Perry Chase.... Press Guardian

Perry Chase, aka The Press Guardian was yet another of the many fun, but largely forgotten 1940's back-up filler hero features from the early days of the ever popular Pep Comics series, via Archie. And while he doesn't really possess any SUPER hero powers, --as we'll be seeing in some of our other featured hero posts all this month, --he is one terrifically tough, masked reporter with those fists, threatening the bad guys with strangulation and torn throats, all the while saving the lovely damsels in distress in his endless pursuit of justice, and truth. The two stories I have for you today are unique to the series, because it appears to be the few horror themed examples of Press G encountering his nemesis "The Claw" in a pair of adventures where old house mad science and subtereanean monsters fit THOIA's bill rather nicely. Not to mention, Mort Meskin's old school art style really lends a wonderfully surreal, eerie quality to the all-out scrappy, beast battle action. Enjoy! From the Nov. / Dec. 1940 issues of Pep Comics #9, and Pep Comics #10. 

Cauldron of Evil

Time for a macabre lil stroll through the ominous 'ol Ozark mountains, where wicked weird witchcraft still runs rampant-- and all just a mere hop, skip, and one jittery jump away from Karswell Manor as well! Ace Mag art pro, Jim McLaughlin, lays the atmosphere on thick as a hick with a tick about to explode on his di-- errrr, okay, --time to lay off the alliteration for awhile, I seriously do believe *gag! From the August 1952 issue of The Hand of Fate #12, plus we have one more from this eerie ish up next too-- so stay tombed!

Men with Fangs!

THOIA's Friday Freak-O-Meter has officially gone off the charts with this terrifically illustrated Joe Sinnott terrorama from the December 1952 issue of Suspense #25. And if the more observant of you out there are slowly starting to see a pattern with the posts developing here, well-- you may be on to something, finally... sheesh!

High Priestess of the Snake People

Those darn Dames of Doom keep slithering out of the woodwork around here, as our month of Vicious Valentine Vamps continues! And just like the previous post, this story also comes from the September 1950 issue of Challenge of the Unknown #6 (which was in fact, the one and only issue of this title.) It is also fantastically illustrated by Frank Giusto who, I believe, is finally making his THOIA debut here! I may have to do a deep dive and see what else we can find by him for a future artist spotlight. Collectors of our Chilling Archives of Horror Comics hardcover collections may remember this gem from Mike Howlett's super awesome, and weirdly underrated Snake Tales book from 2016...

Fangs of the Panther

From one terrifying transformation tale beyond the stars (see our previous post), to another right here on Earth, let us now follow one man's ill-fated attraction to some bad pussy. From the Spring 1945 issue of All-New Comics #11, and with some ferociously fun art by Jerry Robinson, not to mention a funny little foreign sleuth of the supernatural, Professor Augustus Bonnard, who I'm not sure ever made another comic book appearance, (I didn't find anything related on GCD anyway, so please correct me if I'm wrong.) Yep, love is all around here at THOIA this entire month of February, it's even in the trees, and gasp! --here it comes now for your throat!

The Monster

Another wild one from the April 1953 issue of Chilling Tales #15, (dig the previous post too), and you'll likely see the ending coming from a few cemeteries away, but I bet you'll still have fun with it all the same! Henry Kiefer's spooky illustrative approach can be a bit rough at times, but it does the job unleashing a bizarre looking monster while also unveiling a uniquely odd, moody graveyard experience...