The Dead of Night!

We've seen a few posts around here based on Henry Kuttner's classic, "Graveyard Rats" story (HERE!), so how about another one, (this time with a mole spin), and art by the always wonderfully weird, Bernie Krigstein. From the April 1952 issue of Marvel tales #106, plus a bonus post code story today to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, this one from the frightfully fantastic, February 1956 issue of Marvel Tales #143.

The Empty Coffin / The Madman

My plan is to keep you all spellbound for the month of April here at THOIA, so lets dive into another great issue of terror tales, and this time we'll kick things off with a deadly double feature from the January 1953 issue of Spellbound #11. And wait a sec, didn't we just have a story called "The Madman" last month?! We sure did, but here's another one because as mentioned before, Stan LOVED recycling story titles. Another thing these two tales have in common: unwitting saps who somehow failed to see the much bigger, much more petrifying picture. And don't scream too loudly over that scary Sol Brodsky cover illustration either-- EEEEK!!!

Bennett's Bride

Fans of Fritz Leiber's chilling 1943 novel, Conjure Wife, (and even fans of ABC's Bewitched TV series) will be entertained by yet another take on the age old trope: man discovers he's not responsible for his own life, love, and success, and thus, cock blocks himself into the grave. Seriously, how many people these days would really be bothered to discover their significant other is magical? And okay, if that's a supernatural spoiler then you have my apologies, but we've seen it here before, and we'll probably see it here again, and I'll probably love it all over again just the same-- especially with such nice looking, atmospheric art from Al Hartley and Art Peddy! From the jolting July 1954 issue of Mystic #32.

The Vampire's Coffin! / Johnny's Last Jump!

And finally the two remaining tales from the Sept. '53 issue of Mystery Tales #15 ...one a goofy vampire story from DiPreta (um, how do you close the coffin lid with a 4 foot stake stickin' outta the chest, anyway?!), --and secondly, a harrowing tale of two chums on the run, highlighted by some super fine dialogue, ie: "Head North, Egghead, and don't take your foot off the floorboard!"

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SPOOKY MAGIC!