I Bet With Death!

A while back, someone mentioned the original early crime oriented Marvel Suspense run (before it switched to horror) which featured stories based on “the gripping CBS radio / television series” of the time. So what the heck, let’s finish out July with a tale from the February 1950 issue of Suspense #2… a tale so suspenseful in fact that a psychiatrist was actually called in as an editorial consultant! And unlike most pre-code stories that we’re used to around here, this one isn’t so much about how it ends, but what happens getting there; it’s not flat-out “horror”, but it does have some horrifying moments-- and some really fabulous (Gene Colan?) artwork too!

Enjoy, and we’ll see you all in August!

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Vintage AD

The Man Who Steals Gravestones! VS. The Man Who Sold His Soul!

Digging into the Crypt of Shadows today, Marvel's best Silver Age horror 50's reprint series in my opinion, with two pre-code tales brought back to evil screaming life for a whole new generation of hopped-up 70's horror heads (like me) to enjoy. First up, from the Sept '73 issue of CoS #5, a bone chilling Sol Brodsky yarn about a ghoulish grave robber, followed by an early John Romita story of witchcraft and bullfighting from the Jan. '75 issue of CoS #15.

The Man Who Steals Gravestones! (originally presented in the Jan. '53 issue of Advs into Weird Worlds #14)

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Looking for a non-Atlas horror tale today? Then put yer best paw forward and pounce on over to Kitty's domain for a Harvey classic from Tomb of Terror #3!

Claw HERE!

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The Man Who Sold His Soul!*

(originally presented in the Dec. '52 issue of Suspense #25)

(*request for Todd Hunter! Enjoy!)

Werewolves of the Rockies / In the Wake of the Werewolf

It's been awhile since we've allowed the werewolves to run rampant around here at THOIA, so load up the silver bullets and awaaaay we go! Our first action packed ACG tale is from the May 1953 issue of Forbidden Worlds #17, and features a very nifty set-up and isolated setting... followed by an eerie Sam Kweskin Atlas classic from the May 1953 issue of Mystic #20.

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Vintage Ads

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In the Wake of the Werewolf

Hog Attack! / Hunger

Somehow you survived “The Banzai Bacon Fiasco of 2009” on my Facebook page yesterday, (although beware-- Kitty LeClaw is still lurking around somewhere with the potato peeler!) In the meantime, please feel free to take a bite out of this two course, pork flavored, Atlas horror double feature, and first up is Hog Attack from the March ‘53 issue of Astonishing #23, followed by Brown & Gantz’s tempt-tasty EC rip “Hunger” from the March ‘53 issue of Mystery Tales #9. So go ahead and dig in!

Want more pig horror? Click HERE for Blood Brothers!

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Vintage Ad

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Hunger

Death Notice! / Television Ghost..

Two ghost posts for you today, and the first tale picking up where we left off with our continuing look at Atlas comics from the July '52 issue of Mystic #10. Then our second spooktacularly silly haunting is from the debut Sept. ‘51 issue of Mister Mystery #1. Note: GCD credits the pencils / inks here to Charles Stern who “was a former roommate of Harvey Kurtzman and John Severin, and a reason why this work resembles Kurtzman.”

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Vintage AD

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Television Ghost..

After Death!

We're taking a short breather from the Atlas tales this week, but will be back soon enough with more for those of you that voted for it... in the meantime here's a Vince Fodera "cat-horror" story that I had already scanned and on file (originally intended for posting eleswhere) but since I barely have time to even change my mind lately here ya go.

From the February 1954 issue of Mister Mystery #15.

NEXT! Ghosts Gone Wild!

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THOIA reader Peter Hope-Evans performing onstage in the UK at the Equinox Festival with his band PESTREPELLER while sporting his Horrors of it All tee shirt, which by the way is still available and still only $15.00! (info at the top of this page) Thanks PHE! Keep on rocking on!

