Back from the Dead! / The Raving Maniac

Finishing out May 2009 with a double dose of Joe Maneely! And if you read yesterday's post then you know this is only the start of an entire month of Atlas tales lined up for June... I'll be covering all their pre-code horror titles featuring (in my opinion) the greatest comic book writers, artists and stories of the 1950's. Hope you stick around-- enough said!

From the Nov. '52 issue of Suspense #24

NEXT: More Suspense!

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The Raving Maniac

From the April '53 issue of Suspense #29

The Man Who Shrunk

Another Atlas request filled for John Kaminski, this time from the May 1952 issue of Amazing Detective Cases #12.

Got something you want to see here at THOIA? Just drop me a line!

NEXT: June is ALL ATLAS Month!

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Vintage Ad

Beast of the Bayous / Drive In Movie!

Creeping along with our brief, 2-day theme this week of “Cold Blooded Babes” (who possess an uncanny ability for reptile transformation) is this fantastically illustrated, chilling chapter from the August 1954 issue of Hand of Fate #24.

Make it a double! For another great Gator Gal tale, check the THOIA Archive for--- Bride of the Swamp!

NEXT UP: Another Atlas request fulfilled!

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Drive In Movie!

Drive-In season is finally upon us once again, and what better way is there to celebrate this event (as well as Double Features) than with a hilarious THOIA post about—the Drive-In!

From the June-July 1955 issue of Panic #9 (art by Jack Davis)

Snakes Alive!

Kicking off the final week of May 2009 with a couple swampy ACE terrors (catch the other tale on Tuesday), both featuring a theme that I guarantee will make your blood run even colder than the lead subject’s!

From the May 1953 issue of Baffling Mysteries #15

NEXT: Bayou Bitch!

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Vintage AD

I posted this prankster ad almost a year ago in July '08, so in case you missed it, here it is again paired with a story that could not possibly be more appropriately titled...

The Deadliest Man Alive! (FILM SHORT)

If you've ever opened up a single Silver Age comic book in your life then you already know who this is about... click HERE for a fascinating 3 minute film short on the life of Count Dante, a man who was apparently much much more than just a martial arts Master!

Swamp Monster / Just Imagine

I’ve had a couple requests for more Basil Wolverton lately and thankfully my pal Brian Hirsch has come to the rescue with a wild one from the June 1953 issue of Weird Mysteries #5! And after that, don’t run away screaming too fast because I’ve pulled out another Silver Age Flash Forward for you as well.

Everyone have a great weekend, and check back on Sunday for the start of a mini-Ace fest!

NEXT: Reptiles In Love!

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Just Imagine
From the Dec. ’72 issue of Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #8

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Vintage Ad

The Face from the Future!

And finally wrapping up our Black Magic Fest this week, two tales from the June-July 1951 issue of Black Magic Vol. 1 #5… the first tale features Sam Citron pencils and George Roussos inks, and the second is another "true" Kirby & Simon quickie. But in regard to The Face from the Future, I simply adore stories about innocent, naïve girls who dabble in the occult and discover much more than they bargained for… and believe it or not, sometimes they actually do have happy endings too.

Ummm, today’s story though does not.

NEXT: The Return of Basil Wolverton--- plus a Silver Age Flash Forward!

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Vintage Ads

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The World of Spirits by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon

Witch Girl! / Birth After Death

Continuing along with our look at Prize Publications Black Magic series, we begin today with one of my favorite witchcraft tales from the July 1952 issue of Black Magic Vol. 2 #8. Featuring crisp art from the unique and underrated hand of Bill Walton, we also proudly round out this post with the usual vintage ads, as well as a creepy Kirby quickie too.

NEXT: A Face from the Future--- and MORE Kirby!!

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Vintage Ads

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Birth After Death
From the January 1953 issue of Black Magic Vol. 3 #2

The Voice of the Dead!

Two spooky tales from the July 1952 issue of Black Magic Vol. 2 #8, and the first day this week in THOIA’s multiple post look at this landmark Prize Publications series produced by the legendary dynamic duo of Simon and Kirby. The main point of focus for this fest will be on well told, atmospheric ghost stories and witchcraft featuring great, moody art (of course!) Prize was definitely not short of amazing talent, as exampled today with Bill Draut mastering our first eerie tale, and George Roussos on the second.

NEXT: Bill Walton and Jack Kirby!

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Vintage Ads

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BONUS STORY: The Mailed Fist of McGonigle!

Journey to Chaos

Time once again to enter into a world of fear (the November 1952 issue of Worlds of Fear #7 to be exact), to ride along on one man’s epic, nightmarish journey into, well--- chaos! Just ignore the mythology flubs and enjoy the fun artwork and fantastical adventure angles, this one actually pays off with a real swell twist too!

NEXT: Lots of Black Magic!

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PS: My bestest comicbook bloggin' buddy sends over a darling image of his dear Mother, callin' out in the withered throes of withdrawl from the shadowy corners of Castle Pappy (mainly for more consistant THOIA postings!) Who can blame her?

"Hang in there Mum... I'm doin' the best I can!"

---Karswell

Satan's Stradivari!

A really wonderful splash with some terrific lettering kicks off this typically eerie satanic tale from the November 1952 issue of Worlds of Fear #7. GCD notes that K. G. Murray reprinted this one in the 70's in Doomsday #14... I don't know much about this series but it appears to be a mix of golden and silver age horror tales, reprinted in black and white.

NEXT: Another visit from The Prince of Darkness!

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Vintage AD
Keep up to date with Hillbilly Hits!

The Mummy Master

Before we get to our "Instrument of Evil" story this week, I totally forgot to post THOIA's tribute to our lovely mummies today! Happy Mummy's Day!

From the March 1955 issue of Beware #14

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Duel of the Vintage Ads:

To be or not to be-- "skinny" that is!

Blood of the Zombie

Ahhh, you gotta love a man with a well thought out plan... unfortunantly, today's story does not include a man with a well thought out plan. I mean, how awesome can your scheme be when Step #1 calls for you to be embalmed alive first?! But let's cut the guy some slack, it's probably not easy going through life with a lush, triangular patch of female pubic hair growing right on your forehead.

From the May 1952 issue of Strange Mysteries #5.

NEXT: An instrument of evil!

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Vintage AD

The Monstrous Plant

THOIA's Monster Vegetation theme continues, and today's story by Ken Bald is from the January 1951 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #15... it begins in the jungle, but ends in a lonely greenhouse where a strange, terrifying creature of evil is born!

NEXT: Zombie!

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Vintage ACG Ad

The Thing With the Golden Hair!

Lurking behind a rather tame sounding title comes a surprisingly eerie jungle terror tale of evil from beyond the stars, illustrated by Sheldon Moldoff. Plus, the usual vintage ad, and a neat little George Klein bonus quickie, all from the March 1954 issue of Forbidden Worlds #27.

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Vintage Ad

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Spooky Bonus Quickie

Walpurgis! / Zodiac

Nostrand and Kremer destroy all traces of April and kick off Walpurgis and May with two wild and wickedly appropriate Harvey classics today! Hope everyone burns the midnight fires this evening… and for anyone in the St Louis MO area / region don’t miss SONS OF BLACK MASS tonight at The Firebird!

All scans today from the April 1953 issue of Witches Tales #18

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Bonus Quickies!

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Zodiac

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"Never Stop the Devil Rock..."