HEADLESS AND LOVING IT

Here's another example of a "headless" story. This one is short and sickly-sweet and called "Junk-Man's Treasure" from OUT OF THE SHADOWS #14 (Visual Editions, Inc./Pines, August 1954). Pencils are by Rocco Mastroserio and inks are by Nick Cardy.

DR. WERTHAM ON SCREEN VIOLENCE

"The profusion of brutality, cruelty, torture, sadism and every kind of violence in our movies constitutes a very serious social problem."

- Dr. Fredric Wertham

Does the above quote sound familiar? In 1968, Dr. Fredric Wertham was still at it. After his crusade against comic books led to the Comics Code authority and the virtual dismantling of the industry, he turned his attention to other targets of opportunity.

In this article from the film review magazine TAKE ONE (May-June 1968), he sets his sights on violence in the cinema. His rhetoric hasn't changed much from the last decade-and-a-half, but this time he was firing blanks as his outcry along with that of other critics largely fell on deaf ears.

PLASTIC MAN VS. GIANT ANTS!

When two scientists and a load of atomic research equipment disappears, Plas and his sidekick, Woozy Winks are dispatched to track them down. When they find them, they learn that the scientists are experimenting with ants to make them giant-sized. When the wheels come off that experiment, they turn their interest to Plas and Woozy. Will they escape being used as human atomic guinea pigs? Read this story from PLASTIC MAN #37 (September 1952).

NOTE: The writer and artist are unknown.

Cover art by (possibly) Alex Kotsky.

LOVECRAFT ADAPTED (PART 1)

Over the years, H.P. Lovecraft's "weird fiction" as he often referred to it, has been adapted many times in comic books. Sometimes he was not credited (especially in the pre-Code days) or his basic premise and plot were lifted to make another, supposedly original one.

In this case, one of his most well-known short stories, "Pickman's Model" was appropriated into "Portrait of Death" from the first issue of WEIRD TERROR (September 1952), illustrated by Rudy Palais.

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?