The Case of the Vampire Murders

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!

Bewitched

Today's story would've been a good one to save for a witchcrafty "Halfway to Halloween" presentation post. Unfortunately, we're still shivering in the first week of a very wintery March-- brrr! Ahh well, just imagine that it's actually Walpurgisnacht, or even Halloween itself, get into costume (don't forget the devil's bane!) and head on over for a party to end all parties properly-- with a black magic powered seance! And slow down a second now, or you'll forget to bring the catnip too! From the Dec. 1954 issue of Dark Mysteries #21.

The Ghost!

Time for an entertaining spirit debunkin' tale from the Dec 1948 - Jan 1949 issue of Gangsters Can't Win #6. Nice, but unidentified artistry here, though looks familiar... anyone have any suggestions? Starring Tura Satana as Electra, Beverly Garland as Suzy, and Kenneth Tobey as Dick Fowler. 

R.I.P. Joe Sinnott / Talking Corpse

2020 claims another precode legend, all-time THOIA favorite, Joltin' Joe Sinnott has passed away at the age of 93. Boy, what a wild collection of awesome he leaves behind for future generations of comic book fans. His multitude of styles and vast array of talent for any genre continues to give everyone a little bit of something to marvel at (literally), and today at THOIA we will be marveling at just that. And maybe this story isn't the most appropriately titled tale to choose for an R.I.P. post, but it still showcases what Joe absolutely did best within the horror genre: incredible splash, terrifying monsters, superbly rendered faces / backgrounds, and supernatural inking! R.I.P Joe-- we miss ya already! From the April 1952 issue of Adventures into Terror #9.









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Find out more about Joe by CLICKING HERE! And dig around the THOIA Archive by using the search bar at the top of the page, or the sidebar tag for tons more Joe Sinnott classics!

The Unexpected! / Immortality!

Two more from the maddenly macabre March - April 1953 issue of Mister Mystery #10, and first up we invite you along for a shuddery seance, followed by a terror-filled trip out to the spooky old science lab / greenhouse! Yep, it's another double dose of dreary fears as only startlin' Stanley Morse and Mister Mystery could deliver 'em!

Lost in the Graveyard / Missing... One Head!

Yet another Atlas comic containing two similarly themed tales of heady horror within one issue, and this time they're both from the Nov '52 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #12. And we end out the month with another double (be)header-- and another great Bill Everett cover too! Hope everyone enjoyed this fright-filled February! See ya's in March!

Don't Wake the Dead!

As promised, more ghost stories for xmas, and this tale of terrible vengeance from beyond the gruesome grave materializes from the Sept '52 issue of The Beyond #15, with art by Jim McLaughlin. Hope everyone had a great holiday and a great year... we'll be finishing out December and 2018 on a few more rather spooky high notes-- so stay tombed!