"Killer's Arms"

This nicely illustrated tale of jungle brutality from the November 1954 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #22 just might contain the single most screwball scientific experiment concept ever posted here. It's too hilarious and way too fun to deny-- Hell, even Ed Wood would be jealous of this plot! And you thought last week's "brain atoms" was over the top...

Sinister Snake Cult of Brother Rath!

We've seen an unholy plethora of horrors here at THOIA over the years: monsters roaming the night in search of gory feasts, epic terror from beyond the stars, pissed off xmas trees, etc. But one thing possibly more terrifying than all others, is the all too human religious fanatic performing bat$hit evil in the name of "God." As is the case of todays atmospheric action adventure featuring the crime fightin' wits of "The Echo", ie: a mild-mannered ventriloquist with the occasionally convincing ability to throw his voice around and, okay whatever, plus his siblings (uh, Dr. Doom?!!) vs. a viciously violent, snake handlin' psychopath cult! The story clips along nicely, with the real highlight being the frantically fun, oddly eerie artwork (and lettering) by Paul Gattuso which adds a whole other level of unique crazy to the peculiar proceedings. Originally featured in the Oct '45 issue of Dynamic Comics #16, this one also slithered its way into Mike Howlett's super chilling SNAKE TALES hardcover collection. CLICK HERE for more info!















Wanna check out something a little more sleuthy silly, and on the grave robbin' side of this same Dynamic Comics issue-- just CLICK HERE!

It Roams These Hills!

Welp, I feel like THOIA doesn't have enough W's, so here we go with a wonderfully weird, whacked-out, and wildly wooly, Wally Wood story for Werewolf Wednesday this week! Wow! From Avon's Attack on Planet Mars won-shot (1951.)

The Ripper's Return

One more from the Sept '52 issue of Tales of Horror #2 (see previous post for another), and it's a short, but oddly entertaining mix of Jack the Ripper and muddled, mad science. And despite the usual kooky perspective issues, the Hollingsworth art is actually pretty solid here for once too.









"All hear my warning, never turn your back on--
THE RIPPER!"

Love from a Plant

THOIA follower, Otto, emailed me looking for some answers to a comic cover he remembered seeing at a grocery store over half a century ago, and I believe this Ross Andru / Mike Esposito pair-up from Mystery Tales #16 (1964) fits the bill. Now if you clicked the GCD link in the previous sentence, you undoubtably noticed that the story itself actually originated in the Sept '52 issue of Tales of Horror #2, that's because Mystery Tales #16 is simply a complete reprint of that entire issue, just with brand spankin' new cover art. This story also found its way into Haunted Horror #4 in 2013.

First Come... First Served!

Here we go with the first post of 2020-- who'll be the first to comment? But more importantly-- who'll be the first to get that incredible M. Morte hairdo?! From the December 1952 issue of Weird Mysteries #2.

The Old and the New!

I very rarely, if ever, upload post-code ACG stories to this blog because... well... typically they're not that great. But today's story from the November 1957 issue of Forbidden Worlds #60, is actually a bit spooky at times thanks to Ogden Whitney's chilling winter touches, plus some nice writing that propels this somewhat predictable premonition story along in the same fun manner as an old Twilight Zone or Tales of Tomorrow tv episode. And the added bonus-- a New Years Eve setting!



















Here's hoping that everyone has a wonderful evening, stay safe, and we'll see you all on the other side, as we kick off the new Roaring 20's with lots, lots more!

Happy New Year! 

The Ghoul and the Guest

A funny little Iger Shop tale from beyond the grave, and from the giant-sized Voodoo Annual #1 one-shot (1952.) I wonder if Farrell had any plans to do more annuals like this, because damn-- 100 pages of grimy horror for only 25 cents (back then) must've seemed like the bargain of the century!

The Sewer Keeper / The Some-Thing

If the stress of the holidays have left you frightfully frazzled and eerily exhausted, then maybe what you need right now is to kick back with a good lurid laugh-- yes, a GET LOST double feature might be just what the horror host ordered! First up, from the April - May 1954 issue of Get Lost #2 is a hilariously gruesome satire of precode horror comics (EC to be exact) guaranteed to satisfy your atrocious little appetites-- followed by a chillingly hysterical parody of John W. Campbell / Howard Hawks, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, from the June - July 1954 issue of Get Lost #3. Not to get too serious, but I'm a bit surprised at myself for having never posted either of these kookball classics here at THOIA over the years until now. Enjoy!