We've discussed the 'ol "bury you now, dig you up later" scheme in these scary old precode stories many times in the past, and it'll come as no spoilery surprise to learn that it doesn't work out in today's post either. But this time there's a twist, and it barely makes sense, --and bah, who cares? This is the stuff that made Atlas horror so great in the foist place, ya lousy bums! From the Dec. 1952 issue of Marvel Tales #110, with art by Don Perlin and Abe Simon (cover art by Russ Heath.)
I swear I've posted this superb Atlas classic here before... but searching the archive under keywords (I even searched under Zorna), as well as the Marvel Tales and John Forte tags, still nothing comes up. Oh well, if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me. And if I am making an oversight, it's still a goddamn great story from the December 1953 issue of Marvel Tales #119, and very worthy of a repeat posting. John Forte continually proves he can draw a really gorgeous gal, --even if she's the most horrendously horrible female on Earth!
Following up our previous werewolf story with a terrifyin' tale about a trio of ancient vampire bros unleashed upon a small village --because three Nosferatus are always better than one! The title probably should've read, "The THINGS in the Vault", but no matter, this is one of the earlier, lengthier Marvel anthology entries, and at a whoppin' 11 pages, we get a more fleshed out story than the usual Atlas 4 or 5 pager. And though the climax feels a wee bit rushed, it's still a rollickin' ride through the 'ol creep infested countryside. From the July 1949 issue of Amazing Mysteries #33. Cover / story art by--???
Like our previous post, we're keeping things cool 'n breezy, this time with a frisky fun Gail Porter "Girl Photographer" horror entry (our first Werewolf Wednesday post of 2025, too!), via the July 1944 issue of Blue Circle Comics #2. Gail only appeared in a half dozen adventures in her short-lived, comic book investigator / photographer career, fighting crime with a naturally smart ability, not to mention her neato infra-red camera! Her bitch ass editor boss seems to be from the same school of jerky blowhards that produced J. Jonah Jameson though. GCD believes that Bob Oksner is the artist here.
The October 1962 one-shot issue of Tales from the Tomb #1 (published by Dell) is 84 freaky pages of varied anthology horror about ghosts, monsters, and all manner of eerie bumps 'n boos in the night. It's a fun, though somewhat mixed bag, with the real stand-out story for me being this engagingly casual 8-pager about an artist and his friendly female neighbor discussing the man's recent return from the cursed countryside. Their breezy cool, flirty conversation in a big city loft feels nothing short of a spooky stage play, slowly turning more and more ominous with each chilly page turn, until that single... final... panel...
An interestingly simple little sci-fi horror premise from the September 1952 issue of Weird Tales of the Future #3: Two scientists working on a special generating fluid in an isolated desert castle accidentally spill the experiment on an ancient suit of armor, thus bringing it to violent life. Tony Mortellaro's koo-koo art works this one fast paced 'n full-tilt fun, and I totally adore the questioning climax with the bug eyed, bewildered scientist barely comprehending any of the possible outcomes to what he has just created. What have they done, indeed? What. Have. They. Done?!
In the comments of our last post of 2024 (HERE!), it sounded to me like Brian was maybe revealing to us his love for devil villains in underpants. So, enter The Deacon and Mickey, an action packed horror crime back-up tale from the December 1943 issue of Cat-Man Comics #22. Yes, I do believe these "Demons of Death" will surely satisfy Brian's fever for the flavor of more rockin' red, hot-pants fashion. For those unaware, Dean Denton, aka "The Deacon" was a former bad guy turned faux holy man crime fighter, making up for his pitiful past by dressing the part, as well as teaming up with sidekick Mickey to battle the denizens of the underworld. There are 32 appearances in all, occasionally dealing with spookier subject matter, thus qualifying The Deac for inclusion here at THOIA. Also, if that pulp perfect splash page doesn't immediately make it worthy, then nothing will. And again-- Happy 2025 to everyone who helps keep this blog chuggin' along with comments and suggestions-- you guys are the best!
