Night of Horror / The Stranger

We saw some super fine Frank Springer art just a few posts ago over at AEET HERE, and now he springs forth yet again here with a familiar old, urban legend-style, spook story set-up, via the June 1966 issue of Dell's Ghost Stories #14. And yes friends, it all takes place on New Years Eve! But first, let's see what the great cover illustration of our previous post was about as we once again return to the April 1952 issue of Suspense #17. Hmmm, have I really not posted a Werner Roth story since 2019?! For shame! I'll see what I can do about that in the coming year. And speaking of, while some of you will likely be out and about, having a party packed evening of festive fun, other's will be experiencing quite the opposite. In fact, you might even call tonight a "Night of Horror!" Yeah, that's the way we do things around here at THOIA, anyway. And if the drunken car crashes and hellarious graveyard hazing antics don't finally do you in, then be sure to come back here next year and see what other terrors ominously await! Happy New Year, everyone-- we did it! 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13...

The Dead Witch!

I feel like a few of you thought the previous post was our last entry of 2025, --well not bloody likely! And yes, behind that grisly Sol Brodsky graveyard of terror cover, via the April 1952 issue of Suspense #17, there's a few more scary stories we still plan to finish out the year with! For starters, this weird 'n witchy Dick Ayers / Ernie Bache team-up, written by Hank Chapman. And how great is that Mort Gerberg gag? hahaha!

Who's Dead?

One more ghastly ghost story for your haunted holiday pleasure, and one unpleasantly unearthed from the claustrophobic, coffiny confines of the October 1954 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #31. Paul Reinman definitely knew a thing or two about great lighting in a story, and how to put you, the reader, right into the rotten thick of things. So grab a shovel and get diggin' --ya dig? CREEEAK!

THOIA'S 2025 Holiday Horror Special

If you enjoyed our horrible holiday double feature over at AEET HERE yesterday, it's now time for another right here at THOIA! And this year we're looking at the age old Ghost Stories for Christmas, and with nobody telling a spookier tale than Charles Dickens himself! Well actually, let's have golden age fan favorite, Lee Elias tell it-- the way it could've happened, or did it?! --via the March / April 1976 issue of Ghosts #46. But first up, it's another doomed-out variation on the Dicken's lit classic drama-rama, from the March 1953 issue of Marvel Tales #112, and highlighted by some spectacularly illustrated Larry Woromay specters! I guess you can't really celebrate anything anymore either unless we get a nice Bill Everett cover as well! Yes, this post has everything-- including a well wish for everyone to have a wonderful, happy holiday!

Hunger Pains!

I hope everyone enjoyed the week of true crime horror, but who's hungry now for a mealtime mix of monsters and the  macabre? This tantalzin' tale of terror by Myron Fass and from the December 1954 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #32 should whet your weird lil whistles wonderfully...

Joseph Medley, Lady Killer / Strangler

Like our previous post, "Joseph Medley, Lady Killer" is based on a true crime case, and this time about a psychopath who targeted women with red hair. The comic book adaptation, also like our previous post, started out in one comic book series, --the May 1948 issue of Murder Incorporated #3 (Fox) --and then later got the reprint / retitle Star Publications treatment in the September 1952 issue of Shock Detective Cases #20. I created an image at the end of the post to avoid additional "Barnes Confusion" (as we also saw here strangely / previously), and it's important to note the cool addition of those gnarly "strangler" hands in the later, updated splash. Is Rudy Palais responsible for those new monster mitts as well? No idea, but he created the rest of the asphyxiatingly awesome art presented here-- so hang on to your windpipes, ya'll, cuz this one's a real *CHOKE!* killer of a tale!