Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Smoke Spirit

Another superbly simple, efficient tale of supernatural vengeance from the May 1953 issue of Horrific #5, featuring smokin' hot art from Kenneth Landau. Come back later this week for the last story from this issue "Singing Slaves", (and if you missed it, we posted Rudy Palais' "Death Kiss" back in January 2009, which will eventually make this another THOIA FULL-ISSUE Presentation, --including "Murder Mountain" from our last post.)







Vintage AD

7 comments:

Prof. Grewbeard said...

yes, the more smoke the better...may the smoke spirit visit us all...i think i've had too much smoke...

wasn't Rock Garden a Kiss concept album?

Turok1952 said...

Outstanding! The ultimate precursor to the high-camp of the next decade! This tale was so ahead of its time! Even the names are so yalick-in-cheek!

The "ace reporter" should have had sequels to this! Apparently this may have been an attempt, though subdued, to have a repeating hero.

What does everyone else think? Was this so-corny-yet-so-sweet tale more than just a one-shot?

Keith said...

Wow, glad to find your site. I read stacks and stacks of horror comics as a kid in the 70's so this is like a homecoming. There is one story I remember more than any other, about some mean dude whose puppets turn on him and make him into puppet. Maybe I will find it here, though I have no recollection what comic it was.

Eric Stott said...

A brother and sister named Hugh and Honey Scarlett...you'd think there's nothing could be worse, until there's Sonia Scarlett.

Anonymous said...

1. Our ghost-lady friend is *lucky our "crime reporter" friend wasn't a non-smoker*!

2. Is it *only me; or wouldn't this have been great (and possibly funnier) if: A. This had come out about 15-20 years later and the hero had been a hippie/stoner*?

DBurch7670

Gumba said...

I love how nonchalant the reporters is in this one. "Oh a ghost. Well, this'll make a good story." He seems more concerned with the murder mystery then a full bodied (ha!) apparition!

This should also be handed out to people who might be trying to hide a crime. Rule #1: Don't invite the crime reporter -- who is investigating YOUR crime -- into your house! Oh, and before you don't, do step 2 feet away and confess the crime!

[>] Brian

Mr. Cavin said...

I'm all for giving street kids jobs, but those rock gardeners could use a bath.