White on Black!

Wait, did you think we were done with Louis Ravielli in our last post? Not bloody likely! Yep, I have one more wonderfully illustrated tale for you, this time from the October 1953 issue of Strange Tales #23 --one that will surely send you all into a negative state of doom development! Okay, this was a hard one to clean up, yellowed pages don't fit well with a story told in this B/W manner, and I tried my hardest to make everything presentable so that the whole point of the story makes sense. (If you're not happy with what I've done here, that's on you. No apologies from me.) But if you're still hanging around afterwards and want another camera themed tale from this exact same issue, no less, then head over to AEET HERE afterwards for a dark room romp, and even a slice or two of cheesecake for dessert! *wink! (Cover art by Sol Brodsky.)

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Uncle Gideon's Gold

Okay, I know some of you are probably going, "Atlas time again already?!" But seriously, I can't stop thinking about that Louis Ravielli story I posted last month HERE, and just had to drop another one in your laps ASAP. And this is another Golden Age gem, only 4 pages long but every panel is packed with master class art atmosphere, and cinematic camera angles and lighting. Yes sir, it really doesn't get much hotter than this one, folks! From the August 1953 issue of Marvel Tales #117.

George!

Considering all of the Atlas posts I've shared over the last month or so, this one might be my favorite. It starts off a bit like a run of the mill Marvel crime caper, with the added bonus of a man suddenly achieving a "super" powered ability through a rather careless accident. Everything chugs along at a brisk, predictable pace, (and the Louis Ravielli art is as fabulous as ever), when all of sudden, halfway through the final page everything steers sharply into a stunningly eerie terror-scape of unstoppable horror from beyond the grave. Yep, just as the story is ending everything goes from really good, to full tilt OMG awesome. Seriously. Please please, someone out there, give us another half dozen pages of story continuation! From the May 1954 issue of Marvel Tales #123, --and what's even weirder is that this appears to be the first Atlas story illustrated by Ravielli that I've posted here at THOIA over all these years. But be sure to check out a bunch of his incredible work for Quality Comics (most notably from the wild Web of Evil series) in our archive right HERE!

The Fiend Who Lived Forever

It's Fiendish Friday, and here's a spooky kooky one from the August 1954 issue of Web of Evil #17 --some of you might remember this one reprinted in Haunted Horror #15 as well! Louis Ravielli's art is always richly, (and uniquely) detailed, and literally drips with misty, mouldering atmosphere. I always feel like he probably used old movie star photos for reference, as occasionally the posing and faces seem very familiar. It's a fun, fast paced shocker, though it might have benefited with another page to really flesh out the carnage a bit, especially during the crime spree montage.













And yes, there is a doomed love story in there as well, haha...

Prehistoric Beast

The third petrifying entry from the April 1954 issue of Web of Evil #13, pencils by Louis Ravielli, and as you have probably guessed by now I am indeed posting the entire issue-- see the final cover story in our next post which kicks off a chilly December-load of shivery spine tinglers. See ya in a few!

The Monster from the Deep

From the November 1954 issue of Web of Evil #20, comes another atom bomb age thingie unleashed from the bottom of the sea-- one that no doubt could give even Godzilla a run for his money!

Honeymoon of Horror / Chamber of Death

Avon Publications made a strange cover blurb decision with the June-July 1954 issue of Eerie #16 by ignoring great story titles within like Wally Wood's "The Thing from the Sea!", or "The Stranger in Studio X!" and "Nightmare!" and instead mentioning "The Chamber of Death" on the cover, which is in fact a two page text story! But since it also falls into our Devilcember theme this month I've went ahead and included it below as a bonus... but first a chilling Louis Ravielli entry, it's---

The Fiend from Outer Space

Without giving you a chance to catch your breath we end one theme and jump right into another, so from now until New Year’s Eve THOIA brings you: Sci-Fi Horrors Week (emphasis on the HORROR.) Also, this entire 5 day run is dedicated to my pal Dave Tackett over at Quasar Dragon, in appreciation for the grateful / continual plugging of THOIA practically every single day since he resurrected the QD earlier this year. His blog is a treasure trove of awesome FREE stuff, featuring endless links to comics, movies, books, sites / blogs etc… everything you genre freaks crave, Dave tracks it down for you and makes life easier by putting it all together in one place. Thanks again Dave for all your hard work!

Now on with the show! From the Oct '54 issue of Web of Evil #19

(NOTE: the cover image at GCD for this issue of Web of Evil #19 is wrong… below is the correct cover--- plus a few sci-fi themed Ads.)

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Another show of appreciation today goes out to my pal Chuck at the Comic Book Catacombs for presenting THOIA with the 2008 Special Achievement / Recognition Ghoulie Award! Apparently I went "above and beyond the call of duty" and someone actually noticed. Thanks so much Chuck, it really means alot!

Check out the Catacombs for a fun assortment of comic book related stuff old and new… I’m rather fond of the Golden Age Jungle Girl Comic posts myself (Rulah vs. the Devil Ladies posted on Halloween 2008 is one in particular not to be missed!) Thanks again Chuck!

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Awwww!

By Maurizio Ercole