THE HORRORS OF IT ALL

The Rebirth of the Monster

2009-11-25T00:01:00.003-06:00

With the March 1952 issue of Frankenstein #18, legendary comics creator Dick Briefer threw out the cartoony humor stylings of the previous kiddy oriented Frankenstein adventures and brought "The Monster" back to his more realistically grim and violent horror roots. Most collectors prefer the latter, but I think both series' are great. Todays THOIA story, coinciding with Pierre's "Boris Karloff Blogathon" over at Frankensteinia presents the first "rebirth" story from what was then called the "new origin" series.

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And if you missed the update, Kitty LeClaw has another story from Boris Karloff Thriller #1 posted at Killer Kittens From Beyond the Grave too! Click HERE for it!

The Hand in the Wall

2009-11-23T00:01:00.012-06:00

Over at Frankensteinia, Pierre is celebrating Boris Karloff’s 122nd birthday by throwing a weeklong Blogathon (Nov. 23rd -29th) in his honour. Pierre has also asked his favourite fellow horror bloggers to join in and of course THOIA is more than thrilled to participate. So, since the theme around here is comic books, let’s resurrect two dead birds with one mad experiment and make it a “Silver Age Flash Forward” as well, with a shivery chiller from the October 1962 issue of Boris Karloff Thriller #1.

And don't forget to head over to Frankensteinia for TONS more Karloff all this week! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BORIS!

PLUS! Way back in June 2008, Pappy posted The Haunted Honeymoon, also from this issue of Boris Karloff Thriller #1. Click HERE! And learn more about the great 1960's THRILLER TV series hosted by Boris Karloff, by clicking HERE!

Rats Die By Gas! / Scoop Daily

2009-11-18T08:09:00.019-06:00

Continuing our theme of "Crime Horror" this week, but with not so much the typical style horror you usually find at THOIA... just some weird, almost surreal moments of eye-popping, lurid violence. "Rats Die By Gas!" is from the Sept. '52 issue of Fight Against Crime #9, while the back-up "Scoop Daily" adventure originally appeared in the Aug-Sept '46 issue of Triumph Comics #32 [27], and features a feisty heroine and Scoop vs. a pair of crooks either so dumb or so vicious, that even her perky nipples can't save her.

Ness Magana was the big winner of the THOIA DRAW ME 2 Contest last month, and here he is sporting his THOIA tee-shirt prize along with a few of his other favorite things! More contests coming before the end of the year, don't miss a single day--- or you might miss out!

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Scoop Daily

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Vintage AD

The Witch of Terror

2009-11-16T08:25:00.011-06:00

You thought last weeks "Flame Widow" was a vile, vicious murderess--- it's time you met Clare Mangin, as THOIA begins a week of "Crime Horror" tales, or more precisely, crime tales containing horrific elements. It's seriously gonna get ugly around here for awhile, folks...

From the August 1953 issue of Startling Terror Tales #6

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Vintage AD

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Bonus Quickie

The Man in the Graveyard / Gone!

2009-11-13T08:40:00.014-06:00

Social outcasts are a major factor in many pre-code stories, and here are two fine examples from the May 1954 issue of Mystery Tales #19 ...and both prove that no matter how down on your luck, or cursed, or just completely pathetic you are, you still can't always get what you want.

PS: The Atlas Tales site says "Shores?" on the art for this one... I seriously hate to think of a talented guy like Syd stooping to major swipage, as it's obvious that a few of the Warner Kremer zombies from the gorgeous cover of the July 1952 issue of Harvey's Black Cat Mystery #37 have shambled their way into "The Man in the Graveyard" story two years later.

Horror in the House

2009-11-12T00:01:00.005-06:00

So who's ready for the last story from the November 1953 issue of Strange Mysteries #14? And who's also ready for a heaping helping of fear, greed, hate-- all mixed in one revolting, um... salad of despair?! Don't laugh, that's what the intro says! Okay, go ahead and laugh anyway, because the only thing more ridiculous than that is the actual story itself.

Some of you already know about the upcoming pre-code collection from Fantagraphics called Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 50's... but click HERE for more details, as well as additional info about 6 other great Golden Age collections on the horizon too, featuring books about Alex Toth, Jack Cole, Basil Wolverton, Dick Briefer and more!

The Evil Stranger

2009-11-10T00:01:00.004-06:00

AYEEEE--YAAAAA! It's another incredibly mean spirited tale from the November 1953 issue of Strange Mysteries #14, and seriously, I challenge anyone to find another post in the THOIA Archive featuring a bitch as cruel as todays "Flame Widow."

