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!

Homicidal Madman!

Aka "The Amazing Dr. Holmes: Murdering Lothario of Illinois" tells the true crime story of vicious psycho con artist / serial killer, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, aka H. H. Holmes who engaged in a lengthy criminal career in Chicago during the late 1800's. First published in the August 1948 issue of Famous Crimes #2, and later as "Homicidal Madman!" when reprinted / retitled for Star Publication's September 1952 issue of Shocking Mystery Tales #50, this is a slightly muddled, though still somewhat decent adaptation of the sensationally disturbing story, and features many of the more brutal Holmes atrocities, unflinching laid out for you the comic book reader --in particular, one very unnerving acid bath sequence! Read more about HHH and his "Murder Castle" of horrors HERE at the Wiki entry, --if you dare!

The Case of the Strange Murder

If you enjoyed being buried alive in our previous story HERE, then it's time once again to dive in over our heads for yet another smothery love triangle gone horribly wrong! Speaking of heads, you may be scratching your own when today's crime horror classic from the November 1953 issue of Startling Terror Tales V2 #7 incorrectly reveals just how quickly a body actually decomposes in quicksand! But it's still a grimy, fun tale none the less, and it's just the start of our lurid look into Star Publication's most sicko murderers and maniacs --and this theme should also run its rotten course through most of December Week 3, so stayed tombed for lots more! 

Cover art by L.B. Cole, of course!

Within the Tomb

Tomb it May Concern Thursday is back, and let's see if we can crack the lid open on not only this ghastly bit of horrifying grave gamery, but also on the actual origin of this gruesome great Kenneth Landau shocker, via the September 1969 issue of Shock V1 #3. Similar to the Eerie Pubs, Shock was a cheap Stanley Morse publication known for taking Golden Age comics and reprinting them in a larger, magazine size, black and white format. GCD notes that this story was also reprinted in the April 1973 issue of K. G. Murray's Haunted Tales #2, which is equally loaded with precode reprints. But where did this story ORIGINALLY come from, and is "Within the Tomb" even the original story title? Does anyone recognize the horror host introducing the story? Landau did a tremendous amount of work for ACG back in the 50's (check the THOIA Archive for many examples HERE), and this story does feel like one from that time era and publisher. I'm just not seeing any information online about it anywhere... any help on this matter is gravely appreciated!

ZERO GHOST DETECTIVE: Ghost's Vengeance / Hand of Rutatutakhmen

It's been a bit since Noel Fowler's "Zero Ghost Detective" solved a mystery around here, so as per his previous THOIA entries, let's take a look at two of 'em for a quick Double Fear-ture of fun! The first tale materializes from the September 1940 issue of Feature Comics #36, and finds our ghost dick battling a real dick of a ghost! This one has a neat supernatural concept I'm unfamiliar with: moonlight on a silver blade and carved into a cross pattern can dispel an unwanted spirit! And then, since it's Mummy Monday, it's time for our Zero hero to investigate the ancient Rutatutakhmen curse-- or the creepy, murderous hand of the mummy, anyway! From the October 1943 issue of Feature Comics #72, and no, no relation between Rutatutakhmen and King RootinTootin from the Three Stooges classic! (Click the image at the end of the post for some extra knuckleheaded thrills 'n chills!)