com/2010/03/better-off-dead-horror-club.html
ReplyDelete