When a Vampire Dies

Sid Greene's turn to tackle the blood thirsty, evil vampire menace today, this time from the November 1954 issue of Marvel Tales #128. Shar? Hmmm, an interesting name for a vampire, and an even more interesting hair-do... wait, and he likes to play checkers, and what exactly does he do with those sheep?!!

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Vintage AD (vampire killin' stake not included)

Vampire Hunter / Strange Mr. Milque

We're still in Flash Forward mode this week, as well as vampire mode, and today it's a blood suckin' double freak feature! First up "The Vampire Hunter" from the Jan. '75 issue of Mad House #97 with fantastic art by Frank Thorne... this one introduced the Sherlock Holmes-esque Henry Hobson, who according to GCD was intended to be a re-occuring character, though this appears to be his one and only appearence. And our second tale today, "The Strange Mr. Milque" is a great submission from fellow comic book blogger Mykal (click his name for links to all his amazing blogs!) His story was originally presented in the Dec. '74 issue of Midnight Tales #10 and contains some super spooky (and sexy) art, this time by Tom Sutton. Thanks again to Mykal for sharing!

Sharpen up the stakes and check the garlic for freshness, cuz you haven't seen the last of the vampires this week!

Dracula's Guest

In 1966 Pyramid Books released Christopher Lee's Treasury of Terror, a small paperback book containing black and white "picture stories of supernatural horror" as selected by Lee himself, featuring five fright classics: Robert Bloch's "The Past Master", Rudyard Kipling's "The Mark of the Beast", Ambrose Bierce's "The Death of Halprin Frayser", "Wentworth's Day" by H. P. Lovecraft and August Derleth, and finally today's THOIA Flash Forward pick, Bram Stoker's long-lost first exploit of Count Dracula "Dracula's Guest" (adapted by E. Nelson Bridwell and illustrated by Frank Bolle.) There's more after the story...

Other artists applying their talents to this fine collection are Alden McWilliams, Russ Jones, EC's legendary Johnny Craig, (and Mort Drucker on the cover.) If you enjoyed today's story let me know, I'll be glad to feature other tales from this collection in the future.

---Karswell

Heart of the Snow Maiden

I was actually saving this one for February 14th, when it occured to me that it would also fit nicely into January's sub-zero scream theme. From the Feb. '53 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #40, and featuring art by Harry Lazarus... oh, this ACG issue also contains the very cool story "The Soul Collectors" that I posted back in Oct. '07, one that the ever amazing Batton Lash of Wolff and Byrd fame actually wrote to me about!

NEXT: Are you ready to "Flash Forward" with Bram Stoker?!

The Frozen Bride

From the October 1952 issue of Strange Fantasy #2, it's a particularly foul, freezer burnt treat that definitely won't warm the cockles of anyone's heart (or pants), and will undoubtably leave many of you in hysterics, or pondering poorly realized revenge choices. Soooo stupid...

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Fans of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein should immediately detour over to Scot Ryersson's awesome Arcanifacts blog and check out another amazing gift that I received just in time for xmas this year--- click HERE!

The Horror Heads

Another chilly blast of winter weirdness for you today from the August 1952 issue of Beware #11 , art by Harry Harrison. There is one, maybe even two other stories very similar to this one in the THOIA Archives, but I'll be damned if I can remember what they are (I really should tag posts shouldn't I?) If anyone finds or remembers them please paste the link/s in the comments.