Devil Claws

Another gruesomely choice selection from Brian Hirsch rounds out our weekend, this time from the January 1953 issue of Horrific #3. I don’t have many issues from this series but what I do have does not include this style of artwork which closely resembles the Iger Shop output. Anyone know what’s up here? Were they pulling double time with Comic Media and Farrell / Superior?

Thanks again to Brian Hirsch for the great stories this weekend, everyone give him… uh… a… big... hand…

Séance of Horror!

As some of you know I’m on vacation this weekend. Not really, but it sounds good and gives me (and my scanner) a breather. In the meantime, THOIA’s most popular contributor and longtime chum, Brian Hirsch has submitted some terror treats for you including the long awaited return of fearless criminologist Lance Storm. Okay now, look at and read the splash… anyone else think the title of this story should come AFTER the opening narrative? Ooops.

From the September 1952 issue of Crime Mysteries #3

PS: Has yesterday's cover mystery "monster" indentity been solved? Read the comment from Habakkuk Zylbyrbutz in today's comments and tell us what you think.

Also, GCD currently has no information or even a page for the Crime Mysteries #3 issue… maybe someone out there who works with GCD can use the date info I provided and swipe my cover scan (below) and create a page for it?

UPDATE: Eagle eye reader The Oeconomist spotted the similarities between our Crime Mystery #3 cover and the cover for Spicy Mystery June 1935. Nice work!

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Also, here's a vintage ad about how atrocious a mother’s advice can be... or wait, is this an ad for religion? Whatever it is, and in case you didn’t know, the smartest / fastest way to your new girlfriend’s heart is to take her to church--- not nightclubbing, or fine dining, or hooking up in Clifton Hill. Silly me... I now see the error of my ways.

(Illustrated by an obviously embarrassed Frank Frazetta.)

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PRECINCT 20: DEAD STRANGE

For more terror tinged crime, author A. R.Yngve writes in: “…my "crime horror" short-story collection PRECINCT 20: DEAD STRANGE is available for FREE reading online HERE, and contains many stories where supernatural horror and the macabre clashes with ordinary policemen at a homicide division in an unnamed American city.”

Its cool stuff and note how each story is illustrated with an eerie black and white photo from the Library of Congress archives. Also available is A. R.Yngve's short-story collection THE FACE IN THE DOOR, in paperback from Café Press. Click HERE for more info.

Thanks for writing A.R.!

The Monster and the Model

Today’s post comes from the Sept-Oct 1951 issue of Weird Thrillers #1 and features a cool ‘n creepy, and rare, photo cover of Rondo Hatton (so says Overstreet but it sure doesn’t look like Rondo to me.) If you like stories where a dill weed cop says stuff like “holy mackerel!” in the face of evil, then you’ll find this one to be a fun and mildly spooky cracker jack of a tale, playing out more like a Lance Storm or Dr. 13 horror / crime adventure. Enjoy!

PS: Has today's cover mystery "monster" indentity been solved? Read the comment from Habakkuk Zylbyrbutz in the Saturday Nov 22 comments and tell us what you think.

TOMORROW: Speaking of Lance Storm, Brian Hirsch takes the horror reins this weekend and brings you 2 days of terrorific posts, including Lance Storm in Séance of Horror! Plus, a creepy severed hand tale from an early issue of Horrific. And just cuz Karswell’s taking a mini-vacation doesn’t mean you should miss ‘em!

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And head over to Chuck’s Comic Book Catacombs sometime today for Sandflower of Venus, a THOIA submitted tale featuring some gorgeous artwork and tons o'swashbuckling action and chills! It’s also from the Sept-Oct 1951 issue of Weird Thrillers #1!

Lover, Come Back to Me

Need a hot 'n sleezy dose of not-at-all subtle sexual subtext in your Thursday THOIA post? Here ya go; it’s the last story from the May-June 1954 issue of Black Magic Vol. 4 #6 too. And whew--- is it ever full of lusty swamp steam!

TOMORROW: Monster Friday!

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And here's a few more totally appropriate style ads aimed at young boys in the 1950’s. Ummm, comic books were aimed at young boys, right?

The Devil, You Say?

And I say “Hell yeah, The Devil!” By now we’ve all noticed that most pre-code Satan stories seem to possess the same old inescapable “sold my soul” angle, but this one has some clever twists of its own (and a great ending), and is probably my favorite story from this issue. Although tomorrow’s “Bayou Bitch” tale is pretty outrageous too, as you shall see…

From the May-June 1954 issue of Black Magic Vol. 4 #6

TOMORROW: Swamp Sluts in Heat!

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The world is on fire, and the Lord wants to give me prizes?

Oh I see, I have to work for the prizes... booooo!

Ghost in the House

I know, we just had an Al Eadeh story last Wednesday, but that’s how things work out sometimes. For more Al Eadeh use the handy blog search engine at the top of the page and simply type in his name. And for another gorgeous ghost girl tale, (this time from Vince Colletta), check out Not Dead Enough that I posted last December, located in the THOIA archives.

From the May-June 1954 issue of Black Magic Vol. 4 #6

TOMORROW: Satan!

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This issue of Black Magic is chocked full of great ads too, take a gander at some of these… I’m sure most young boys who read comics back in the 50’s were just absolutely fed up with their fat legs and flabby tummies.