Vengeance of the Red Ghost

Today is the last day of our “Ghost Stories for Christmas” theme, and it’s a spooky slasher from the March 1953 issue of Web of Evil #3. I’ll have another Web of Evil story for you tomorrow as we kick off yet another theme that will hopefully annihilate December and 2008 with a bang. More on that later… and Happy Boxing Day to my friends in Canada!

TOMORROW: Sci-Fi Horror Week Begins!

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House of Horror

As many of you know, I don’t usually post pre-code text stories, but I thought this one was pretty good, (and also from the March 1953 issue of Web of Evil #3.) It's short, to the point and spooky, with just a touch of supernatural grisliness. Check it out, you won't be sorry...

Curiosity Killed the Ghost

Time for a Christmas Day 2008 Ghost-o-rama with another chiller from Bob Powell… and once again, Happy Holidays to each and every one of you. I do hope you get every little thing you asked for from Satan this year… um, I mean Santa, of course. Or do I?

From the Dec ’52 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #4

TOMORROW: One more day of ghosts, and then it's on to another theme to finish off December AND 2008 permanently.

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Merry Creechmas!

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Another Dazzling Vintage Xmas AD

The Soul of Benjamin Sprague

Happy Xmas Eve(L) everyone! To those of you still at work and pulling a half day, or those of you already at home and wrapping presents (or murdering Gingerbread men with your teeth), here’s my present to you, from the Winter/Spring 1952 issue of Weird Thrillers #3. This Trading Places-esque tale by Bob Powell was actually already featured over at The Fortress last week (the indentical St. John Nightmare #13 reprint version from ‘53), but since I already had the original Weird Thrillers version scanned I’m gonna go ahead and post it here anyway for those that missed it.

I sincerely hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday… and remember, he sees you when you're sleeping...

TOMORROW: More ghosts! More Bob Powell too (I think...)

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Vintage Xmas AD

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Vault of Xmas Card

THOIA reader Squa Tront (aka Paul Beatless of Eastleigh England) sends a phantasmically chilling, personalized holiday greeting to each and every Pre-Coder out there. But dare I say Old Boy; I think we’ve always known what you look like under the Santa mask--- AIEEEEE!!

Thanks again Squa, and another screaming round of good cheer to everyone! AIEEEE!!

The Haunted Mansion (Golden Press, 1970)

And how about a little non-pre code xmas bonus too? I mean, what kind of “Ghost Story for Christmas” theme would be complete without the story told so damn brilliantly by Walt Disney and his Imagineers within the haunted walls of the single greatest Dark Ride ever created? It’s not just for the kiddies, but also everyone still young at heart too.

(FYI: these scans come from my original Golden Press book that I actually received for xmas over 35 years ago! Awww!)

For more about the real Haunted Mansion please check out the single greatest website devoted to it, DOOMBUGGIES.com …and what ever you do, don’t miss Jeff Baham’s incredible book The Secrets of Disney’s Haunted Mansion, featuring over 60 awesome pages of in-depth, behind the scenes Haunted Mansion history and facts!

Click HERE for more info and to order!

A Night in Black Knoll

Time for another ghostly chiller, and like yesterday’s tale, it’s from one of my other favorite underrated ACG artists, Lin Streeter. So is everyone enjoying the theme this week? What do you want to see in 2009, and how should we kick off the New Year this time around? I’m taking requests now…

From the Oct – Nov 1950 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #13

TOMORROW: A tale that actually takes place on Christmas Eve...

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Mondo Xmas

For those of you in LA, The Cinefamily has a special “Mondo Xmas” program lined up for Dec 25th at 8pm that sounds like a lot of fun: xmas cartoons, aborted holiday specials, and the feature film Christmas Evil ('80), plus director Lewis Jackson in attendance with all kinds of crazy extras to astound you.

Click HERE for more info!