I Killed Mary

Well, if you were paying attention in the intro of the previous post, then you probably saw this one coming next. Even more shocking than the story itself is that somehow, in all these years, I've never posted this original January 1954 issue of the Weird Mysteries #8 version until now (though I did post the very graphic Eerie Pub re-title / remake a few times in the THOIA Archive HERE, and we put it in Haunted Horror #22 too.) So how well does this story hold up today as a reflection of modern society ie: high schooler frustration levels, teen suicide, clueless parenting etc? Spot any Jack Davis swipes?

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.

SSSSHHH

THOIA is proud to kick off the new month with one of the most horrifying precode tales ever told! Originally presented in the October 1953 issue of Weird Mysteries #7, it's only 4 pages long, but the Trapani / Finocchiaro art team-up really packs a nerve wranglin' wallop! So hang on tight, and read it all the way to the very end-- don't be a baby-- just keep repeating to yourself, "it's only a story... it's only a story..."









April Fool's Day! (Those of you that purchase our Chilling Archives of Horror Comics hardcover editions might remember we presented this story as a bonus in our Haunted Horror: Pre-Code Comics So Scary, They're Good! Volume 3 collection. The original art scans come from the personal collection of one of our favorite HH contributors, deadly Dave O'Dell.)

HAUNTED HORROR X2

A double shot of haunted horrors erupted from the bowels of the Earth last week: HAUNTED HORROR #24 from the ongoing bi monthly series, as well as the HH Volume 4 hardcover collection "Candles for the Undead and Much More!" featuring issues 10-12 PLUS bonus tales not found in the individual issues! I have some sneak peeks at each release for you today, and hey-- if you're having trubz finding HAUNTED HORROR in your town, drop me a line-- good 'ol Mr. Karswell has the hook-up for signed back issues and whatever else your screaming soul craves!

The Vampire Goes West!

Had a request for "something stupid", so here ya go, funny guy. From the Oct '54 issue of Tales of Horror #13, pretty sure it doesn't get much stupider than this-- which means "A MUST READ!"

FYI: back to THE THING up next...

Poison-Quill at Midnight!

There's one story left to tell from the August 1954 issue of Tales of Horror #12, and here it is, a piercing little yarn about a kooky killer quill! The rest of this great issue can be found in the THOIA Archive: "Welcome to My School", "Fate of Alberto", and "The Pallbearers." And after the post, get a sneak peek at the new Yoe Banes horror project coming this fall from IDW! Full-color, precode horror reprints in an affordable, monthly comic book package! (Just don't get too comfy with the "Scary" title, cuz we've already changed it.) Click HERE for all the info!

Click HERE!