Esme'

 One more Chilling Alcazar Adventure into Sorcery for you this month, and it's a gorgeous tale containing verified proof that monsters walk among us! Don't believe me? Just put on these glasses and you will indeed see that --THEY LIVE! From issue #5, via Februrary 1974, and this story also holds an extra special place in my heart because not only did it introduce me to the amazing work of Alcazar, but beautifully groovy blonde babe Esme' in the big round glasses here always reminded me of my very first neighborhood babysitter, who also became Kid Karwell's very first 70's krush! This one goes out to you, Janet --where ever you may be! Stay tombed for something cinematic and different, coming up next...

Dripping Fangs / Vampire Bat Kill!

At THOIA, we prefer our detective mysteries laced with a dripping, double dose of horror, --and here are two that fit the frightening bill nicely. First up, King O'Leary and his frisky sidekick Kitty are on the chiller-diller case of murder at a midnight monster movie, via the December 1945 issue of Zoom Comics #1! Followed by a 3-page, not-so-perfect quickie crime, utilizing a bloodthirsty bat as a murder weapon (ummm, the flying mammal kind, not a baseball bat!), from the April 1950 issue of The Perfect Crime #2. George Appel's art on the first story is quite nice though, and loaded with atmosphere, even reminding me of King Ward in a few places, most notably the freakish faces, and interesting angles. So get ready! Match wits with the coppers, and see how quickly you can solve these crazy crimes!

Hunger Pains!

I hope everyone enjoyed the week of true crime horror, but who's hungry now for a mealtime mix of monsters and the  macabre? This tantalzin' tale of terror by Myron Fass and from the December 1954 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #32 should whet your weird lil whistles wonderfully...

The Wakely Monster

As long as we're digging around in the creepy Charlton creature feature back issues, how about another wild one from the December 1975 issue of Monster Hunters #3, with cover and story art by terrifyin' Tom Sutton! The color register goes a little wild in a few places here too, but it's an interesting Swamp Thing / Man-Thing style tale of mad science gone viciously veggie-- not to mention we have a rockin' redhead caught up in the middle of it all too! Also have to admit, as much as I love that eerie Sutton cover painting, I kind of like Gredown's early 80's one-shot re-issue (and uncredited) re-do cover of Monstrosities just a bit better. So let's lead off this post with that one instead... oh hey, your shoe!!

Perry Chase.... Press Guardian

Perry Chase, aka The Press Guardian was yet another of the many fun, but largely forgotten 1940's back-up filler hero features from the early days of the ever popular Pep Comics series, via Archie. And while he doesn't really possess any SUPER hero powers, --as we'll be seeing in some of our other featured hero posts all this month, --he is one terrifically tough, masked reporter with those fists, threatening the bad guys with strangulation and torn throats, all the while saving the lovely damsels in distress in his endless pursuit of justice, and truth. The two stories I have for you today are unique to the series, because it appears to be the few horror themed examples of Press G encountering his nemesis "The Claw" in a pair of adventures where old house mad science and subtereanean monsters fit THOIA's bill rather nicely. Not to mention, Mort Meskin's old school art style really lends a wonderfully surreal, eerie quality to the all-out scrappy, beast battle action. Enjoy! From the Nov. / Dec. 1940 issues of Pep Comics #9, and Pep Comics #10. 

Better Tombs and Graveyards

In the late 50's, Pierce Publishing attempted to cash in on the MAD Magazine craze, frantically cranking out 5 issues of nicely illustrated comedy madness before calling it quits, --but not before assembling this silly monster mash spoof of Better Homes and Gardens for the April 1959 issue of Frantic! V2 #2.

Horror Under the Earth

One of the creepiest Al Eadeh / Atlas era monstrosities ever highlights this terrifyin' tale of horror from under the Earth. In our story, the creature is referred to as the "Cardiff Monster", not to be confused with the classic Cardiff Giant archeological hoax of the 1800's (CLICK HERE to read about it.) Still, it's a fun, fast paced and moody story, complete with a totally non-related, but none the less excellent, accompanying Bill Everett cover image. And apologies to those who notice how I completely bailed about half way through my own color-correcting process of this overly faded / yellow post too... from the February 1953 issue of Marvel Tales #111.