No Harm Done on the Witches' Sabbat + Norman Was Right!

Like many of you this evening, THOIA is also dressin' up to paint the town orange 'n black (and red) with costumes and candy and all kinds of wicked Witches' Sabbat shenanigans. Now where did I put that sacrificial dagger, anyways? And oh, look at 'ol Norman over there, hookin' up with the absolute purrrrfect girl of his screams-- err, dreams, via the April 1952 issue of Suspense #17! She will most certainly have a bone or two to pick clean with him before the night is over! But first up, let's do what everybody loves the most on a night like this, and that's playing a spooky prank on an unsuspecting victim! Yesss, hee-hee, we've got our sights set on someone in particular-- let's just hope we can actually pull it off without a horrible hitch, --from the April '54 issue of Shocking Mystery Cases #58. Everyone have a great holiday, and Mr. Karswell hopes you all enjoyed this month of petrifyin' posts. See you in November for lots rots more-- HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Dead Man's Revenge

It just wouldn't be Halloween without a vicious visit from the greatest monster of 'em all-- Frankenstein's Mobster Monster, that is! This dynamite, Jay Disbrow crime horror updating of the Mary Shelley classic is from the September 1952 issue of Shocking Mystery Cases #50, and is seriously packed with awesome art, and tight, uniquely compact story telling as only Disbrow seemed to know how to do (and all done in a mere 6 pages, no less too!) Star Comics definitely got their money's worth out of Jay (as well as utilizing L. B. Cole on those gnarly great covers), --it's just a shame they couldn't have used a better quality printer as nearly every single thing they ever published looks rotten. Oh well, hopefully this won't hamper damper everyone's overall joy and celebration of this oddly overlooked, Golden Age, creature feature monsterpiece!

Horror Beyond the Door

Despite the wonderfully striking, and intensely colorful cover designs by L.B. Cole, Star Comics still manages to top my list of least favorite Golden Age horror publications. The interior stories are always a mixed bag of bad art and poor writing (even worse printing), and for the money these days, just an overall dismal, overrated, bargain barrel affair. But a few stories contained within occasionally managed to rise to the, uhh occasion, as with this titanic struggle of unleashed ancient evil, from the July 1953 issue of Spook #25. No artist credit.

Death Ship

The highly unlikely, artistic credit guess in our previous post HERE sent me on quest to find an actual story containing actual art by joltin' Jay Disbrow. And I believe I found a good one, (well, good for me anyway because I love tragically unhappy endings!) --this time from the March 1954 issue of Ghostly Weird Stories #122. Please scroll down and compare the two posts. You will immediately notice that there is, in fact, no comparison. Disbrow has a very distinct style (especially with faces, as one example), which is absolutely non-existent in the "Revenge!" story. But enough complaining, prepare to blast-off into the brutal reality of scary space with this sizzlin' Star Publications, sci-fi screamer, complete with an extra awesome, blacklight poster-esque L.B. Cole cover. (Don't forget the Kleenex, you whiners!)

The Mummy's Curse

I guess it's been a while since we've had a Mummy Monday around here, so time now for a fun but typically clunky Star Comics attempt at some ancient horror. GCD is as clueless as I am about who the artist of this tale could be, but even if he hadn't signed his name, we'd immediately recognize the unmistakable black light poster-esque mastery of L.B. Cole on the cover. From the May 1953 issue of Spook #24.

The Garden of Horror

A way better than average Star tale from the September 1953 issue of Ghostly Weird Tales #120. Typically poor publication printing and badly aged, yellowed paper aside, Lee Loeb's art still shines through and is wildly imaginative at times, always supernaturally spooky, and with some downright terrifying panels scattered throughout, --of special note that incredible splash and nearly most of page six.

Love from a Gorgon

From one hairy monstrosity tale of lurid love, and right into another-- and this time it's a surprisingly well written Star Publications tale of truly despicable, driveling oral organs from the beyond! Yeah, you read that right, *gag!* --and you'll read all about it again in a few moments. Also note, Disbrow is using the word "gorgon" here as merely a means to accentuate how ugly this creature is, as there is no actual snake-headed, turner to stone in this story. From the Dec. '52 issue of Startling Terror Tales #13, with another super cool, blacklight poster inspiring cover design by L.B. Cole.