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HAMMER GLAMOUR by Marcus Hearn

Fans of Hammer horror, or just fans of beautiful women in general will want to pick up this stunning new hardbound collection of photos from the Hammer Films Archive. Over 150 color and black and white pages, and featuring over 50 actress profiles, including: Ursala Andress, Martine Beswick, Veronica Carlson, Valerie Leon, Caroline Munro, Ingrid Pitt, Barbara Shelley, Raquel Welch, Madeline Smith (gracing the cover) and more!

Highly Recommended! Click HERE for more info!

Thanks to Tom Green at Titan Books for sending me a copy!

Blood and Old Bones

2009-11-08T00:01:00.002-06:00

We're looking at the entire Nov. '53 issue of Strange Mysteries #14 for the next few posts, and halfway there now with what is probably my favorite of the four stories. Fans of films like Poltergeist ('82) and Witchcraft ('64) will enjoy the similarly spooky plot about graveyard desecration leading to supernatural venegeance... but this one has a bonkers twist ending that could only come from the likes of Superior Comics.

NEXT: Hers was a simple little hobby-- MURDER FOR MONEY!

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Are you a fan of the Phantasm films, or a fan of artist Scot Ryersson? If you answered "YES" to either, then check out the latest addition to my Arcanifact collection by clicking HERE!

The Dead Speak!

2009-11-06T00:01:00.004-06:00

You asked a terrible question-- and from the grave itself came the horrible answer! YES! THOIA CAN RETURN! And a day or so earlier than I had planned, but Hell, you guys know me, even injured I can't stay away for too long. And it's been awhile since I presented an issue in it's entirety, so I do believe it's time to rectify that with this particularly obnoxious collection of gruesome ugliness, aka the Nov '53 issue of Strange Mysteries #14. Seriously, you're going to wish I never came back...

More terror tales from this issue up next! And thanks again for all the support lately, you guys 'n ghouls are absolutely THE BEST!

Fear not, THOIA will return...

2009-11-02T12:41:00.000-06:00

Secret of the Witch's Urn

2009-10-31T23:59:00.005-05:00

Trying to find a good story to post on October 31st is always tough (mostly because I used up all the pre-code Halloween tales in my collection on the first THOIA Halloween fest a few years back!) Lucky for me I just bought a copy of the February 1952 issue of The Hand of Fate #9 on ebay and what do you know? It contains not only a cool witchcraft tale, but one with a Halloween setting to boot! I hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday tonight... and scroll down after the story to find out who won the THOIA DRAW ME 2 Contest!

Congratulations to our big winner of the THOIA DRAW ME 2 Contest-- Ness Magana! You gotta love his colorful, over the top, Big Daddy Roth inspired illustration, (not to mention one of the most astounding come from behind / take-over leads I've ever seen in a contest! Wow!) Email me your mailing address and tee shirt size Ness, your prize package will be sent out early next week!

Thanks again to everyone who played and voted (nearly 300 votes!), every submission was incredible, and once again proved how lucky THOIA is to have such a kick ass reader base! And don't fret, there will be more contests before the end of the year... so come back and try again, it's fun!

Bugs Bunny & the Spooky Spook

2009-10-30T09:01:00.012-05:00

Todays post is for my son Zander, who went pretty much straight from Elmo to movie monsters without a flinch (how many 5 year olds do you know already obsessed with Christopher Lee's portrayal of Dracula?!) and his recent discovery/understanding of WB cartoons (finally!) was like a revelation to him. Happy Halloween, lil Buddy! (and please keep your hands off my comics!)

From Bugs Bunny's Trick 'N' Treat Halloween Fun #3 (1955)

More pre-code horrors on the way, and don't forget to support your favorite artist in THOIA's DRAW ME 2 Contest, there's only 1 day left to vote! Happy All Hallow's Eve!

Haunt of the Ancient Castles

2009-10-28T19:28:00.010-05:00

One more creepy classic from the May 1952 issue of Dark Mysteries #6. Longtime THOIA readers are fully aware of my undying love for Hy Fleishman's pre-code horror work, and today I have yet another! (FYI: I'll have more examples of Hy's superb work when I run a week of "Crime Horror" posts--- coming in November!) And please pardon the blur of some of the panels here, but no matter how much I flatten these pages in the scanner the water damage from years past have left their wavy mark.

Still haven't voted in our latest DRAW ME Contest? Check out the entries HERE and then pick your fave in the survey poll at the very top of the blog in the sidebar on the right!

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The kind of thing that makes running THOIA a dream come true:

Also stay tuned in November for more incredible news that connects THOIA with not only Hy Fleishman, but also a real life, 50+ year old Scottish vampire legend... seriously, you are not going to believe this one folks!

