The Case of the Strange Murder

If you enjoyed being buried alive in our previous story HERE, then it's time once again to dive in over our heads for yet another smothery love triangle gone horribly wrong! Speaking of heads, you may be scratching your own when today's crime horror classic from the November 1953 issue of Startling Terror Tales V2 #7 incorrectly reveals just how quickly a body actually decomposes in quicksand! But it's still a grimy, fun tale none the less, and it's just the start of our lurid look into Star Publication's most sicko murderers and maniacs --and this theme should also run its rotten course through most of December Week 3, so stayed tombed for lots more! 

Cover art by L.B. Cole, of course!

Dead Man's Revenge

It just wouldn't be Halloween without a vicious visit from the greatest monster of 'em all-- Frankenstein's Mobster Monster, that is! This dynamite, Jay Disbrow crime horror updating of the Mary Shelley classic is from the September 1952 issue of Shocking Mystery Cases #50, and is seriously packed with awesome art, and tight, uniquely compact story telling as only Disbrow seemed to know how to do (and all done in a mere 6 pages, no less too!) Star Comics definitely got their money's worth out of Jay (as well as utilizing L. B. Cole on those gnarly great covers), --it's just a shame they couldn't have used a better quality printer as nearly every single thing they ever published looks rotten. Oh well, hopefully this won't hamper damper everyone's overall joy and celebration of this oddly overlooked, Golden Age, creature feature monsterpiece!

Horror Beyond the Door

Despite the wonderfully striking, and intensely colorful cover designs by L.B. Cole, Star Comics still manages to top my list of least favorite Golden Age horror publications. The interior stories are always a mixed bag of bad art and poor writing (even worse printing), and for the money these days, just an overall dismal, overrated, bargain barrel affair. But a few stories contained within occasionally managed to rise to the, uhh occasion, as with this titanic struggle of unleashed ancient evil, from the July 1953 issue of Spook #25. No artist credit.

Death Ship

The highly unlikely, artistic credit guess in our previous post HERE sent me on quest to find an actual story containing actual art by joltin' Jay Disbrow. And I believe I found a good one, (well, good for me anyway because I love tragically unhappy endings!) --this time from the March 1954 issue of Ghostly Weird Stories #122. Please scroll down and compare the two posts. You will immediately notice that there is, in fact, no comparison. Disbrow has a very distinct style (especially with faces, as one example), which is absolutely non-existent in the "Revenge!" story. But enough complaining, prepare to blast-off into the brutal reality of scary space with this sizzlin' Star Publications, sci-fi screamer, complete with an extra awesome, blacklight poster-esque L.B. Cole cover. (Don't forget the Kleenex, you whiners!)

Midsummer Night's Horror

After the previous month of vampires, banshees, and other assorted supernatural fiends, it's time to unleash the tragic tale of an unrelentless, ultra violent, human monster. This shotgun rampage of brutal crime originally saw print in the August 1948 issue of Law Against Crime #3, published by the very short-lived, Essankay, who appears to have only existed for two years, releasing two different series titles for a whoppin' total of only 4 issues. Great L.B. Cole cover on this one, and yep, Wertham hated this issue of course, mentioning it in his infamous Seduction of the Innocent book.

The Mummy's Curse

I guess it's been a while since we've had a Mummy Monday around here, so time now for a fun but typically clunky Star Comics attempt at some ancient horror. GCD is as clueless as I am about who the artist of this tale could be, but even if he hadn't signed his name, we'd immediately recognize the unmistakable black light poster-esque mastery of L.B. Cole on the cover. From the May 1953 issue of Spook #24.

Love from a Gorgon

From one hairy monstrosity tale of lurid love, and right into another-- and this time it's a surprisingly well written Star Publications tale of truly despicable, driveling oral organs from the beyond! Yeah, you read that right, *gag!* --and you'll read all about it again in a few moments. Also note, Disbrow is using the word "gorgon" here as merely a means to accentuate how ugly this creature is, as there is no actual snake-headed, turner to stone in this story. From the Dec. '52 issue of Startling Terror Tales #13, with another super cool, blacklight poster inspiring cover design by L.B. Cole.