Cinderella

Time for one of the most gruesome fairy tale freak-outs ever produced during the precode 50's, via the February 1954 issue of The Thing #12. And this one comes from dependable 'ol Steve Ditko, no less, demonstrating, as usual, his dynamically deadly, dense sense of panel packin' punch. I mean it when I say that every single page here is seriously overflowing with a fangtastic amount of ferociousness and fear. And you leg lovers look-out, because this one also has one of the most luridly loose-limbed shock endings in all of Charlton comic's history. Classic cover art by good 'ol Steve, as well!

The Terror of Akbar

Every Monday in March is Mummy Madness Day here at THOIA --and this week it's also happenin' at AEET too! Annnnd okay now, a few of you might be familiar with this grisly golden age gem from the February - March 1954 issue of Strange Fantasy #10, --I mean, it was reprinted nearly a half dozen times in the Eerie Pubs, but it also found a new, return-to-color home in Haunted Horror #17 back in 2015! And that's why it was a such a surprise to Mr. Karswell recently when he discovered that it had somehow never been featured here at THOIA-- until NOW, that is!

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ZERO GHOST DETECTIVE: Ghost's Vengeance / Hand of Rutatutakhmen

It's been a bit since Noel Fowler's "Zero Ghost Detective" solved a mystery around here, so as per his previous THOIA entries, let's take a look at two of 'em for a quick Double Fear-ture of fun! The first tale materializes from the September 1940 issue of Feature Comics #36, and finds our ghost dick battling a real dick of a ghost! This one has a neat supernatural concept I'm unfamiliar with: moonlight on a silver blade and carved into a cross pattern can dispel an unwanted spirit! And then, since it's Mummy Monday, it's time for our Zero hero to investigate the ancient Rutatutakhmen curse-- or the creepy, murderous hand of the mummy, anyway! From the October 1943 issue of Feature Comics #72, and no, no relation between Rutatutakhmen and King RootinTootin from the Three Stooges classic! (Click the image at the end of the post for some extra knuckleheaded thrills 'n chills!)

Blood Bath

Time to end the month of May with a gory, drug induced, blood bath doom-o-rama as only Chic Stone and the Eerie Pubs could do it, from the December 1969 issue of Weird V3#5. A true fan favorite freak-out that Eerie reprinted no less than 5 more times throughout the 70's. And try not to vomit over Bill Alexander's grindingly gruesome cover! See ya's in J-J-June...

The Coward & The Choker

And the midnight toker! Just jokin'-- it's "Super Blood-Soaked Saturday Shocker" time again, with a deadly double header of gagging gore and blood thirsty, brutal betrayals! Yes, just in case anyone thought THOIA was turnin' soft over our expansive 18-year run here on the 'ol interwebs, well, --think again! Two terror-packed tales full of dismemberment, dickish dames, and dumb dudes a'danglin', and despite some less than stellar scan quality here, both are from the rather awesome August 1954 issue of Mysterious Adventures #21. The savage illustrations in the first story are by bad boy Bill Savage himself, and followed by the always radical Ross Andru on our rockin' second tale. Plus! A real crowd-pleaser of a cover by Hy Fleishman! Have a gory great weekend everyone, with lots lots morgue to come-- so stay tombed!

The Avenging Hand!

Goin' waaaay back to the January 1946 issue of Yellowjacket Comics #7, to find this goofball Golden Age superhero series actually contains a few fright-filled / filler spook yarns under a "Famous Tales of Terror" title. Not only that, it features a truly horrible horror host called "The Ancient Witch." The artwork here by Alan Mandel is so hilariously amateurish that the whole Z grade production (like the avenging hand itself) practically takes on an entirely new awesome life of its own-- like lovably bad underground indie art of the 70's and 80's, —and the tough guy gangster talk highlighted with some splashes of blood give it all a little extra poverty row punch. Enjoy!