Kronos--Zagros--Eborak!

Some of you may have pondered: "When did Mr. Karswell first get hooked on Satan?" And the answer comes via the very first time I read a DC horror comic yarn illustrated by the ever fearsome, Frank Thorne! More precisely, the August 1976 issue of House of Mystery #244. This wildly wicked story is overloaded with great Kashdan moments: a sinister brainwashing ceremony, half-nude cult cuties, a kick ass kung-fu fight in a steam bath, and a final page with more clever twists than a pentagram shaped pretzel! If you've never read this one, you're in for a treat. And a very special "Kronos--Zagros--Eborak" to those of you lovin' that diabolically demonic Luiz Dominguez cover below, too!

"Ghostly Killer" / "Death on Display"

Gale forces are still blowin' strong here at THOIA, as we re-enter Earth's atmosphere, leaving behind Gale Allen and her space-age Girl Squadron (see our previous post HERE), thus, landing once more back on solid, blood-soaked soil to find not one, but TWO great, horror-tinged, Gail Ford murder mysteries awaiting us! Yep, someone's dumped a dead dame amongst the dummies in a department store window display. Now it's up to Gail (and her Bettie Page bangs 'n legs) to bring the baddie to justice! From the October 1950 debut issue of Crime Smashers #1, plus fun art and fast paced script from Gene Leslie! But first, Gail gasps it up in a graveyard at midnight as someone has once again turned a gal into a ghost! Gene Leslie delivers another daring, detective doozy, this time via the December 1950 issue of Crime Smashers #2! And just because it's been awhile, it's casting call time again: Starring Broderick Crawford as Inspector Madson, and Jean Brooks as beautiful, bad ass-- Gail "Girl Friday" Ford!

The Manikins of Death!

I'm always surprised to find a precode horror story that hasn't already made its way into the THOIA Archive at this point. Especially considering I collect vintage department store mannequins, and why looky here-- a good one on that exact subject, no less! From the August 1951 issue of Mysterious Adventures #3, and from the glorious 'ol Golden age era of when people apparently had no idea how to even spell the word "mannequin!" I'm sure some of you will find a wee bit of pleasure knowing that Mr. Karswell is seated here at the computer and indeed surrounded by multiple mannequins, blankly staring at me, errr him, as these scans are eerily edited and meticulously put together for todays post... piece by piece... limb by limb... ohh, careful not to slip now!

Plague!

Ahhh, it's that time of year again already when everyone starts getting sick and infecting everything around them. Flu, strep, and crummy Covid (yes, it's still around and still very real) everywhere, so what's a fella supposed to do? That's right, grab your very best mannequin girlfriend and run for the hills! This is a real oddball Atlas entry from the Feb '53 issue of Uncanny Tales #5, --and one that Mr. Karswell can completely identify with!-- and according to the Atlas Tales page, "inspired by the Albert Camus novel, "The Plague" from 1947. 

They Walk By Night

We started off the month of March with a trio of screaming tales of mannequin madness, so let's close it out now with one more! From the March - April 1973 issue of Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #10, and featuring some seriously crazed artwork by Bill Payne. Not to mention a nice and, yes Brian, related to the story cover by THOIA Golden Age favorite, Nick Cardy! We'll see everyone again shortly in April for lots more!