Monday, May 30, 2016
The Sheriff and the Witch!
In the comments of our last horror western post, Glowworm suggested that a better example of this goofy genre mash-up was this tale of weird witchcraft and supernatural shenanigans found in the November 1953 issue of ACG's Adventures into the Unknown #49, with art by Robert McCarty---so here ya's go! S'posin' I'll agree that the artwork is certainly an improvement, and the story is indeed a real hoot... but I reckon it's all just a bit more modern than traditional "old west" in my humble opinion. After you read today's tale, check out another creepy old west chiller, The Ballad of Doc Satan in the THOIA 2009 Archive by clicking HERE! And as always, thanks to each and every one of you that continue to comment and provide feedback / suggestions. It's what makes bloggin' fun!
I'm rather impressed that you posted my suggestion for others to read. Thanks, Mr. Karswell.
ReplyDeleteI've discovered that I really enjoy ACG's take on horror and science fiction stories. You are right though, this tale is less Western than I thought. I forgot that it actually took place in Massachusetts, but due to the title of "Sheriff" in the tale, Pappy's Western upbringing, style of clothing and dialogue, I took it for a Western of sorts. Although now I see it has more of a supernatural "Andy Griffith Show" feel to it if anything.
Regardless, it has a strong protagonist character who's pretty smart at figuring out what's probably behind the mysterious killings, and not to keep shooting at it once he's figured out that its origins are supernatural. The incendiary grenade is a bit of a lucky deus ex machina if you ask me, but it also comes as a pleasant surprise as it's not nearly as easy to guess what weapon Pappy's picked up unlike the silver bullet in the last post.
So yeah, badass hero, badass showdown, and a pretty cool supernatural occurance.
That's a wonderful story, with a lot of heart, and snapped necks. I like the giant-sized witch, that like half the comic witches in the mid 50s, somewhat lifted from Ghastly.
ReplyDeleteMy only knock is it's a bit text heavy, and some transformations could have been shown.
I have to say I was sort of thrown when a car first appeared; I was thinking that it was a 1800s tale; it works just as well but it took me out of the story for a second.
This has also got to be one of the few horror stories I've seen where the villain basically blows it herself by assuming the mob is after her and not even trying the glamour spell again. Even then, that wasn't even Haskin's plan! That witch had the worst luck!
Aw, it's Pappy's origin story!
ReplyDeleteI suspect that, if there really was anything to this tree thing, then witches would probably find themselves emigrating to beaches, or deserts, or maybe lowland marshes--places where oak trees just don't grow. Course, it's possible witches just aren't all that smart or good at botany.
I would love to see a supernatural Andy Griffith Show, glowworm2! That's a great idea.
There are quite a few Andy Griffith eps with spooky stories-- I even found a link that gathers them all up. Here ya's go!
ReplyDeletehttp://radioactive-studios.com/biohazard-films/?p=2420
I've seen most of those episodes--less spooky truthfully and more comedic and goofy. "Three Wishes For Opie" is probably the closest one to actually hitting a possible "Twilight Zone" like plot. "The Jinx" episode is a classic though.
ReplyDeleteThank's Mr. Karswell for this great story.A classic!
ReplyDeleteSo Custer's Last Stand was in 1876, and tailfins like the one in the last panel on page 3 were invented in 1948. That's 72 years. And assuming Pappy had to have been at least 12 to be engaged in battle alongside the U.S. Cavalry, that makes Pappy...84 years old. Pretty spry for his age! Maybe...maybe he's also a witch!!
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