Ken Shannon vs. The Venusians

We’ve seen Ken Shannon tackle supernatural spooks in a couple of escapades so far, but nothing from our neighboring planets has yet to ruffle his bow tie--- until now! I will admit up front that there’s not much in the way of “horror” with today’s story, but the writing here is so hysterically excellent you probably won't even care about the lack of goose bumps.

From the April 1953 issue of Ken Shannon #10

Also, this one goes out to my pal Chuck over at the The Comic Book Catacombs, and everyone else who has commented or emailed me begging for more Ken Shannon. Hmmm, maybe I should just start a crime comic blog someday too?

Corpse That Wouldn’t Sleep

As promised, here’s another creepy chapter in the tough guy annals of my all-time favorite pre-code crime-busting private eye---Ken Shannon! Last month we saw him tackle the Weird Vampire Mob (read it HERE), but this time can he stop a creepy corpse on the prowl before his best girl Friday totally loses her marbles?

From the February 1952 issue of Ken Shannon #3

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And because I’m such a tease, here’s a few of my favorite Ken Shannon splash panels from some of his other various violent escapades. Someday soon I’ll post another one of these in its entirety, because with titles like Mansion of the Mangled Men, or Case of the Butchered Butcher, you know you’re in for 100% pure Ken Shannon ass kickings!

Hand of the Devil

BONUS STORY! Angles O’Day was a screwball dick-for-hire filler character also found in the pages of Ken Shannon. Probably written, and definitely illustrated by the late great Jack Cole, this is, as far as I can tell, the only supernatural-ish adventure that O’Day and his beady-eyed sidekick Shagmore ever encountered as most of the time they took on the usual gangster goon or double crossing client. Fun stuff with tremendous artwork and great writing. More comics should have “filler” like this.

From the February 1953 issue of Ken Shannon #9

The (Weird) Vampire Mob

After Quality Comics finally told Plastic Man to take it on the arches, Ken Shannon made his skull shattering debut in the December 1950 issue of Police Comics #103. A violent, hardboiled shamus for hire, Shannon usually talked with his fists and asked questions later, punching his way for two dozen issues (with amazing Reed Crandall artwork starting with issue #105) before finally getting his very own series tackling bigger, badder, more agressive goons, and occasionally a horrific ghoulie or two… as in this memorable crime / horror entry from the August 1952 issue of Ken Shannon #6.