The Metamorphosis of the Gkmloooms

This is it, the wind up to our S/F Horror Theme this week, as well as December and 2008. It was a crazy year for us, we went through some interesting changes, unleashed the THOIA tee shirt upon humanity, had a bunch of cool contests, and actually found a way to turn up the horror factor ten fold. But most importantly: we made tons of great new friends… and we certainly hope to make more in 2009 too!

Have a super safe evening tonight, celebrate and drink responsibly (or not) but please think of us at the Witching Hour… we’ll most certainly be thinking about you!

From the March 1952 issue of Worlds of Fear #3

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

COMING NEXT IN 2009:

What in the World... What Was It?

THOIA’s Sci-Fi Horror Week continues, and it’s an Ace vs. Atlas "Double Header Showdown" today, putting the baffling, alien question to you--- what? What? WHAAAT?!!

From the September 1953 issue of Web of Mystery #20

TOMORROW: How can you stop them if you can’t even pronounce them?!

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

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

What in the World

From the May 1952 issue of Amazing Detective #12

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

Out of Focus

Ahhh, the disasters of the ‘ol matter transmitter machine… fans of a certain George Langelaan story will undoubtedly enjoy this similarly plotted though very different and somber tale which saw print in the March 1953 issue of Weird Mysteries #9, (three years before the timeless classic “The Fly” short story was published in Playboy Magazine.)

So who invented the concept of teleportation in an S/F tale?

TOMORROW: A Double Shot of WTF??!

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

Vintage ADs

PS: The Comic Book Catacombs promises that The Killer from Saturn story should be posted there sometime today…check it out by clicking HERE, it’s another Web of Evil classic from the Karswell S/F Archives. Thanks for hosting Chuck!

Even Pappy is in sci-fi mode today, click HERE!

The Winged Terror

From the March 1953 issue of Forbidden Worlds #15, descends this bizarre George Wilhelms Creature Feature containing a moment or two that will surely put a shivery smile (in particular) on the faces of you Alien fans.

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

Journey into Mystery Vol. 2 "Atlas Era" Masterwork

A million years into the future (May 2009 to be exact) comes the second Marvel Masterworks “Atlas Era” edition of Journey into Mystery. Volume 2 collects issues #11 – 20 in their entirety (sorry, no Thor though) and features all the usual greats like Heath, Everett, Tuska etc… check Marvel.com for more info as it becomes available.

Other interesting collections scheduled for release in Spring 2009:

Creepy Vol. 3 (DARK HORSE)

Humbug (FANTAGRAPHICS)

Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Archive Vol. 1 (DARK HORSE)
Melvin Monster Vol. 1 (John Stanley Library / DRAWN & QUARTERLY)
Alex Toth Goes Hollywood / Wally Wood: Edge of Genius (PURE IMAGINATION)

The Fiend from Outer Space

Without giving you a chance to catch your breath we end one theme and jump right into another, so from now until New Year’s Eve THOIA brings you: Sci-Fi Horrors Week (emphasis on the HORROR.) Also, this entire 5 day run is dedicated to my pal Dave Tackett over at Quasar Dragon, in appreciation for the grateful / continual plugging of THOIA practically every single day since he resurrected the QD earlier this year. His blog is a treasure trove of awesome FREE stuff, featuring endless links to comics, movies, books, sites / blogs etc… everything you genre freaks crave, Dave tracks it down for you and makes life easier by putting it all together in one place. Thanks again Dave for all your hard work!

Now on with the show! From the Oct '54 issue of Web of Evil #19

(NOTE: the cover image at GCD for this issue of Web of Evil #19 is wrong… below is the correct cover--- plus a few sci-fi themed Ads.)

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

Another show of appreciation today goes out to my pal Chuck at the Comic Book Catacombs for presenting THOIA with the 2008 Special Achievement / Recognition Ghoulie Award! Apparently I went "above and beyond the call of duty" and someone actually noticed. Thanks so much Chuck, it really means alot!

Check out the Catacombs for a fun assortment of comic book related stuff old and new… I’m rather fond of the Golden Age Jungle Girl Comic posts myself (Rulah vs. the Devil Ladies posted on Halloween 2008 is one in particular not to be missed!) Thanks again Chuck!

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

Awwww!

By Maurizio Ercole

Vengeance of the Red Ghost

Today is the last day of our “Ghost Stories for Christmas” theme, and it’s a spooky slasher from the March 1953 issue of Web of Evil #3. I’ll have another Web of Evil story for you tomorrow as we kick off yet another theme that will hopefully annihilate December and 2008 with a bang. More on that later… and Happy Boxing Day to my friends in Canada!

