The Vampire Bones!

A few posts ago, a comment mentioned having to "re-read the story a few times to understand what was actually going on", and (for me anyway), the same thing applies with today's wicked vampire encounter, via the November 1952 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #37. It's still a wonderfully weird story, and I love the snooty aggressive nature and looks of the vicious vamp here. But our hapless hero, Gary Owens (not to be confused with the legendary Laugh-In announcer) continually talks about something on the first few pages that artist Pete Riss inexplicably chose not to even bother adding into the visuals. What really makes all of this even more odd is that it's even the freakin' title of the story! Or maybe I've just read this story incorrectly and missed something, who knows? Anyway, let 'ol Karswell know what you think. There are a few more vampires fluttering our way over the next couple of posts as well, so stay toodily tombed...

The Murdered Mummy

Well, I'm a bit saddened by the lack of response in our previous crime horror double feature, especially considering today's pre-planned post is a fine "told in pictures" pulp magazine follow-up to both of those tales. Yep, Hollywood Detective, Dan Turner returns, but this time he's in the Queenie Starr story,"Starring: A Corpse", (minus lil Queenie - see the previous post if you skipped it for whatev reason), and this time the setting isn't a mad science, stabby coffin, torture dungeon film set, it's an eerily exotic mummy movie location complete with a spine piercin' sacophagus! It's interesting to compare all the fun original art and various ideas here with the later 50's re-do, not to mention the hilariously snappy, tough guy banter. And boy, Barreaux could sure draw a gorgeous mm-mm-murdered mummy, even though I guess I like both versions of these about equal. From the January 1943 issue of Dan Turner - Hollywood Detective V1#6 (cover art possibly by Saunders?)

Murder in Wax "Starring: A Corpse"

It's Midweek Murder-thon time again, so lets crack open another perfect pair-up of crime horror mystery cases guaranteed to knock your nylons off and well into next week! Hollywood dick, Dan Turner has himself a heckuva of handful trying to straighten out a murderous screwy angle or two while on a macabre movie set in, "Murder in Wax", from the July 1953 issue of Crime Mysteries #8. But first, Hollywood glamor girl, Queenie Starr starrs in the new Sam Wilde horror picture over at Paragram Studios, (via the July 1952 issue of Crime Mysteries #2), and if she's not careful, she too could find herself playing the lead corpse! Heater bangs, head bops, horror chops, and heavenly babes a'plenty-- what more could you ask for in a THOIA Double Feature, anyway?

Susan and the Devil

I'm working on a larger double-feature post which will be coming up here very shortly. In the meantime, dig this hot little four-page danger dame charmer from the September 1953 issue of Crime Mysteries #9! A story so wonderfully wicked, it'll leave you wrapped around Susan's lovely little finger and burning for more! As always, stay tombed...

Dead Woman's Swamp

Your sucky Saturday just got a whole lot swampier with another creepy crime horror classic, this time from Myron Fass and the murky mucky March 1954 issue of Crime Mysteries #12. Yes sir, if cute college dames getting drained to death by icky leeches is your jam, then your car has definitely broken down in the right place! There's also an ouch-inducin' muck monster maniac on the loose-- or is there?! Ugh! Those of you who picked up my wonderously water-logged SWAMP MONSTERS collection (via Yoe Books) back in 2019 might remember this ominous highpoint, though oddly enough, I somehow have never posted it here at THOIA-- so, prepare to get sucked in if you're unfamiliar with it!

Feast of the Dead!

When the Spirit Halloween stores start poppin' up around your area, you know it's finally time to get serious about what you too are going to be wearing this All Hallow's Eve! You still have 50+ days to get your act together, but just once I'd love to see someone get as serious about their horror presentation as the corpse mutilatin' madmen depicted in today's atmospheric beast of a feast terror tale from the Sept. '54 issue of Crime Mysteries #15. Good lord this one is insanely inspired, and hysterically gruesome, --even by 'ol Mr. Karswell standards! And not to be a spoiler sport here or anything, but fyi Shaggy and Scoob never encountered cemetery cosplay quite on the same level as this! These goons really go for the gold. Oh, while we're at it, don't bother checking Spirit for gas-filled balloons, radium glow cloth, and steel knives 'n grippers, they don't carry any of that stuff...