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.

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.

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