Well, I was shooting for 13 terrifyin' tales this month, but only had time for a traumatizin' 12! It's still not a bad way to end October, even if the scans are a bit on the meh side of things... but still, I promised to deliver haunted house howlers full of fun dialogue and art (by juicy Jill Elgin today no less!), and this classic from the May 1943 issue of All-New Stories #3 is the very definition of that promise. Hope everyone has a spooky great holiday tonight-- HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Dr. Neff was not only one of the more popular, real life, spook show stage master magicians of the midcentury, he was also the star of his own heroic, golden age Ghostbreaker comicbook stories, debunking and exposing fellow fright frauds, while also pulling assorted ghastly gags of his own to thrill-seeking audiences worldwide. And here's an eerie example from the back pages of the September - October 1952 issue of Racket Squad #3, where he takes on an adversary utilizing their powers of magic for evil, instead of good.
Marvel Mystery Comics #92 was the final superhero issue of that series, suddenly turning into Marvel Tales #93 (August 1949), and thus, --a new golden age Atlas anthology horror comic title was born! And today we have the very first story from that issue, a chunky chiller chocked full of great art and snappy storytelling, and especially fitting (and filling) for another wild 'n weird excursion into Werewolf Wednesday! The ever awesome Atlas Tales website says the art is by Gene Colan, with possible inks by Frank Giacoia.
We're taking that b-b-bet and spending the n-n-night solo in a h-h-haunted house again! Yep, one more decently spooky Grimm's Ghost Story from the #8 issue (March 1973), --and whoa Nelly, if you're scared of unicorns for some reason then you also came to the right wrong place! WHOOOO...
I don't really post a whole lot of Gold Key stuff here at THOIA. I mean, aside from some gorgeously painted cover art, the interior content might also look nice 'n clean, but alas, the storytelling is usually a bit on the weak side. Trial by Water is no different, it's questionably paced, and our two heroes just keep bumbling around lookin' for fun despite the multiple supernatural attempts on their dim-witted lives. But this story also contains an interesting plot element that I'm not sure I've ever seen in another horror comic tale, the art of gravestone rubbing, (which is why I've included it here this month, as this fascinating hobby seems to me to be particularly Octoberish.) And for those of you that like to take a single panel out of context, might I suggest panel one on page four, as you wander out to the cemetery with your girl to get some good rubbings, haha... from the Aug '75 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #25.
Word has come down the pike that my new Vampires Bloodshot One-Shot for Asylum Press has met with some temporary printing issues and will be slightly delayed, thus no longer making it the anticipated Halloween treat we'd hoped it would be. I'll update with the new release info as soon as I know more, and mucho apologies to everyone messaging me about it. In the meantime, here's another blood sucker tale to hold you over, from the July 1982 issue of Scary Tales #33, also just cruising down the pike, and lookin' for a bite...
Another goofy artist determined to be creative in a haunted old witch house-- you'd think these people would learn their lessons, but nooooo. From the February 1953 issue of Weird Horrors #6, and possibly illustrated by Don Perlin who worked on some great supernatural Marvel titles later in his career, ie Werewolf By Night and Ghost Rider, but is probably most famous for having co-created Moon Knight. This is another oddball tale that the Eerie Pubs reworked / reprinted a few times in the early 70's as well.
Sometimes living with an awful family member can be just as horrific as any 'ol vampire or zombie, as is the case between these lovely siblings featured in the piss-poorly printed January 1953 pre-code issue of Weird Tales of the Future #5.
