The Vampire Maker!

Like yesterdays’ awesome ant invasion classic, THOIA contributor Brian Hirsch holds the horror reigns again today, and this time with the first story from an awesome, rare, 2-part, mad scientist double header. (You’ll have to come back tomorrow / Sunday for the sequel which I’m scanning right now from my own collection.) And I say “rare” because I’m unaware of any other Atlas pre-code horror tale like this that "popularly demanded" a true SEQUEL... but if you know about any others please let us know.

From the Dec ’52 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #13

*And don't forget to return tomorrow for the horrific SEQUEL to today's story, it's--- Terror in Our Town!

UPDATE: In the midst of all his THOIA scan donating and other momentous celebratin', Brian Hirsch writes in with double good news:

"There was a 2 part Atlas story in # 20 & 21 ( or around there ) with a guy time traveling to find the human race changed -- h.g. wells type stuff. By the way EMILY PAIGE HIRSCH was born at 3:12 pm on 9 / 4 / 08 weighing in at a slim, trim, buffed , chiseled & jacked 7 lbs 8oz . Her height -- 19 1/2 inches. Look out world ... "
Thanks Brian--- and congratulations on the new baby, from all of us here at THOIA!

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And speaking of mad scientists--- here’s the maddest of them all! You’ve seen his userpic around these haunted halls here at THOIA for some time now, and you’ve all read his mind bending rants and ravings that make posting stories everyday here such a joy for me. Yes, all the way from one of the most exotic and erotic corners of the world (Viet Nam), and sporting his brand new THOIA shirt (which was mailed to him about 60 years ago) it’s--- Mr. Cavin!

Find out more about his fascinating life and otherworldly travels by clicking HERE!

Liquid X / Accident in Devil's Gorge

May Madness means it's time for a couple of mad scientist tales, and first up it's a Leonard Starr sizzler about a city destroying substance, from the January 1944 issue of Lucky Comics #1, followed by a queer little quickie from the back of Avon's cool Robotmen of the Lost Planet #1 one-shot issue from 1952. And I've rounded it all out with a mad little scientific minx by the ever sensational, Shubina, too!



















There's no artist credit at GCD for the Devil's Gorge story, but I'm leaning towards maybe Everett Raymond Kinstler... anyone else have a thought about it?

The Thin Line!

The Taxi Driver was a bit short, so how about a bonus tale, also from the Jan/Feb 1953 issue of Mister Mystery #9. This one will make you think twice before working for a mad scientist…

LANDOR "Maker of Monsters"

I have a thing for female freaks, and nobody did it better than Bob Powell back in the earliest issues of Speed Comics with his classic, Landor "Maker of Monsters" quickies. Actually, many people have done it better, (before and since), but did they do it with as much fun as this? Also yes. But maybe they weren't drawn as good? Well, sure they were... I guess what I'm trying to sell you here today is a Triple Feature of Mad Scientist Terror. So now you ask, "But did anyone else ever do it this terrifying?" Oh yeah, waaaay more people have. This stuff isn't even that scary, tbh. But did they do it with as much originality? Of course they did, and have, and will continue to do. Anyway, what I'm really trying to say is that I love stories about creepy crawlin' cat women, and evil swoopin' bat babes, and dead dames revived to do dastardly deeds, all in the name of world conquering, wack-a-doodle science! So there, that's what I've been trying to say. Now prepare yourself for Sina, Creeta, Carda, and a two foot tall killer kitten, --plus a ding dong couple who just can't seem to stay away from the world's most ineffective, but undeniably inspired super-loser villain. From Speed Comics #2, #6, and #7 (1939 - 1940.)

Skin-Deep

A very funny Atlas terror tale from the August 1952 issue of Uncanny Tales #2, with Fred Kida's atmospheric art complimenting Hank Chapman's sardonic script. Yes, to be a mad scientist while your better half only wants to help out and make things... umm, "better." Haha, this is the kind of precode story that inspired me to start this blog over 17 years ago, with humor and horror perfectly balanced into one.

Heads of Horror

This is probably the third post I’ve done with a story of this name, or at least a slight variation on the words “head” and “horror.” But whatever, this yarn still stands on its own, and in typical Farrell fashion rates as absolutely one of the most cockamamie mad scientist entries ever.

From the March - April 1954 issue of Voodoo #14

Search for Evil

Your own search for evil is what brought you to THOIA in the first place, so let's see what additional darkness is in store for us today as Howard Nostrand conjures up a wild and wooly classic from the June 1953 issue of Black Cat Mystery #44. Seriously, this one has it all: a mad scientist, a haunted house, a creepy old witch, black magic, killer gorillas, and more!

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Bonus Harvey Page Fillers

(both from Black Cat #47 and also by Howard Nostrand)