If you're suddenly overcome with a creeping sense of deja vu, it's because yes, just last month we had another post also called "The Perfect Mate" (Atlas had a thing about re-using story titles!) But you have my word that this "perfect mate", from the August 1952 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #12, is quite different than the last one! And as mentioned in our previous post, today's Double Header is also a double shot of Marty Elkin eeriness, two atmospheric entries from the glorious, golden era of comic book shock spookery! Now, "Once Upon a Corpse", from the June 1952 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #11 might leave a few of you less imaginative fiends scratching your head in the end. But I like to think that 'ol Marty simply delivered one of the more original supernatural tales-- featuring a vampiric grave with an appetite all its own! Oh, did I just spoil it for you? Too bad...
How about we finish up this Atlas Fest with another one from the October 1952 issue of Suspense #23. And similar to our previous post, it's another tale about lousy 'ol looks, looks, looks! But a story illustrated by joltin' Joe Maneely is of course anything but "lousy", because not only is this 4-page, mini-masterpiece of mad science also written by Stan Lee, it's got zombies, werewolves, ghosts, plus, a fantastically funny finale! Don't believe me, eh? Wanna bet?
Let us now open one last case file from the luridly lively, pulp-fisted, Bentley of Scotland Yard series from Pep Comics. And up to this point, all of the stories we've seen so far have been from the later Paul Reinman illustrated era... well now we're rollin' the clock way back for an even early entry, via the September 1940 issue of Pep Comics #8, where we find that the great Sam Cooper has taken over the art duties. Everyone seems to have enjoyed these posts, so don't be surprised if Bentley pays us another visit sometime before the summer's end. Stay tombed, lots more on the way!
Time to add a chilling premonition to the cremation style summer heatwave we're currently locked in, so let's head down to the Cavendish Coffin Company and see what all the fuss is! From the Dec. 1977 issue of The Unexpected #182.
As some of you already know, I like to throw a superhero horror tale atcha here every once in a while to keep things interesting. And this one is not only very innnnteresting, it's also The Duke of Darknessessess's very first action-packed appearance, --and it's all pretty damn funny too! From the October 1945 issue of K-O Komics #1 (PLEASE NOTE that I usually link to the GCD issue info here, but it doesn't seem to be responding at the moment for whatever reason, and you definitely don't want to miss the great Jack Kirby cover on this one too!) Anyway, if you're one to skip these horror hero posts because you're too cool 'n snobby, then I beg you to reconsider and at least give it a try, it's tons of fun (and funny), especially if you enjoy supernatural stuff like The Spirit, or The Spectre. Did I mention this story is also funny?
