THE HORROR OF CHRISTMAS - EC's '...And All Through The House..."

From VAULT OF HORROR # 35, from the pre-code Christmas of 1953, a seasonal classic that is bound to pop up on a dozen blogs today or tomorrow...In fact I'd been planning it for at least a couple of weeks. Hey, great comic book minds think alike...oh well!  In fact, the beautiful black and white version is posted over at the always incredible Golden Age Comic Book Stories, and here (among other places) is the color version. (These scans from Gemstone reprint.) This story was also made into a pretty good 'Tales From The Crypt'  TV episode. Story and art by the great Johnny Craig.

DIGGING MY WAY OUT! - Buried In A Mountain Of Comic Books

For the three or four people who happen to frequent this blog, you may have asked yourself, "Where is this guy? He hasn't posted anything in about a week!"

Even if you don't care, I'm going to tell you.

Last week I went to my basement to find the next comic I wanted to post, and several monstrously tall stacks of comic books came tumbling down at once, leaving me buried! I tried and tried, but I could not extricate myself from underneath the massive pile of Golden Age and Silver Age layers that pressed down upon me. I yelled at the top of my lungs, but my house guest, Dr. Wertham P. Fredricks, is a sound sleeper. I found that I had but one choice if I wanted to survive -- I would have to READ my way out. And read I did. Each comic book that deserved to be scanned and posted was made into a new stack....and here they are! Eventually I managed to get out of my predicament, and I brought with me the stacks of comics that threatened to do me in! I'm back, baby, now take a look at these comics! These stories come from every era, every genre...I can't choose just one! They are all so goooood!

So, for now, in no particular order, here are some fun, cool, interesting, or otherwise awesome comic book stories, starting with "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN THE WORLD!", which could be a story about me (but it isn't), followed by "A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH!", which could be about my marriage (but it isn't...is it?). Both are from 1950's Atlas  - The first story by Robert Q. Sale is from 'Strange Stories Of Suspense'  #13, and the second is from 'Menace' #11, with art by Seymour Moskowitz.

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GETTING A SWELLED HEAD - Bob Powell and Andre Le Blanc

Here's something to fill the time while I wait for my guest, comic book psycho-analyst Dr. Wertham P. Fredrics, to wake from his nap. Apparently he had a busy day and needed to lie down for a while (he did kind of smell like he fell in a vat of Kahlua). So, I went down to the basement to get away from his snoring, and found one comic book that reminded me of another comic...so here they both are! In researching background on one of the artists I learned something that I will share with you later. But for now, check out these cool comic stories!

The first one is a brain-busting sci-fi tale from Bob Powell. The GCD gives him writing credit on this one, too, and it's a DOOZY! It's from the final issue of Harvey's TOMB OF TERROR # 16, 1954.

This is...THE REPORT!

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This second story reminded me of the previous one, for reasons soon to be obvious.I'd like you to meet 'Intellectual Amos', the creation of artist Andre LeBlanc. LeBlanc started in comics in the 40's working in Eisner's studio, and later in his career during the 60's and 70's he did work mostly for Gold Key. A bit more on him later. This story comes from 1945's NATIONAL COMICS # 50 by Quality Comics.

Here is...

"INTELLECTUAL AMOS meets the Mosquito Menace! "

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Did anyone else feel a little Windsor McCay type of "Little Nemo"-ish moment or two in there? Well, I did, anyway. I liked it so much I went and dug up his very first appearance in NATIONAL COMICS # 46, 1954. As Stan Lee might have put it, "The Spectacular Senses-Shattering Heart-Pounding Origin Issue!!" is coming at ya!

Here again is the odd, quirky, and in most ways charming 'Intellectual Amos' in

"The Lisping Hob-Goblin and the Ghost That Failed!"

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While researching Andre LeBlanc I discovered that I was very familiar with his work already, but I just hadn't realized it. LeBlanc, who had by now traded the whimsical style for more realistic depictions, was the illustrator for "The Picture Bible", originally done in the 70's, I believe (at least the ones with his artwork).  I have a 6 volume black and white paperback boxed set that I have looked at so many times I can't even recall. It is not a word-for-word depiction, but the writer and he portray many key Biblical scenes wonderfully. I can't find my set right now, so I can't show you his lovely artwork in detail., but here are a couple of pics from the web.

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Whoops!Sounds like my new friend Dr. Wertham Fredrics is waking up! I'll take him over to Denny's for some bad eggs, and coffee, and we'll continue psycho-analyzing comic book covers with 'hidden sexual' messages -  see you then!

FANGS FOR NUTTIN'!! - Joe Sinnott's "Men With Fangs!"

Hey, Friends!

Whew! -- the week just slipped away from me...but now it's time to get a'postin'!!

-Today's story dedicated to our Master of the Macabre, Karswell over at THOIA, while he recuperates! Fangs for everything, and get well quick!

Joe Sinnott is one of my favorite artist's, not only for his amazing inking over Kirby on 'Fantastic Four' and hundreds (thousands?) of other great comics for Marvel during their 60's rebirth, but becauase of his own wonderful drawing style, as featured primarily in Marvel's Atlas incarnation in the 50's. He was a real master of westerns, war comics, sci-fi, romance (he apparently did tons of anonymous work ghosting for Vinnie Colletta studios in the 60's, duplicating the style!) - he did it ALL wonderfully! Oh, did I mention his HORROR comics? Hee hee!!  How about a sexy dame, a little bondage, and... - Were-Rats?!

From Atlas' SUSPENSE #25, 1952, here is

MEN WITH FANGS!

FOR BILL EVERETT LOVERS ONLY...like you

...you know you want it...and you...and you there...and you, too...and you in the mirror over there  --  oh that's me. That's just dandy 'cuz I got me a powerful hankerin' fer some classic Atlas Bill Everett stuff!  It is particularly appropriate since Everett could draw humor as well as horror, and he helps us bridge the gap as we transition from the horrors of Halloween into our heavy-on-the-humor-themed week here at THE BLOG AT THE END OF TIME. From WILD #2 (1954), here is SATAN IS WAITIN'!