DEATH BY JELLY (PEANUT BUTTER NOT INCLUDED)

This one's about as weird as they get. A (yes) mad scientist concocts a serum that he injects into a blob of protoplasm and the thing morphs into a humanoid monster that -- what else? -- goes on a killing rampage.

Nice artwork by the team of Bob Powell (pencils) and Howard Nostrand and Marty Epp (inks).

"Jelly Death" from CHAMBER OF CHILLS #6 (March 1952).

JACK OF HORROR!

One of the better team-ups during the pre-Code era were Bob Powell and Howard Nostrand. On their own, both were good artists, but I think together they complemented each other.

"Jack of Horror" from BLACK CAT MYSTERY #34 (Harvey, April 1952) is so crazy, I consider it an almost psychedelic story. It was reprinted in BLACK CAT MYSTERY #52 (October 1954) during the last gasp of horror comics brought on by the Comics Code Authority.

NOTE: Some of the panels in this story may look familiar; I used them in a previous post.

FROG IN YOUR THROAT?

Prefiguring the proliferation of "man vs beast" covers and stories that would flood men's adventure magazines just a few years later is this crazy quickie by Bob Powell called "Green Horror" from Harvey's WITCHES TALES #6 (November 1951). Powell isn't at his best here, and I bet more than a few young readers laughed more than were scared of these "human frogmen", an oxymoron if there ever was one. Editor Leon Harvey must have liked this issue (or had to rush something to press) as it was reprinted in its entirety in WITCHES TALES #27.

NEVER TOUCH A WITCH!

In this cautionary tale the message is to, whatever you do, never touch a witch! This is the first story that I have come across so far in THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED where the title's host, Dr. Death plays a more integral role. Usually, he introduces the story and pops up once or twice to comment during the proceedings. In "Touch of Death" from #11 (Fawcett, June 1953) he is drawn multiple panels by the more than capable Bob Powell. Oh, and the warning about witches? Read on to find out!

DEATH IS THE END RESULT

This is a swipe if there ever was one. "End Result" was illustrated by Bob Powell and appeared in TOMB OF TERROR #14 (Harvey, March 1954). As yet, the writer has not yet been positively identified, although some say it was Powell, who sometimes scripted his own art.

TOMB OF TERROR was a cross-over science-fiction/horror title likely patterned after EC's line of sci-fi comics. In this particular story, any reader of a certain H.G. Wells novel will realize it for what it is. I'll let you be the judge, but it's pretty obvious.

EERIE ADVENTURES

Ziff-Davis' EERIE ADVENTURES one-shot is one of the horror titles Dr. Fredric Wertham references in his anti-comics screed, "Seduction of the Innocent". Yes, there is murder, mayhem and a lot of "frightening" images throughout, enough to come under his ruthless scrutiny.

There is mention that the lawsuit over the title between two major publishers, Ziff-Davis and Avon, led Wertham to believe that "the courts cared more about protecting the financial interests of publishers than the well being of the children". A stretch in anyone's book, I'd say.

Ziff-Davis caved and dropped the title after one issue. Avon probably had more expensive lawyers!

EERIE ADVENTURES

Vol. 1 No. 1

Winter 1951

Approved Comics, Inc. (Ziff-Davis Comics Group)

Editor: ?

Cover: Allen Anderson (illustrating interior story, "The Grim Reaper")

Pages: 36

Cover price: 10 cents

CONTENTS

"Famous American Ghosts" (1 page)

Script: ?

Art: ?

"The Vampires From Venus!"

Script: ?

Art: Bob Powell (Howard Nostrand backgrounds)

"The Grim Reaper"

Script: ?

Art: Al Carreno

"The Fountain of Youth!" (text story)

"The Perfect Hideout!"

Script: ?

Art: Gerald McCann

"Deadline For Death"

Script: ?

Art: Bob Powell; Howard Nostrand

"Preview of Death" (1 page)

Script: ?

Art: ?

"From Beyond the Grave" (1 page)

Script: ?

Art: Bob McCarty?

Back cover illustration: Bernie Krigstein

NOTE: All lettering by Ben Oda