The Machine!

How many tales of tragic time machine tomfoolery do you believe exist in the realm of sci-fi / horror comic books? I couldn't even begin to fathom how many there are just posted right here on this blog alone-- but I'm sure it's a lot! And yeah, the best ones always seem to involve some crumb bum crook trying to escape the law by violently taking advantage of an innocent scientist. And with that said --here's one more that literally checks every single one of those exact dadburn bloody boxes! From the March '52 issue of Suspense #15, with artwork by the eternally great, Werner Roth. 

The Old Hag

It's been a bit since we had ourselves a kreepy Krigstein klassik. So fly that freak flag high, you way-out weirdos, this witchcraft laced sideshow oddity comes from the June 1952 issue of Adventures into Terror #10, and is guaranteed to tie you and your nightmares into a nutty 'ol tangle of knotty nots!

The Old Mill

As mentioned in my intro to the previous post, THOIA turns 19 in a few weeks (July 12th to be exact!), so let's spend the lead-up to that date with a few scary stories that made a huge impact on Mr. Karswell as a young 6 year old just discovering comics in the 70's. My grandmother had taken me antiquing in Farmington MO, and I found and purchased (with my own allowance!) a large stack of mind blowing, coverless horror comics. To say these changed my life would be a serious understatement, --because here I am a half century later still going gaga over them! And notably, a few of these comics that I found that day turned out to be Marvel titles like Crypt of Shadows and Vault of Evil, and these of course contained reprints of the amazing Atlas era precode stories of the 50's-- including this joltin' Gene Colan lead-off grinder from the August 1973 issue of Vault of Evil #4. My copy was not only missing that intense Frank Brunner cover, but also the first two pages of today's Colan story. But I still loved it, and re-read it countless times, over and over, giggling crazily about the funny, gruesome fate of Kurt Braun. More terror tales that shivered 'n shook my poor, pre-teen bones coming up next, so stay tombed! ("The Old Mill" originally appeared in the July 1952 issue of Strange Tales #8.)

Listen, You Fool

Now listen up! I've inadvertently created a "wet 'n wild" theme with the last few posts, --so howz'about one more from the August 1953 issue of Mystery Tales #14 -- it's guaranteed to send you over the edge! Paul Reinman once again delivers the wicked wedded goods, and Mr. Karswell may have even tampered with a swimsuit panel or two... or three... or four. A one piece is fine, but a bikini is divine!

The Sea Waits for Me!

Something a little different for everyone today, as THOIA hears the ominous ocean's call, and responds with a one-way trip into the darkness of the deep. From the March 1956 issue of Journey into Unknown Worlds #42, art by Dick Ayers.

It Waits in the Tank!

Fish Tank Terror is back (thanks for waiting!) and it's another weird one from the murky depths of the November 1954 issue of Journey into Mystery #19! Vince Colletta adds a good amount of creeping, disembodied eyeball chills throughout, --though if you're like cantankerous 'ol Mr. Karswell, the only thing I want creepin' around in my aquarium is the Penn-Plax Creech aerator from 1971! *glub! glub!

The Little Things

I guess it's been a while since we've seen a Howie Post Atlas classic around here, (how'e does it, I'll never know!) And this cute little hissing blast from the petrifyin' past, aka the November 1954 issue of Journey into Mystery #19, might just be what you antique and curio collectors are lookin' for! And hey, with that explosive twist ending-- nobody even has to go into work today now-- or ever again! The End.

Master of Masks and Mystery!

May was such a grueling month of hideous, downbeat horror tales, I thought maybe kicking off June with some kid friendly fun could really shake things up around here! And don't for a single second think just because it's Spiderman in a haunted house that this one doesn't deliver the chills-- the final twist panel, in fact, makes this story very worthy of its inclusion here at THOIA. From the Dec. 1974 issue of Spidey Super Stories #3, with art by Win Mortimer and Mike Esposito!