The Ashes of Death!

Oh my, did you guys think that last post was the final THOIA entry of 2022? No no no... we have one more visitation from our favorite vampy Atlas era heroine, Venus, via the October 1951 issue of Venus #16! This is Everett once again doing some fine work, though maybe not as iconically horror driven visually as he would later become. There are still some nice chilly moments to be had here though, errr, I mean as chilly as things can get down at the creepy old crematorium! Everyone have a great New Years Eve, we'll see you ASAP in 2023 as we dispose of the awful ashes of 2022 with--

The Box of Doom!

Let's finish out December 2022 with some more Bill Everett. And it's been quite a while since we've seen vivacious Venus va-va-va-voom her way across a half dozen precode pages of petrifyin' fun, so let's fix that pronto! This one's packed with all the scary stuff that makes Everett so effortlessly unequalled, I mean, there's a reason he's my absolute all time favorite artist ever-- just try to find a less-than-stellar panel in this one. It can't be done! He also created what is easily one of the most bone chilling precode horror covers ever--this, the classic April 1952 cover of Venus #19. So kick back and enjoy the ride, and afterwards check the archive for more Venus!

The Graymoor Ghost

We at THOIA believe in maintaining the old time "Ghost Story for Christmas" tradition. And by the looks of it, it is indeed now that time of year again to unleash another moldy spirit to do its terror filled holiday thing upon you! And who out there in Golden Age land weaves a weirder yarn than 1950's Stan Lee? And who draws 'em better than big bad Bill Everett? And let's make it even more relevant to Mr. Karswell's own passion for antique xmas presents as we pack our bags for Scotland whilst cracking open the August 1953 issue of Menace #6 --with gasp-inducing cover illustration by Everett as well! 

Happy Horrordays, everyone!

The Spider Man!

From out of the swamps and into the lab, todays Web-headed Wednesday creepyshow is from the November 1954 issue of Uncanny Tales #26, and if for some reason you came here looking for pictures of the other Spider Man, --then your name is clearly Jonah Jameson!

The Thing in the Swamps!

It's time for a terror packed tale from the shivery swamps of the supernatural! And no, it's not Swamp Thing, because this is Marvel / Atlas. And before you jump the ol ghoul gun, it's also not Man Thing! You know what? Just read the darn thing, already-- you'll see EXACTLY what it is in no time, okay? From the thankfully hero-less, October 1949 issue of Captain America's Weird Tales #74.

Murder at Midnight!

Here's a Hank Chapman horror hit from the terrific April 1951 issue of Adventures into Terror #3, and aside from the spooky fun illustrations, the tough guy dialog here is especially hysterical. I honestly can't think of another story that I've ever posted where the main guy was such an unmitigated a-hole...

Happy 100th Birthday, Vampira!

Everyone's posting pictures and lovely tributes to Maila "Vampira" Nurmi today, and of course Mr. Karswell shall now do the same. Having spent a great deal of time with everyone's favorite cool ghoul horror hostess in the early 90's as not only a personal assistant, but also as a friend, I can only say that she would seriously be love / hating every moment of this century mark milestone. So amongst all of the very familiar, iconic photos you'll see of her around the web today, not only as Vampira but also as stunning pin-up model, Maila, I thought I'd throw this astounding article back into the media mix as it doesn't really seem to have made much of a blip on many people's radars. I originally posted this "Hollywood's House of Horrors" story from the 1961 issue of Charlton's Mad Monsters #2 over at AEET nearly a decade ago HERE, and while it's not a comic book story typical of THOIA, I figured that many of you Vampira fans who missed the original post would dig seeing it, and thus equally reel from the mind blowing revelation that these full-sized monsters, including Vampira, could be rented for a weekend--- arghhhh! I always wonder where they are today. I also included a photo of my recent Brides of Barlow Halloween display (CLICK HERE for it) which includes my own Vampira mannequin! 

Happy birthday, Maila! Miss you dearly...

The Werewolf's Victims

If you enjoyed our little hunting tale in the last post, we've got another! And sinister Sid Check leads the party into the wild 'n wooly depths of Werewolf Wednesday doom this time around, --it's a savage story with more bites than you could ever possible chew! From the June 1954 issue of Mystic #31.

I'm Waiting for You!

It's hunting season, and THOIA just bagged a meaty little Atlas entree for ya, packed with savoy Carl Hubbell art, and simply overflowing with exquisite smokey flavor. Better take a Zantac first, cuz this one will definitely leave ya's burning! From the macabre March 1953 issue of Marvel Tales #112.