Circle of Death

An old family curse comes full circle once more, in this chilly, atmospheric entry from the December 1952 issue of Weird Horrors #5, --and thus proving again that sometimes love actually won't keep us together. Anyone recognize the artist?

Picture of Evil

And now for something completely different! Yes, it's time to adjust those peepers of yours for a 3-D horror story-- but with the annoying 3-D effect removed! Heck, we lost the goggles for this issue anyway, so whatevz! From St. John's House of Terror #1 (October 1953, debut one-shot), this is some seriously excellent examples of joltin' Joe Kubert's awesome artwork (cover and story), plus inks by Les Zakarin. And FYI: I posted a colorized / updated variation of Kubert's cursed ghost story from this issue way back --over 15 years ago-- in December of 2008 HERE! --just for those of you who haven't been hangin' around here like a picture of evil for very long!

The Great God Pan

As long as we're fishin' it up in this wicked sector of the weird, wooded wild (see our previous post HERE), we may as well get in a little hunting too! And now, not to be confused with the same named horror classic by the awesome great, Arthur Machen, but this time around the Great God Pan has to share his vengeful, shirtless tale via the January 1947 issue of Four Favorites #27 with some oddly intrusive narrative pop-ins from "The Unknown", a cloaked, Death-like horror host figure who would eventually get his own Ace Magazines comic series in 1951, (aka The Hand of Fate.) Paul Parker's artwork doesn't seem as tightly streamlined here as it is on his awesome Kirk of Scotland Yard tales (check the THOIA archives!) but its still pretty fun none the less. And, if you did come here looking for something Machen related, I went ahead and added a one page "Phantom Bowman" quickie from the December 1952 issue of Weird Horrors #5 at the end. If you're not hip to how or why it's related to Mr. Machen, well CLICK HERE for the full scoop-- it's a very interesting WW1 story. And finally, if anyone needs more sinister Satyr action, CLICK HERE as well-- whew!

Death's Pool

Picking up where we left off last month with another wild Joe Kubert horror classic, and this one from the December 1952 issue of Strange Terrors #5. More top notch illustrative work, and correct me if I'm wrong, but in all the years I've been producing this blog, this may be the first post featuring a monstrous minotaur! Meanwhile, this is probably the 700th post featuring a pencil mustache. Cute girl art too though!

Cat's Death

Another lengthy horror actioneer from the March 1953 issue of Strange Terrors #7 (see previous post), and this time joltin' Joe Kubert is on hand to lead you through the perilous jungle, showing you all just exactly why he has a goddamn art school. Dynamic visual work as always, and though the evil, great white hunter story typically contains the usual assortment of deadly deja vus, there are still a few weird and worthy surprises along the way.

The Horn of Palzner

Here's a bizarre one for you, from the March 1953 issue of Strange Terrors #7. It reaches for a Quatermass and the Pit type level of ancient legend and superstition mixed with a sudden shocking science fiction alien invasion swerve. It almost works too-- until it doesn't-- becoming disappointingly muddled just as it starts getting good, (and that rushed ending doesn't really help either.) But those bonkers, Mardi Gras-headed, Matt Fox-esque beings from outer space added to the otherwise realistic approach to all of the other highly detailed art, just makes for a super surreal story on par with some of the best 1950's sci-fi monster films. Who's the artist here?