The Convert

I typically like to deliver a little Shaitanic evil during December, aka the holiest of months. So let's kick it off with a devilishly diabolical entry from the October 1978 issue of Charlton's Monster Hunters #16. Interestingly loose illustrations and lay-outs from Enrique Puchades (making his THOIA debut), an artist who felt the need to sign his name on nearly every page --and sometimes even more than once on a single page too?! I also get the feeling we're seeing quite a number of Vampirella swipes every time demonic dame Regina pops into a panel. Okay, initially I thought this was cantankerous old monster huntin' horror host, Colonel Whiteshroud's first appearance on the blog too, but he actually told us a macabre little mermaid tale back in 2014 HERE! Lots more monsters, mummies, maniacs, and merry holiday spirits on the way all this month-- so staay tommbed!

White on Black!

Wait, did you think we were done with Louis Ravielli in our last post? Not bloody likely! Yep, I have one more wonderfully illustrated tale for you, this time from the October 1953 issue of Strange Tales #23 --one that will surely send you all into a negative state of doom development! Okay, this was a hard one to clean up, yellowed pages don't fit well with a story told in this B/W manner, and I tried my hardest to make everything presentable so that the whole point of the story makes sense. (If you're not happy with what I've done here, that's on you. No apologies from me.) But if you're still hanging around afterwards and want another camera themed tale from this exact same issue, no less, then head over to AEET HERE afterwards for a dark room romp, and even a slice or two of cheesecake for dessert! *wink! (Cover art by Sol Brodsky.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE!

Death for Hire / Corpse Under Carpet

Some corpses just ain't havin' it! And here are two chilling examples from the September - October 1952 debut issue of ACG's Skeleton Hand #1. Nice 'n reliably chunky artwork from Jon Blummer highlights the first tale about crackpot criminal kooks overplaying their hand with voodoo, --followed by a one page quickie about a haunted rug! AIEEEEE!! Is there anything more terrifyin'?!! Maybe try the vacuum cleaner next time...

Garden of Horror

Sometimes the scariest place on your entire eerie estate can be that gosh-dang 'ol garden out back! Don't believe me? Check out this overgrown creeper from the April 1952 issue of Chamber of Chills #7. And if you need further proof, CLICK HERE for even more ghastly gardens of hellacious horror!

Curse of the Mummy Queen

Our third curse of the month is also another unearthed Four Favorites horror tale as told once again by "The Unknown" (see our previous post HERE.) And we also got a taste of 1940's Rudy Palais art with the previous post's comic cover image as well. So now here he is delivering his wonderfully colorful, --though a bit more subdued than his hellacious Harvey sweat fests-- illustrative visuals in a rather epic 10-pager. So who's afraid of a beautiful mummy? Not me! But you might be, as her creepy curse carves its way through yet another hapless group of archeologists. From the May 1946 issue of Four Favorites #23.

Voice from the Deep! / Devil's Gun

After the last couple of lighthearted horror romps, it's definitely time for something a wee bit more ugly and mean-spirited. Enter the January 1953 issue of Lawbreakers Suspense Stories #10, with Lou Morales illustrating a nicely compact sickie quickie where the moral of the story has definitely got something to do with maybe taking some damn swimming lessons, already! Also, a B/W, half-page filler tale about a gun, and yes, both are from the same great issue...

The Coward & The Choker

And the midnight toker! Just jokin'-- it's "Super Blood-Soaked Saturday Shocker" time again, with a deadly double header of gagging gore and blood thirsty, brutal betrayals! Yes, just in case anyone thought THOIA was turnin' soft over our expansive 18-year run here on the 'ol interwebs, well, --think again! Two terror-packed tales full of dismemberment, dickish dames, and dumb dudes a'danglin', and despite some less than stellar scan quality here, both are from the rather awesome August 1954 issue of Mysterious Adventures #21. The savage illustrations in the first story are by bad boy Bill Savage himself, and followed by the always radical Ross Andru on our rockin' second tale. Plus! A real crowd-pleaser of a cover by Hy Fleishman! Have a gory great weekend everyone, with lots lots morgue to come-- so stay tombed!