The She-Beast

We're heading back into the teeming, screaming jungle for another eerie, horror adventure encounter, and this time with the monstrously macabre maiden "REPTA" via the slithery, September 1953 issue of Horrific #7. And of course Marty Elkins art is always a welcome addition to the THOIA Archive, but just to further spice things up around here with something different, Mr. Karswell also welcomes the wild and wonderful work of master illustrator, Ruth Marten --see her incredible Alligator Girl painting at the end of this post! I also highly recommend her superb monograph collection, Ruth Marten: All About Eve, edited by Ina Dinter.

The Thing That Grew! (aka The Easter Basket Grass Monster)

Those of you with a great sense of memory may recall a couple of other THINGS that have already grown in the THOIA Archive HERE and HERE, --but believe it or not, I've found a way to twist today's Jordy Verrill-esque creeper show from the September 1954 issue of Horrific #13 into being the most perfectly stupid Easter post instead! Okay, besides the fact that this thing kills the Easter Bunny on page two, what you'll do is simply replace the final block of narrative above the last panel on Page One with this: "...some terrifying, unknown error in nature took place!! Suddenly a spark of life came to be, and just as the leaves mystically swirled away, they were magically replaced by flying strands of green, plastic Easter basket grass from the nearby neighborhood trashcans! Some even slithered in like snakes, some did the inch worm move! Some bounced like tumbleweed balls, --some twirled like tornados of terror! As if magnetically pulled towards the skeleton by some unseen force, the plastic Easter basket grass formed an eerie emerald shape around the boney, fetid framework." And so on. Please try to enjoy my attempt at whatever this is. (For more about the postcard, click HERE!)

Human Cross

I can't really think of many examples with religion, or religious overtones, playing a key role in a 50's precode horror comic tale. I mean, yeah, crosses and holy water are used on vampires, and Satan is a big bad bible villain, but in the case of today's dramatic Don Heck story... well... howz'about you just read it and let us all know what you think in the comments. If anything, it's a unique take for sure. Now some of you may have already seen this story when we first reprinted it in our Horror By Heck hardcover collection back in 2015, but this also seemed like a good xmas post since it's never made an appearance here at THOIA. So, happy holiday eve everyone-- I hope you all get what you wanted. From the December 1954 one-shot issue of Comic Media's Terrific #1, (which would have actually been Horrific #14 except for all of the SOTI baloney killing off Golden Age horror comics!)

Demon Lover

Girls! Do you have what it takes to reform the greatest sinner of all time? If you think you do-- think again! Of all the cockamamie love stories I've ever posted here at THOIA, this is surely one of the cockamamiest! From the Sept '54 issue of Horrific #13, art by Max Elkin and cover by Don Heck.

Blood Lust

Some wild posts this month so far, eh? Why just this past week we've seen spiders, rosy shades, and now we're taking a bloody boat ride?! It must be summer finally-- but how exactly do vampires fit into this season, you ask? As surely as their teeth will fit into your lovely, pulsating necks, I assure you they do! And macabre Marty Elkins will now show you exactly how, just don't forget the Dracumine-- errr, I mean the Dramamine! From the July 1954 issue of Horrific #12.

The Vengeful Corpse

Some eerie Iger Shop illustrative touches highlight this haunted tale of horror from the deep (aka the Brian Barnes family tree.) I always find it odd to see the distinct Iger style featured in a publication that isn't Superior, or Ajax / Farrell, and this time it's Comic Media's nerve-wracking November 1952 issue of Horrific #2. 

Night Owl

Is there a genre for gory bowling themed horror? Well, there is now! Originally presented in the July 1954 issue of Horrific #6, (art by Marty Elkin), we actually reprinted this one in the June 2013 issue of Haunted Horror #5 and it's seriously one of the most insanely entertaining tales you've ever seen coming from a mile away-- twist ending wise, that is!

The Green Ones

The screams from the sickening, steamy old swamp continue with an eerie Marty Elkin transformation creature feature classic from the May 1954 issue of Horrific #11. I kind of wish we'd used this one in the Swamp Monsters book, but it's very similar in theme to a few other tales featured... and yes, you'll just have to get yourself a copy to see what I mean! (*hint hint) Click HERE for more info!