Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Soul of Benjamin Sprague

Happy Xmas Eve(L) everyone! To those of you still at work and pulling a half day, or those of you already at home and wrapping presents (or murdering Gingerbread men with your teeth), here’s my present to you, from the Winter/Spring 1952 issue of Weird Thrillers #3. This Trading Places-esque tale by Bob Powell was actually already featured over at The Fortress last week (the indentical St. John Nightmare #13 reprint version from ‘53), but since I already had the original Weird Thrillers version scanned I’m gonna go ahead and post it here anyway for those that missed it.

I sincerely hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday… and remember, he sees you when you're sleeping...







TOMORROW: More ghosts! More Bob Powell too (I think...)

++++++++++++++++++++++

Vintage Xmas AD


++++++++++++++++++++++++

Vault of Xmas Card

THOIA reader Squa Tront (aka Paul Beatless of Eastleigh England) sends a phantasmically chilling, personalized holiday greeting to each and every Pre-Coder out there. But dare I say Old Boy; I think we’ve always known what you look like under the Santa mask--- AIEEEEE!!


Thanks again Squa, and another screaming round of good cheer to everyone! AIEEEE!!

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous12/24/2008

    Touching story, but he didn't stay reformed for very long: http://monsterblog.oneroom.org/meet_the_monsters/spragg.html. Anyway,Merry whateverdeitythatsuitsyou-mas.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Call me an old softie but this was an effective, charming twist on an old idea. Perfect for the season and perfect to share with a kid you know. And much shorter than that Dickens thing.

    Well.

    Hell.

    That said, I feel a bit... soiled.

    It was... it was... hogwash! That's what it was! Just a barrel of sentimental slop! Aaaahhhh, DAMN IT! I HATE it when I get like this!

    Wait! That Vault of Xmas cover helps. Let me just stare at it for a little while...

    All right. I feel better now.

    Say, Kars, you got that Haunted Mansion book for Xmas?

    All I got was a thrashing. (It was a really GOOD thrashing, but still.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm sure you don't hear this very often here, but that was a NICE story!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12/24/2008

    Why 1925?

    ReplyDelete
  5. "I think we’ve always known what you look like under the Santa mask"

    Where I come from, when old men in fur suits try to ply children with gifts, it's never a good thing.

    Just one more sleep til the toy predator cometh!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. nothing like a ten-year dream of abject poverty and spiritual awakening...WAKE UP!

    thanx for the ad, i need all the cheap kitschy Christmas stuff i can get!...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Okay, it's holiday time... I ain't gonna be around much today and even if the creatures aren't stirring as much (not even a mouse) I command you to enjoy yourself. And a holiday warning: DO NOT eat St Nick's cookies--- he totally hates that! Better leave out some extras just in case.

    And heads up: don't miss the Haunted Mansion story scans below too! Share them with a loved one, or with that severed head in your freezer (HP, I'm talking to you!)

    Merry XXXmas Eve, to one and all!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12/24/2008

    Well everyone else is saying it guess I will too, very nice story!

    Merry christmas Karswell!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Greetings from Spain,I love Halloween and terror of it all ;) ur blog its "bueno"(cool) follow u,thnks for the comment

    ReplyDelete
  10. Merry Christmas Karswell!

    ReplyDelete