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Vintage AD
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Evil Voices by Al Hollingsworth
From the Dec-Jan '54/55 issue of Mysterious Stories #2
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Old Witch / Evil Voices!
Two eerie tales of witchcraft for you today, the first from the January 1954 issue of Mystic #26... The Old Witch, obviously lifted from A.E. van Vogt's famous short story "The Witch," was also made into a really great Night Gallery episode that aired on Sept. 29th 1971 called "Since Aunt Ada Came to Stay".
I was sort of hoping for that outcome, although she let them off easy. An epilogue seems in order: does he follow her to the ends of the Earth? I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteRecently, we were treated to a story in which the women of the world were secretly enacting designs of domination over their male counterparts. That story was presented as if it might be offensive, might ruffle some feathers. Halfway through today's witch story, I was wondering exactly how this was, deep down, all that different from that previous one.
ReplyDeleteBut looking back, I can see some big differences. The use of women in that story a few weeks ago--women standing in for cold war paranoia ("they're aliens coming to kill us")--was so over-the-top purple paranoid that the whole thing read as satirical, and really sort of ended up skewered paranoia itself. Frankly, I find all "boys vs. girls" themed stuff mildly annoying, but beyond that intrinsic trait the other story wasn't all that bad. Indeed, it could probably have been read as "empowered" in some twisted respect.
But today's story is much more offensive: the collusion of all the women in town--normal women here, of varied maturity levels--in the destruction of an outsider, based on reasons of petty jealousy, presents a womanhood colored by the ugliest possible clichés. Add to that the dash of witch-hunt apologism that makes up the tricky ending (such irony in light of the coming congressional hearings), and this ones a real slap in the face. It seems to me.
Loved the first story though.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE STORY ILLUSTRATED ON THE COVER OF MYSTIC. I'VE SEEN THAT COVER BEFORE AND IT GIVES ME THE CREEPS (THAT HEAD ON A PLATTER).
ReplyDeleteHorrible artwork and lettering on that second story. A similar EC story was illustrated by the great Jack Davis called "WHICH WITCH IS WHICH?" I'll never forget that curse the witch put on the village: "REGA FLEXIS MUR!" Then everyone in the village was turned into rats! Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteYes Anon, I too have expressed my dislike for Hollingsworth's occasional sloppy artwork here at THOIA many times over the years, but there are fans out there who really love him. And to be fair, I have seen Hollingsworth art that I actually liked alot, in particular a story that Chuck posted over at The Comic Book Catacombs a few years ago (forget the name.) What's everyone else think? And who agrees with Mr C's comment?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if he's talking about just this story or additionally something that happened recently. So, either I agree, or I really, really agree.
ReplyDeleteEvil Voices?? Who in the world would make a comic about my in-laws? :-(
ReplyDeleteOh wait, dumb question: Of course my in-laws are comedic. And evil. Well, I've said enough.
ReplyDeleteCOOL I KNOW THE NIGHT GALLERY EPISODE YOUR TALKING ABOUT TOO, AWESOME ONE. I THOUGHT BOTH STORIES WERE REALLY GOOD, AND REALLY LIKED THE END TO EVIL VOICES.
ReplyDeleteSO WHOS STEALING MY ALL CAPS UP THERE???????
I can't say I'm offended by "Evil Voices", if only because it seems to me all people, male as well as female, seem to be motivated by the same things out here in real life. There isn't a lot of charity in the world when it comes to such jealousies and fears, or anyway, not enough. Kids might as well learn that early on, if you ask me.
ReplyDelete