It's that time of year again, when the Halloween haunted houses start poppin' up all over town to give the locals an overpriced thrill 'n chill or two... annnnd here's another one courtesy of Benulis and Abel, just in terrifyin' time! From the Dec '52 issue of Mystic #15 (cover art by Joe Maneely.)
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Supposedly Atlas folk came up with titles and produced things at different times, which is why the cover and cover blurbs are always different, and, frankly, I always found it fascinating.
I love Maneely's haunted house take, though if it's a carnival haunted house I don't know how you'd be able to wind around all those props!
The real winner in that story is the house. I love haunted houses and try to go to as many as I can every season but even I would be a bit scared to step into that one! It's barely standing up! Now *that* is a spooky house!
Another thing I like about this story is it's not even attempting to hide the ending, or that our stranger is the devil. It just goes along with the gag.
The art far outclasses the story. Grogan's expressions and the stranger's 1940's sleazy bookie look were the highlights.
It's one of those stories where the character doesn't deserve anything that happens to him. First it sounds a little like Grogan's about to plan a fire for insurance, then it sounds a little like he's going to cheat the Stranger out of pay, but neither thing happens. Maybe he makes a kind of "Faustian bargain" (since the Stranger saves his business), but it's one he doesn't even know about.
Folks are mostly terrified to go in there because that building is obviously not "up to code"! Looks like it's in the process of collapsing completely- does the "tall stranger" even own a damned tape measure? Did he just cobble it together without any blueprints like when a bunch of kids build a clubhouse?? Shoddy workmanship there, Satan!!
It also has a bit of a Dr. Seuss look, and a bit of a CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI look.
Gotta give the devil his due. I knew the guy was dapper, but it's going the extra mile when the ol' hatband matches the tie and pocket square. If you know what I mean.
I don't get it. Is the last panel suggesting none of the customers ever left the house once they entered it? If he is you'd think the owner would notice that
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