Cannibal's Revenge

2009-10-26T21:56:00.009-05:00

Let's take a quick snack break from the voting today here at THOIA, (and of course if you haven't voted yet then please scroll down to the previous contest post HERE and see what all the hub bub is about, Bub) because as promised we have another terror treat from the May 1952 issue of Dark Mysteries #6, and this one is chock full of racism, cannibalism, terrorism, er... basically more isms than you can shake a juicy BBQ'd breast or thigh at--- Bon Appetit!

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Vintage AD

THOIA DRAW ME Contest #2 (VOTE NOW!)

2009-10-26T10:00:00.003-05:00

As with the DRAW BOB HOPE Contest that we held back in August, the rules this time were just as simple: Draw the lovely lady pictured below as featured in the classic comic book ad from the 50's, only this time give her the THOIA treatment:

Nine of you rose to the challenge, and all of them are superb! Now the problem is, who to vote for?!! The rules for voting are just as simple this time too: view the submissions below and using the survey at the top of my blog (right hand column) just click the name of your favorite! The winner will be decided when the survey ends on October 31st--- Halloween! The winner gets a THOIA tee shirt, horror dvds, leftover Halloween candy and possibly a few other surprises! Thanks again to all who entered, and good luck to each and every one of you too!

Severed Head by Apocolyte

Princess Diamond by Kitty LeClaw

Kiss Me by J.P. Morgan

Cyclops by Ernest Kwiat

Torn Cheek by Mike Howlett

AIEEEE! by Brian James Riedel

The Tongue by Derek Lewis

Grey Matter by Ness

Transformation by Jamieson

If the Noose Fits - Wear It!

2009-10-23T22:39:00.013-05:00

Because you screamed for it--- Witch Hangings! From the May 1952 issue of Dark Mysteries #6. We'll be taking a look at a few more stories from this issue in the next couple of posts as well. *cackles*

Due to unforseen circumstances earlier in the week I've decided to extend the DRAW ME CONTEST entry date (originally set for midnight tonight) to Sunday, Oct. 25th at midnight, so you still have a few more days to get your artwork in to me. I also want to thank everyone who has entered so far because there are some really fabulous submissions! It's gonna be a tough vote for sure! For more info check "The Gypsy's Curse" post from last Thursday.

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Vintage AD

What Walter Saw / The Miracle

2009-10-21T21:29:00.008-05:00

A couple of fast 'n fun Atlas quickies today that I had on file (saving for future filler), the first tale by Edwin Goldfarb and from the June 1952 issue of Adventures into Terror #10, and the second from Bill LaCava and the February 1952 issue of Adventures into Terror #8. And later this week I have some crazy ass Dark Mysteries tales lined up for you... in the meantime I'll be re-cooping from my disasterous car accident yesterday-- wah!

And don't forget about our DRAW ME CONTEST going on NOW! Get your entries to me by this Friday... check last Thursday's post "The Gypsy Curse" for more details!

The Head-Hunter of Pirates Peak

2009-10-19T22:44:00.015-05:00

In my opinion, Bobby Benson’s B-Bar-B Riders #14 (1952) sports one of THE most quintessential Dick Ayers pre-code comic book covers ever. All the elements are there: sexy damsel in distress strapped to table (bondage), knife wielding maniacal hunchback, hick hero swinging to the rescue, and of course a wall full of gory, decapitated, shrunken heads with their eyes sewn shut--- there’s even a skeleton in shackles! Open the cover and Page One cruelly smacks you with a grisly splash of even more severed horrors, and this time some headless bodies to boot! Whether you’re a fan of westerns or not, I think you’re going to like this one, mostly just cuz it’s loads of corny gruesome fun!

And thanks again to ebay specialist Michael at Top Quality Resellers for hooking me up with this awesome issue, and at such a great deal too!

And don't miss our DRAW ME CONTEST going on now! Get your entries in by this Friday... see last Thursday's post "The Gypsy Curse" for all the details!

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Vintage ADS

The Hand of the Ancient Evil!

2009-10-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

A sinister, severed hand floats through the air and into the room, and clutched in its demonic claw dangles the rotted corpse of a once beautiful woman! Here we have one of the more strangely inspired variations on the ever classic "Monkey's Paw" tale by W.W. Jacobs. Even stranger though is the thick lined, stylized art on this one, not at all like the slick, more refined, traditional ACE styles that I've featured here at THOIA over the years... it's kind of weird and clunky at times, but for those reasons I kind of like it too.

From the January 1953 issue of The Beyond #18

And don't miss out on our DRAW ME CONTEST which started Thursday... check the last post for all the details (at the end of "The Gypsy's Curse" story!) Sad news too on the passing of George Tuska (1916 - 2009) R.I.P.

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True Tales of the Supernatural #36

The Gypsy Curse + CONTEST!!!

