Ballad of Hanging Rock

I suppose it's been a bit since we traversed the terror trails of the weird west, so let's settle in now for a real dandy from the May 1986 issue of Elvira's House of Mystery #3. Every panel is locked and loaded with blazin' artwork by Angel Trinidad, Jr. And if you're wonderin' how this story fits into our macabre month of vicious Valentine love ballads from the beyond, well then, how about we just let the 'ol singin' bag of bones belt-out a beauty for ya, --you'll be swingin' along in no time.

The Phantom Bridegroom

February is the month associated with pitchin' woo and hugs 'n kisses and all that lovey dovey junk --thanks as always to the voracious appetites of Valentines Day! So in usual / unusual THOIA fashion, all this month we'll be taking a lurid look at all romantically doomed things gone oh so horribly wrong. And we'll start it all off with a phone call from beyond the grave, via the July '44 issue of Terrific Comics #4.

The Metamorphs

How about another creature-feature from the March 1969 issue of Boris Karloff's Tales of Mystery #25 (see our previous post as well.) Sci-fi horror can sometimes be a mixed bag, but sometimes-- like today's post-- they can really give ya the willies! You long-time THOIA'ers might even remember a similarly freaky ACG Forbidden Worlds tale that I posted here waaaay way back in 2007 called "Nightmare for Two" --check it out after today's shivery story! And adios to January finally too. Stay tombed for lots more in February, where things are doomed to be diabolically romantical, as usual...

Behemoth

Time to check in at the 'ol horror movie studio and see how the new SPFX are working out! It's a fun quickie from the March 1969 issue of Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery #25, and thus proves once and for all that AI technology has ALWAYS had a monstrous mind of its own! 

The Formula of Fate

If you're like me and a fan of Nina Albright's arresting artistic style, you'll find a lot to like about "The Formula of Fate" from the January 1944 issue of Terrific Comics #1. But this is also one heckuva crime horror / mad scientist hoot, with a tragically hilarious final reveal that actually made me LOL.

Dr. Nemesis

If you were looking for something different today in the world of Ace Magazines terror, then you definitely came to the right place! SEE! A crazy, throat slashing masked surgeon! Corpse play! Sexy nurses! Suicide! And a plague of Black Death infected rats unleashed! Whoa nelly, it seriously doesn't come more exciting and bonkers than this! Throw in a gloriously gory, and very unique two-page splash panel spread, (art by Bruce Currie) and it all adds up to non-stop, action packed fists o'fun in a hospital of horrors! According to the internet, Dr. James Bradley, aka "Doctor Nemesis" would also later go on to be the co-creator of the Human Torch android! From the June 1942 issue of Lightning Comics V3#1.

Step into the Mirror of Madness!

One final Marvel Tale for you today, and then we'll get back to the usual mix of other publishers (hope everyone enjoyed this brief journey into early Atlas horrorland) --and this is a really good entry about a hypnotically evil mirror portal straight to Hell. Thirty-eight years after this story from the August 1949 issue of Marvel Tales #93 was published, John Carpenter would direct his brilliant film, Prince of Darkness (1987) which also contains the same [SPOILER ALERT] axe shattering mirror thus trapping loved one for all eternity in other world limbo climax. Hope you enjoy another THOIA unhappy ending!

Horror Under the Earth

One of the creepiest Al Eadeh / Atlas era monstrosities ever highlights this terrifyin' tale of horror from under the Earth. In our story, the creature is referred to as the "Cardiff Monster", not to be confused with the classic Cardiff Giant archeological hoax of the 1800's (CLICK HERE to read about it.) Still, it's a fun, fast paced and moody story, complete with a totally non-related, but none the less excellent, accompanying Bill Everett cover image. And apologies to those who notice how I completely bailed about half way through my own color-correcting process of this overly faded / yellow post too... from the February 1953 issue of Marvel Tales #111.