Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Up Pops the Devil!

December is here, the holiest, most inspirational month of the year. And to honour all things held sacred this holiday season, THOIA has decided to host an entire month devoted to The Devil. Sounds like Hell you say? Perfect. So come with us now as we resurrect Mister Lucifer in his less than flattering, (black)magical debut from the 1946 issue of Spook Comics #1. GCD notes that the John Giunta pencils are possibly inked by Frank Frazetta. What's everyone think?











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Totally NOT what I wanted for xmas this year...
:*(

at

15 comments:

  1. Mykal Banta12/01/2009

    Karswell: Was going to comment on the story - and the great concept of Devil Christmas Month - until I came to Naschy's severed head. My finger is so far off the pulse these days that I learned of the great man's death here. What can one say but Crap! An amazingly dedicated, powerful, screen-dominating actor gone. Makes me want to howl at the devil moon. -- Mykal

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  2. THE APOCOLYTE12/02/2009

    I thought for a second that Jack Black died! RIP Mr. Naschy.

    Commenting on the possible Frazetta inks - believe it or not, yes, I say yes. His earliest comic work was inking John Giunta on 'Snowman', also featured in a comic from the same publisher, two years earlier. I have a copy of the snowman story and that's how Frazetta inked back then, kinda loose and simple, not like the finely detailed work he would soon be known for. Oddly, this whole story art ended up having a real 'Ditko' feel to it somehow!
    Great post Mr. Karswell.

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  3. Runs.with.Ferals12/02/2009

    Man~ Giunta combines the best of everything that's fantabulous about comic art all into this one story~! Sweeping vistas, sparse landscapes, minute details, and gorgeous Gals~!
    (with Satan !) Great post~!

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  4. Mr. Karswell12/02/2009

    I like the odd emptiness of this story as well, though I could've maybe done with a few more establishing close-ups (and a less clunky demise for the Devil.) But overall this is an interesting, fun little curio in Frazetta's back pocket.

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  5. Bob Lilly12/02/2009

    This looks like Frazetta inks, especially the panel where the car launches from the cliff. To me, what makes Frazetta art look like Frazetta art is the composition. Big empty areas in panels may have been a side effect of using larger 18" tall paper sizes. Notice how panels became crammed full in the mid 1960s when the standard became 15" tall paper?

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  6. Kitty LeClaw12/02/2009

    "No copper is ever gonna make us pay for makin' crime pay us!" is quite possibly the best line I've ever read here on THOIA!

    And that's some 2000 year old monacle he's got himself there!

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  7. Anonymous12/02/2009

    UP POPS THE DEVIL SOUNDS KIND OF NAUGHTY! IF THIS IS EARLY FRAZETTA HE CERTAINLY IMPROVED OVER THE COMING YEARS.

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  8. Alan12/02/2009

    I noticed Mr. Lucifer looks like Béla Lugosi from White Zombie, the granddaddy of Zombie movies.

    Image from it is here:
    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow6qQETokDk/SsWLPInpupI/AAAAAAAAAmo/9Hj-2RvDsFM/s320/lugosi.jpg

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  9. Prof. Grewbeard12/02/2009

    hey Kars, did the Devil make you do it?...Nyuk, Nyuk!

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  10. Anonymous12/02/2009

    Definitely Frank!

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  11. Prof. Grewbeard12/02/2009

    i guess i should also mention how utterly fantastic & unique today's story is, now that i've actually read it. it never ceases to amaze me, the stuff you post.

    i will always associate Santa with Satan- one and the same?...

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  12. Horror pariah12/03/2009

    I can tell that I'm gonna like this month.

    RIP Paul. You were a great guy onscreen and at cons.

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  13. Cindy M12/03/2009

    It's not December. Further comment in that regard declined. ;-)

    Santa is Spanish for "saint," so I'm unsure why we've got "Santa Claus" -- except as relates to Nicholas. As for "the jolly old elf," his legend goes back hundreds of years through Europe (pagan of course)...and further back to ancient Greece (The Star Son and The Serpent). The latter can be read about in James Frazer's "The Golden Bough."

    The cover art looks like Humbert Allen Astredo, of "Dark Shadows" fame.

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  14. Mr. Karswell12/03/2009

    The Devil has indeed made me dood it, and we're just getting started! Thanks for all the great comments... more satanic shenninegans coming right up!

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  15. Tony12/05/2009

    I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Paul Naschy's passing recently. He is unquestionably one of the true greats of European horror cinema and discovering his films was one of the main reasons I became addicted to European horror cinema many years ago and still am today. I also feel extremely fortunate to have met Paul Naschy at the 1997 Fangoria Convention in New York City where he was one of the main guests. Several clips of his films were shown and he was accompanied on stage with an interpreter to translate for him. I gave him an affectionate hug and spoke to him briefly. It is one of my most cherished memories.

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