As if our last tale wasn't crazy enough, here's another one from the same May 1953 issue of The Beyond #20. Seriously, Lair of the Spidery Fiend packs more into one standard length, 7-page Ace story than most comics these days can muster in a half dozen issues altogether! Some truly bonkers artwork from Dick Beck and George Klein as well! See what you think...
an enjoyable read, good Mr. Karswell... Have a pleasant week
ReplyDeleteThis one is a hell of a lot of fun with the spirit of Carl protecting Dave in the guise of a dog and as his departed fellow soldier from the devious spider witch. I absolutely love that crazy artwork when the witch turns into a spider creature.
ReplyDeleteYet it is pretty odd that Dave decides to still follow the witch in her sexy form even after she starts to show her true colors by pulling out a knife and killing the dog. Pretty or not, I don't think I'd want to stay with a woman who just pulled out a knife and stabbed a dog who had helped me for the last few minutes.
"Beware of beautiful girls near cemeteries at night"
ReplyDeleteGreat dating advice to keep in mind at all times, unless you're into goth, and even then...
Reading nutty tales like this one makes me think of the production line for these comics -- writers who might not be horror writers hired to ape another company's style under tight deadlines coming up with feverish scripts.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably what's happening but honestly, a tale like this, seems almost like a dare! Like writers were trying to outdo each other, and I can see that happening, too. These comics were never meant to last, they were meant to be disposable entertainment. You could see writers challenging each other to get goofier and goofier scripts.
And frankly, Ace was all the better for it. These have the feel of a Big Trouble in Little China type contained craziness.
Great story, just....absolutely nuts! Nothing says "big and strong" like a guy who screams "eeeeek" when he sees a spider! Lol. Just great!
ReplyDeleteMercy...so many wild tales so quickly(I'm a slow reader)! NOT a complaint: keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent. What a great monster and what great colors. There are so many amazing panels here that it's just easier to point out my second favorite part: The bottom of page two. The rest of the pages are my favorite part by far.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'll have the Spider-Witch theme song in my head all night.
It's nice to hear a terrible woman called a "harridan," instead of the "B-word" for the millionth time. That word really wears thin.
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