Stranger in Town

We're celebrating the first day of Spring 2026 here at THOIA, as well as over at AEET, complete with some do (though focusing on don't) tips about how to really bring your plants and garden back to life! Well, maybe not exactly THIS much "back to life", but you all know what I'm talkin' 'bout, right? And when was the last time we saw anything by Reed Crandall around these parts? It's seriously been a long cold, errr, half decade+, for sure! And okay, don't get your hopes too high, cuz this ain't even by him anyway, even though it's credited to him! It's actually, of course, terrifyin' Tom Sutton layin' down his usual brilliant, and ominously organic artwork! Also, that stunning London After Midnight cover painting is by the great Basil Gogos, and not Charles Schulz, or Barry Gibb, --via the awesome April 1969 issue of Creepy #26.

Vampirella of Draculon Mountain

Last year I had a few requests for more wicked Warren posts, and since nothing specific was mentioned title-wise, I guess that leaves it up to old Mr. Karswell to continue with my-- errr, his own choice process of creepy curation! And okay, since half of the country is currently chilled to the bone under mountains of snow and extremely frigid, icy temps, let's see what happens to one lovely young lady in a similar, shivery predicament-- only trapped with a rather unpleasant fellow, to boot! Beautiful, sketch-style artwork from "Jay Taycee", aka legendary Johnny Craig who also wrote the script, from the April 1966 issue of Creepy #8, and highlighted with a terrific Gray Marrow vampire cover painting! But first up, and since we're stalkin' / talkin' vampires, let's see where it all began with one bloodthirsty lil babe from Planet Draculon-- va-va-va-voom it's awesome Vampirella in her September 1966 debut collector's edition issue appearance via Vampirella #1! Forrest J. Ackerman script. Tom Sutton story art. And freakin' Frank Frazetta cover and ad art, all adding up to one helluva great origin issue, as well as THOIA double fear-ture post! Sink in...

The Wakely Monster

As long as we're digging around in the creepy Charlton creature feature back issues, how about another wild one from the December 1975 issue of Monster Hunters #3, with cover and story art by terrifyin' Tom Sutton! The color register goes a little wild in a few places here too, but it's an interesting Swamp Thing / Man-Thing style tale of mad science gone viciously veggie-- not to mention we have a rockin' redhead caught up in the middle of it all too! Also have to admit, as much as I love that eerie Sutton cover painting, I kind of like Gredown's early 80's one-shot re-issue (and uncredited) re-do cover of Monstrosities just a bit better. So let's lead off this post with that one instead... oh hey, your shoe!!

Grave Story

I'm sure that many of you consider a cemetery to be a nice, quiet, uneventful place. But today's terror-ific Tom Sutton tale from the February 1973 issue of Midnight Tales #2 tells quite a different, action packed story, indead-- errr, indeed! Not only that, but you're going to hear all about it from a very different perspective too! I've also included a vintage comic book ad page absolutely packed with mail-order magic...

Those Tentacles! / Slimes, Slogs and Glumps

The Charlton creeps are eruptin' from the deep today at THOIA, with a nice 'n icky drippy pair-up via the June 1975 issue of Ghostly Tales #106, as well as one from the November 1982 issue of Scary Tales #35 --and both illustrated by the terrifyingly terrific, Tom Sutton too! Things from the murky, lurky depths hold a special place in my heart-- maybe these slimy thingies will hold you in a special place-- in their stomaches! (2nd tale scans courtesy of Holden, thank you!)