2009-10-15T00:01:00.006-05:00

THOIA reader Ian Docherty recommended today's story for us all from Standard Comic's December 1953 issue of Adventures into Darkness #12. He even sent me the scans, but since they originally came from elsewhere I thought I'd just go ahead and re-scan them from my own collection so as to not step on anyone's cursed toes. Says Ian, "Besides having the funniest opening panel ever, it has a pretty good ending too. Don't know who the artist or writer is but between them they created a classic!"

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THOIA DRAW ME CONTEST!

Yes, it's contest time again! We had great fun in our last one, blaspheming Bob Hope in a variety of horrific stylings... and in today's story post (above) you witnessed how someone could take a beautiful young lady and give her "The Gypsy Curse" of ugliness... and thus, now it is your turn! See the vintage ad below? Don't just draw her--- RUIN HER!! Give her the THOIA treatment and make her SCARY. Or make something scary happening to her. It's your choice-- YOU ARE THE ARTIST.

All entries should be emailed to me directly at karswell@hotmail.com no later than Friday October 23rd (one week from today.) All entries will then be posted for judging by YOU the readers sometime the following week... the winner will then be announced on Halloween Night. Prizes include: a THOIA tee-shirt, horror DVDs, leftover Halloween candy and anything else I can scrounge up from a shallow grave. So have some fun with it! Be creative! Be an asshole! Be anything you want to be and--- DRAW!

Edge of Darkness

2009-10-14T00:01:00.004-05:00

Witchcraft Week continues with a moody entry from Standard Comics' November 1953 issue of The Unseen #12. It's probably not historically correct either like some of you were complaining about in our last post, but Mike Roy's fun style and his occasional textless panels really brings this one alive.

THOIA NEWS!

The Horrors Of It All recently entered in at number 116 in the Wikio Literature blog catagory rankings, (this is one of the new categories created by Wikio for the month of October.) Wikio is "the number 1 news aggregator and blog-indexing website in Europe, indexing nearly 200,000 English-language sources," so of course THOIA is incredibly honored to be on this list (and so near the Top 100 too!) Thanks to Charbel Sfeir for emailing me the news, and of course to all you readers who continue to sadistically support THOIA. ---Karswell

For more info click HERE!

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Vintage AD

Terror of the Burning Witch

2009-10-12T08:49:00.009-05:00

For all your endless toil and trouble, THOIA pays you back with a week o'witchcraft, and starting it off with a hot one from the February 1952 issue of Mysterious Adventures #6.

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A sexy, non-burning, cheesecake witch more your cauldron of tea?

Stick-in-the-Mud

2009-10-10T22:01:00.011-05:00

Longtime THOIA reader Stephen Uhler submits to us a bloody good yarn from the May 1954 issue of Fight Against Crime #19. It's a vicious, mean-spirited tale that Stephen spent quite a bit of time attempting to track down over the years after having read it long ago as a kid, and with the help of Ben Samuels was able to get ahold of not only the story name and what issue, but also these great scans--- so thanks to both of you! And whata'ya know, the action this time actually takes place in Karswell's own home state of Misery!

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Vintage AD

Cave of Doom / Turnabout

2009-10-08T13:59:00.010-05:00

We interrupt your cozy fall festivities today and plunge headlong into the Hell that is also known as winter. It's coming you know, and sooner than you think! The first tale finishes out our Harvey Comics theme with an Al Avison doozy from the July 1952 issue of Chamber of Chills #10, followed by another blast of chills with a "Flash Forward" Silver Age submission* from Dell's Tales from the Tomb one-shot from 1962. Bundle up kids, or you'll catch your death!

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Turnabout

(*And thanks again to Trevor for sending me the Dell scans!)

Two Ways to Die!

2009-10-07T00:01:00.002-05:00

Two numbskulls try to bump off their innocent old aunt for her money, only she's not so innocent--- not even a little! I love stories like this, reminds me of something William Castle would have had fun filming, so let's do another casting call: David Niven as Leslie, Frank Cady as James, and Ellen Corby as Aunt Lenore.

From the December 1951 issue of Chamber of Chills #24

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Speaking of William Castle, check out the new 5-disc collection of some of his greatest films, Re-mastered, and featuring 3 titles that are totally NEW to DVD! Click HERE for more info and to pre-order NOW! (available October 20th!)

And Thursday on Turner Classic Movies, see the rarely aired William Castle frightfest--- 13 Frightened Girls ('63.) Synopsis: A diplomat's daughter gets mixed up in international intrigue and murder! And Fay Wray fans take note, on the same day TCM is also airing Black Moon ('34.) Synopsis: A woman returning to her island birthplace finds herself drawn to a voodoo cult! Check TCM for more info and showtimes in your area.