The Old Woman

If you remember at the start of this month, we took a look at the superb, early 1940's work that Paul Reinman supplied for the Pep Comics' "Bentley of Scotland Yard" mysteries. And here comes Reinman again, 10 years later and still plugging away as strong as ever for Atlas, with a very unusual, wonderfully written, wildly drawn story via the Dec. 1951 issue of Suspense #12. And despite the somewhat aggravating, off-register printing here, I still freakin' love that odd, final page close-up of the old woman, not to mention that beautifully bleak ending...

Deadly Doodles of Dandy

Hear that grinding noise? Is that the monolithic mills of the Gods slowly turning, or is it just Mr. Karswell uploading the final post of September 2024? Could be one, or both, and with a silly title like "Deadly Doodles of Dandy" you may just find that this Goldfarb and Baer terror team-up isn't quite as cornball as ya'd think! From the very short-lived, second and final issue of Fantastic #9, via Youthful in April of 1952.

Mr. Fife's Lively Sketch

Someone wrote in asking about this one after seeing a random panel floating around Tumblr... and no, this story isn't about Mayberry's most deadly deputy either! Monstery fun art by Golden Age legend, Jack Sparling, who was of course still doing some great work well into the Silver Age. From the August 1970 issue of Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery #31.

Don't Shake Hands with the Devil!

We had some phony fun devils via the old west earlier this month HERE, now it's time to get down with the really hot REAL demonic dealio! From the June 1950 issue of Marvel Tales #96, and featuring some masterful art by Mike Sekowsky that almost seems to predict a satanic Silver Age illustrative sensibility decades before it ever happened!

Deadline!

Rollin' out with THOIA's March Madness 2023 Edition, and like our last hilariously macabre post, this terrific Atlas tale also comes from the March 1953 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #16. I have a lot of gruesome great stuff lined up all this month, so stayed supernaturally tombed in for all the precode horror (and beyond) that you can handle! 'Nuff said!

The Face of Horror!

I was trying to remember another example of an individual horror comic story itself constructed in an anthology manner, as well as being featured within a horror anthology comic book. I'm coming up empty though, does anyone else remember one? This tale from the September 1954 issue of Weird Chills #2 is a lot of fun and actually pretty good, reaching for a horror high despite a writer / artist not quite up to par with the concept, (see also focal requirement for better fluidity!) Could be worse, it could be better, and it's still as 100% entertaining as anything Amicus Studios released...

The Bloodless Killer

We ended March with some macabre madness from the May 1953 issue of Fight Against Crime #13, so let's kick off the new month with another story from the same old rotten rag! And like the other tale, this one also includes an "axe-citing" climax of creeptacular choppery! Some fun art by A.C. Hollingsworth too, he's usually real hit / miss with me, but he honestly delivers some pretty good visuals this time around, even if most of them feel like swipes from other comics.

Horror Story

We've screamed along to a lot of great Atlas tales over the last few months (and years) around here, and as you've likely figured out along the way, when you really need one to knock your socks off, you can always rely on bloodcurdlin' Bill Everett to deliver the spookiest of sock knockers! A terrifically eerie entry (and cover!) from my all-time favorite artist, and from the April 1952 issue of Spellbound #2.