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.
In the comments of our last post of 2024 (HERE!), it sounded to me like Brian was maybe revealing to us his love for devil villains in underpants. So, enter The Deacon and Mickey, an action packed horror crime back-up tale from the December 1943 issue of Cat-Man Comics #22. Yes, I do believe these "Demons of Death" will surely satisfy Brian's fever for the flavor of more rockin' red, hot-pants fashion. For those unaware, Dean Denton, aka "The Deacon" was a former bad guy turned faux holy man crime fighter, making up for his pitiful past by dressing the part, as well as teaming up with sidekick Mickey to battle the denizens of the underworld. There are 32 appearances in all, occasionally dealing with spookier subject matter, thus qualifying The Deac for inclusion here at THOIA. Also, if that pulp perfect splash page doesn't immediately make it worthy, then nothing will. And again-- Happy 2025 to everyone who helps keep this blog chuggin' along with comments and suggestions-- you guys are the best!
Another fun reading of the will sleep-over in a haunted castle mystery from the August 1944 issue of Suspense Comics #5. Folks from this era just couldn't get enough of this sort of set-up in film, books, comics, radio plays, etc, --and this time combined with a cool "don't turn the final page until you figure out the murderer" gimmick as well! Costumed killer. Vase to the face. Some tales just have it all. And yes, if two must die in our previous post HERE, --then three shall die today! (Should we go for four in our next post?)
