Vampire's Roost

Time for one more reason to beware, and it's another Art Gates classic, this time from the May 1954 issue of Beware #9. And not to be confused with yet another Brian Barnes unlocked fetish (really Brian, vampire roosters now??!!), but this blonde blood sucker story might just leave you all with a serious case of hellacious heart burn! And how about that wonderfully silly Hollingsworth cover design? haha

Borrowed Blood

Sunday, bloody, Sundays are back, and it's time to borrow a little bit of the 'ol red stuff ourselves from the same icky issue as our previous post, the November 1953 issue of Beware #6! Classics Illustrated legend, Henry Kiefer overfills your creepy little cursed cups with a terrifying tale of crimson retribution, --where even the blood of the innocent can still face terrible consequences! AAG-GHH!

"The Paper Ghost"

So far May has become a month to BEWARE, and we're rolling out the November 1953 issue of Beware #6 to prove it! Or are we unrolling, --or maybe unraveling it? Whatever, it's a weird story about a vengeful paper ghost (not a toilet paper ghost, anyway!), and it's a tale we liked so much that we included it in Haunted Horror #13 way back in 2014. Also, if the 2-ply terror pair-up of Belfi / Tyler art doesn't wipe you out-- nothing will! Ugh... did I really just say that?

Music of the Demons

We're still reeling from the Witches' Night aftershocks here at THOIA, and oh my, what a wonderfully wicked evening we had! Wine, women, dance, and song... witch reminds me, (I believe her name was Gillian) of one particularly popular concerto piece heard playing over and over throughout the late night party festivities. It really sent our lovin' coven into a wild frenzy! It was so popular amongst our Circle of 13, in fact, that there's even a magical story all about it, via the September 1953 issue of Beware #5. So go on, CRANK IT!

Lost Souls

Well, how'd everyone make out on Witches' Night? I suppose if you're here and reading this that it worked out okay-- although, there are still ways of getting around the reality of death if you actually do mess with the supernatural. And if you did do some messin' around and lost your head, well, this story is for you-- so be more careful next time, ya ding dong! From the March 1954 issue of Beware #8, art by Myron Fass. 

The Body Snatcher

Time to head back to the graveyard to pick up a body or two, via the October 1952 issue of Beware #12 from Youthful. Some of the art is a little wonky in places, but that's always been the macabre magic of Harry Harrison in my book, as perspective problems mostly always translate into surreal nightmares, plus he does a great job with the weird spirits and narrow, claustrophobic paneling. Love that splash too!

The Bell Tolls Death!

Goofy lookin' host aside (I can actually think of plenty of names for "The Nameless One"), this is a wonderfully eerie tale from the July 1954 issue of Beware #10 about spooky skeleton pirates guarding their sunken sea booty vs. those who try to take it from them! THOIA art fave, Art Gates, again demonstrates just exactly how underrated he is / was...