Horror Show! / Nightmare!

Two Astonishing Atlas tales to help scream in the new year and toss out the old! And since there are some of you that like to party, and some of you that enjoy simply staying in and watchin' the boob tube, I've scarefully chosen a story themed for each of you! Our first yarn transmitted from the April 1952 issue of Astonishing #12, and our second for you party animals, art courtesy of the great Joe Maneely-- from the December 1951 issue of Astonishing #7.

Happy New Year!!!

Gorillas, Ghosts, and Gangsters (Do You Dig?)

I received a somewhat mixed reaction back in 2008 on the first time I ever posted a Sergeant Spook story (see HERE) --seems a few commenters would prefer THOIA steer clear of the more "kid friendly" type pre-code stories such as this. Well, today I have another one originally from the August 1942 issue of Blue Bolt Vol. 3 #3 (27), and this one is just as kid friendly and exploding with silly, playful fun-- and scripted by Mickey Spillane no less! Apologies to any haters... if this ain't your cup o'tea, come back in a few days for something scarier. (And a big thanks to Drazen "Happy Undertaker" Kozjan for the funny one page gag at the end of this post, from his Abbott & Costello comic collection.)

BONUS!

The 2012 Ghastly Award Nominees are in!

The Ghastly Award Judges are proud to announce the 2012 Ghastly Award Nominees. The nominees, which were chosen by the entire comic creating community, reflect the wide range of horror material being published in print and web comic form today.

Named after acclaimed comics creator “Ghastly” Graham Ingels, the awards are now in their 2nd year. Created to honor excellence in Horror Comics, every comic creator had a say in who the nominees were by nominating their favorites throughout the year.

Fan and Creator Voting will be open from January 1, 2013 until January 31, 2013. Click HERE to find out who has been nominated, and prepare to cast your vote on Tuesday, January 1st!

Anti-Christmas

One of my all time favorite comments from a THOIA reader was a simple, one word acknowledgment to this Warren xmas horror story I posted here waaaay back in 2007. It said simply "vile." So to spread a little more vile cheer this year, here's an encore presentation of Richard Corben's unholiday classic, from the January 1975 issue of Creepy #68. Hope everyone got some gory goodies this year, and if you snagged a chilling ZOMBIES book or an issue of HAUNTED HORROR in your stocking, send us a picture-- we'd love to see your frightened little faces on xmas mourn!

Demons of the Sun

WTF-- we're still here?!! Of all the bullshit apocalypses I've ever lived through this was most certainly the most bullshitty. So! Today's theme is Bullshit Apocalypses, and here's one that seriously reeks to high heaven, from the same insane issue as our last post, the October 1952 issue of Black Cat Mystery #40.  And thank the Devil it features demented Palais art to save it from complete extinction!

DOOMSDAY!

Well, this is it, friends... the last THOIA post ever. Obviously, in a few days we'll all be dead (thanks again for the heads up, Mayans!) so I thought I'd get a jump on the Final Days festivities by posting this appropriately titled / requested tale from the October 1952 issue of Black Cat Mystery #40. Yes boys and ghouls, it's been fun, it's been real, awww Hell-- it's been REAL fun-- eternal hugs and kisses, and I hope to see you all soon as either ghosts, devils, zombies, worms, or whatever it is that surely awaits us on the ominous other side.

Your pal in doom and damnation, Mr. Karswell...

THE END... or is it?

My Daddy Should Have Listened

IDW and Yoe Books newest book COMICS ABOUT CARTOONISTS is overflowing with wild stories about the world's oddest profession-- tales of cartoonists encountering situations where their illustrated creations literally come to life on them! And for you pre-code horror junkies, a few of these situations even spell out TERROR! Take for example the superbly creepy story featured here at THOIA today, originally presented in the October 1952 issue of Beware #12 (art by Vince Napoli.) Find out more about this essential Yoe book by clicking HERE, and watch the video preview by clicking HERE! ALSO! If you haven't already seen the Haunted Horror interview article in the new December issue of Rue Morgue Magazine then run out now to your nearest newsstand and grab a copy ASAP! You can also scroll to the bottom of this post and read it there too!