The Real McCoy! / Death at the Carnival! / The Trainer!

We ended August with a burial scheme money grab failure fiasco, so let's kick off September with another phony baloney buffoon trying his damnedest to rake in some serious blood bucks! Long-time THOIA followers might remember "The Real McCoy!" when we first presented it HERE back in 2009, but it was the black 'n white repo version. Well, here it comes again, only this time we can finally view it in all of its pleading, limb hacked gory glory! From the July - August 1954 one-shot debut issue of The Clutching Hand #1 via ACG, and featuring some outstanding artwork by the ever underrated Paul Gustavson. And not to be outdone there, I've also included two hysterical Harry Lazarus one page fillers featuring even more "smart" guys getting their brutal, just desserts. (NOTE: If anyone feels the need to point out the obvious plot hole in "The Trainer!" though, please don't. We all see it. We all know it. Don't be that guy. Please.)

The Old Hag

It's been a bit since we had ourselves a kreepy Krigstein klassik. So fly that freak flag high, you way-out weirdos, this witchcraft laced sideshow oddity comes from the June 1952 issue of Adventures into Terror #10, and is guaranteed to tie you and your nightmares into a nutty 'ol tangle of knotty nots!

Pit of the Damned Devil Worshippers!

Well, once again we made it to Walpurgisnacht-- but can we survive this naughty nacht without getting ourselves burned?! It's gonna be one heckuva Halfway to Halloween fight as Captain Battle swoops in to put a brutal end to some Hellish heathens and their horny wicked ways, from the Feb. '42 issue of Silver Streak Comics #18. But first up, Bob Powell sends us careening down-- down-- down into the flaming caverns of Satan's sizzlin' domain, in an all-time classic Harvey Hit from Hell, via the April 1952 issue of Chamber of Chills #7. THOIA will return after a few days of Mr. Karswell May Day Birthday Recuperayytion, --please stay tombed! 

Hellfire of Doom

Time to wrap up Fearsome February with a devilishly hot tale, direct from the burning gates of The Thing #1 (see our previous post as Hell, errr, --as well, too!) It's another smokin' pairing of Forgione / Tyler, teaming up and screaming up our final post of the month! And along with this macabre mystery lies yet another-- a wild picture to share (courtesy of the cool ass Carny Feet facebook group), featuring the Devil's Cave, a 1960's spook house or carnival dark ride from Ohio. And good 'ol Mr. Karswell himself figured out that some of the artwork on that fabulous attraction facade appears to be lifted from a couple of precode comic book covers, no less! Take a look at the end of this post, and if you recognize that hooded / bearded gentleman also painted on there (on the left), let us know where it comes from! Thank you in advance, and we'll see you in March for lots rots more!

One Extra Head He Makes Me Kill!

Time to kick off 2026 with a bang-- or two! Dan Loprino's "One Extra Head" is from the March 1954 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #25, and followed by Gil Evans' "He Makes Me Kill!" via the May 1953 issue of Men's Adventure #21. Okay, we're gonna be doing things a little differently around here this new year, just hang tight and all will be revealed over the coming weeks... stay tombed!