The June 1974 issue of
The Witching Hour #43 clearly states on the cover
"Village of Evil", but instead inside the lead-off story is
"Village of the Vile", one of the many cool horror tales written by
George Kashdan for
DC Comics (and to make things even more memorable the art is provided by the great
Alfred P. Alcala!) We're winding down
Devilcember, and this is it for our
"Flash Forward" detour into the
Satanic Silver Age, as well as our shiver inducing glimpse into
The Witching Hour series, hope everyone enjoyed it!
Eegads--- more cat cruelty?!! Maybe it really is time to end this Witching Hour fest! It is interesting though to note how popular Satanism was in mainstream comics during this era. Hell, even Superman and Lois Lane turned up the heat in a few issues!
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Vintage AD
WASNT SURE I LIKED THE ART AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE OTHER WITCHING HOUR STORIES YOU HAVE POSTED, BUT THE MIDDLE TRANSFORMATION PANEL ON PAGE 6 IS AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS AGAIN FOR HELPING ME THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS!!
I hope they're still going to make that call to the Humane Society. Sacrifice yourselves to Satan all you want, but leave the frikkin' cat alone!
ReplyDeleteThese Witching Hour stories have been a good Christmas treat.
Karswell: Again with the cats. You evil thing. I have just become a cat lover, too, after a lifetime of hardcore, macho dog loving. Wow, did that no look right in print. Isn't Miss LeClaw about ready to start with the backfeet rabbit kicks?
ReplyDeleteMan, I had no idea about The Witching Hour. Great, great post. I read it twice. That Alcala is all that and a Coca-Cola, too. Thanks. -- Mykal
Poor kitty! :*-(
ReplyDeleteThe artist who drew "Village of the Vile" has a style similar to some of the MAD Magazine artists. Given the time, maybe not a coincidence.
And what's up with Satan and Lois in "Peter Pan" style outfits? Red of course...not green. And now Lois has cloven hooves; guess her fancy shoe collection is history.
Look for more Witching Hour posts in 2010, as well as more examples of Silver Age horror... I'm glad to hear that some of you enjoyed the stories, it is most definitely a series to keep an eye out for when hitting the conventions and comic shop back issue bins.
ReplyDelete>And what's up with Satan and Lois
Well unfortunantly it's not really Satan in this issue of Lois Lane, but SATDEV from the alien planet INFERINO--- where everyone has horns and hooves! It's an exceptionally fun / cornball issue, and highly recommended reading even if you're not into the superhero stuff.
i remember well the heightened interest in the occult in the 70s. imagine Anton LaVey being able to publicize the opening of a Church Of Satan in '68 and it actually being fashionable! just try that now, wise guy. let's face it, the stupid just keep getting stupider(like this sentence!)...
ReplyDeleteOh god, now I totally must read those Superman comics!
ReplyDeleteMatt
Karswell: "Well unfortunantly it's not really Satan in this issue of Lois Lane, but SATDEV"
ReplyDeleteOh brother. Lol! How clever: Satdev. I wonder if that name is a combination from two others?? Hmmmm. ;-p
"from the alien planet INFERINO--- where everyone has horns and hooves!"
Why am I not surprised? And are they any relation to the Reptiloids of Alpha Draconis? Just wondering.
Just wanted to say THANKS for putting these old comics up...completely nuts ideas, but you gotta love that! :)
ReplyDeleteEvil/Vile. DC was into anagrams, I guess. (Planet Inferino is close.)
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't appear that Alcala did any artwork for Mad, mostly DC horror, Swamp Thing and my personal fave, Kong the Untamed.