TOMORROW: Sci-Fi Horror Week Begins!

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

House of Horror

As many of you know, I don’t usually post pre-code text stories, but I thought this one was pretty good, (and also from the March 1953 issue of Web of Evil #3.) It's short, to the point and spooky, with just a touch of supernatural grisliness. Check it out, you won't be sorry...

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

Blood Freak vs. Poltergeist

Late tonight on TCM Underground, don’t miss a true turkey monster cult classic--- Blood Freak (’72), followed by the truly terrifying Tobe Hooper / Steven Spielberg mindblower, Poltergeist (’82.) Witness just how far horror movies progressed in 10 years, haha…

As usual, check TCM for more info and showtimes in your area.

Curiosity Killed the Ghost

Time for a Christmas Day 2008 Ghost-o-rama with another chiller from Bob Powell… and once again, Happy Holidays to each and every one of you. I do hope you get every little thing you asked for from Satan this year… um, I mean Santa, of course. Or do I?

From the Dec ’52 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #4

TOMORROW: One more day of ghosts, and then it's on to another theme to finish off December AND 2008 permanently.

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

Merry Creechmas!

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

Another Dazzling Vintage Xmas AD

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!!

The Haunted Mansion (Golden Press, 1970)

And how about a little non-pre code xmas bonus too? I mean, what kind of “Ghost Story for Christmas” theme would be complete without the story told so damn brilliantly by Walt Disney and his Imagineers within the haunted walls of the single greatest Dark Ride ever created? It’s not just for the kiddies, but also everyone still young at heart too.

(FYI: these scans come from my original Golden Press book that I actually received for xmas over 35 years ago! Awww!)

For more about the real Haunted Mansion please check out the single greatest website devoted to it, DOOMBUGGIES.com …and what ever you do, don’t miss Jeff Baham’s incredible book The Secrets of Disney’s Haunted Mansion, featuring over 60 awesome pages of in-depth, behind the scenes Haunted Mansion history and facts!

Click HERE for more info and to order!

A Night in Black Knoll

Time for another ghostly chiller, and like yesterday’s tale, it’s from one of my other favorite underrated ACG artists, Lin Streeter. So is everyone enjoying the theme this week? What do you want to see in 2009, and how should we kick off the New Year this time around? I’m taking requests now…

From the Oct – Nov 1950 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #13

TOMORROW: A tale that actually takes place on Christmas Eve...

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

Mondo Xmas

For those of you in LA, The Cinefamily has a special “Mondo Xmas” program lined up for Dec 25th at 8pm that sounds like a lot of fun: xmas cartoons, aborted holiday specials, and the feature film Christmas Evil ('80), plus director Lewis Jackson in attendance with all kinds of crazy extras to astound you.

Click HERE for more info!

The Noose of Pearls

Barreling along with our Ghost Stories for Xmas theme this week, today we present another cinematically spooky King Ward entry from ACG... and graced with a splash that is so moody and dripping with eerie atmosphere, you can almost hear the waves crashing on the beach.

From the Feb – March 1952 issue of Out of the Night #1

TOMORROW: The Violent Death of Letha Michaux!

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

Vintage Pearl Necklace AD

"For that Special Love of Your Life, grace her face this xmas with the gift that just keeps on giving… and giving… and giving…"

Drive of Death

It’s the first official day of winter and that of course now means even more icy, snowy, extra treacherous, rugged road conditions. Or take for example the searing cold chill of death that our “hero” in today’s terror tale experiences while traveling his own self inflicted Highway to Hell.

From the September 1952 issue of Astonishing #17.

TOMORROW: Is it safe to google the words "pearl necklace?"

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

Vintage Xmas AD

A Voice from the Grave / Harrigan’s Wake!

As everyone’s favorite holiday (except mine) approaches, I guess it’s time to get the ball rollin’ on the not-even-remotely-American tradition of the Ghost Story for Xmas. I’m doing it this year in honor of my favorite English author of ghost stories, Montague Rhodes James--- this is for you, Old Boy! So pull up a roaring fire and everyone gather around, it’s that time…

From the March 1952 issue of Amazing Detective #11

TOMORROW: Why it's a bad idea to let a ghost drive a car...

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

Vintage Christmas AD

"You'll shoot yer eye out kid..."

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

Harrigan’s Wake!
From the May 1952 issue of Amazing Detective #12

Haven of Terror

Here we go with the final story from Journey into Fear #10. I hope everyone enjoyed this issue… but if you came here today hoping for another swig o’ sex ‘n sin overload (like yesterday’s yarn) then you might be just a wee bit disappointed. It’s still a good one though; you definitely can’t beat an axe wielding granny on the loose! AIEEE!

