Human Cross

I can't really think of many examples with religion, or religious overtones, playing a key role in a 50's precode horror comic tale. I mean, yeah, crosses and holy water are used on vampires, and Satan is a big bad bible villain, but in the case of today's dramatic Don Heck story... well... howz'about you just read it and let us all know what you think in the comments. If anything, it's a unique take for sure. Now some of you may have already seen this story when we first reprinted it in our Horror By Heck hardcover collection back in 2015, but this also seemed like a good xmas post since it's never made an appearance here at THOIA. So, happy holiday eve everyone-- I hope you all get what you wanted. From the December 1954 one-shot issue of Comic Media's Terrific #1, (which would have actually been Horrific #14 except for all of the SOTI baloney killing off Golden Age horror comics!)

Killing Spree

Slaughterama time again with a pulse-poundin', shudder-shaken'-shiveroonie packed Comic Media classic illustrated by murderin' Max Elkin, and from the September 1954 issue of Weird Terror #13. Man, if this one doesn't contain enough ghastly gruesome business for your tastes, then stick around at the end and learn how to embalm a goddamn corpse-- it's fun for the whole freakin' family is what it is, I tell ya...

Witch Girl!

Here's a cool Don Heck story about juicy jealousy and bloodthirsty black magic, from the March 1954 issue of Weird Terror #10. Nicely scripted, and good Heck art that only occasionally gets undermined by the less than perfect printing (I did fix some of the crazier off-register panels, though!) Some of you might remember this tale in our Chilling Archives Horror by Heck hardcover collection from 2015.

I Spent a Night in a Haunted House!

Holy Hannah, it's October already! Time to get this haunted Halloween fright fest in macabre motion with a fun little tale from the May 1962 issue of Journey into Mystery #80, --and highlighted by some great art from precode horror hero, Don Heck no less! And after you finish this post, check out a golden age Atlas variation on this same spooky story located in the THOIA 2007 archive, by CLICKING HERE!

The Hex!

Let's take a quick leap into the eerie era of post-code Atlas / Marvel tales, with a hexing Don Heck yarn about old world ways colliding with the new! It's a brisk little entry not too far off from the kind of thing you'd find happening in the Twilight Zone, and despite what it says at the bottom of page one, this story originally first appeared in the November 1956 issue of Adventure into Mystery #4.

The Teller!

Gypsy Goth wrote in asking if I could post The Teller! story from the November 1953 issue of Horrific #8. Apparently, it's the last one from this issue that I haven't archived yet, so here it is-- and it's a Don Heck tale too! It's possible I overlooked it as this story did find it's way into the Horror By Heck (IDW / Yoe Books) collection, and maybe you'll wanna click HERE if you haven't grabbed that particular chilling gem yet. And for the rest of this issue, check the archive for Sewer Horror, Portrait of Death, and Hirschel's Hair. Yes sirree, yet another FULL ISSUE presentation here at THOIA!

Weird (Terror) Show!

Found another one! This time Don Heck's bizarre giant beastie from the cover of the January 1953 issue of Weird Terror #3 gets lifted by not one, but TWO 50's spook show ads! Wonder if anyone really got haunted forever by any of this?

Death Song!

HAUNTED HORROR #20 hits comic shops this week, and here's your first FULL story preview from the issue to get you singin'-- it's a deadly Don Heck musical number guaranteed to make your eyes and ears bleed! Originally featured in the September 1953 issue of Horrific #7, we'll have more chilling Don Heck news for you later this month, as well as another HH20 sample in our next post!

Mark of the Brute

Also featured in HAUNTED HORROR #15 (coming next week) is this deadly Don Heck story, originally presented in the May 1954 issue of Weird Terror #11. I don't mean to be a terrifying tease, but this issue also contains stories from Journey into Fear, Dark Mysteries, Witchcraft, Web of Evil, Mister Mystery, and more! It's gonna be killer-- see ya next wee-eeek!