Horror on Canvas

GCD notes that today's Baffling Mystery contains: "Unusually and uniquely bad artwork for Ace." And that it: "Could be a swipe artist's singular try." If you ask me though, the insane art (uncredited) only adds to the nightmarishly bonkers nature of nearly every single aspect of the story. See what you think, because it's still entertaining as Hell regardless... from the January 1952 issue of Baffling Mysteries #6.

The Bride's Borrowed Time

We're still barrelin' along in bridal beast mode here at THOIA, and leave it to legendary Ace Magazines great, Lou Cameron (with an ink assist by Rocco Mastroserio) to concoct this tale of newlyweds and witchcraft with secret bush country head hunter shrinking techniques! This is a wild one that is as wonderfully goofy as it is weirdly deranged! From the May 1952 issue of Baffling Mysteries #8.

Over My Dead Body

The fun(eral) is about to being, with another attempt at the 'ol burial for bucks routine, courtesy of the September 1954 issue of Baffling Mysteries #22. And as always with the great Lou Cameron, we get lots of superb visual moments and odd angles to really liven up the perspective, giving aid to this swingin' wakes' slow descent into one Hell of a party! We liked this luridly lousy love triangle so much, we made sure to include it in our chilling Lou Cameron's Unsleeping Dead hardcover collection-- go and get yourself a copy HERE!

The Horror of Hillory Hill

I thought I had already posted this Lou Cameron tale here at THOIA, (it gets harder and harder to keep track of these things!), but we simply put it in the Lou Cameron's Unsleeping Dead Chilling hardcover collection (still available HERE!) Despite a few wonderfully goofball moments with the script, Lou's sense of cinematic angles, detail, and eerie atmosphere really send this one over the top-- and that climax is a doozy! From the July 1954 issue of Baffling Mysteries #21.

Werewolf Husband

Louis Zansky delivers the hairy scaries today, as THOIA's Werewolf Wednesday rises to the ominous occasion like a full moon over a rich man's castle! And despite some slight color registration problems, this is definitely one of the better lycanthropy tales I've posted here in a while, I think... from the November 1954 issue of Baffling Mysteries #23.

Priestess of Baal / Sinister Return

We're still screaming for our mommies with the release of my new book this week, MUMMIES, (IDW / Yoe Books) available everywhere NOW, or order a couple online HERE (and FYI: I have a few extras to spare as well if anyone wants to order one directly from me just send an email) --but seriously, what better way to celebrate the holidays this year than with the colorfully wrapped gift of wrapped, reeking corpses! Now while neither of today's classics made the final edit of the book, both are still pretty great in their own evil ways, starting off with Bob Forgione's strangely sexy "The Priestess of Baal" from the Oct '52 issue of Weird Horror's #3, and followed by an encore presentation of "The Sinister Return of the Priestess of Baal" (no relation to the Forgione story) from the Nov '52 issue of Baffling Mysteries #11, art by Chic Stone. I've also spiced up this post with pix of Lana Turner as the Priestess of Baal from MGM's 1955 film epic, The Prodigal!