The Anti-13 / Something Very Special

THOIA has the Devil in the details with today's double-doomed dose of Gold Key grimmess. A hot new party plan produces some rather unexpected results in, "Something Very Special" from the March 1976 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #29  --and features a truly amazing cover painting by the great George Wilson. It's one of my super sizzlin' Satanic 70's favorites, for sure! But first up, let's visit another perplexing party, via the September 1975 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #26. No spoiler here as they're attempting to do the exact opposite of the gaslit gang featured in the other story, (sort of), --but with no less deadly, endgame consequences! And similar to the plot point in our previous post HERE, this one also has an interesting "projection" angle. Yep, if the Lord (of Darkness) moves in mysterious ways, then so can science! ::SHIVERS::

The Ghost Maker / He Couldn't Live Without Her

Let us now kick start Fearbruary into ghoulish gear by picking up right where we left off last month with another double feature of g-g-g-ghost stories! And this time we'll be visiting two Gold Key classics, the August 1974 issue of Grimm's Ghost Stories #18, as well as Grimm's Ghost Stories #28 from December 1975. Both tales fall into our lurid month-long look at love and other monstrosities of matrimonial madness 'n mayhem-- though I may sneak something non-Valentiney into the mix occasionally too. So hands up, who thinks the guys in both of these stories each got a raw deal in the end?

The Thin Ones of Skeleton Island

We've been randomly looking at the spookier sides of Fiction House's wild, WINGS COMICS war series throughout the month of March, and this Suicide Smith (and the Air Commanders) on a cursed island entry from the February 1948 issue of Wings Comics #90 fits our THOIA bill nicely. Smith was one of the longest running back-up characters from this series, and today's post features great art by precode fan fave, John Celardo too, loadin' every page with fast paced adventure, a few tricky horror overtones, plus gorgeously illustrated ladies to really spice up the action. Also, if you ever wondered what the silhouette of a bad guy getting smooshed by a giant boulder looks like, well then --you came to the right island!

The Vengeance Vat

Sekowsky and Celardo team up for a supernatural witcheroo featuring lots of terrific Tothy visuals, via the vicious January 1953 issue of The Unseen #8 from Pines.

Beasts and Banshees!

Thirsty Thursdays are here again, with a couple of sex-crazed supernatural thingies out lookin' for some flingies. I believe most people view these Ripley's stories as being a bit G-rated and tame, but how often do you see a comic book tale from Gold Key where a helpless lady in a nightgown is grabbed by her hair, and flung onto a bed where a half-human creature can then "follow his bestial instincts?!" "The Monster of Croglin Grange" is from the June 1969 issue of RBION #14, followed by a screaming second sizzler, "Prey of the Banshee!" from the October 1971 issue of RBION #29, --this one's highlighted with a beautiful John Celardo illustrated lead female looking like she stepped right out of John Buscema's pretty girl playbook.