The Serpent Strikes

While most of us weren't familiar with the magical exploits of Yarko in our previous post (HERE), I do believe a few of you are quite aware of the macabre, mystical powers of Dr. Jonathan Weir, aka The Purple Claw! We've hosted a clawful of PC horror adventures here over the years, so if you're unfamiliar somehow, just check the THOIA Archive for more! And what'a ya know, this story also sneakily qualifies as a Werewolf Wednesday post too! And no, I don't mean a Dr. Weir-wolf tale, just read 'em and were-weep, fiends, all will be made clear to you very soon. From the March 1953 issue of The Purple Claw #2.

The Web of Horror

We haven't seen a silly Purple Claw horror adventure around here in quite a while, so here's a good one from the March 1953 issue of Purple Claw #2. Boy oh boy, Brown and Gantz sure could draw a sexy lady... I do wonder if they've ever seen an actual spider in real life though? Hmmm...

The Killer in the Snow

It's the first day of winter 2019 finally (even though it's felt like winter here in the midwest since October), so let's turn the temps down even further and make it extra chilly with a tale from the March 1953 issue of The Purple Claw #2. We've had snow monsters, snow maidens, and even snow madness here at THOIA over the years, but I do believe this is the first time we've had an actual killer snow man. And wow, this is also the first Purple Claw story I've posted in over 10 years! I guess if you're new to this blog and unfamiliar with the eerie exploits of Dr. Jonathan Weir, (aka The Purple Claw) check the archives / sidebar tags for lots more!

The Final Horror

Appropriately enough, today’s story is called The Final Horror, and it marks the final Purple Claw mystery of August. Hope you enjoyed the brain hurting exploits of one of pre-code comic’s earliest ongoing enemies of the supernatural. Next month you can expect another Lance Storm classic, maybe even a chilly appearance by Sergeant Spook, and some more creepy fun from Bob Brant and the Trouble Shooters. Have a great weekend everyone… and wow, Monday is already September!

From the May 1953 issue of The Purple Claw #3

Death Flower

The Purple Claw heads into the swamp for more thrills, chills, and tenta-kills, and into what might amount to his weirdest case yet! Only one more Purple C Saturday story still to go this month too!

From the May 1953 issue of The Purple Claw #3

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And the THOIA Lyric Challenge Contest Winners are:

1st Place: Emby Quinn (Uncle Lancifer’s pick)
Emby gets the Afterschool Special (’76-’77) DVD set, a Kindertrauma shirt, a THOIA shirt, and choice of any photo* from Dania Hurley’s All Eyes And Ears blog.

2nd Place: Tim Tylor (Aunt John’s pick)Tim gets a THOIA shirt and choice of any photo from Dania Hurley’s All Eyes And Ears blog.

3rd Place: Todd (Karswell’s Pick)Surprise! I really thought Todd put in a kick ass run of lyrics too so I’m adding one more "honorable mention" THOIA shirt prize to the list.

(*Photo Winners: please contact Dania HERE for your prize details, and everyone visit her blog to check out her truly fantastic photos! And thanks again Dania for donating the great snaps!)

Congratulations again to the winners and another super big set of devil horns to our great guest judges this week, Kindertrauma’s Uncle Lancifer and Aunt John! Be sure to visit Kindertrauma for a repeat scarring of all those lil traumatizing childhood fears you always knew you could never forget.

Winner’s, please email me your mailing address and tee-shirt sizes so I can get your prizes to you pronto: karswell@hotmail.com

Thanks again to everyone that participated, and to those who have already won in the past and keep playing anyway... and of course to anyone who just stopped by anyway as usual and still commented.

There will be another contest next month, (maybe two!) so next time join in the fun!

The Giant from the Tomb

Purple Claw Week Three! With his white streaked hair it might’ve been cool if The Purple Claw had teamed up with grey streaked Lance Storm for a colossal pre-code Grecian Formula One crossover clash against some cantankerous creature or killer cult, ya know? But for now let's just watch him going at it solo as usual, and this time battling--- The Giant from the Tomb!
From the May 1953 issue of The Purple Claw #3

Next Saturday: The Death Flower!

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Show of hands gang, a real “Barrel of Fun” is:

A.) Joke books about barbers, bartenders, salesmen, the military?
B.) A cute little lady in high heels wearing nothing else but a barrel?

Vote NOW!