Skulls! Skulls!! Skulls!!!

The second half of the 28 Years Later film saga, The Bone Temple, opened in theaters this weekend, and we're going to see it this Tuesday night, in fact. Now, not to get "a-head" of ourselves here for anyone else who hasn't seen it yet, (though I'm sure the posters, trailers, and scenes from the first half of the previous movie hath etched the towers of chilling skull totems into everyone's gasping eyeballs already anyway), but that brings me to this: I've been hanging onto Werner Roth's rather savage, "The Grinning Skulls!" from the January 1953 issue of Strange Tales #14 for about a year now, patiently waiting for just the right occasion to post it, and now you will see EXACTLY why. And not to be outdone by one juicy jolt of jungle jitters, but I also have a god-damned (get it?)  Stan Lee / John Romita decap classic via the January 1953 issue of Mystery Tales #7 that will really flip your lid! If that ain't enough, I've also included an old WW2 photo with a back story that's even more macabre than either of today's Atlas Tales combined. Click HERE for it if you dare... ugh!

Night of Horror / The Stranger

We saw some super fine Frank Springer art just a few posts ago over at AEET HERE, and now he springs forth yet again here with a familiar old, urban legend-style, spook story set-up, via the June 1966 issue of Dell's Ghost Stories #14. And yes friends, it all takes place on New Years Eve! But first, let's see what the great cover illustration of our previous post was about as we once again return to the April 1952 issue of Suspense #17. Hmmm, have I really not posted a Werner Roth story since 2019?! For shame! I'll see what I can do about that in the coming year. And speaking of, while some of you will likely be out and about, having a party packed evening of festive fun, other's will be experiencing quite the opposite. In fact, you might even call tonight a "Night of Horror!" Yeah, that's the way we do things around here at THOIA, anyway. And if the drunken car crashes and hellarious graveyard hazing antics don't finally do you in, then be sure to come back here next year and see what other terrors ominously await! Happy New Year, everyone-- we did it! 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13... 13...

The End of His Service!

Let's try a little change of pace around here for a bit with a timeless futuristic robo tale of man and machine, or man vs. machine... uh, are there actually any stories like this that have a happy ending? From the November 1951 issue of Strange Worlds #5, art credits at GCD list 3 different illustrators on this one: Norman Nodel, John Rosenberger (page 3), and Werner Roth (page 4.)

Poor Mister Watkins

Well, despite what I said in our last story post, it doesn't seem right to end our Atlas Fest just yet. Unless you've been living on a desert island for the last few days, you have no doubt heard the sad news of Stan Lee's passing at the age of 95. So around here that means we're going to extend this Atlas tribute for the rest of November, and in particular we will be looking at sensationally spooky stories scripted by super Stan himself. Think of it as an early xmas present from Mr. Karswell, and The Man himself. Only gone a few days, and already missed is the understatement of the year.

From the March '53 issue of Menace #1, (art by Werner Roth.)















And don't miss "One Head Too Many!" in the THOIA 2007 Archive! CLICK HERE!!

The Eyes! / The Hidden Graveyard

Eerie eyeballs are the theme for today's THOIA Saturday Double Header Shocker, and Werner Roth gives you the eye first, with "The Eyes!", originally presented in the February 1952 issue of Adventures into Weird Worlds #2, ...then, Bob Forgione drags you screaming through the stinkin' jungles of terror with "The Hidden Graveyard", originally presented in the August 1954 issue of Uncanny Tales #23.