The Screaming Skulls

Cool quickie from the November 1953 issue of The Unseen #12

Let the Past Lie Buried!

This may be my favorite post of the month so far… something about the central idea here is very cool and clever to me, and those of you who are Hammer fans may be somwhat reminded of certain scenes and implications expressed / hinted at in their brilliant Quatermass and the Pit film while you read this too. Enjoy!

From the April 1953 issue of This Magazine is Haunted #10

This Magazine is Haunted #10 (COVER)

One of the greatest pre-code horror covers of all time, the April 1953 issue of This Magazine Is Haunted #10… and honestly, the evil head didn’t really even need the fangs to be scary; they sure don’t hurt any though (except in the neck.) Throw it back!!!

Trick the Devil!

As if you haven’t had enough headless horror already this week, here’s another from Vic Donahue. Throw in the devil and you got yourself a typically oddball Harvey terror tale.

From the May 1954 issue of Black Cat Mystery #35

Strange Superstitions

I love these one page fillers that Harvey always included to round out an issue. Their spin on even the most mundane, non-horrific subject matter is typically hysterical. For instance, do you think broken mirrors merely give you seven years bad luck? Think again. According to this article broken mirrors are said to “shatter the hopes of good and are forerunners of horror as black as the night!” Seeeeee mom, comics are educational!

Heads Will Roll

I’ve posted many Paul Reinman stories in the past, and this is by far one of his best. Top notch work here in all areas: inking, lay-out, colors, detail, spookiness… bravo!

From the April 1954 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #28

The Thing From Beyond

Believe me, there are definitely better examples of pre-code Myron Fass than today’s post, but man oh man, do I love every single shitty panel of this one. It tries sooooo hard. It wants to shock and frighten you, make you gag! But the story is all over the place, and the artwork is so cheap, so abysmally crummy, it makes me wonder what exactly Trojan’s criteria for story submissions was. I suppose everyone can’t be Johnny Craig or Bill Everett but come on!

From the November 1953 issue of Beware #6

Return of the Corpse

Was anyone expecting a murderous leprechaun story today? Gor blimey! I actually have a much better plan. Severed hands seg right into severed arms, and then come the severed heads, moldy bones, etc… yes, I have a huge pile of body parts to throw at you all this week so get ready because it’s going to get messy!

From the November 1952 issue of Strange Mysteries #8

The Game Called Dying

Time for some jungle jitters with the greediest cast of comic book characters ever collected in one short story. It’s no spoiler to call this a “vengeful severed hand” tale of terror; all you have to do is look at the splash which establishes this fact right off the bat.

From the September 1952 issue of Voodoo #3

Jaws of Death

Your second adventure into terror today comes from the expert hand of Cal Massey. This is actually the first of two gator tales I have lined up for you, the second one emerges to bite off your own hand tomorrow.

From the January 1953 issue of Adventures into Terror #15