Lords of the Upper Air

Backpedaling a bit to  Ghost Comics #11 (1954) for another story from the dark beyond. I was initially saving this gem for the colder, more wintery months ahead of us, but THOIA reader Ben Dickow wrote in today looking for "any pre-code comic book stories that feature a yeti or big foot monster or big ape" --so who am I to disappoint? Hope this was what you're looking for Ben!

FYI: Ben Dickow has a theater company in LA that performs pre-code comic book stories in the spirit of old radio shows. If you live in or near Los Angeles check www.capturedauralphantasy.com for more info about their upcoming "Halloween Gallery of Horrors" October 29th and 30th! Looks like a blast!

Cremation / Life Insurance

Two creepity, crispity-climaxity tales from the July 1954 issue of Weird Mysteries #11, the first story narrated by yet another EC style horror host clone known as "The Ghoul Teacher." And OMG, if you missed the mind-shatteringly insane "Voodoo Dolls" (same issue) that I posted way back in 2007 HERE then check it out too!

Case no. 105 B: The Witch's Doll!

Back in February 2008 I posted a pre-code Dr. Drew tale called "The Strange Case of the Absent Floor" by Jerry Grandenetti, so how about another of his creepy case files as featured in Ghost Comics #11 (1954.) And as with anything he illustrated in this full-on "Eisner mode" style, today's tale contains some seriously clever, panel bustin' artistic touches that really makes it stand visually miles above the other stories appearing in this issue.

Grab-Bag

A silk scarf... a pair of shoes... a hand held mirror... these are just some of the things that spell doom for a group of unsuspecting sorority sisters in this crisply illustrated, and refreshingly different supernatural tale from Ghost Comics #11 (1954), art by Bill Benulis and Jack Abel. This is the kind of story that William Castle or Roger Corman would have turned into a great B-film classic.

  

Game of Death

Nope, it's not a comic book version of the 1978 Bruce Lee film of the same name-- it's the final story from Tales of Horror #5 (1953.) This entire issue is now posted here at THOIA, and fyi: we should have another complete issue or two for you before the month is out!

 

Don't forget to head over to Karswell's other blog too where all month long he'll be featuring festive frights for this Halloween season-- today, it's a minor spoof of Famous Monsters of Filmland, plus other gruesome gags:

Sisters of the Witch / The Witch's Claws

Two tales of weird witchcraft from the Gold and Silver Age plunge you headlong into a month of horrific Halloween madness and October Eve thrills 'n chills! Of course, it's like that around here all year long anyway so for some it'll just be a continuation of what we do best. "Sisters of the Witch" is from the '53 issue of Tales of Horror #5, and "The Witch's Claws" is from the Oct. '74 issue of Terror Tales Vol 6 No 5.