The Eternal Fires!

It's always weird when I discover a story that I actually published in one of my books 10 years ago (aka DEVIL TALES) but has yet to ever be posted here at THOIA. I honestly have no idea how that happens, and happens it does. But this damned 'n doomed Dick Beck and Art Gates pair-up from the Nov. '53 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #49 is not only a good / inconsequencial example of when Mr. Karswell pulls a blog boner blunder, --it also still fits right in rather nicely with THOIA's Halfway to Halloween / Walpurgisnacht shindig happenin' in just a few days, anyway-- so whatev! 

Mirror Macabre

It's February and wedding bells are a'ringin'! And what's a good present to give to the lovely couple after all is said, dead, and completely, utterly done for? Nice art throughout from Louis Zansky, and an equally cool cover here by Dick Beck. From the April 1953 issue of Hand of Fate #17, oh, and we'll be seeing more Ace atrocities all next month as well, --that's your head's off, errr, UP I mean, to always remember to stay eternally tombed and terrified...

Dark Journey! / The Phantom Bus

POST UPDATE: I had a busy week (actually "traumatizing" might be a better word for it) and forgot that I had planned to make this a "dark journey" double feature, --so here's the other story I absent-mindedly left out: "The Phantom Bus" from the September 1952 issue of The Unseen #6. We repo'd this one in the July 2015 issue of Haunted Horror #18, but it somehow never made its way here to THOIA, despite being one of my George Roussos favorites. I also included a ghostly half-pager from the same issue, which may have already been posted here somewhere over the years, I fergit. And of course, from the July-August 1953 issue of Skeleton Hand #6, comes a creepy tale of witchcraft and time travel gone oh-so horribly wrong. And to be honest, that's exactly the way I like it. I also dig that this one feels more like an ironically humorous Atlas quickie, and less the typical ACG happy ending that we've seen around here so many times before. 

Blood Thirsty

If you were intrigued by the "Do You Dare Read Blood Thirsty?" blurb (see previous post) featured on the cover of the August 1954 issue of Mysterious Adventures #21, --well now's your chance to take that dreaded dare! Yep, it's time for one more terrorific tale from this gory great issue, and this time around it's Dick Beck's turn to switch off the lights and really get your blood a'pumpin'! AIEEEEEEE!

One Night of Terror

Let's keep the scary science fiction horror shivers a'comin' with a specimen gatherin' metal man menace from the stars, via the December 1954 issue of Web of Evil #21. Cheapo C-3PO creep-ohs from outer space are just the way I like my deadly drive-in droids of doom-- YAAAAA!!!

Partners in Death

Another gruesome gem from the June 1954 issue of Mysterious Adventures #20, (see our last post too), highlighted by some truly revolting, ultra rotted zombie panels courtesy of the ever-deadly, Dick Beck. Story Comics really amped up the art (and writing) in these final issues of the series run, and were clearly making every attempt possible to give EC a run for their morbid money.

Lair of the Spidery Fiend

As if our last tale wasn't crazy enough, here's another one from the same May 1953 issue of The Beyond #20. Seriously, Lair of the Spidery Fiend packs more into one standard length, 7-page Ace story than most comics these days can muster in a half dozen issues altogether! Some truly bonkers artwork from Dick Beck and George Klein as well! See what you think...