TOMORROW: We kick off another double theme 1.) The start of our Ghost Stories for Christmas Week with seven big days of spooky hauntings, beginning with 2.) tales from Atlas Comics’ Amazing Detective series (the horror stuff, not the crime) all this weekend. Actually, it’s an 8 day ghost fest if you include today’s story so 3.) BONUS!

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

The Curse of Khar (Revisited)

Carlos Federici drops by THOIA again today with a fine example of what happens to a classic Kubert horror story when it gets revisioned a year later in another St. John comic book. Sayeth Sir Carlos:

“The Curse of Khar”, originally presented in the Nov '52 issue of Strange Terrors #4 and recently posted on your blog (HERE), with a second version, from the Oct '53 one-shot issue of The House of Terror #1 (3-D.) The text is somewhat condensed (less captions and one panel omitted) and also softened in the horror angle by eliminating the bulging eye of the murdered Khar (they must have thought it would be too horrifying in 3-D!)”

Carlos was kind enough to provide the scans above of page 1 and 6 (as well as eliminate the 3D effect so we can compare the two versions without wearing the, uh, haha--- “Super Sight Goggles.”) Thanks again Carlos!

Crawling Evil

Oh my, you’ve been naughty haven’t you? You need to be punished… crushed like the dirty little worm that you are under a slick, black, polished high heel--- SQUISH! What a 1950’s comic book publisher like Superior was thinking back in the day with this glorious ode to unparalleled Man-Hatred sure reads alot like a Paraphilia-Fetish Freak-Out in 2008! *wipes brow*

From the November 1952 issue of Journey into Fear #10

TOMORROW: He wanted a place to spend the night, but instead he almost spent his life in a nightmare that actually didn't happen... or did it?

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

THOIA Holiday T-Shirt Special!

Show that obsessive Pre-Code comic book fan of yours how much you love him / her this holiday season with a THOIA shirt, because from now until the 1st of 2009 all tees are just $15.00 each (shipping is still FREE in the USA*.) 100% cotton and now they come in every size and color imaginable for men, women, children, and yes pets too ::shudder::

Adorable model Shari is truly the envy of all the cool horror cats on her block:

Be the envy of your horror block and Paypal your purchase NOW to karswell@hotmail.com, or send check or money order to the address below. Important: be sure to include your shirt size and mailing info with your order. Thanks and Happy Holidays to all!

The Horrors of it All (THOIA)
P.O. Box 806
High Ridge MO 63049

*non-US buyers please add $6.00 for shipping

Gallery of the Dead

More madness from the November 1952 issue of Journey into Fear #10, as well as one last bite from our 3-Day buffet of Screaming Severed Heads! Plus: Implied mad love with a wax figure! “Cock-A-Doodle-Doo” indeed. Hmm, this tale might actually be the inspiration behind The Real Doll and all of its sad predecessors.

I wonder...

TOMORROW: Dies Irae Et Dies Illa!

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

Plus a Bonus Ace Quickie!

Your Head for Mine

Tale #2 in our 3-Day look at The Best of Severed Heads this week… and if that’s not enough today also marks the start of our peek at the November 1952 issue of Journey into Fear #10 in its entirety. Yep, this issue is so massively bonkers it actually contains more than one decapitation-classic! Lucky you...

TOMORROW: More close shaves... reeeeal close…

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

Will Eisner: Profession: Cartoonist (DVD NEWS)

The award-winning, three-part documentary exploring the remarkable and lengthy career of Will Eisner finally comes to DVD today! For more info and a link to the trailer click HERE!

And find out more about the great Will Eisner by visiting his official site HERE!

The Screaming Skulls!

Bob Forgione kicks off your head--- I mean, kicks off a 3-day "Severed Head Fest" today with this beauty from the Feb – March 1954 issue of Out of the Night #13.

For another Screaming Skull quickie from the THOIA Archives, click HERE!

TOMORROW: It's "Your Head For Mine" as we begin our Journey into Fear (#10.)

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

The Curse of Khar

Finishing off our weekend theme of “Damned Duos”, and who better to seal this Doomed Tomb For Two than comic book hero Joe Kubert with a truly cursed, disgusting, dangling eyeball classic from the Nov ‘52 issue of *Strange Terrors #4. (*All apologies for the heavily water damaged scans.)

TOMORROW--- ???

