The Worm Turns! / Pretty Poison

We're back with a squirmy double header of slimy fun (plus: Slim Jims for everyone!) --from the Jan-Feb 1978 issue of House of Mystery #256! Yes, 70's DC horror occasionally tapped the gag reflex nicely, as so with these two slitherin' tales of terror that'll leave you gagging for mo-- >>ARRGGHH!!<<  More from this issue coming up in our next post-- see ya on Halloween!

The Witch's Vengeful Return

As we quickly approach Halloween, it's time to drag out a 300 year old witch for some THOIA black magic! This one from the July 1953 issue of Baffling Mysteries #16 features some attractive art from Louis Zansky, and a most welcome body count too! What witchy movie am I thinking of?
















(CLICK ON THE WITCH-- IF YOU DARE!!!)

HAUNTED HORROR X2

A double shot of haunted horrors erupted from the bowels of the Earth last week: HAUNTED HORROR #24 from the ongoing bi monthly series, as well as the HH Volume 4 hardcover collection "Candles for the Undead and Much More!" featuring issues 10-12 PLUS bonus tales not found in the individual issues! I have some sneak peeks at each release for you today, and hey-- if you're having trubz finding HAUNTED HORROR in your town, drop me a line-- good 'ol Mr. Karswell has the hook-up for signed back issues and whatever else your screaming soul craves!

When Death Takes a Hand

While I'm working on a larger Halloween themed post, here's a minor supernatural quickie with spooky art by Gene Fawcette, from the August 1954 issue of Out of the Shadows #14. This was the final issue of this interesting horror series, and nearly half the stories in this one received the remake / reprint treatment in the Eerie Pubs a few decades later... our current tale in question eventually finding itself retitled "Deadman's Hands" and appearing in no less than 5 different Eerie issues.

The Secret of Sleed's Castle

And now, the fourth and final story from the April 1952 issue of Mysterious Adventures #7, dig the previous 3 posts for the other tales. This is a better than average Hollingsworth effort, though typically contains some laughable illustrative moments (like the perspective hand problem in panel 4 on page 5), but overall it's still a fun entry in one of the better collections from this precode series. Hope everyone enjoyed another full issue presentation here at THOIA-- lots more on the way for Halloween-- and beyond!

The Curse of the Flying Dutchman

It's awesome enough to get one Lou Cameron story in a single issue-- but getting TWO feels like discovering buried treasure! And this one is indeed a doozy as well, though not as bat shit crazy as the tattoo tale in our last post, but it sure does have its moments-- including one particularly painful panel that might make you wince, as well as a superbly spooky ending.

From the April 1952 issue of Mysterious Adventures #7.