The Domain of the Doomed

Time now to finish up November 2025 right where we sorta started-- with even more King Ward weirdness! This is one seriously silly, sci-fi horror adventure, via the November - December 1951 issue of Forbidden Worlds #3. And while it's off the charts in terms of convoluted craziness, it's also packed with a wild assortment of concepts and cool creature designs. You likely won't forget this one, just as Bruce and Betty never forgot it after they returned to Earth and tried to recapture a little bit of that arousing alien action in the bedroom (see their own amateur home photo attached below!) I've also rounded out the post with yet another ACG "True" ghost quickie, --yep, illustrated by Ward-- and this time from the January - February 1953 issue of Skeleton Hand #3. We'll be heading back to Earth in a few for lots more, --stay tombed!

"True" Zombies of History: Hugo Ormsbeck / Strange Spirits: Voodoo

Time to put a wrap on our killer King Ward Fest this week with a couple more ACG AdvUnk fillers. And first up, a whoppin' weird 4-page historical account of Hugo Ormsbeck, 13th century oddball alchemist, and magician, who apparently discovered the power of the living dead, --and thusly became a "true" zombie himself! Ward delivers some great panels here, I just wish the coloring was a little more inspired. From the March 1953 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #41, followed by a one page voodoo quickie from the Fall 1948 debut issue of Adventures into the Unknown #1. GCD attributes the art here by Ward as well, but it honestly doesn't look like his work to me... I'm sure you will all let me know your opinions on this matter as well.

Fangs of Horror

It's King Ward Werewolf Wednesday here at THOIA, and yeah, I've decided that we'll just spend the rest of this week looking at some of Ward's weirder horror output for ACG --see our previous post as well, in case you missed it! And speaking of weird, this might just be one of the weirdest, graverobbin' werewolf stories ever! King's art is absolutely astounding, as always, and he can absolutely draw a menacingly slinky, wicked wolf pack like no other! But as beautifully drawn and written as some of the narrative is, Charles Verral's scripting here is oddly shoddy, ridiculously packed with illogical details that would make even Ed Wood laugh out loud. So if you can forgive all of that stuff, and still try to have fun with today's entry (from the August 1951 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #22), then you might just etc etc... uhhhh... well... okay, yes, that's right-- sometimes a story can leave even poor 'ol Mr. Karswell at a complete loss for words. AAARGH!

Dead Man's Doom / True Ghosts of History: Grim Lady of Raynham Hall

We had a request last month for more King Ward, and I am of course more than happy to oblige, --I mean, he is The King, after all! It's also quite the convenient request since the 'ol ACG long boxes were already still resurrected for our previous post! And I feel like we haven't featured a "True Ghosts of History" quickie in a while either, so please try not to shriek too loudly at the horrifically stern visage of "The Grim Lady of Raynham Hall" from the December - January 1949 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #2. But first up, it's time to turn the tables on a supernatural faker with some honest-to-badness REAL supernatural, from the September - October 1951 issue of Forbidden Worlds #2. Ward is certainly in fine form on both entries in this post, each swirling with spooky, drippy atmosphere, and maybe like me, you'll learn some deadly new terminology for fine lobster dining and seaweed! 

Haunted House

Have we had enough stories this month already about haunted houses? Oh, I assure, we most definitely have not-- and especially when we haven't entered one so superbly illustrated as by the masterfully cinematic hand of Karswell favorite, King Ward. Now, how this terrific tale from the Fall 1948 debut issue of Adventures into the Unknown #1 is only just now finally getting posted here at THOIA is an even bigger mystery! From a script by Weird Tales pulp pro legend, Frank Belknap Long --and what a great Ed Moritz cover design too!

The Demon of the Deep / Ghosts of History

I've said it before-- I love King Ward! From his cinematic, moody lighting, and atmospheric angles, to his bizarro monsters, and interesting character posing, Ward's scratchy, warped, and highly detailed style is very suited to horror. And on top of all that, his stories are just flat-out wild fun! I'd kill to see his pencil versions, as occasionally things can get a bit lost 'n murky in the inks and colors, but even that only adds to the brooding mystery he infuses into each unique panel (keyword his name in the THOIA archive for tons more.) The April 1952 issue of Adventures into the Unknown #30 benefits from having not only one especially weird, full-length King Ward tale, but also a cool 3-page "Ghosts of History" filler story. Enjoy!