DEATH OF A 'HEAD' HUNTER

Thaddeus Stevens is a hunter who collects exotic specimens and mounts their heads on his walls as trophies. When he comes upon a strange pool in Africa that seems to have weird properties, he isn't prepared for what happens when he accidentally falls into it.

"The Collector" appeared in CHAMBER OF CHILLS #17 (Harvey, May 1953). Art is by Joe Certa.

EXTRAS!

A 1953 Harvey house ad:

Harvey calendar for 1953 (you'll be able to use it again in 2027!):

What would PETA say?

GOING .. GOING .. GONE!

After low-life crook Bull Akers robs a shop and kill the store owner, he's plugged with a shot by a policeman. He stumbles into the office of a neuro surgeon. At first refusing to help him, after hearing of the robbery on the radio, he changes his mind. What follows is a surprising bit of "urban justice".

This shocker is from the pages of Harvey's TOMB OF TERROR #16 (July 1954), the last issue after the Comics Code was instituted. Pencils are by Joe Certa with possible inks by John Giunta.

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]