Skulls! Skulls!! Skulls!!!

The second half of the 28 Years Later film saga, The Bone Temple, opened in theaters this weekend, and we're going to see it this Tuesday night, in fact. Now, not to get "a-head" of ourselves here for anyone else who hasn't seen it yet, (though I'm sure the posters, trailers, and scenes from the first half of the previous movie hath etched the towers of chilling skull totems into everyone's gasping eyeballs already anyway), but that brings me to this: I've been hanging onto Werner Roth's rather savage, "The Grinning Skulls!" from the January 1953 issue of Strange Tales #14 for about a year now, patiently waiting for just the right occasion to post it, and now you will see EXACTLY why. And not to be outdone by one juicy jolt of jungle jitters, but I also have a god-damned (get it?)  Stan Lee / John Romita decap classic via the January 1953 issue of Mystery Tales #7 that will really flip your lid! If that ain't enough, I've also included an old WW2 photo with a back story that's even more macabre than either of today's Atlas Tales combined. Click HERE for it if you dare... ugh!

Homicidal Madman!

Aka "The Amazing Dr. Holmes: Murdering Lothario of Illinois" tells the true crime story of vicious psycho con artist / serial killer, Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, aka H. H. Holmes who engaged in a lengthy criminal career in Chicago during the late 1800's. First published in the August 1948 issue of Famous Crimes #2, and later as "Homicidal Madman!" when reprinted / retitled for Star Publication's September 1952 issue of Shocking Mystery Tales #50, this is a slightly muddled, though still somewhat decent adaptation of the sensationally disturbing story, and features many of the more brutal Holmes atrocities, unflinching laid out for you the comic book reader --in particular, one very unnerving acid bath sequence! Read more about HHH and his "Murder Castle" of horrors HERE at the Wiki entry, --if you dare!

"True" Zombies of History: Hugo Ormsbeck / Strange Spirits: Voodoo

Time to put a wrap on our killer King Ward Fest this week with a couple more ACG AdvUnk fillers. And first up, a whoppin' weird 4-page historical account of Hugo Ormsbeck, 13th century oddball alchemist, and magician, who apparently discovered the power of the living dead, --and thusly became a "true" zombie himself! Ward delivers some great panels here, I just wish the coloring was a little more inspired. From the March 1953 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #41, followed by a one page voodoo quickie from the Fall 1948 debut issue of Adventures into the Unknown #1. GCD attributes the art here by Ward as well, but it honestly doesn't look like his work to me... I'm sure you will all let me know your opinions on this matter as well.

Mystery in a Cemetery

I'm working feverishly on a larger post that will be coming midwee-eeek, --in the meantime, here's a two page, factually creepy, moving coffin mystery for ya, from the March 1942 issue of Bang-Up Comics #2. Uh, does anybody actually ever read these text tales? I know as a kid, if one had a wild header spot illustration it would make me break down and read one, absolutely. And this one benefits from a cool little, leering ghost host character at the very start of the first paragraph too! *Gasp! Man, that guy needs his own comic book series!

The Inquisition: No Kings Day Edition

Lately the world seems to be overflowing with miserable cultists creating nonstop, needless chaos. Their lies and actions inflicting pain, suffering, and yes, even death is totally unacceptable. Fueled by outdated, and very unwanted beliefs and agendas, this way of thinking has no place in modern society, and we at THOIA aim our middle fingers high, equally condemning all wannabe tyrants and so-called kings and rulers who pointlessly crave the ruination of our lives, as well as the lives of our brothers and sisters. With that said, let's take a look at a similar form of historic, though no less Hellish hypocrisy-- The Inquisition, from the February 1974 issue of Skywald's Nightmare #17. And yes, this is also yet another gruesome glimpse / expose into how certain untrustworthy news media outlets spin and spew their garbage narratives completely out of control. (The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same, no?) And if you're one who still doesn't believe that things are in fact, very out of control today, then you my friend are simply not paying attention. 

(Last scan below: "The Inquisition" oil painting on canvas by Victor Schivert, 1900.)

The Great God Pan

As long as we're fishin' it up in this wicked sector of the weird, wooded wild (see our previous post HERE), we may as well get in a little hunting too! And now, not to be confused with the same named horror classic by the awesome great, Arthur Machen, but this time around the Great God Pan has to share his vengeful, shirtless tale via the January 1947 issue of Four Favorites #27 with some oddly intrusive narrative pop-ins from "The Unknown", a cloaked, Death-like horror host figure who would eventually get his own Ace Magazines comic series in 1951, (aka The Hand of Fate.) Paul Parker's artwork doesn't seem as tightly streamlined here as it is on his awesome Kirk of Scotland Yard tales (check the THOIA archives!) but its still pretty fun none the less. And, if you did come here looking for something Machen related, I went ahead and added a one page "Phantom Bowman" quickie from the December 1952 issue of Weird Horrors #5 at the end. If you're not hip to how or why it's related to Mr. Machen, well CLICK HERE for the full scoop-- it's a very interesting WW1 story. And finally, if anyone needs more sinister Satyr action, CLICK HERE as well-- whew!

Voice from the Deep! / Devil's Gun

After the last couple of lighthearted horror romps, it's definitely time for something a wee bit more ugly and mean-spirited. Enter the January 1953 issue of Lawbreakers Suspense Stories #10, with Lou Morales illustrating a nicely compact sickie quickie where the moral of the story has definitely got something to do with maybe taking some damn swimming lessons, already! Also, a B/W, half-page filler tale about a gun, and yes, both are from the same great issue...