Monday, July 11, 2022

Dance of Death

You know you've found the perfect summertime screamer when the off-register coloring actually adds a bit to the visuals for a minor plot point moment, haha. Top notch work from Russ Heath of course, and despite the rather predictable conclusion you'll see flapping its way towards you from page 3, this tale also provides a few moments of very lovely good girl art, dance action, and atmosphere. From the September 1951 issue of Suspense #10, --and get a load of that weirdly masterful Joe Maneely cover! But FYI: I also included a creepy Carl Burgos cover, courtesy of the March 1953 issue of Adventure into Weird Worlds #16 at the very end of this post too because it seems to fit that final story panel pretty nicely-- now don't peek until you've read it to the end though!

9 comments:

Mr. Cavin said...

I totally love it that, when the story gave him almost nothing to use as a hook at the beginning, the always talented Heath just made a splash panel up out of thin air. Nice! Some skulls over here, gravestones over there, plus gnarly trees--boom--an instant Halloween vibe even the pedestrian color strategy couldn't screw up!

I also really dig the top of the last page. Those first two panels actually prefigure the bat wings in panel three really subtly.

But sadly, even with all that awesomeness, it's the veiny and unrelated Carl Burgos cover that's the real jaw-dropper here, art-wise. At least in my opinion. Holy cats, I love that!

Mr. Karswell said...

You can read that Adventures into Weird Worlds cover story in the THOIA archive here too!
https://thehorrorsofitall.blogspot.com/2007/11/kiss-of-death.html?m=0

Mr. Cavin said...

Just five months before I started commenting! I was still catching up on the archives at the time.

Brian Barnes said...

So this time the cover thumbnail is relatively close to the real story! What is the deal with the "CBS radio-television" series? I had no idea Atlas had a connection or was doing some cross promotion, never saw that on another cover before.

Like Mr. Cavin, I like the subtle cloak to wings on the last page.

Heath draws the living vampire out of Marla. Page 4, panel 6 looks like it was lifted from a photo reference and I'm pretty sure page 3, panel 3 is from a famous dance routine (I instantly recognized it but can't place it.)

BTW can't say enough about coloring when it's good. Page 1, panel 2 is a pretty good effect that you wouldn't see with lesser coloring.

Grant said...

It's nice that the third panel on Page 3 gives him a Gene Kelly look with the wardrobe.
I'm not sure if she's dressed to resemble someone or not.

Unknown said...

To Brian Barnes: In 1949 Atlas began publishing SUSPENSE, a 52-page bi-monthly comic book in an agreement with the CBS network. The CBS SUSPENSE radio program was on the air 1942-1962, and the TV series 1949-1954. The famous opening went "And now-- another tale well calculated to keep you in.....SUSPENSE!!" For whatever reason this association with CBS ended with issue #12...

Todd said...

I'm confused: Eddie turns into a vampire immediately just from Marla kissing him?

Whatever, he looks better as a vampire anyway. They need to go back and collect their prize!

Mr. Karswell said...

Haha great comments. And lots of Suspense stories in the THOIA archive too fyi, use the tags and see some more highlights from the early issues... or stay tombed for a shrunken head spectacular!

It's coming up next ASAP...

Captainadam said...

What kind of weird vampire is awake during the day and hides at night?