Mykal and I had a blast over the weekend bringing you
"Corpses of the Jury", so how about a couple more
Eerie Pub classics? And déjà vu---
Dick Ayer's infamous remake of
"I Killed Mary" from
Weird Mysteries #8 (1954) retitled
"I Chopped Her Head Off!" has been posted online before a couple times now (most recently over at
David Z's great
Tomb It May Concern blog), but it's much too good not to share again, so if you gorehounds have somehow missed it then here you go. From the June '75 issue of
Weird Vol. 9 #2.
BONUS! The April 1966 issue of
Weird Vol. 1 #11 is a particularly inspired issue, full of
Ajax / Farrell reprints featuring vampires and gruesome murder, even Little Red Riding Hood takes on a werewolf! I'll have a really creepy crawly story in our next post, but for now here's my favorite:
Hey, where's the eye poppin' out of the socket? Shame on you, Dick Ayers. We don't pay you to NOT draw flying eyeballs.
ReplyDeleteCOOL story Karswell, thanks for posting it! Any story with a talking tree ("arrows in the vitals," and my favorite: "and I smashed him into a greasy red pulp") is okay by me!
ReplyDeletebest,
r/e
I wonder if "I, the Coffin" was inspired by / ripped off from the E.C. story "The Craving Grave" which appeared in "Tales from the Crypt" issue #39, dec 53-Jan 54 -- or perhaps vice-versa.
ReplyDeleteAnybody know the date / comic title where the original "I, the Coffin" was published?
I notice Frank has a moustache in the splash page of "I Cut Her Head Off!" but nowhere else in the story. The splash panel actually makes him look a bit like Dr. Forrester from "Mystery Science Theater 3000".
ReplyDeleteI recall reading "Mary!" in the reprint comic "Tales to Terrible to Tell", and kind of like it a bit more that "Cut". Maybe it's the fact that "Mary" is a bit more understated..Less is sometimes more.
>Anybody know the date / comic title where the original "I, the Coffin" was published?
ReplyDeleteDrew, if you click the highlighted issue links in my story intros you will be directed to GCD with this info... in the case of "I, the Coffin" it says Fantastic Fears (Ajax; Farrell, 1953 series) #7. Hope that helps!
I was going to mention the Craving Grave too, but Drew beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteThe coffin one had a nice dark sense of humor, and I actually felt that "I Chopped Her Head Off" was more gruesome in black and white than it would have been in color. Milquetoast Frank was reminiscent of Norman Bates.
even Little Red Riding Hood takes on a werewolf!
ReplyDeleteAny chance of this in the future? Fantastic Fears is so obscure, I think the only thing I've seen from it is "Secret Coffin," here two years ago.
Thanks as always.
no one ever believes me when i tell 'em how many girls i've chopped up too...
ReplyDeleteOH MAN JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT COULDNT GET MORE DISTURBING AFTER THE NAZI STORY! I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE WEIRD MYSTERIES VERSION OR THE EERIE REMAKE SO THIS WAS ACTUALLY A COOL TRIPLE HEADER THIS MORNING FOR ME! AND I THE COFFIN WAS GREAT TO SEE A STORY TOLD FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE. KILLER STUFF LITERALLY!!
ReplyDeleteThe gentle and kind Mr. Ayers says that "I Chopped Her Head Off" is his favorite Eerie Pubs story.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to post Eerie Pub stuff (WEIRD series) all week-- this is just an appetizer! Get ready.
ReplyDeleteFrank looks a lot like Bruce Banner, alter ego of the Incredible Hulk.
ReplyDelete"I Chopped Her Head Off" must be the best story title I've come across recently.
ReplyDeleteA "daring deed" though? ... Is this really sending out the right message to our kids?
I Chopped Her Head Off! is the greatest title. It doesn't beat around the bush. It just comes right out and lets you know. And it's not as good without out the exclamation mark.
ReplyDeleteThe use of the exclamation-mark is like the cherry on the top.
ReplyDeleteAnd "I Chopped Off Her Head!" just wouldn't have had the same ring.
Tracked down Fantastic Fears. "Fiends from the Crypt" is the standout, but "Careless Corpse" is no slouch, either.
ReplyDelete>"Careless Corpse" is no slouch, either.
ReplyDeleteScan it in Todd and send it to me, I'll post it next month.
Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteDo you know where I can purchase Weird Tales - I Chopped Her Head Off
ReplyDelete