Web of the Spider Woman

Spider Woman?!! 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 creepy crawly Ace classic from the June 1953 issue of Hand of Fate #18. Artist Bill Molno densely packs every panel perfectly with loads of eerie atmosphere and lush line work, keeping the weird web motif spinning strongly in roof textures, foliage, fabrics, hair, fur --and fear! Artist George Roussos must have really loved that splash panel below, because a few months later he pulled quite a superb swiperoonie of it for the October 1953 cover of Out of the Shadows #10, just sayin'. Oh, and Happy Friday the 13th to each and every one of you today, too!

Other Monsters That Fished for Men!

I hope everyone brought their water wings, because things are gonna get seriously wet 'n wild today! And FYI, this double creature feature concept post all started when Mr. Cavin mentioned that back in November of last year his hometown comic book illustrator / hero legend, Murphy Anderson, was being honored with a plaque installed at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center in North Carolina. You can read more about it HERE! And to celebrate 'ol Murph (RIP), THOIA is also honored to present one of his more dynamite DC monster doozies (story and cover art) from the June 1952 issue of Strange Adventures #21. (NOTE: We'll be taking an additional look at Murphy Anderson over at AEET later this month as well, so don' miss it!) But first up, we're staying in the Silver Age for another scaly screamer from the deep, via Charlton and the June 1962 issue of Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #30. Highlighted by a lagoonie-esque cover Creech monster by Nicholas and Alascia, though Bill Molno's interpretation for the story itself is quite different. And if that ain't enough "wet ' wild" for ya today, head over to AEET HERE for the absolute cutest sea monster ya ever did see...

This Bite is Sweet!

From the oddball werewolf of our last post, to an equally weird (looking) vampire in today's entry, (and don't get me started on that cape), this story comes a'flappin' forth from the September 1954 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #21. Featuring legendary, Peter North, who some of you might already know went on to a very lucrative career in the 80's adult entertainment industry...

Food for Thought

Did everyone have a pleasant Thanksgiving? I know I ate way too much, as usual. Still, there are plenty of leftovers to go around, like this steamy little morsel from the August 1954 issue of Strange Suspense Stories #20. Don't gobble it all down too quickly now...

What Was It?

I had this story saved to post on Memorial Day but then we got sort of sidetracked with the Jess Jodloman spotlight. So here it is, a late holiday horror hit from the August - September 1951 issue of Dark Mysteries #2. Some really spooky, atmospheric visuals in this one-- from the panel packed nightmares of war moments, to the eerie chill of foggy cemeteries and candlelit crypts. What. Was. It?!

The Unwilling Witch

As April winds down to its final days, we're reminded that the halfway point to Halloween, aka Walpurgisnacht (aka "The Night of Witches") is nearly upon us! For the rest of the week, let us commence with the conjuring of the wickedest of witchcraftiness, summoning up a tale that is as wonderfully weird as one could possible get, a wild 'n wooly, hellish hybrid of multiple precode horror themes-- cats, bats, transformations etc.., as could only be found in the ominously oddball, Oct-November 1951 issue of Dark Mysteries #3.