The Widow's Lover

Another sharp-edged tale from the Feb '55 issue of Amazing Ghost Stories #16, --pretty sure I'll just post the entire issue here this month, it's chock full of great art-- and no finer example than 6 pages of Joe Kubert pencils 'n inks! Followed by a one page bonus from THOIA fave, Everett Raymond Kinstler.

BONUS!

The Bloody Sword

St. John's February 1955 issue of Amazing Ghost Stories #16 was a complete issue reprint of Ziff-Davis's Weird Thrillers #4 from the summer of 1952. With the newer title, we lose a gorgeous Norman Saunders painted cover, replaced by a still superb one from Matt Baker, while the inside art remains the identical "All-Star Who's Who" featuring spooky tales illustrated by Infantino, Kubert, Tuska, Roussos, and Kinstler, as well as todays nicely told, atmospheric ghost yarn from Dan Barry and John Giunta. Queue up some Slayer, kiddies... time to die by the sword!

Poison-Quill at Midnight!

There's one story left to tell from the August 1954 issue of Tales of Horror #12, and here it is, a piercing little yarn about a kooky killer quill! The rest of this great issue can be found in the THOIA Archive: "Welcome to My School", "Fate of Alberto", and "The Pallbearers." And after the post, get a sneak peek at the new Yoe Banes horror project coming this fall from IDW! Full-color, precode horror reprints in an affordable, monthly comic book package! (Just don't get too comfy with the "Scary" title, cuz we've already changed it.) Click HERE for all the info!

Click HERE!

CCI: The Chilling Horror Comics History of the 1950s

For those that missed it in the flesh, Andy Liegl, contributing editor for Comic Book Resources, gives a wonderful, thoroughly indepth examination of the Chilling Archives of Horror Comics Zombies panel from San Diego Comic Con 2012, which featured yours truly "Karswell" and Creepy Uncle Craigy Yoe-- read about it right HERE!

Thanks again Andy!

Terror of the Deep

We're spotlighting Ellis Eringer again with another wild post today-- and if you thought our last story by him was remarkable (click HERE for it), wait until you see how gruesome this one is! From the November 1953 issue of Mister Mystery #14 ...and with a very special thanks to Brian Hirsch for the scans! (Are there any other pre-code horror tales by Eringer? If so, please let us know, GCD has very little information about him other than his work for Disney.)

Fate of Alberto

Back in January 2008, I posted two stories from the August 1954 issue of Tales of Horror #12: "Welcome to My School", and "The Pallbearers." Today's fateful post comes from the same issue, and it's a wonderfully wicked tale of black magic and epic DOOM, superbly visualized by Ellis Eringer. I have to say, as good as today's story is, it's nothing compared to the fascinating man who illustrated it, find out more about Ellis "Papa Duke" Eringer and click HERE!

The Man Who Tricked the Devil!

Today we have the last story (thank the lard) from Tales of Horror #7 1952, aka the crummiest comic book in my collection... NOTE: when I say "crummy" I'm talkin' about a multitude of things like the print failure! every page loose! zero spine! fallin' apart / brittle condition! -- I certainly have nothing against the art or stories. So for you issue completists, also see: "Dinky!", "Die for the Beggar", and the really great "Beast from the Deep!" that we posted waaay back deep in the 2008 THOIA Archives!

Splash art recycled

Die for the Beggar

Rising above the tragic print job of today's post (like our last post also from Tales of Horror #7, 1952) is an equally tragic tale of a beautiful blonde girl and her unlucky excursion into the terrifying, deadly realm of love. The last page in particular, while not really reaching too hard for a typical shock / twist ending, is simply a different, low key example of welcome mood, emotion, and the inevitable. [NOTE: Page 2 found and added into the story... not sure how this snafu happened exactly-- possibly I left part of my brain in San Diego!]

Drazen's new book "Working Mummies" is in stores now! A glorious treat for all ages, each page overflowing with outrageous monstery fun-- click HERE for more info and to order your copy now!