The Torture Master!

The November 1953 issue of Men's Adventures #24 contains this grueling Russ Heath illustrated concentration camp terror tale about nazi experiment atrocities and torture, proving once again that historical based facts can most certainly be much more horrific than fiction.

The Drowning Witch

Another isolated comic panel cropped out of context and doomed to travel around tumblr endlessly without explaination is the screaming woman holding up a baby with a goat's head. I've had a few people write to me asking about it, so here it is complete, a wonderfully odd 4 pager illustrated by rockin' Reed Crandall and from the September 1953 issue of Men's Adventures #23.

The Bones...

If you've ever felt the uncontrollable urge to kiss a moldy old human skull just dug up from an ancient grave, then this is definitely the story for you! From the super spooky, September 1953 issue of Men's Adventures #23, and highlighted with art by mad Mort Lawrence who kindly signed his name right on the tombstone in the splash.









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Deadline / Beware of the Chair!

It's a perfect day for a double execution, as we wrap-up our Stan Lee Tribute Fest of 2018 with a double header of doom! Stan penned the first story, with art by John Romita, while our second tale is a request fulfillment for more Joe Sinnott! Always glad to oblige that request. Both stories are from the June 1953 issue of Men's Adventures #22, highlighted with a spectacularly spooky cover by Bill Everett! Hope everyone enjoyed this 2 month stretch of precode Atlas horror classics, --and don't forget to give another toast to the one who made it all possible! RIP to The Man.

The Shrunken Head vs. Devil Drums

Two-For-One Day here at THOIA, with a big, grisly, 24 hour, Double (Severed) Header! Its Atlas voodoo vs. Harvey jungle witchcraft as Mac Pakula takes on Warren Kremer in this no holds barred fight to the death! Who will win? And whose shrunken head winds up on the dusty mantle for display between the stuffed Tijuana Toads and the Precious Moments?

From the January 1954 issue of Men’s Adventures #25

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DEVIL DRUMS

From the April 1953 issue of Black Cat Mystery #43

Mark of the Witch

Bill Everett Tribute: Day Five! This is one of my favorite Everett tales, featuring a fantastically illustrated witch and a neat time-travel twist. Two more days of Everett tales to go!

From the June 1952 issue of Men’s Adventures #22

Gorilla Man

To further celebrate Kong’s birthday today we have a strange pre-code man verses gorilla horror adventure from Robert Q. Sale. It’s not a giant ape or anything but the story itself is hugely important in the Atlas / Marvel U as it’s the first official appearance of Ken Hale (aka The Gorilla Man), who would later re-appear in the post code superhero realm and rub hairy elbows with The X-Men, Avengers, the Howling Commandos Unit, and The Agents of Atlas.

From the March 1954 issue of Men’s Adventures #26

For more info about The Gorilla Man and his other incarnations click HERE.