Stranger in Town

We're celebrating the first day of Spring 2026 here at THOIA, as well as over at AEET, complete with some do (though focusing on don't) tips about how to really bring your plants and garden back to life! Well, maybe not exactly THIS much "back to life", but you all know what I'm talkin' 'bout, right? And when was the last time we saw anything by Reed Crandall around these parts? It's seriously been a long cold, errr, half decade+, for sure! And okay, don't get your hopes too high, cuz this ain't even by him anyway, even though it's credited to him! It's actually, of course, terrifyin' Tom Sutton layin' down his usual brilliant, and ominously organic artwork! Also, that stunning London After Midnight cover painting is by the great Basil Gogos, and not Charles Schulz, or Barry Gibb, --via the awesome April 1969 issue of Creepy #26.

Vampirella of Draculon Mountain

Last year I had a few requests for more wicked Warren posts, and since nothing specific was mentioned title-wise, I guess that leaves it up to old Mr. Karswell to continue with my-- errr, his own choice process of creepy curation! And okay, since half of the country is currently chilled to the bone under mountains of snow and extremely frigid, icy temps, let's see what happens to one lovely young lady in a similar, shivery predicament-- only trapped with a rather unpleasant fellow, to boot! Beautiful, sketch-style artwork from "Jay Taycee", aka legendary Johnny Craig who also wrote the script, from the April 1966 issue of Creepy #8, and highlighted with a terrific Gray Marrow vampire cover painting! But first up, and since we're stalkin' / talkin' vampires, let's see where it all began with one bloodthirsty lil babe from Planet Draculon-- va-va-va-voom it's awesome Vampirella in her September 1966 debut collector's edition issue appearance via Vampirella #1! Forrest J. Ackerman script. Tom Sutton story art. And freakin' Frank Frazetta cover and ad art, all adding up to one helluva great origin issue, as well as THOIA double fear-ture post! Sink in...

Pursuit of the Vampire

We continue honoring the life and legacy of actor Christopher Lee, who recently passed away at the age of 93, --and here's another black and white, blood sucker classic that was originally posted here a few years ago (again for those of you who are new to THOIA.) From the debut issue of Creepy #1, and later reprinted in the Sept. '79 issue of Dracula '79, aka Warren Presents #5-- more specifically, this "collector's edition" magazine features an incredible painting of Chris Lee on the cover.

Pursuit of the Vampire!

Here's a highly atmospheric Warren vampire tale originally brought to life by Archie Goodwin and Angelo Torres in the Creepy #1 debut from 1964. Reprinted nearly a half dozen times over the years, again in Creepy, as well as Eerie, and finally baring its fangs in the September 1979 issue of Dracula '79, aka Warren Presents #5, and featuring a terrific Christopher Lee cover painting by Basil Gogos. (Note modifications to the title page --see the end of the post for the original Creepy #1 page scan.)

Anti-Christmas

One of my all time favorite comments from a THOIA reader was a simple, one word acknowledgment to this Warren xmas horror story I posted here waaaay back in 2007. It said simply "vile." So to spread a little more vile cheer this year, here's an encore presentation of Richard Corben's unholiday classic, from the January 1975 issue of Creepy #68. Hope everyone got some gory goodies this year, and if you snagged a chilling ZOMBIES book or an issue of HAUNTED HORROR in your stocking, send us a picture-- we'd love to see your frightened little faces on xmas mourn!

Change... into Something Comfortable / Trick or Treat

Two hairy scary, monster mashin' Halloween party tales from two different generations of terror for you today-- our first from the December 1973 issue of Creepy #58 (story by Doug Moench and artwork by Richard Corben), followed by an encore presentation of a Golden Age pre code classic from the May 1954 issue of Weird Mysteries #10 (art by Eugene Hughes.) Happy Halloween to all our fiendish friends from THOIA!