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

William Ekgren Covers

The cover of the Nov ‘52 issue of Strange Terrors #4 was illustrated by William Ekgren. His fascinatingly strange “maze-like” sketch style seems more at home with a doodle covered school notebook than something a major publisher like St. John would have unleashed during this period, but this does not make the art any less interesting.

Below are a few other examples of the bizarre “psychedelic” pre-code cover designs that Ekgren created for Weird Horrors #6 and #7 (also published by St. John. ) Apparently these are the only pieces of work he ever produced for comics in this unusual style.

(click to enlarge)

The Well of Fear!

Some of you might remember our “Stupidest Killers Weekend” back in July. And today we kick off with a similar theme, but suddenly I’ve just decided to call this one a “Damned Duos Weekend” instead. Lordy lordy, it’s so much side splittin’ fun to see two complete idiots get their just rewards in manners such as these... especially when the story comes from a top notch collaborative team like Shuster and Osrin.

From the Sept ’54 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #21

TOMORROW: Joe Kubert!

Knife of Jack the Ripper / Mark of the Ripper

Two cool Ripper tales for you today, and our first entry comes from the Feb – March 1952 issue of Eerie #5, with art by Goldfarb Baer.

TOMORROW: The Return of "Stupidest Killers Weekend!"

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

Bettie Page 1923 – 2008

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

Mark of the Ripper

And here’s a short but violent one from Sy Moskowitz, from the Sept 1954 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #21.

The Ice Monster Cometh

Gene Colan concludes our brief look at freakish frozen frights with a weirdie from the April 1953 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #17 ---plus a nifty Bill Everett cover too!

TOMORROW: The Ripper Returns!

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

Beyond the Fog & Horror House

Late late tomorrow night (Friday Dec 12th) on TCM Underground, catch two obscurish horror films from the Screamin’ Silver Age of deadly drive-in terror! See! Beyond the Fog (’72) aka Tower of Evil / Horror of Snape Island, where a secluded island lighthouse proves to be a magnet for ancient evil--- and bare flesh! (Check out The Vicar’s review of it HERE.) And after that it’s a groovy murder party flashback to the 60’s with Frankie Avalon, Jill Haworth (starring in both films) and the great Dennis Price in Horror House (’69.) Check TCM for more info and show times in your area!

The Werewolf of the Alps

Ask for more bloody werewolf tales and you shall get more bloody freakin’ werewolf tales! Ahhhh-ooooo! And here’s a rather vicious yarn from the Sept '54 one-shot issue of Horror from the Tomb #1.

TOMORROW: More Brrrrrrrr!

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

And for another cool werewoman story today, stalk silently (on stealth-like paws) over to Killer Kittens From Beyond the Grave for a sweet taste of “Blood on Her Lips!” The Princess has been sweet enough herself to host yet another set of THOIA scans on her purrrfectly fantastic blog again. And if Kitty gets her way (and she always does) expect to see alot more feline frights from THOIA there in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.

Found: The Lair of the Snow Monster

The first official day of winter is still a few weeks away, but we’re jumping the gun a bit and Tuesday through Thursday we’ll be featuring some sinister snow monster mayhem... and what better way to begin a theme than with a repulsive Harvey monstrosity from the November 1952 issue of Tomb of Terror #6.

TOMORROW: A were-WHAT?!

Beast From Haunted Cave

Lighthouse of the Dead

Here’s another quality entry from the May 1954 issue of Web of Evil #14. And with its lighthouse setting and vengeful soggy dead, all this story needs now is a bunch of glowing fog, Adrianne Barbeau, (plus a hauntingly minimal electronic score) and we’d be all set!

TOMORROW: A Chilling 3-Day Theme Begins!

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

And for those who get so scared reading these stories that they can't stop biting their nails, this vintage ad is for you...

Fate Has 1000 Faces

How about we finish out our weekend with a cruel ‘n whacky ventriloquism creeper from the October 1952 issue of Strange Fantasy #2? And not to spoil anything (because you’ll know where this one is going almost from the get-go), but the ending will probably still make you do a shivery, half-grin double take.

(All comments today require your best explanation behind the story title too. ---Karswell)

THIS WEEK: Zombies! Monsters! Ghosts! And--- Jack The Ripper!

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

Hungry for more creepy ventriloquist puppetry today? Head over to Magic Carpet Burn as The Professor hosts another THOIA submitted tale from the Karswell '48 Archive.

Dear god it’s ---Charlie McCarthy (and Mortimer) in The Haunted Hide-Out!

And for something completely different, head over to Killer Kittens From Beyond the Grave where Princess Kitty LeClaw celebrates Hockey Night in Canada (last night) with a Silver Age vampire on ice chiller from Red Circle Sorcery #9! The Goal is Death!

