The Graves That Moved

We’ve all heard tales of vengeance FROM the grave, but what about vengeance OF the grave? Or more precisely, vengeance of the GRAVES? This is one of the weirdest ideas for a revenge story ever written but it totally works… and who’s the artist?

Originally presented in the Aug '54 issue of Marvel Tales #126

Happy Birthday Kolchak!

Seasoned actor of stage, screen and television, Happy Birthday Darren McGavin (aka Carl Kolchak), born this day in San Joaquin CA in 1922. R.I.P.

Vengeance!!!

Some of you will surely groan about today’s superhero post as we wrap up my week-long Bill Everett Tribute, but truth be told I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Everett’s greatest creation--- Prince Namor: The Sub-Mariner! Add the fact that my all-time favorite Universal horror is an obvious influence in this selection makes it all the more essential here. An interesting side note, this story came out a mere 5 months after The Creature from the Black Lagoon movie hit the silver screen in the same year of 1954.

From the August 1954 issue of Sub-Mariner #35

Thanks again to John for the scans! And sorry it took me so damn long to finally post them!

A Playmate for Susan

Bill Everett Tribute: Day Six! Today’s post would make a good companion piece to Charles Beaumont’s incredibly frightening Twilight Zone episode “Living Doll” starring Telly Savalas.

From the April 1952 issue of Astonishing #12

Orson Welles

Happy Birthday Orson Welles, legendary actor, genius film-maker, and real life mad magician. He masterfully scared the living shit out of most of America into thinking Mars was invading Earth on Oct 30th 1938, as he directed the Mercury Theatre On the Air radio dramatization of H.G. Wells' novel "War of the Worlds.” Born this day in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1915.

Mark of the Witch

Bill Everett Tribute: Day Five! This is one of my favorite Everett tales, featuring a fantastically illustrated witch and a neat time-travel twist. Two more days of Everett tales to go!

From the June 1952 issue of Men’s Adventures #22

All the Shapes of Fear

To mix things up a bit around here I thought I’d give you a dream team example of Bill Everett inks on a Silver Age collaboration with Don Heck working the pencils. It's a really great story showcasing two golden era legends still going strong in the 70's. This issue of Chamber of Chills is actually one of the very first horror comic books I ever bought with my own money as a kid, so it holds an extra special place in my little black heart.

From the March 1973 issue of Chamber of Chills #3

Werewolf!

Bill Everett Tribute: Day Three continues with another Stan Lee scripted story for the extremely short lived but generally excellent Menace series. I wish my scans were from the original comic but instead you’ll have to make do with the July 1974 reprint version from Chamber of Chills #11.
Originally presented in the May 1953 issue of Menace #3

I Was a Teenage Werewolf (VIDEO)

Nope, it’s not the trailer for the Michael Landon monster movie classic from ‘57; it’s a rare music video clip from 1980 of one of my all-time favorite psycho-rock horror bands THE CRAMPS performing live! If you dig what you see you can find out more about this legendary band here: www.thecramps.com

Blackout At Midnight!

Bill Everett Tribute: Day Two rolls on with another horrific Atlas weirdie… appropriately titled too, because when you get to the last page and see the head on this monster you might just black-out from laughing so hard. Too cool.

(Also, make sure you head over to Pappy's today for TWO more great Everett tales! Click HERE!)
From the July 1952 issue of Spellbound #5







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Yesterday we looked at a sexy negligee ad scanned from a 50’s comic; now let’s jump forward 20 years to 1973 with a fondly remembered t-shirt ad that was featured in nearly every comic book on the shelf at the time. I’ll say the superhero and hot rod images were much more appropriate in a comic ad than say, silky sheer sex panties, but the inclusion of Bud Man and Panama Red (takin’ a toke on the smoke bloke) might be pushin’ it. Does anyone know what ever become of Roach Studios in Ohio?

The Madman

I’ll save the space and spare you the Bill Everett bio introduction--- for he needs none! Quite simply (and repeatedly), he’s my favorite comic book artist ever, and that includes ANY comic era he’s worked in. He really had a fantastic grip on the horror genre as you will see over the next 7 days, and there’s tons more of his pre-code stuff backlogged in my archives too, you’ll just have to dig around since I’m too lazy to tag anything.

From the June 1953 issue of Menace #4

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QUESTION: If comics were just for kids in the early 50’s then how come many of them contained these bewitching adult ads for women’s negligee? Huh, Wertham? Huh?!! I suppose if you had some spare change left over after sending away for x-ray spex or exploding gum you could order something for your mom… and heck, dad might like the idea so much he may even buy you a few more copies of Menace, or Super Duck.

Happy Birthday (To Me)

May Day! May Day! Karswell reaches another milestone today, the BIG 4-0… can you believe it? And is it any wonder I arrived on Walpurgis Day? Anyway, as mentioned we’ll be spending some time this week showcasing the art of my all-time fave--- Bill Everett! It’s my party and I’ll Everett if I want too.


Also this month you can look forward to an Ace monster fest, some Edgar Allan Poe posts, lots more horror movie related stuff, maybe more Ken Shannon, more blog cross-over promotions with Pappy, and lots more things that go blog in the night than any other blog in the blogosphere! The fun begins as soon as someone gets that spicy shish-kabob out of my face…