The Werewolf of Wetheridge

Werewolf Wednesdays return! And I'm guessing a few of you may have picked up on my hint about a "super September" in the previous post intro last month, and that's 100% spot on, because we will be looking at Super Hero Horror occasionally this month, just as we've done a few times in the past. Yep, you may hate supes now, but just wait until Mr. Karswell gets done with you! Annnd another few of you may start reading today's post and have a massive wave of deja vu hit ya over the noggin'. That's because this Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl tale from the November 1945 issue of Four Favorites #20 is an almost direct story swipe of the Gail Porter "Werewolf of Woonsocket" yarn that I posted HERE back in January. Don't believe me? Compare 'em! The Gail Porter story may have been published first (and maybe even have a more uniquely illustrated werwolf), but she's definitely no lovely Lightning Girl, who just so happens to also be illustrated by the ever impeccable, THOIA fan fave, Nina Albright. And for another great Lightning duo story located in our archive-- CLICK HERE!

Deathless Witch of Spittin' Devil

It's Monday in April, and that means it's time once again for an obscure, costume clad crime fighter (or crime fighter team) to take on the forces of supernatural evil! Yep, if you missed the first post last week HERE, this is just one of the themes we're showcasing all this month. And today it's Ace Magazine's Lash Lightning and Lightning Girl's turn to play the Nick and Nora-esque mystery tag team-up vs. a murderous, deathless witch! From the May 1945 issue of Four Favorites #18, and illustrated by Nina Albright, who had quite a heavy hittin' list of Golden Age studios on her pencil and inker resume: Iger Shop, Funnies Inc., Majestic, as well as Bernard Baily, and L.B. Cole Studios! That splash is especially wonderful...

Draco-Saki!

One of the wildest, weird war horror villains to ever butt heads with a Four Faves Golden Age supe, (Unknown Soldier), was equally the "Father of all Japanese evil, and spirit of the underworld" aka --DRACO-SAKI! And however you choose to spell his name throughout the story, (?!) his sinister, supernatural vampire abilities are anything but suki, for example: the typical transformation into a bat, hypnotism, etc. Meanwhile, his most interestingly unique and hysterically unusual talent lies in the putrid power of overpowering and possessing his victims with a freaky fume emitted via his gaping, empty eye socket. GAG! MAD Magazine legend, Harvey Kurtzman clearly had a blast coming up with that goofy, gross-out detail, and the whole whoppin', 13 page adventure is just frenzy paced, fists a'flyin' fun. I love Kurtzman during this early 40's phase of his amazing career (see also this Lash Lightning tale in the THOIA Archive HERE!) From the August 1943 issue of Four Favorites #11.

Corpses That Wouldn't Stay Dead!

And as the final day of September 2025 winds down, so does THOIA's lurid 'n lovin' look at superhero horror this month. And we're closing it out right where we started it all at the beginning of September-- with another Lash Lighting and Lightning Girl adventure! This one's a whopper at 16 pages, but it's fast paced and full of great dialog and action (though if you're tired of young men with firearms in our daily news, we've unfortunately got that covered as well.) And it's all credited to Harvey Kurtzman-- yep, you read that right-- story and art! Dig that splash, (and the cute cobra!), and then keep with it because the last half of this story goes underground and really picks up speed! And because I had some other hero horror stuff already pulled, (but not enough time to post it all), we might see a few more caped tales in October during our Halloween 2025 Horrorthon. I have some extra creepy cool stuff lined up, so please stay tombed as ever! From the December 1942 issue of Four Favorites #8.