Most of us typically associate Lou Cameron with his amazing output of precode horror for Ace Magazines. But here he is at American Comics Group, churning out the same top-notch terrors, even though it's all wrapped up in the usual ACG "lover's in peril" plot. Lou really gives it the 110% treatment too with his weird monsters, great eye for cinematic framing, and highly detailed backgrounds. It's a fun, fast-paced romp from the March - April 1952 issue of Forbidden Worlds #5.
Oh, good story, good art, and a doctor who isn't scared of punching a demon right in the kisser. Thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteOh my dark lord Satan Jim is a real prize! Something strange? He's going to run straight at it, leading with his fists!
ReplyDeleteDemon 2 feet taller than him? Punch it! Get knocked out by it -- now is not the time to leave, now is the time to investigate! Ancient black magic ghost who spouts rules (do *not* do that, idiot!) ... I mean, he'd punch him also if he didn't get the door between them!
Now, rescuing Nancy, that I get, but literally everything else is a guy with a hefty pair of fists (he even mentions his hook!) and a death wise. This thing is the kind of stuff the young boys reading this had to totally eat up. Random monsters! Wizards! Ghost ladies! Owls! Skeletons! Random eyes!
This is the kind of thing you show people who have never seen a pre-code horror comic. Is the story great? Nope. Does the insanity and the art make up for it? Yup! I mean, you'd think to start with EC or Atlas but this is more of the kind of stuff you'd see, week in and week out, and it's glorious.
Brian Barnes is right- Action, adventure, monsters, black magic, what more could a monster kid have asked for?
ReplyDeleteThis could have been turned into a horror film that would be a must see for horror fans. In fact, it still would make a great horror film, just as long as they don't overdo it and end up with a multi-million dollar turkey as a result.
I love the undead sorcerer's robes with a random planet in the middle and an old fashioned ruffled collar. That's hilarious to me. No wonder Jim isn't scared! Love the rhyming fiends thirsty for new victims to play with and I love the second to last panel of the sorcerer rotting away.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I almost always like weird stories with "fish out of water" Americans in other countries (although this story doesn't play up that side of things very much).
ReplyDeleteOne likeable one is the movie "Die, Monster, Die!" with Boris Karloff and Nick Adams.
This guy is very secure in his powers of deduction. It's wild how he observes the strangest stuff and immediately assumes he knows whats what. The dialog as he talks his smack is such a hoot that I really want to see this animated, cut out puppet style, with dramatic line readings by soapy voice actors.
ReplyDeleteI too love the wizarding look on the heel: A Spanish ruff and Saturn smock is a knockout! That guys bringing the A game. I'd wear that round the tomb any day.