If our previous post didn't make you lose your horrible lil haunted heads, --then today's nightmarish classic absolutely cannot fail! And it's another one by Bob Forgione as well, from the February 1952 debut issue of of The Thing #1. Special note: Bob and Albert Tyler (on pencils) actually created every single piece of art in this entire, stunning issue, Yep, every story, and even that super spooky cover! What a great way to kick off a legendary Golden Age horror series!
While ACG is credited in creating the very first horror comic book series with Adventures into the Unknown in 1948, Avon actually beat them by one year with the first full horror comic issue one-shot with Eerie Comics #1 (1947.) Some top-notch artists joined in for the creation of this landmark title, like legendary Joe Kubert, the great George Roussos, as well as Bob Fujitani (who also illustrated that superb cover, see below!) We're actually going to take a look at the frighteningly funny Fred Kida tale today though, where his unique, organic style, and cinematic staging / character posing was really beginning to take sensational shape. And to anyone who doesn't think that you can be titillated by a woman falling on some train tracks, well, I present one seriously gorgeous splash page, as well as a couple of panels on page 6 that will absolutely convince you otherwise! "OH-HHH!"
Here's a bizarre one for you, from the March 1953 issue of Strange Terrors #7. It reaches for a Quatermass and the Pit type level of ancient legend and superstition mixed with a sudden shocking science fiction alien invasion swerve. It almost works too-- until it doesn't-- becoming disappointingly muddled just as it starts getting good, (and that rushed ending doesn't really help either.) But those bonkers, Mardi Gras-headed, Matt Fox-esque beings from outer space added to the otherwise realistic approach to all of the other highly detailed art, just makes for a super surreal story on par with some of the best 1950's sci-fi monster films. Who's the artist here?
