Cry from the Coffin

If the cry from under the carpet in our previous post wasn't eerie enough for ya, how about one now from the coffin? Okay, this has got to be one of the most depressing precode horror stories ever published, with a day that starts off in a completely pleasant manner, quickly turning into a terrifying trip to the morgue for an autopsy, --and don’t be late for your own funeral! Better bring the tissues, this poor sap has a super sad tale to tell, and one that he'll be telling forever, and ever, and ever. From the Oct. 1953 issue of Strange Fantasy #8.

Even After Death

As mentioned in the previous posts, we're experiencing another creepy case of Atlas over-analyzation this month, and more specifically for the next week or so with an in-death-- errr-- in-depth look at the wild work of bad ass Bernie Krigstein! And this golden era gem from the November 1950 issue of Suspense #5 may be short, but it certainly ain't sweet. That is, unless you're a fan of kissing wrinkled mummy lips, or perfect lines of narrative such as, "...the living hand jerked convulsively, like a giant spider on the grave's surface..." ::shiver! Great writing, and even greater artwork.

A Coffin for Carlos

We've discussed the 'ol "bury you now, dig you up later" scheme in these scary old precode stories many times in the past, and it'll come as no spoilery surprise to learn that it doesn't work out in today's post either. But this time there's a twist, and it barely makes sense, --and bah, who cares? This is the stuff that made Atlas horror so great in the foist place, ya lousy bums! From the Dec. 1952 issue of Marvel Tales #110, with art by Don Perlin and Abe Simon (cover art by Russ Heath.)

The Fall of the House of Usher

Apologies for the delay, but I'm finally back up after a week of crummy internet connection. I was also attempting to dig up some better quality scans of this particular story (they're pretty small rez, still very readable though), as my usual / occasional donator hasn't been available, so we'll just have to make due with these "Famous Tales of Terror" images for now. From the December 1944 issue of Yellowjacket Comics #4, and starring Edgar Allan Poe himself even!

Step into My Coffin

Ahhh, the 'ol fake my death / bury me / then dig me up later so we can spend the insurance money routine has never sounded so good, as yessss, it's yet another in a long line of variations on said tacky tactic that once again fails miserably for the pea-brained person who stupidly thunk'd it up. Is that a spoiler? Nahhh, you longtime followers of this blog already know this rotten routine frontwards and back asswards, so do what the story title says, --just try not to run out of air too fast, ya dang ding-a-lings! From the March 1952 issue of Spellbound #1. 

R.I.P. Bob Fujitani (1921 - 2020)

The comic world loses yet another artist legend, Bob Fujitani passed away earlier this week, and today we honor his wonderful work with an encore presentation of two Atlas horror classics already found in the THOIA Archive. Our first selection is from the Spring 1952 issue of Suspense #16, and the second originally featured in the September 1952 issue of Mystic #12. R.I.P.

Over My Dead Body

The fun(eral) is about to being, with another attempt at the 'ol burial for bucks routine, courtesy of the September 1954 issue of Baffling Mysteries #22. And as always with the great Lou Cameron, we get lots of superb visual moments and odd angles to really liven up the perspective, giving aid to this swingin' wakes' slow descent into one Hell of a party! We liked this luridly lousy love triangle so much, we made sure to include it in our chilling Lou Cameron's Unsleeping Dead hardcover collection-- go and get yourself a copy HERE!

Cadaver's Revenge

It's carnivals, crypts, corpses, and cadavers this week here at THOIA, and today we have another tale from the April 1953 issue of Strange Fantasy #5. Like every story in this issue, it also received the Eerie Pub remake / reworkin' over, and was reprinted no less than 5 times in the decades to come. And you can certainly see why, as it's hilariously off beat with a great splash, ruthless grave spittin', slimy rats, and a tombstone that is apparently more deadly than any actual cadaver! *Insert squashed melon sound FX here*