The Smell of Death

Halloween is so close now you can almost smell it! And oooo doggy, can someone crack open a window or something, because seriously now, wow-- WTF is this?! From the February 1953 issue of Chilling Tales #14 comes a story so magically messed-up and downright disturbing, that I almost can't blame Wertham for trying. Maybe some of you thanatophiles can relate, --and ohhh, I'm not forgetting the olfactory obsessors out there as well! So hold on to your hairy scary nostrils, cuz this one might just reek up your week something fierce! Boy, I do believe I just ruined Halloween, hahaha...

The Monster

Another wild one from the April 1953 issue of Chilling Tales #15, (dig the previous post too), and you'll likely see the ending coming from a few cemeteries away, but I bet you'll still have fun with it all the same! Henry Kiefer's spooky illustrative approach can be a bit rough at times, but it does the job unleashing a bizarre looking monster while also unveiling a uniquely odd, moody graveyard experience...

"Curse of the Tomb"

There's a chill in the air as November 2024 finally creeps in upon us, and that means more chilling tales from the Golden Age era of precode horror comics! And what better way to chill the blood, than with a mummy curse decimating the fools who willingly choose to tempt their own fates! From the April 1953 issue of Chilling Tales #15, with art by Galotti and Lang.

Deadly Doodles of Dandy

Hear that grinding noise? Is that the monolithic mills of the Gods slowly turning, or is it just Mr. Karswell uploading the final post of September 2024? Could be one, or both, and with a silly title like "Deadly Doodles of Dandy" you may just find that this Goldfarb and Baer terror team-up isn't quite as cornball as ya'd think! From the very short-lived, second and final issue of Fantastic #9, via Youthful in April of 1952.

Sacrifice!

Let's close out a rather macabre May 2024 with a proper offering to the ancient elder comic book gods of horror, from the April 1953 issue of Chilling Tales #15, and featuring art by Vince Napoli. Tomb in all next month for lots more terrifyin' treats, and we here at The Horrors of it All hope that everyone enjoyed the selection of posts this month...

The Body Snatcher

Time to head back to the graveyard to pick up a body or two, via the October 1952 issue of Beware #12 from Youthful. Some of the art is a little wonky in places, but that's always been the macabre magic of Harry Harrison in my book, as perspective problems mostly always translate into surreal nightmares, plus he does a great job with the weird spirits and narrow, claustrophobic paneling. Love that splash too!

The Phantom Devils of Lorado

I posted a couple of Masked Marvel weird western tales a few months back HERE and everyone seemed to have fun with them, so here's another one that also actually fits pretty well with our last post since everyone equally enjoyed giant intrusive centerpiece page illustrations (this time we get a goddamned devil head's facial orifices becoming the actual story page panels-- and it somehow looks even crazier than it sounds!) So hold on to your foreheads, here he comes to save the violent day! From the August 1951 issue of Gunsmoke #14.