No Rest For The Dead

Don’t leave just yet, I told you this was a romance DOUBLE FEATURE and the flames of passion burn uncontrollably down in the embalming chamber of the local funeral parlor. Let’s take a little peek inside and see how things are going with the undertaker and his latest obsession.

From the April 1954 issue of The Unseen #14, there’s--- No Rest For The Dead (as usual.)

Tomb For Two

Alright, since everyone’s gag reflexes are working overtime let’s take a breather for a few posts and settle in with a nice romantic love story double feature… how’s that sound? I’m sure you all could use a happy ending right about now anyway, right? Riiiight. Grab a hanky because this one may just leave a tear in your eye.

From the March 1952 issue of Journey Into Fear #6 comes--- Tomb For Two!

Skin 'em Alive!

If rotting demons and quivering brains aren’t sickening enough for you then maybe you’ll find this one “a’peeling.” But try not to laugh too hard when the guy unintentionally talks about how his “old balls were getting a little worn out!”

From the February 1954 issue of Mysterious Adventures #18 comes--- Skin 'em Alive!

The Quivering Brain

Escaping from the cursed, rotting, zombie infested swamp of our last post, and into the quiet, sterile confines of a post-mortem lab, where awaits an even more revoltingly titled tale of terror. From the October 1953 issue of Nightmare #3 comes---

Rotting Demons

A horror story with a repulsive title like this honestly needs no introduction. But here’s one anyway, from Harvey / Home Comics 1952 issue of Black Cat Mystery #36 comes the (gag! choke!) Rotting Demons!

Beneath The Grave

In our previous post of Ghouls Rush In, we saw the Atlas reworking of Henry Kuttner’s uncredited classic The Graveyard Rats, and now it’s Comic Media’s turn to show us their chops of said tale. From the March 1954 issue of Horrific #10, Beneath The Grave is essentially the same story (plus or minus some details) but told here in such a completely different visual manner that, thanks in large part to Palais’s freakish art style, it becomes something much more nightmarish, claustrophobic, and surreal than even the Atlas version.

NOTE: If you enjoy these story comparisons let me know and I’ll bring more up from the vaults for us to analyze in the future. Vote on which one you like better between this one and Ghouls Rush In!

Ghouls Rush In

With it’s strikingly similar plotline to Henry Kuttner’s terrifying 1936 Weird Tales story The Graveyard Rats, our next entry crawls out from the April 1952 issue of Adventures Into Terror #9, courtesy of the ever awesome Dick Ayers (in his Atlas debut even!) The story would obviously work just fine on its own even without the very last panel, but leave it to Dick to go the extra mile for a shiver. And why no credit to Kuttner?

Return of the Ghoul

Here come the ghouls! Superior Comics 1953 issue of Journey Into Fear #15 contains one of my favorite golden age zombie stories. Return of the Ghoul possesses everything I love about pre-code horror all rolled up into one killer package. You get cool art, gruesome ridiculousness, and not one, but a couple bizarre story twists from straight outta left field. Enjoy!

The Corpses Come Back

It’s time for another corpse story before the ghouls rush in and pick us clean. Finally digging into a moldy old Atlas tomb, this tale from the 1953 issue of Adventures Into Terror #25 features some stunningly atmospheric artwork from comic book legend Gene “Tomb of Dracula” Colan. Even in his early days the guy was completely amazing, his illustrious supernatural style most certainly suited for swirling, misty tales of haunted graveyard horror.

Hating Corpse

Sticking with the theme of re-animated corpses from our last post, here’s a real dandy courtesy of Comic Media’s March 1953 issue of Horrific #4, asking one simple little question: After death, how far could you go to quench your unstoppable hate fueled vengeance?

Obviously all the way…