The Convert

I typically like to deliver a little Shaitanic evil during December, aka the holiest of months. So let's kick it off with a devilishly diabolical entry from the October 1978 issue of Charlton's Monster Hunters #16. Interestingly loose illustrations and lay-outs from Enrique Puchades (making his THOIA debut), an artist who felt the need to sign his name on nearly every page --and sometimes even more than once on a single page too?! I also get the feeling we're seeing quite a number of Vampirella swipes every time demonic dame Regina pops into a panel. Okay, initially I thought this was cantankerous old monster huntin' horror host, Colonel Whiteshroud's first appearance on the blog too, but he actually told us a macabre little mermaid tale back in 2014 HERE! Lots more monsters, mummies, maniacs, and merry holiday spirits on the way all this month-- so staay tommbed!

The Domain of the Doomed

Time now to finish up November 2025 right where we sorta started-- with even more King Ward weirdness! This is one seriously silly, sci-fi horror adventure, via the November - December 1951 issue of Forbidden Worlds #3. And while it's off the charts in terms of convoluted craziness, it's also packed with a wild assortment of concepts and cool creature designs. You likely won't forget this one, just as Bruce and Betty never forgot it after they returned to Earth and tried to recapture a little bit of that arousing alien action in the bedroom (see their own amateur home photo attached below!) I've also rounded out the post with yet another ACG "True" ghost quickie, --yep, illustrated by Ward-- and this time from the January - February 1953 issue of Skeleton Hand #3. We'll be heading back to Earth in a few for lots more, --stay tombed!

One Man’s Poison

Wait a sec... did some of you think the previous post was the big 'n weird Thanksgiving wind-up? Not blood-drainingly likely! No sir, that was just the 'ol un-appetizer-- because today we have something much more deadlicious planned for you! And guess what? Like the previous two posts, this tantalizing turkey of a tale is also from the December 1953 issue of Mysterious Adventures #17 (you HH Heads might even remember it from when we reprinted it in Haunted Horror #3 way back in 2013!) I really do hope you can stomach this story though, cuz the ending might leave ya feelin' stuffed --for allllll eternity...

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Brother's Keeper

In the comments of our previous post, JMR mentioned "EC lifts", and yeah, I guess you could say that Story Comics was quite a bit guilty of lifting some of EC's signature moves and what nots. And this here is a savagely good Bill Savage illustrated example, (also from the same issue as our last post), and without adding spoilers to the introduction, I'll just let you find 'em all for your lil 'ol selves. It's a tasty dish served up extra raw 'n bloody, and with Thanksgiving on everyone's minds this week, bon appetite --a few days early!

Paralyzed

If you enjoyed the removable mannequin limbs in our previous post, you may get a similarly weird kick out of this gory 'n brutal Goldfarb 'n Baer story as well, --as THOIA's Awful Wedded Bliss 2025 Fest continues! From the December 1953 issue of Mysterious Adventures #17. 

The Manikins of Death!

I'm always surprised to find a precode horror story that hasn't already made its way into the THOIA Archive at this point. Especially considering I collect vintage department store mannequins, and why looky here-- a good one on that exact subject, no less! From the August 1951 issue of Mysterious Adventures #3, and from the glorious 'ol Golden age era of when people apparently had no idea how to even spell the word "mannequin!" I'm sure some of you will find a wee bit of pleasure knowing that Mr. Karswell is seated here at the computer and indeed surrounded by multiple mannequins, blankly staring at me, errr him, as these scans are eerily edited and meticulously put together for todays post... piece by piece... limb by limb... ohh, careful not to slip now!