Web of Horror

The world wide web can be a horrible place for sure, --but so can a cemetery! And that's why today it's time to oopsie-daisy on the old "bury 'em now / dig 'em up later for money" routine. And as usual, we archival specialists of THOIA trickster atrocities discover (yet again, sigh) that this fatally flawed "fast one" rarely ever actually works. From the same revolting, jolting, July - August 1951 issue of Weird Adventures #2 as our previous post. GCD believes the art here is by eerie Ed Moline, unfortunately, nobody has a clue about that great flaming dungeon cover design. We'll be back shortly tho because OMG it's already almost September again! Where does the time go as we lay here pondering what comes next? Under 6 feet of dirt. Air growing thinner. The sound of worms churning. So dark. Are my eyes open, or closed? When did I last clear my web browser history cache? Stay. Tombed.

The Laughing Skull

Okay, one more hero horror story before you guys start screaming scarlet murder at me (unless anyone actually wants to see more?) And yes sirs, it's a Mr. Scarlet screamer again, along with the usual spookily dressed-up crime kook and his hysterical, tough talkin' hench goons. Did I save the best story for last? I kind of think so, aside from the arresting action, eerie art atmosphere, very funny dialog, and skulls skulls skulls, there's a really clever gravestone gimmick utilized here that would make both The Joker and The Riddler green with envy. The main perp also has a rather unusual alt angle this time around that I haven't seen in an old supe comic like this before as well. From the same great issue as our last post too, CLICK HERE! It also feels like Binder put a little more oomph into the art than he did with The Mummy Ray.

Come Share My Coffin Tomb!

Our month of dueling Two-For-One Fear Features continues with a petrifyin' pair of terror tales that are really asking a lot from you, dear readers! Yes, come along with us now as we attempt to make some rotten room for a couple of certifiably creepy, cramped companion classics! And Pete Tumlinson kicks it off with an ever familiar, eerie escape trick that is most certainly doomed to backfire every time, guaranteed! From the May 1954 issue of Strange Tales #28, plus a special paralyzin' applause for that superbly scary cover design by Harry Anderson! Then it's Mort Meskin's turn to amp up the mausoleum madness with an apparently "true" crime case from the September - October 1951 issue of Headline Comics #49, via Prize Comics. Yep, THOIA is unloading a hot, double dose of COME atcha this time around-- better bring some Kleenex! Wait, what? They're both tear-jerkers, I meant...

Within the Tomb

Tomb it May Concern Thursday is back, and let's see if we can crack the lid open on not only this ghastly bit of horrifying grave gamery, but also on the actual origin of this gruesome great Kenneth Landau shocker, via the September 1969 issue of Shock V1 #3. Similar to the Eerie Pubs, Shock was a cheap Stanley Morse publication known for taking Golden Age comics and reprinting them in a larger, magazine size, black and white format. GCD notes that this story was also reprinted in the April 1973 issue of K. G. Murray's Haunted Tales #2, which is equally loaded with precode reprints. But where did this story ORIGINALLY come from, and is "Within the Tomb" even the original story title? Does anyone recognize the horror host introducing the story? Landau did a tremendous amount of work for ACG back in the 50's (check the THOIA Archive for many examples HERE), and this story does feel like one from that time era and publisher. I'm just not seeing any information online about it anywhere... any help on this matter is gravely appreciated!

Grave Rehearsal

Many of you know that THOIA's archival crypt is overflowing with stories about people going through a whole heckuva lotta trouble just to kill someone. Take "Grave Rehearsal" from the August 1953 issue of Strange Fantasy #7 for example-- whew, now this is a truly dedicated, exhausting amount of evil and planning! And in the end, --is it even worth it?! I have another gruesome one from this same issue up next as well, so stay tantalizingly tombed --even in that stiff cement overcoat!

Cry from the Coffin

If the cry from under the carpet in our previous post wasn't eerie enough for ya, how about one now from the coffin? Okay, this has got to be one of the most depressing precode horror stories ever published, with a day that starts off in a completely pleasant manner, quickly turning into a terrifying trip to the morgue for an autopsy, --and don’t be late for your own funeral! Better bring the tissues, this poor sap has a super sad tale to tell, and one that he'll be telling forever, and ever, and ever. From the Oct. 1953 issue of Strange Fantasy #8.