They Burned a Witch

The last story of March 2009, and the last THOIA post for awhile as I take a much needed vacation… this one is illustrated by a typically unnamed ultra-talent from the ACE bullpen. Maybe Lou Cameron, maybe not… [Currently thought to be Dick Beck -- Nequam]

From the October 1952 issue of The Beyond #16

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ACE Bonus Quickie

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So fear not Pre-Code Fans, while this is certianly no April Fools Eve joke, this is also most certainly NOT the last posted tale from THOIA. I apologize for the rather cryptic hints this week (you know how we are around here about crypts and stuff anyway), I just have a coffin load of priority issues in my life right now and unfortunately blogging is not one of them. Think of THOIA as merely taking a breather, and we will be back, definitely not daily for the next few months anymore, but we’ll be here… I promise, so please do keep us bookmarked.

In the meantime peruse the archives, and of course if anyone would like to help out I am always taking story scan submissions. I thank you all for the daily devotions and comments, and please remember this is not goodbye. Yet.

(Sorry, I just had to be cryptic one more time.)

S. R. Bissette

I remember sometime in the late 70’s there was a magazine called Weird Worlds that I used to order through my grade school Book Club. Not to be confused with all the other “Weird Worlds” comics and mags, this was more like a collection of all things strange with articles on fantasy films and music, short stories; Ripley’s Believe it or Not type odd facts, and monsters monster monsters!! But for me the real highlight of these issues was always the terrifyingly fun, pre-code horror-esque comic stories illustrated by S. R. Bissette. I was 10 years old and this guy’s art just blew me away.

THOIA is proud to present 4 Bissette stories for our “Flash Forward Day,” all of which originally appeared in various issues of Weird Worlds, but scanned here for you today (and in color) from the April 1986 issue of Fear Book #1 (which also collects some of his fabulous work for Bananas, another childhood fave.) And for more about the great S. R. Bissette be sure to visit his official site HERE!

Return of the Swamp Beast!
From the October 1979 issue of Weird Worlds #3

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Egyptian Graffiti

From the March 1979 issue of Weird Worlds #2

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(cover)

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A Dead Ringer

From the September 1980 issue of Weird Worlds #6

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Business as Usual

From the September 1981 issue of Weird Worlds #8

TOMORROW: The last THOIA post?!!

The Moulder of Doom

Time for the wrap up to our WoE theme this week, and this one is from the February 1954 issue of Web of Evil #11 (art by Reed Crandall maybe?) [now thought to be Charles Nicholas -- Nequam] I hope everyone enjoyed this look at a much underrated pre-code horror series.

Wow, two days left in March… man, where did this month go??!

TOMORROW: A Flash Forward QUADRUPLE Header!

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Vintage AD

Creature of Doom

The last story from the November 1953 issue of Web of Evil #8… let’s see if we can avoid the obvious Marvel "origins" comparison here and come up with something a little more unique. Call it a contest if you like…

TOMORROW: More doom!

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Vintage AD

Flaming Vengeance

A non-Jack Cole tale today from the November 1953 issue of Web of Evil #8, this one would have gone great with the Flame Thrower tale I posted earlier this month.

Have a hot weekend everyone!

TOMORROW: The final tale from Web of Evil #8

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Vintage Ad

Death Prowls the Streets

While our Web of Evil Week lasts until Sunday the 29th, our Jack Cole Tribute ends today (wah!) And today’s tale, like yesterday’s tale is also from the November 1953 issue of Web of Evil #8. And FYI: the next two posts are also from this issue, so for you completists, yeppers--- it’s another full issue presentation! Enjoy!

TOMORROW: THOIA turns up the heat!

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Vintage Ads

I've always wondered what a mega-talent like Jack Cole might have thought of "instant artistry" ads like this, being a man who not only spent his life seriously perfecting his craft, but was obviously “born with it.”