Those of you with a great sense of memory may recall a couple of other THINGS that have already grown in the THOIA Archive HERE and HERE, --but believe it or not, I've found a way to twist today's Jordy Verrill-esque creeper show from the September 1954 issue of Horrific #13 into being the most perfectly stupid Easter post instead! Okay, besides the fact that this thing kills the Easter Bunny on page two, what you'll do is simply replace the final block of narrative above the last panel on Page One with this: "...some terrifying, unknown error in nature took place!! Suddenly a spark of life came to be, and just as the leaves mystically swirled away, they were magically replaced by flying strands of green, plastic Easter basket grass from the nearby neighborhood trashcans! Some even slithered in like snakes, some did the inch worm move! Some bounced like tumbleweed balls, --some twirled like tornados of terror! As if magnetically pulled towards the skeleton by some unseen force, the plastic Easter basket grass formed an eerie emerald shape around the boney, fetid framework." And so on. Please try to enjoy my attempt at whatever this is. (For more about the postcard, click HERE!)
4 comments:
Can anyone name the story from which this was created? I remember the story very well but neither the title nor the author. It was more complex than this but it plot was just the same; buried skeleton wrapped in leaf mould is resurrected as a vastly intelligent, curious, but innocently murderous entity. It kills the family dog and the protagonist's brother, the daughter goes missing, and the monster finally melts away in flowing water of a stream.
By the way, "the Teller" looks more like a teller than a horror host.
There were a lot of bog monsters during these days, of which 2 tales spawned Swamp Thing and Man-Thing. This one, though Mr Karswell changed it into a Jesus parable -- that's what you were going for, right -- reason for the season! :) fits in the same mold. Even has the same "curiosity" angle that Man-Thing does.
I like the art it's rough but it gives it that "living in a swamp" vibe.
I have to say the villagers are pretty damn dense. I don't believe in the super natural but there's no way I'm not seeing that there has to be a connection with the skeleton and, out of caution, break it up or try to burn it.
This tale brought back a near forgotten memory-
Twenty years ago I had the book "Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Stories That Scared Even Me" a book I, unfortunately, no longer have.
One of the stories was the tale "It" by Theodore Sturgeon, the original of this tale, with some changes here and there to avoid copyright violations. (And you thought the current generation treat copyright laws like a doormat.)
The major changes are the child wasn't hurt, mentally, from the ordeal and the skeleton is left where it is, leaving the readers with a "The End ?" finish.
I do like this version of It. In fact, I like all of the different versions of horror tales with changes here and there to give a new perspective on older stories.
Its like comparing Lugosi and Lee as Dracula, each brought something different to the character, a different view on the Count, a different element the audience could relate to.
Hammer's Frankenstein compared to Universal's version, differences that presents the rationale behind the not so good Doctor's research.
Each horror tale adds to the tapestry of the horror genre, and we are all the better off for it thanks to your postings, Karswell.
Happy whatever to all readers of THOIA and AEET!
Aw, every resurrection story is an Easter story at heart.
Either Marty Elkin has an odd idea of animal phenotypes or that is one very effed up glade. Like the mutant forests around Прип'ять circa 1990 or so. I mean, that hare exhibits the predatory dentition of a meat eater. And the hound dog has obviously got budding antler beams (another sign of spring, I guess). In this environment, it's no surprise the Easter grass is ready to take a joyride on any old armature it finds abandoned in the woods.
Those villagers were lucky water was all it took to do away with it, too. Because if they'd had to break out the pitch forks and torch that thing it would have smelled just terrible.
Great idea for a holiday special, Mr. Karswell. Happy Easter!
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