Saturday, August 20, 2011

Hall of Mirrors

Dick Briefer. Nuff said, eh? From the Feb '53 issue of Suspense #27.





5 comments:

Anonymous said...

1. I like the way the mirror maker resented the circus owner fore being more "handsome"; (quotes intended because, I don't know if this is just the artist's style, but everyone in this seemed to be, I don't know, "shopworn" or "gone to seed"!

2. Like the ending too; (i thought it was going to be some variation of how people thought mirrors reflected the soul* or how primitive peoples used to think cameras stole your soul!

*Hence the "vampires cast no reflection/can't be photographed" thing!

DBurch7670

Turok1952 said...

Oh, to see ourselves as others see us!

How sweet and proper it is when a cruel miscreant gets his come-uppance. The shame of it is that people like the owner never seem to be able to admit that they themselves are the ultimate cause of their discomfiture.

He became what he in fact was--a cruel-minded worm. I hope the glassmaker gets the girl, for the worm won't now!

SpaceLord said...

Congrats on this post, it’s simply wonderful. One of the straightest storylines I’ve ever seen in a pre-code horror book. Works just fine.
May I be so bold to make an announcement on my own behalf?
I’m currently uploading some missing precoders to the Digital Comics Museum. Go there and hit the search-button for my other alias “tilliban”. You’ll find a handful – and there’s more to come! Mostly ACE titles, the occasional QUALITY or SUPERIOR issue following in the next weeks.

Odyzeus! said...

Some of Briefer's best work. Thanks for this, Kars!

Mr. Karswell said...

>i thought it was going to be some variation of how people thought mirrors reflected the soul

Everytime I read this story I wonder if Ray Bradbury's short story classic "The Dwarf" had any influence on it. I mean, it's got some similar elements, but as EC was using Ray's tales, I find it likely that Atlas might have looked at some of his horror stories and modified them to fit into their many series titles as well.

>He became what he in fact was--a cruel-minded worm

This comment perfectly sums up what I was saying about the ending in Bradbury short story.

>One of the straightest storylines I’ve ever seen in a pre-code horror book.

I'd hardly call anything Breifer got into his mitts "straight", but I guess I can also see what you mean.

>Some of Briefer's best work. Thanks for this, Kars!

My pleasure! Much more ATLAS on the way... I hope everyone likes blondes, cuz by the end of the week you might not!