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...

The Iron Man

Iron Man?!! But I thought Kars said we were done with hero stuff for a while! Annnnd indeed we are, as this is not a Marvel post, --but a wild robo Atlas classic from the January 1953 issue of Mystery Tales #7. Carl Burgos even delivers a hairy-scary dash of lycanthropy to the first page, making it eligible for a Werewolf Wednesday post as well! Yes, today's perfect post is all about the fiendish fake-out!

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!

The Voice from Venus

Time to take it to the stars for a story of outer space love, all wrapped up rather nicely in some over the top insanity and isolation as only Robert Q. Sale can do it! RQ unloads a startlingly bonkers one here, so sit back and tune in to a true terror tale of tomorrow-- and b-b-b-beyond! From the February 1954 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #24.

Love Trap

My buddy Richard sent over this fun Iger Shop illustrated tale from the June 1953 issue of Strange Fantasy #6.  He also profusely apologizes for the blurriness on page 4! No worries though, this scary space story is still a blast, and somehow fits nicely within our month of posts-- I mean, it certainly feels like Farrell trying their hand at an Atlas style sci-fi horror 5-pager, doesn't it? Annnnd if anybody is singing "Love Trap" to the tune of "Love Shack", I beg you stop it now. I mean it...

The Ugly Man

How about we finish up this Atlas Fest with another one from the October 1952 issue of Suspense #23. And similar to our previous post, it's another tale about lousy 'ol looks, looks, looks! But a story illustrated by joltin' Joe Maneely is of course anything but "lousy", because not only is this 4-page, mini-masterpiece of mad science also written by Stan Lee, it's got zombies, werewolves, ghosts, plus, a fantastically funny finale! Don't believe me, eh? Wanna bet?

Grave Story

I'm sure that many of you consider a cemetery to be a nice, quiet, uneventful place. But today's terror-ific Tom Sutton tale from the February 1973 issue of Midnight Tales #2 tells quite a different, action packed story, indead-- errr, indeed! Not only that, but you're going to hear all about it from a very different perspective too! I've also included a vintage comic book ad page absolutely packed with mail-order magic...