The Mirror / Sticks and Stones

Let's warm-up today first with one from Fiction House Magazines' Monster #1 (1953) ...it's a nightmarish little tale with a downbeat ending and great legs (GCD claims "story contains some Milt Cannif Dragon Lady swipes as well as some good girl art swipes that look like they came from Blue Beetle..."), followed by an even warmer Atlas shocker from the July '52 issue of Advs into Weird Worlds #8.

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"Sticks and Stones"

Interview with Karswell (ADD)

Bryan Reesman interviews me about THOIA at his awesome Attention Deficit Delirium blog. Check it out by clicking HERE!



(Bryan Reesman is a veteran entertainment journalist who has contributed to over 100 media outlets including the New York Times, Playboy, E! Online, American Way, Fandango, Grammy, Stage Directions and Metal Edge. He has written liner notes for AC/DC, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Toto and many others.)

The Witching Hours! / Daughters of Doom

We’re developing a theme here this week, but don’t be simply fooled by the word “witch.” You’ll just have to stick around all week to see what’s up as THOIA drags you along to face its greatest fear together… and kicking things off with a weirdie originally presented in the Dec ’52 issue of Strange Tales #13 (scans from the April 1973 re-print version of Vault of Evil #2), followed by a wild Ace vampire yarn from the Jan ’52 issue of The Beyond #8.

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Daughters of Doom

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".

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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

They Crawl By Night! / Terror Below

THOIA has a bad case of the crabs, as we deliver a much promised Basil Wolverton story that we’ve been talking about for a few days now, (*thanks to Brian Hirsch for the scans again), this one from the Feb ’53 issue of Journey Into Unknown Worlds #15 --- plus another demented Ajax / Farrell tale of creeping crustaceous terror from the Nov. '53 issue of Haunted Thrills #12.

Want to see this crazy story again, but told in glorious black and white? Plus even MORE Basil Wolverton? Then head on over to Pappy’s today and go wild! Click HERE!

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Terror Below

Get Out of My Graveyard! / Trumpet of Doom

Two more requests this week, and first up one for Ronnie from the June 1953 issue of Spellbound #15. Someone at the Atlas Tales site thinks this is possibly the work of [Bill Everett?] I don't know, does this look like Everett to anyone else? It sure doesn't to me but I've been wrong before. And our second bonkers tale today is for Adam Sorensen and comes from the March - April 1954 issue of Haunted Thrills #14.

Hope everyone is having a great July so far!

NEXT: Basil!

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Trumpet of Doom

*Thanks again to Brian Hirsch for the Trumpet scans!

Satan & Sammy Snodgrass / Satan's Impresario

Your mundane Monday just got Satanically Super-Sized with this double shot of devilry, although technically only the Atlas story actually stars Satan himself. And first up to bat is a cornball Stan Lee classic from the landmark June '52 issue of Uncanny Tales #1 (1st issue fans take note!) Neat art from Paul Reinman too, especially the bottom panel on the last page featuring a pissed-off Satan roaring back down to Hell--- love it! And afterwards, check out one of the more demented Ace stories from the Sept ’54 issue of Web of Mystery #26.

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Vintage AD

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Satan's Impresario

Molu's Secret / Keeper of the Skulls

While you and your friends are blowing off body parts and digits today with Black Cats and M-80’s, here’s a couple tales about the removal of another body part—the head! A gruesome Atlas entry from Carmine Infantino kicks off THOIA'S July 4th festivities from the Oct ’52 issue of Suspense #23 , followed by a very similar tale from the August 1952 issue of Strange Terrors #2.

REMINDER: Stay safe and have fun today, and by all means--- don’t lose your head!

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Vintage Fireworks ADS

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Keeper of the Skulls

Thing That Grew / Dry Death

A couple weirdies from Harry Lazarus kick off July, and the first story is from the Dec ’51 issue of Advs into Terror #7; this is a continuation of our summer long look at Atlas Comics (for more info on the Atlas poll check the comments section of yesterday’s post for the results, as well as a preview of THOIA’s upcoming horror plans for July.) And today’s second tale is an ACG “True-Vision” bone chiller from the April 1954 issue of Advs into the Unknown #54, a request filled for Ivan Briggs--- and his mom!

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Vintage AD

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Dry Death