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.

CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

Henpecked Abner finds a clever way to get rid of his overly-fastidious wife in this tale of creepy comeuppance called "Clean As a Whistle" from Harvey's BLACK CAT COMICS #49 (April 1954). Art is by John Giunta.

LITTLE DOG LOST

Once word got around that EC horror comics were selling like hot cakes, publishers quickly jumped on the bandwagon to compete. This story, "Come Back Bathsheba", from Harvey's BLACK CAT MYSTERY COMICS #51 looks like it could have come off the pages of one of EC's SuspenStories titles. The script is by Nat Barnett, who wrote mostly for Harvey and DC and the art is by the talented Howard Nostrand.

MARCHING ZOMBIES!

Here's a frightful fearjerker for you: "Marching Zombies" from BLACK CAT MYSTERY #35 (Harvey, May 1952). A wild and bizarre tale about zombies in -- of all places -- Asia. Illustrated by the incomparable Rudy Palais, this is one of those stories that helped give pre-Code horror comics a bad rap.

All the stories in this issue were reprinted in BLACK CAT MYSTERY #53 (December 1954).

PALPITATING PANELS!

Besides the much talked-about covers of Pre-Code horror comics, there was also an ample supply of splash pages and story panels that could be just as revolting and gruesome. Here are examples from BLACK CAT MYSTERY COMICS #34 (Harvey, April 1952) from the same issue that I came across story for the Halloween post. 

Art: Bob Powell and Howard Nosrtrand

Art by Joe Certa

Art by Rudy Palais

BLACK CAT MYSTERY COMICS #34 cover art by Al Avison

[Source: Heritage Auctions]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I hope you all have a fun and fright-filled All Hallows! To get things warmed up -- or more properly -- chilled, here's a short little tale to get you in the mood. And, as this story shows, don't disrespect the spirits, especially on this night!

"Halloween Nightmare" from BLACK CAT MYSTERY COMICS #34 (Harvey, April 1952)

Script: ?

Art: Manny Stallman