Monday, March 12, 2018
The Corpse That Killed!
We're still in "Giving You Something Different" mode this month here at THOIA, and though I actually did give you a different, though no less eerie Ellery Queen story once before back in 2014 (HERE!), it's possible that enough time has passed that it just might feel different enough to make the most out of our current March Madness Marathon. And yes, this tale has some definite spooky similarities to our previous post as well: psychotic killer, a decent body count-- plus dynamite dialog, a seance scene (I love seance scenes!) and a superbly chilling, ironic climax down at the atmospheric old graveyard. Did I forget to mention an incredible Norman Saunders cover painting too?! Interior art is pretty swell as well, but unfortunately uncredited. From the Ziff-Davis, Winter '52 issue of Ellery Queen #1.
WoW!! a totally slammin' splash!! ....too bad the artist has to remain but spectre, in his own right!...Grrrreat story!...n' yer right about da "Killer" dialog! "Pertection!" I got my rights! lol...Tommy the Swami! whoa! how disrespectful!! I loved this grimy tale of gangsterous galoots!...n' thanx to you, now I know how ta fake my own demise!...why dint I tink of it! fuhgeddaboudit!! Phosperous!! Fun fact!! somehow, that word, originating from Greek Mythology, means LUCIFER (Light Bearer) WoW!! Thanx so much for posting this irridescent gem, Mr. Karswell!!
ReplyDeleteHaha, shall I start calling yee Phospherous666? Thanks for swingin by, Diablo!!
ReplyDeleteNice story, though I miss the the usual Ellery Queen everybody in the room and "This is how it happened" recap (that might have just been the TV series from my youth, I never read any of the books.)
ReplyDeleteThe art is good, I swear I've seen it before but I was always terrible at art spotting. The cover is gorgeous.
Note, BTW, the story cheats pretty badly. How did our "ghost" get in and out of the seance? Remember that both Queens (yeah, that doesn't work as well today!) noted that it seemed impossible -- they searched "everywhere." Nobody ever explained that!
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ReplyDeleteI have to ask, is "The Legion of the Damned" just as good?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Great art! Nice to see some skills from that era!
ReplyDeleteThis was another great tale. While no real ghosts were in this story it is a great addition to THOIA, since horror can take many forms, especially when the horror is a man seeking murderous revenge.
ReplyDeleteMan, all those cemetery panels were really pretty. I like this artist's lush foliage. Looks like the guy was switching back and forth between brushes and technical pens. What with the plants and the rare and enthusiastic embrace of crosshatching, the art here kinda reminds me of Maurice Sendak.
ReplyDeleteThese cops made a pretty worthless protection detail, though. Like, everybody got killed.
Got to love the cartoon-like way Branigan tried to kill Cardoni. A giant stick of dynamite substituting for a candle is something straight out of a Looney Tunes short.
ReplyDeleteThe fake medium accidentally becomes a real medium. Even though I'm very FOND of it, I wonder how many times that idea has been used. Of coorse, in this case the "real" ghost also turns out to be made-up.
ReplyDeleteEven though I've read a few of the stories, I feel the same way as Brian Barnes. To me, Ellery Queen will always be that boyish Jim Hutton version of him, modeled a little on Columbo (both shows were made by the same two people).