YOUR GRAVE IS READY!

Standard Comics was the comic book imprint of Pines Publications, formed by Ned Pines in 1939. Standard was the parent company of two other Pines comics imprints, Better Publications and Nedor Publications.

The comic seen here today, THE UNSEEN, is listed in the indicia as being published by yet another company, Visual Editions, Inc.

Here's a full issue of fearsome frolics featuring such delightful tales as a boy raised by wolves who can't keep his bloodlust under control when he is adopted into normal life, an exterminator who has other ideas about rats besides killing them and a painting that foreshadows a man's doom. Plus, plenty of mayhem, shrunken heads. the Mexican spirit-woman La Llorna and more.

NOTE: Third-party ads have been removed from this scan.

THE UNSEEN

Vol. 1, No. 9

March 1953

Standard Comics (Pines)

Editor: ?

Cover: Art Saaf

Cover price: 10 cents

CONTENTS

"Your Grave is Ready"

Script: ?

Art: Ross Andru

"The Rat Man"

Script: ?

Art: Jack Katz

"The Wailing Woman" (one-page story about Mexico's La Llorona spirit)

Script: ?

Art: George Roussos

"The Painted Prophecy" (text story)

Script: Mickey Marks

Art: Jack Katz

"Til Death Do Us Part"

Script: ?

Art: Ralph Mayo

"The Bleeding Platter"

Script: ?

Art: Ross Andru; Mike Espositio (signed as "MikeRoss")

"The Phantom Hitch Hiker" (one-page story)

Script: ?

Art: Art Saaf

MAD KILLERS MENACE OUR SAFETY!

This comic's title, WHO IS NEXT? (#5, Pines/Standard Comics, January 1953) says it all as the stories are some of the most nasty and brutal you're bound to come across. One in particular is especially violent, as a teenager works his way through murdering two women in "Don't Let Me Kill", illustrated by Mike Sekowsky.

Alex Vorple is not only a troubled kid, he's also ugly. Turning his anger toward women, he follows a girl home from a dance, sneaks through her bedroom window and bashes her head in with a table lamp. He meets a girl at another dance that actually pays attention to him, but he goes a little too far with his amorous intentions. Feeling rejected again, he strangles her to death.

This story doesn't end well for Vorple, but in the meantime, it aims right at the heart of teenage angst, uncertainty and peer pressure. Isn't that horror enough?

IT'S WITCHCRAFT!

Avon pre-Code horror comics have remained a steady collectible over the years, mainly for the above average stories and great stable of artists. This, the inaugural issue of the six-issue title, WITCHCRAFT is no exception. Sid Check illustrates the inside front cover that introduces each story and Joe Kubert lends some horrific images to the climax of Sol Cohen's "Heritage of Horror". George Roussous provides the illustration for the cover text story.

NOTE: A reasonably-priced copy of WITCHCRAFT #3 is available for sale on this site's "Pre-Code Comics Sale" page.

WITCHCRAFT

Vol. 1 No. 1

March-April 1952

Avon Periodicals Inc. (Avon Comics)

Editor: Sol Cohen

Cover: George Roussous

Pages: 36

Cover price: 10 cents

CONTENTS

"Heritage of Horror: The Art of Julian Daniels"

Script: Sol Cohen

Art: Joe Kubert

"Devil-Music!"

Script: ?

Art: Gene Fawcett?; Vince Alascia

"This Ship is Doomed!"

Script: ?

Art: Harry Lazarus

"Vengeance of the Ouanga!"

Script: ?

Art: Vince Alascia?