Clinging Corpse

Time to ring in the new month with a clingy classic about a corpse that just can't stop hangin' around! This is a real nice quickie crime corker filler from Mort Meskin, and can be found in the back-up pages of the Feb - March 1954 issue of Frankenstein #29. Lots more on the way too as THOIA is about to enter its 19th year of ominous existence on the 'ol weird wide web! Can ya believe it?!! NINETEEN! And yeah, I'm counting that one busted year when Blogger went bonkers. But unholy cows, we're still alive 'n still clingin' around yer necks somehow-- I'm just as surprised as you, TBH! 

The She-Monster

Who amongst you actually believed I would finish out June with a scary She-Beast? Ohhh, how little you know me... why, clearly the only way to truly seal the coffin lid on a month, (as well as a "Lurid Ladies" theme) is with a She-Monster! Dynamic Dick Briefer returns to THOIA now, delivering his own vicious version of the eternally flawed Bride of Frankenstein, via the January 1954 issue of Frankenstein #28. It's quite a beautiful work of art, honestly, all of this mad monster science at its most maddening! And THAT, my friends, is the way you close out a month of posts, and a terrifically terrifyin' theme! More jolts in July-- stay tombed!

The She-Beast

We're heading back into the teeming, screaming jungle for another eerie, horror adventure encounter, and this time with the monstrously macabre maiden "REPTA" via the slithery, September 1953 issue of Horrific #7. And of course Marty Elkins art is always a welcome addition to the THOIA Archive, but just to further spice things up around here with something different, Mr. Karswell also welcomes the wild and wonderful work of master illustrator, Ruth Marten --see her incredible Alligator Girl painting at the end of this post! I also highly recommend her superb monograph collection, Ruth Marten: All About Eve, edited by Ina Dinter.

Cinderella

Time for one of the most gruesome fairy tale freak-outs ever produced during the precode 50's, via the February 1954 issue of The Thing #12. And this one comes from dependable 'ol Steve Ditko, no less, demonstrating, as usual, his dynamically deadly, dense sense of panel packin' punch. I mean it when I say that every single page here is seriously overflowing with a fangtastic amount of ferociousness and fear. And you leg lovers look-out, because this one also has one of the most luridly loose-limbed shock endings in all of Charlton comic's history. Classic cover art by good 'ol Steve, as well!

"Ghostly Killer" / "Death on Display"

Gale forces are still blowin' strong here at THOIA, as we re-enter Earth's atmosphere, leaving behind Gale Allen and her space-age Girl Squadron (see our previous post HERE), thus, landing once more back on solid, blood-soaked soil to find not one, but TWO great, horror-tinged, Gail Ford murder mysteries awaiting us! Yep, someone's dumped a dead dame amongst the dummies in a department store window display. Now it's up to Gail (and her Bettie Page bangs 'n legs) to bring the baddie to justice! From the October 1950 debut issue of Crime Smashers #1, plus fun art and fast paced script from Gene Leslie! But first, Gail gasps it up in a graveyard at midnight as someone has once again turned a gal into a ghost! Gene Leslie delivers another daring, detective doozy, this time via the December 1950 issue of Crime Smashers #2! And just because it's been awhile, it's casting call time again: Starring Broderick Crawford as Inspector Madson, and Jean Brooks as beautiful, bad ass-- Gail "Girl Friday" Ford!