The Witch of Terror

You thought last weeks "Flame Widow" was a vile, vicious murderess--- it's time you met Clare Mangin, as THOIA begins a week of "Crime Horror" tales, or more precisely, crime tales containing horrific elements. It's seriously gonna get ugly around here for awhile, folks...

From the August 1953 issue of Startling Terror Tales #6

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Vintage AD

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Bonus Quickie

The Man in the Graveyard / Gone!

Social outcasts are a major factor in many pre-code stories, and here are two fine examples from the May 1954 issue of Mystery Tales #19 ...and both prove that no matter how down on your luck, or cursed, or just completely pathetic you are, you still can't always get what you want.

PS: The Atlas Tales site says "Shores?" on the art for this one... I seriously hate to think of a talented guy like Syd stooping to major swipage, as it's obvious that a few of the Warner Kremer zombies from the gorgeous cover of the July 1952 issue of Harvey's Black Cat Mystery #37 have shambled their way into "The Man in the Graveyard" story two years later.

Horror in the House

So who's ready for the last story from the November 1953 issue of Strange Mysteries #14? And who's also ready for a heaping helping of fear, greed, hate-- all mixed in one revolting, um... salad of despair?! Don't laugh, that's what the intro says! Okay, go ahead and laugh anyway, because the only thing more ridiculous than that is the actual story itself.

Some of you already know about the upcoming pre-code collection from Fantagraphics called Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 50's... but click HERE for more details, as well as additional info about 6 other great Golden Age collections on the horizon too, featuring books about Alex Toth, Jack Cole, Basil Wolverton, Dick Briefer and more!

The Evil Stranger

AYEEEE--YAAAAA! It's another incredibly mean spirited tale from the November 1953 issue of Strange Mysteries #14, and seriously, I challenge anyone to find another post in the THOIA Archive featuring a bitch as cruel as todays "Flame Widow."

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HAMMER GLAMOUR by Marcus Hearn

Fans of Hammer horror, or just fans of beautiful women in general will want to pick up this stunning new hardbound collection of photos from the Hammer Films Archive. Over 150 color and black and white pages, and featuring over 50 actress profiles, including: Ursala Andress, Martine Beswick, Veronica Carlson, Valerie Leon, Caroline Munro, Ingrid Pitt, Barbara Shelley, Raquel Welch, Madeline Smith (gracing the cover) and more!

Highly Recommended! Click HERE for more info!

Thanks to Tom Green at Titan Books for sending me a copy!

Blood and Old Bones

We're looking at the entire Nov. '53 issue of Strange Mysteries #14 for the next few posts, and halfway there now with what is probably my favorite of the four stories. Fans of films like Poltergeist ('82) and Witchcraft ('64) will enjoy the similarly spooky plot about graveyard desecration leading to supernatural venegeance... but this one has a bonkers twist ending that could only come from the likes of Superior Comics.

NEXT: Hers was a simple little hobby-- MURDER FOR MONEY!

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Are you a fan of the Phantasm films, or a fan of artist Scot Ryersson? If you answered "YES" to either, then check out the latest addition to my Arcanifact collection by clicking HERE!

The Dead Speak!

You asked a terrible question-- and from the grave itself came the horrible answer! YES! THOIA CAN RETURN! And a day or so earlier than I had planned, but Hell, you guys know me, even injured I can't stay away for too long. And it's been awhile since I presented an issue in it's entirety, so I do believe it's time to rectify that with this particularly obnoxious collection of gruesome ugliness, aka the Nov '53 issue of Strange Mysteries #14. Seriously, you're going to wish I never came back...

More terror tales from this issue up next! And thanks again for all the support lately, you guys 'n ghouls are absolutely THE BEST!