Chant of the Dead

Here’s a neat little horror murder mystery from the October 1952 issue of Strange Fantasy #2. And according to GCD (here) this tale appears to have possibly been reprinted a number of times in the silver age by Eerie Publications… although only one or two of the synopsises there seem to match, plus the page numbers vary. Anyone care to double check this for us?

UPDATE: As suspected, this is indeed a recycled / retitled story from Superior Comics May 1949 issue of Ellery Queen #1. Thanks to Mike Howlett for the double check and the great scan of the original splash!

TOMORROW: More Strange Fantasy!

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

Forrest J. Ackerman (1916 – 2008)

The Wax Men / The Museum

Prepare yourself for a THOIA double dip into our bubbling cauldron of Weird Wax Works today, and this time it’s a sinful Joe Sinnot tale o’terror vs. a killer Bob Powell chiller. Take your pick, or read them both… just don’t sit too close to the flickering fire!

From the October 1953 issue of Adventures into Terror #24

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

The Museum

From the May 1954 issue of Chamber of Chills #23

This Weekend--- SEE! A Dead Man Commit Murder!

ALSO! A Truly Disasterous Attempt At Pitching Some Woo!

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

Vintage Harvey ads...

The Wig 2

Okay. Last month I misunderstood my friend Carlos after posting examples of his spanish version of THIS WIG STORY. The truth is that his scans (located at the bottom half of The Hungry Lodger post HERE) were actually translated versions of a Bud Thompson tale from the December 1953 issue of This Magazine is Haunted #14 (which I do not own), and everything is the same except for the text, so it’s not a “foreign re-make” as I called it. And technically I shouldn’t call this “The Wig 2”, as this one contains its own clever plot twist differences, plus it actually hit stands one month BEFORE the Out of the Shadows version. Whew! Got all of that? Anyway, a weird coincidence, or another example of publisher swipage? Or is this based on some piece of horror literature that I am unaware of?

Hell Toupee indeed…

Thanks again to Carlos Federici for the scans!

TOMORROW: Waxing Nostalgia!

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

Vintage Non-Horror Hair AD

One Door from Disaster

The vampire villainy continues with a viciously sexy Lou Cameron tale featuring a full page splash that dares you to not read this entire story once you’ve simply looked at it. Go on, look at the splash and try not to read this story now! And for those of you who like a little twisted romance with your bloodsuckin’ action, this one’s a rare treat for you too.

From the November 1954 issue of Web of Mystery #27

TOMORROW: Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the barbershop--- it’s The Wig again?! BAW!

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

And what do we have here? Why it’s Daphne and Dash Rozum, the winners of the THOIA 2008 Halloween Murderathon Contest--- and wearing their spiffy new THOIA prizes too! Wow, you guys look great!

And as the battle between voodoo witchcraftery and clone trooper technology rages on, I want to warn everyone that in just two weeks the next THOIA Contest rears its horrific head for yet another round. This is a big one too, so strap on your conjuring caps this instant, and prepare to call upon your own dark powers of pre-code inspired imagination… it’s going to be awesome (more to come…)

The Vampire’s Victim

I don’t know much about Emil Gershwin (except for what it says in his Lambiek entry HERE) but I seriously adore his crisp ‘n clean art style, and it appears he worked on a lot of great, heroic type stuff before his horror days with ACG. And before anyone else has a chance to say it, I will--- the devil vampire villain in today’s tale is completely ridiculous looking but that’s exactly why I love it so much, hook nose, horns, and all!

From the June 1951 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #20

TOMORROW: An awesome Lou Cameron classic from the Web of Mystery!

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

Happy B-Day, Barnabas!

Fans of the great Dark Shadows TV series will be interested to know that our Vampire's Victim tale above actually appears in celebration of Jonathan Frid’s 84th birthday today! Born this day in 1924 in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. (Weird, I thought he was more like 284 today or something, oh well…)

And for a fun Dark Shadows parody, head over to the Magic Carpet Burn archives and read “Darn Shadows” from the October 1970 issue of Spoof #1. (The Prof also has a great Blacula spoof there for you as well.)

The Secret of the Walking Dead

December kicks off with a real zombie zinger from the August 1952 issue of This Magazine is Haunted #6. This might be one of my favorite Fawcett stories ever… but in typical Fawcett fashion one can only imagine how much better it would be if the coloring had been a bit more inspired.

TOMORROW: A vampire legend celebrates his 84th birthday!

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

Vintage Fawcett AD