Esme'

 One more Chilling Alcazar Adventure into Sorcery for you this month, and it's a gorgeous tale containing verified proof that monsters walk among us! Don't believe me? Just put on these glasses and you will indeed see that --THEY LIVE! From issue #5, via Februrary 1974, and this story also holds an extra special place in my heart because not only did it introduce me to the amazing work of Alcazar, but beautifully groovy blonde babe Esme' in the big round glasses here always reminded me of my very first neighborhood babysitter, who also became Kid Karwell's very first 70's krush! This one goes out to you, Janet --where ever you may be! Stay tombed for something cinematic and different, coming up next...

Horripilate Host & The Prince of Evil: 19 Years of The Horrors of it All!

On this day 19 years ago (aka 2007), I cracked open the 'ol comic book long boxes and got to work scanning everything I had accumulated over my many decades of fiendish, fan boy collector existence. The point wasn't so much to just have everything backed-up on disc (which it is now, finally-- whew!), but to also begin something I had been mulling over in my horrible head for a few months prior-- and that was to not only start a big bad blog about horror comics, but to even turn my own dork ass self into the horrorest online host of 'em all. The initial game plan was to primarily focus on the Golden era of terrifyin' precode titles. Then over the years that concept changed a bit, and we "flashed forward" occasionally to check out Silver Age screams, as well as throwing Bronze Age bloodbaths upon our alter of evil too. 

The response in those early years of THOIA's existence was incredibly positive, and very rewarding too! And even though the fanbase of the blog has slowed down here a bit over the last decade, it's never ever stopped being a fun ride. As many of you know, THOIA helped me fulfill my dream of producing and publishing award winning hardcover books, including two separate, and critically acclaimed comic book series' with Yoe Books and IDW, --plus, a string of Rondo Nominations, as well as winning the highly honorable Last Drive-In Bolo Award in 2020 (thanks again to Joe Bob and Darcy!) A couple of terrific trips to participate in SDCC discussion panels, autograph sessions, and even gigs with a handful of other publishers as well, were all icing on the creep cake. 

So yeah, I guess I'm pretty proud of what I've created here over the years. But honestly, through it all the biggest perk for me has been meeting so many great, devoted horror comic fans who continue to follow this blog (as well as AEET), and these friendships created will undoubtably last for allll eternity. But the inevitable question persists: how long will THOIA last? I don't really have an answer for that, nor do I have plans of killing it off anytime soon --if that's where you suddenly thought this lengthy intro was heading! But as we all get older and the collection runs thinner of usable / worthy material, it's bound to happen eventually. Hopefully later than sooner! So in the meantime, happy birthday to us all, --and yes, you too! Please have yourselves a nice big slice of that creep cake because you're all an equally important mechanism of this functioning, monsterama machine too! 

Now, enough blab about Mr. Karswell, let's move on to what this blog is really all about, featuring two tales concerning a couple of other horror host chums o'mine. As you'll discover, neither are the sharpest blades in the 'ol sacrificial knife drawer though, so apologies in advance if this post hurts a bit! From the December '73 issue of Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #4, and the Dec '74 issue of Red Circle Sorcery #10.

Face of Love / Death + Essays into the Supernatural: The Werewolf

Another 70's comic book that made a huge impression on young Mr. Karswell was the April 1974 issue of Red Circle Sorcery #6. Awaiting readers behind that amazing, Vampira-esque cover design by the late, great Gray Morrow, (one of my most favorite covers ever), was a nifty little tie-in tale about a radio DJ and his #1 deadicated fan in listener land! Even at a a single digit age, I still recognized this spooky Marv Channing / Vicente Alcazar spin on the cool 'n creepy Clint Eastwood cinematic classic, "Play Misty For Me" (1971.) And Gray Morrow wasn't finished with the cover, --also included within this issue was his fun one-page filler "Essay into the Supernatural" about "The Werewolf", which rounds out today's post on a ferocious, snarling high note.

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...

The Familiar

Another good one from Dread of Night #1 (see previous post for more details), this one highlighted by Gray Morrow inks and a story that somehow seems a fitting match for Brian Barnes' birthday today, haha!