Vampires! Voodoo! Vengeance!

I saved these last two tales from the August 1952 issue of Mysterious Adventures #9 so we could put them together in a doomed Double Feature and compare to see which one is more hilariously inept in the storytelling. One is clearly miles better than the other (in the art department too), and seriously, OMG WTF is going on with putting narrative blocks at the bottom of a panel?!! Also-- put skulls EVERYWHERE! It doesn't get much worse, or better (depending on your POV) than these two creepy clunkers-- and that, my friends, is why I love precode horror so stupid stinkin' much! Fun fun fun, and a perfectly putrid wrap-up to this FULL ISSUE presentation. Oh, and since it is December, I thought I'd throw in a xmas ghost just for some additional spooky spice! A big thanks again to Danger Diablo for the super scans to this insane issue!































Huh??!!

The Soul of Benjamin Sprague

A chilly Christmas classic from the THOIA archive returns, originally presented in Weird Thrillers #3 from 1952, and this one highlighted by a terrific terror team-up of pencil and ink artistry-- including Howard Nostrand, Martin Epp, and clearly Bob Powell!

Happy Horrordays, everyone!

Anti-Christmas

One of my all time favorite comments from a THOIA reader was a simple, one word acknowledgment to this Warren xmas horror story I posted here waaaay back in 2007. It said simply "vile." So to spread a little more vile cheer this year, here's an encore presentation of Richard Corben's unholiday classic, from the January 1975 issue of Creepy #68. Hope everyone got some gory goodies this year, and if you snagged a chilling ZOMBIES book or an issue of HAUNTED HORROR in your stocking, send us a picture-- we'd love to see your frightened little faces on xmas mourn!

Never Kill Santa Claus / Trick or Treat

What would the horrordays be without a visit from jolly 'ol St. Nick, eh? And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about jolly 'ol Satanis either... but first up, "Never Kill Santa Claus" from the February 1973 issue of The Witching Hour #28, followed by a xmas themed ouija board text tale and (not forgetting an entry for our Devilcember theme) a two-page Kaluta Halloween classic (can't let xmas have all the fun now, can we?) called "Trick or Treat", both from the Feb-March 1970 issue of Witching Hour #7.

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We at THOIA wish you a most pleasant rest on your deserved holiday this week, and here's hoping that everyone gets everything they wanted and all that they worked hard for this year.

--Karswell

The Soul of Benjamin Sprague

Happy Xmas Eve(L) everyone! To those of you still at work and pulling a half day, or those of you already at home and wrapping presents (or murdering Gingerbread men with your teeth), here’s my present to you, from the Winter/Spring 1952 issue of Weird Thrillers #3. This Trading Places-esque tale by Bob Powell was actually already featured over at The Fortress last week (the indentical St. John Nightmare #13 reprint version from ‘53), but since I already had the original Weird Thrillers version scanned I’m gonna go ahead and post it here anyway for those that missed it.

I sincerely hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday… and remember, he sees you when you're sleeping...

TOMORROW: More ghosts! More Bob Powell too (I think...)

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Vintage Xmas AD

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Vault of Xmas Card

THOIA reader Squa Tront (aka Paul Beatless of Eastleigh England) sends a phantasmically chilling, personalized holiday greeting to each and every Pre-Coder out there. But dare I say Old Boy; I think we’ve always known what you look like under the Santa mask--- AIEEEEE!!

Thanks again Squa, and another screaming round of good cheer to everyone! AIEEEE!!

When You Believe

Bill Everett’s weird little story today marks the grand finale' of our Christmas horror scans and our glorious return back to the pre-code golden age stories of the 50’s. I hope everyone is having a safe and happy work break, and thanks to all for hanging around with us for our most unholy look at the holiest of holidays.

Originally presented in the August 1953 issue of Spellbound #16