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.

Perfect Mate / Once Upon a Corpse

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...

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.

The Grave Will Not Wait

Like our previous post, today's fateful story is also from the October 1952 issue of The Hand of Fate #12, and it's nicely illustrated by Chic Stone who always seems to totally crush it here at THOIA. So what do you all think? Could you deliver on what 'ol Fate has offered to this poor, doomed idiot? I've also rounded out the post with a graverobbin' one-pager-- a Sy Grudko "True Tales of the Supernatural" quickie from the July 1954 issue of The Beyond #27. One more post to go for the month of July, and FYI: I plan to correct a rather foolish bit of Atlas oversight on my part... I do hope you can forgive me!

Duke of Darkness vs. Professor Evil

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?

Mystery in a Cemetery

I'm working feverishly on a larger post that will be coming midwee-eeek, --in the meantime, here's a two page, factually creepy, moving coffin mystery for ya, from the March 1942 issue of Bang-Up Comics #2. Uh, does anybody actually ever read these text tales? I know as a kid, if one had a wild header spot illustration it would make me break down and read one, absolutely. And this one benefits from a cool little, leering ghost host character at the very start of the first paragraph too! *Gasp! Man, that guy needs his own comic book series!

One Awful Night with a Fiend

There's another random, isolated comic book panel making the Tumblr meme rounds (see the middle image at the top of page 5 below.) A few people wrote in asking what it's from, so here we go with a Mike Sekowsky illustrated tale about a struggling actress trapped in an unholy Hollywood nightmare. For a story packed with grave robbing, black magic, and the resurrection of an evil snuff film maker, you'd think this would all be a bit more unnerving instead of just spooky silly, but it still has its moments. GCD notes that Vince Alascia contributed the inks here as well. From the April 1952 issue of Hand of Fate #10.