The Zombie!

Nope, the masked man in the top hat that you see below is not the return of horror host, "Mister Mystery" again already (as seen in our previous post HERE!) That right there is Richard Curtis Van Loan, aka The Phantom Detective, and as you can also see-- he's got himself a little zombie problem! This is one of the better, "fast-moving" Phantom Dick adventures via Pines' popular 1940's Thrilling Comics series. And while surviving a healthy, 170 issue / 20 year run in the pulps from 1933 to 1953, PD made the jump into comics in the April 1946 issue of Thrilling Comics #53, where it lasted just shy of 20 issues until 1949. With that being said, today's terrifically terrifiyin' THOIA story presentation comes from the October 1947 issue of Thrilling Comics #62, and features Edmond Good pencils, and some super chunky great George Tuska inks. (Get more PD origin info HERE!)

The Living Dead

Another top notch terror tale originally published in the April 1953 issue of Mysterious Adventures #13 (see our previous post HERE!) is this incredibly icky, super-smelly spooker by the always awesome, Art Gates. The superb splash, and almost alien final panel are really something, and I seriously regret not adding this to my Haunted Love mini-series. Later silver age reprint publications though, including the Eerie Pubs, brought it back from the dead in the 70's, and even Australia's Gredown resurrected it a few times too, most notably in Tales of Torment #2 (1978), all wrapped up in a rockin' rotten zombie cover design, --as you shall see below!

Come Share My Coffin Tomb!

Our month of dueling Two-For-One Fear Features continues with a petrifyin' pair of terror tales that are really asking a lot from you, dear readers! Yes, come along with us now as we attempt to make some rotten room for a couple of certifiably creepy, cramped companion classics! And Pete Tumlinson kicks it off with an ever familiar, eerie escape trick that is most certainly doomed to backfire every time, guaranteed! From the May 1954 issue of Strange Tales #28, plus a special paralyzin' applause for that superbly scary cover design by Harry Anderson! Then it's Mort Meskin's turn to amp up the mausoleum madness with an apparently "true" crime case from the September - October 1951 issue of Headline Comics #49, via Prize Comics. Yep, THOIA is unloading a hot, double dose of COME atcha this time around-- better bring some Kleenex! Wait, what? They're both tear-jerkers, I meant...

"True" Zombies of History: Hugo Ormsbeck / Strange Spirits: Voodoo

Time to put a wrap on our killer King Ward Fest this week with a couple more ACG AdvUnk fillers. And first up, a whoppin' weird 4-page historical account of Hugo Ormsbeck, 13th century oddball alchemist, and magician, who apparently discovered the power of the living dead, --and thusly became a "true" zombie himself! Ward delivers some great panels here, I just wish the coloring was a little more inspired. From the March 1953 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #41, followed by a one page voodoo quickie from the Fall 1948 debut issue of Adventures into the Unknown #1. GCD attributes the art here by Ward as well, but it honestly doesn't look like his work to me... I'm sure you will all let me know your opinions on this matter as well.

Death for Hire / Corpse Under Carpet

Some corpses just ain't havin' it! And here are two chilling examples from the September - October 1952 debut issue of ACG's Skeleton Hand #1. Nice 'n reliably chunky artwork from Jon Blummer highlights the first tale about crackpot criminal kooks overplaying their hand with voodoo, --followed by a one page quickie about a haunted rug! AIEEEEE!! Is there anything more terrifyin'?!! Maybe try the vacuum cleaner next time...

Voodoo

Buried in the back pages of the July - August 1948 issue of Exposed #3, (among the typical sort of bang bang gangster crime stories) lurks this hair-raisin' Harry Kiefer illustrated tale of vicious voodoo ultra violence. Swirling with demons, death dolls, and brutal torture, this is a wild little ghastly gem of grisly horror from south of the blood-soaked border...