The Anti-13 / Something Very Special

THOIA has the Devil in the details with today's double-doomed dose of Gold Key grimmess. A hot new party plan produces some rather unexpected results in, "Something Very Special" from the March 1976 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #29  --and features a truly amazing cover painting by the great George Wilson. It's one of my super sizzlin' Satanic 70's favorites, for sure! But first up, let's visit another perplexing party, via the September 1975 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #26. No spoiler here as they're attempting to do the exact opposite of the gaslit gang featured in the other story, (sort of), --but with no less deadly, endgame consequences! And similar to the plot point in our previous post HERE, this one also has an interesting "projection" angle. Yep, if the Lord (of Darkness) moves in mysterious ways, then so can science! ::SHIVERS::

The Ghost Maker / He Couldn't Live Without Her

Let us now kick start Fearbruary into ghoulish gear by picking up right where we left off last month with another double feature of g-g-g-ghost stories! And this time we'll be visiting two Gold Key classics, the August 1974 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #18, as well as Grimm's Ghost Stories #28 from December 1975. Both tales fall into our lurid month-long look at love and other monstrosities of matrimonial madness 'n mayhem-- though I may sneak something non-Valentiney into the mix occasionally too. So hands up, who thinks the guys in both of these stories each got a raw deal in the end?

The Double Brides

According to the Romans, June is the most popular month to get married (named after Juno, protector of women, goddess of love, childbearing, etc), --annnnd now you understand why I'll be posting macabre marriage stories occasionally all throughout the month. So let's slide right into one now, a spooky little tale from the August 1972 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #5... yes, marriage can definitely be scary!

The Walking Bones

If that scary skeleton cover on the March 1978 issue of Grimm's Ghost Story #43 didn't clue you in, it actually has not one, but two boney tales within! Todays post, to me, is the better of the two, and features art by Golden Age great, Joe Certa. I think we'll save Sam's bones for another day though...

You Bet Your Life!

We're taking that b-b-bet and spending the n-n-night solo in a h-h-haunted house again! Yep, one more decently spooky Grimm's Ghost Story from the #8 issue (March 1973), --and whoa Nelly, if you're scared of unicorns for some reason then you also came to the right wrong place! WHOOOO...

Trial by Water

I don't really post a whole lot of Gold Key stuff here at THOIA. I mean, aside from some gorgeously painted cover art, the interior content might also look nice 'n clean, but alas, the storytelling is usually a bit on the weak side. Trial by Water is no different, it's questionably paced, and our two heroes just keep bumbling around lookin' for fun despite the multiple supernatural attempts on their dim-witted lives. But this story also contains an interesting plot element that I'm not sure I've ever seen in another horror comic tale, the art of gravestone rubbing, (which is why I've included it here this month, as this fascinating hobby seems to me to be particularly Octoberish.) And for those of you that like to take a single panel out of context, might I suggest panel one on page four, as you wander out to the cemetery with your girl to get some good rubbings, haha... from the Aug '75 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #25.