Saturday, July 21, 2012

Die for the Beggar

Rising above the tragic print job of today's post (like our last post also from Tales of Horror #7, 1952) is an equally tragic tale of a beautiful blonde girl and her unlucky excursion into the terrifying, deadly realm of love. The last page in particular, while not really reaching too hard for a typical shock / twist ending, is simply a different, low key example of welcome mood, emotion, and the inevitable. [NOTE: Page 2 found and added into the story... not sure how this snafu happened exactly-- possibly I left part of my brain in San Diego!]



















































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12 comments:

Brian Barnes said...

You're on fire lately, Kars! This is another great one that relies more on creeping dread (you see the ending coming a mile away) of the inevitable.

I know I usually whine about printing but even I'm not going to touch this one. This is another reason your (and Yoe's) Zombie book -- and other books like it -- are great. The B&W original art versions of some of these stories are a hundred times better than the ghastly off-printing colored version.

Trevor M said...

I agree, very good piece, like the inevitable doomed ending it marches to. Man, the bad printing on this issue even beats the bad printing on my handful of Canadian EC's (the Superior Comics reprints). And that's going some! The shit that printers got away with back then is amazing!

sfdoomed said...

Man, I hope my girl isn't off marrying some rich dude in Chicago just 2 weeks after I get crushed beyond recognition in a smash up!

What a killer this one was! The whole story unfolded like a nightmare.

But I was a bit confused going in, like the story line jumped without a transition from page 1 to 2. Did anyone else notice this or is it the triple gin and tonic I've been sipping while catching up on some stories (I've been M.I.A. for at least 6 months because I'm LAME).

I dread the day your supply of stories runs out, Karswell.


PS - Just ordered the Zombies book and looking forward to checking out your introduction.

Joe S. Walker said...

I thought there was a page missing too. But the whole story is so bizarre, who can tell?

Trevor M said...

Looking it over again, page 2 must be missing. It seemed, oddly, better written without it, except when suddenly the old man appears as rich without the any transition for his character. Editing error or more glory for the worst printing house in the world?

Mr. Karswell said...

I'll have to double check this when I get home, if a page is missing I apologize to everyone... I don't think after 1500+ posts though I would goof that bad to skip a page, unless it is indeed missing.

Turok1952 said...

Dear all,

I am thinking that the story was originally a page longer, and the editor elected to, instead of doing a rewrite, especially if under scheduling pressure, he or she just exxed out page 2 because it was functionally expendable.
Of course I may be wrong.
What thinkest tou, fellow denizens?

Mr. Karswell said...

Okay, I found the missing page and have added it to the post (I put a red border around it in case anyone is confused.) Please don't ask what happened cuz I have no clue, and I'm still too exhausted from my trip to make up something that sounds smart. Duh. --Me

Turok1952 said...

But it's okay!--so who's perfect?

Mr. Karswell said...

Haha, exactly...

Anonymous said...

you know in this world to each his own. I don't at all have a problem with the wonderfully cheap bizarre and offbeat coloring of these wretched 50's comics.For me anyway this just adds to the bizarre creepiness and authentic feel of the stories. Sanitize them and they would be like the crab that passes for entertainment today. No Thanks.

Mr. Cavin said...

Wretched crab!

I totally loved the creepy final panel here, accentuated by that great drop shadow. I also liked how they managed to sneak the hoary old urban legend about how beggars are probably really wealthy people into this narrative without causing a ripple. See, you bleeding heart bastards? Giving money to the poor is not only a useless waste, but it actually perpetuates the devil's murderous wedding designs. Chumps.