Bewitched!

I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of post-code 50's Atlas stories. I mean, yeah, they may contain some nice artwork from bullpen legends, --unfortunately, most of it tends to feel a bit lightweight, pandering, and unbearably bland / repetitive when it comes to the storytelling (especially when compared to the precode stuff!) But give good 'ol bad ass Bob Powell a script to bewitch the reader with, and suddenly now you're talkin' a horse of a whole different, creeptacular color! Take for example this eerie excellent entry via the August 1957 issue of Strange Stories of Suspense #16 (the final issue in this series.) Powell fleshes-out four perfect pages into one heckuva thrilling supernatural quickie-- even reminding me a little bit of Charles Beaumont's masterfully freaky, funeral planet episode, "Elegy", from the first season of the OG Twilight Zone television series. I have an equally good Golden Age Powell tale coming up next too, stay tombed...

The Flies!

Flyday Fridays are back at THOIA! And wowzers, I'm not sure we've partaken a tale from Marvel's legendary Legion of Monsters #1 one-shot (September 1975) before, so I guess it's finally time to hear what all the buzzzz is about! The titanic, three-way team-up of Gerry Conway, Paul Kirchner, and Ralph Reese do a pretty consistent job of plopping real life side show actor / performer, Schlitzie into the horrible, humiliatin' action, though of course underground comix legend, Bill Griffith first popularized Schlitzie's likeness as Zippy the Pin Head in both comic books and syndicated strips just a few years earlier. This all coming about, of course, in large part thanks to the rediscovery of Todd Browning's 1932 cult classic, FREAKS, as it made it's grand revival through the 60's midnight movie circuit, and late-nite horror host show airings on the 'ol boob tube. Okay, with all of that out of the way, let's not forget to gaze longingly at the glorious cover painting by Neal Adams-- Yow! I guess I could've mentioned The Ramones here too...

With Knife in Hand!

Most of the great Jack Katz stories that we've featured HERE at THOIA over the years have been devoted to his ominous output for Pines publishing house. So sometimes it's only right to remind everyone that he also did some amazing work for Atlas as well-- like this deadly doozy from the murderous May 1954 issue of Strange Tales #28.

A Man Named Satan

Time to crack open a hot one, as THOIA celebrates Easter 2026 in the only infernal way we know how-- with a tribute to Satan! More than anything, I felt like the coloring of this story, with its heavy use of purples and greens, seemed a bit Easter eggy. Though lo and behold of course, illustrator legend, Bernie Krigstein's evil uniqueness shines through! From the December 1950 issue of Marvel Tales #98. And just for the hilarious Hell of it, I've also added a devilishly funny gag by HAM! Have yourselves an especially evil Easter!

The Iron Man

Iron Man?!! But I thought Kars said we were done with hero stuff for a while! Annnnd indeed we are, as this is not a Marvel post, --but a wild robo Atlas classic from the January 1953 issue of Mystery Tales #7. Carl Burgos even delivers a hairy-scary dash of lycanthropy to the first page, making it eligible for a Werewolf Wednesday post as well! Yes, today's perfect post is all about the fiendish fake-out!

The Last Words for Men Who Talk to Ghosts!

We have some last words to deliver today as we put a wrap on our macabre, month long, Double Fear-ture fest here at THOIA, with two more ghastly ghost-a-ramas to leave you equally gasping as you're eerily giggling with gruesome glee. First, Stan Lee and Carl Burgos team-up to terrorize you into insanity, from the January 1953 issue of Strange Tales #14, --followed by a laughably lurid Larry Woromay weirdie, via the February 1953 issue of Strange Tales #15! Very strange tales indeed, and full of that awful wedded bliss we'll be seeing much more of in our annual vicious Valentine month freak-out coming up shortly. Hope you enjoyed this two-for-one month of morbid madness --stay tombed for lots rots more!

Skulls! Skulls!! Skulls!!!

The second half of the 28 Years Later film saga, The Bone Temple, opened in theaters this weekend, and we're going to see it this Tuesday night, in fact. Now, not to get "a-head" of ourselves here for anyone else who hasn't seen it yet, (though I'm sure the posters, trailers, and scenes from the first half of the previous movie hath etched the towers of chilling skull totems into everyone's gasping eyeballs already anyway), but that brings me to this: I've been hanging onto Werner Roth's rather savage, "The Grinning Skulls!" from the January 1953 issue of Strange Tales #14 for about a year now, patiently waiting for just the right occasion to post it, and now you will see EXACTLY why. And not to be outdone by one juicy jolt of jungle jitters, but I also have a god-damned (get it?)  Stan Lee / John Romita decap classic via the January 1953 issue of Mystery Tales #7 that will really flip your lid! If that ain't enough, I've also included an old WW2 photo with a back story that's even more macabre than either of today's Atlas Tales combined. Click HERE for it if you dare... ugh!