Curse of the Werewolf

This wild 'n wooly (and lengthy) werewolf tale from the Jan '52 issue of Worlds of Fear #2 (Fawcett Publications), features some very nice art by Sheldon Moldoff and Ed Moline (??), as well as a few panels where some obvious Lon Chaney Jr. Wolf Man photo reference was used-- for example the first panel on page 5 is a rather well known image from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein from 1948 (and is pictured at the very end of todays post too.) If you spot any others let us know about 'em in the comments! Oh, and Happy Easter to all of my THOIA friends, long time returning chums as well as new ones... today you all get a killer hairy wolf dude instead of a filler hairy bunny.

Final Take!

I had a request for something "monstery" from DC, and this tale from the Oct-Nov. '73 issue of Weird Mystery Tales #8 is pretty fun, --though the cliched plot of a film crew making a horror movie in a haunted house is certainly not pulling any surprises, DeZuniga's art is wonderfully creep-filled, pulling image reference from classic horror legends like Karloff, Lugosi, Lee, and Chaney.

PS: Don't forget about our ZOMBIES book give-away contest (see our last post HERE!) I think I'll extend the deadline through the weekend-- winners announced on Monday, October 27th!

Cat! / Immortality Factor

Another Red Circle Comics Group double feature post today, this time a showcase example of Gray Morrow's talents as both writer and artist... from the stunning cover to all 4 stories in the Oct '73 issue of Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #3 (writer credits for the Essays into the Supernatural one-page bonus go to Phil Sueling), Morrow did pretty much everything else in this issue himself. And it's wonderfully detailed work too, I might add-- the first story "Cat!" stars Barbara Steele, purrfectly cast in the seductive lead, while "Immortality Factory" features photo reference panels of Boris Karloff at his typically sinister, mad doctor best.

The Happy Dead / The Terrible Trident!

Continuing with our look at Red Circle Comic Group's very short lived 70's MADHOUSE horror series, here are two from the Sept '74 issue of Madhouse #95. Starting off with "The Happy Dead" (no nods to The Grateful Dead necessary), this is a hilarious story that Doug Wildey may or may not have used Barbara Steele photos for as reference in a few panels-- but it's most certain that German "El Vampiro" Robles pops in for whatever reason in the middle of page 5! And then, "The Terrible Trident!" picks up where we left off in our last post with yet another devil story, and one very familiar, almost monotonous punchline ending! I was saving this one for Halloween, but here ya go anyway, typically cool art from Vicente Alcazar-- and how about that creepy Gray Morrow cover!

German Robles 

The Werewolf of Washington Square

A somewhat typical tale of lycanthropy gets the Everett Raymond Kinstler treatment, as Werewolf Wednesday savagely leaps upon you a day early (what kind of surprise is it if it happens when you're totally expecting it?) Seriously, Kinstler really shines this one up, but is it just me or did he obviously dip into the Fredric March as Mr. Hyde photo reference file a tad bit? Ahhh well...

From the October 1953 issue of Nightmare #3

And congratulations to Trevor M in our recent "Isle of the Doomed" Contest, after much deliberation (and Carrot Top desecration), he just won himself a THOIA tee shirt! Thanks again to all who participated, more contests coming soon! Trevor, please email me your address and tee shirt size when you get a chance. ---Karswell

NEXT: More St. John Nightmares!

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The Wonderful Wizard: Daniel Dunglas Home

(art by Everett Raymond Kinstler)