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.

A CRIME WORSE THAN MURDER -- CANNIBALISM!

Another story in TRUE CRIME COMICS Vol. 1 No. 2 (Magazine Village Inc., May 1947/1948) is based on the so-called true story of Alexander "Sawney" Bean (spelled here "Beane"), a Scottish who fell off the grid during the 1500s-1600s with a woman named "Black" Agnes Douglas, who was said to be a witch (in this story, the two are husband and wife).

He and Agnes found a cave to live in that was protected from entry in high tide. Starving, they began to ambush, kill and eat travelers crossing the nearby moor. According to legend this lasted for over two decades and in the meantime, Sawney's incestuous brood grew to about 45 family members. It is said they murdered and cannibalized over 1,000 people during that time.

No blood and gore in this story "Demons Dance on Galloway Moor!", by L.B. Cole, but sometimes the lack of it is even more terrifying.

MURDER, MORPHINE AND ME

We'll linger a little while longer on the narrow line between crime and horror with one of the most notorious pre-Code comic stories ever printed.

"Murder, Morphine and Me", written (probably) and drawn by L.B. Cole appeared in TRUE CRIME COMICS Vol. 1 No. 2, published by the obscure Magazine Village Inc. and it seems to be the only comic title they published. I'm wondering if it's possible it was produced by Cole and then dropped when he went elsewhere to work.

The cover date of May 1947 has come into question and was later determined to be actually published on March 3rd in 1948, making the true cover date May 1948.

What distinguishes this story is its overt brutality, violence and drug theme, hitting all the right buttons for Dr. Fredric Wertham to call it out in "Seduction of the Innocent". It is also infamous for its frightening "injury to the eye" panel which he included in the book. While multiple injury to eye panels appeared during this era, this one has been most often used as a prime example.

Now, let's read Mary Kennedy's confession . . .

CRYPTOLOGY NO. 7 NOW SHIPPING

The latest issue of TwoMorrows Publishing's CRYPTOLOGY is now available for purchase. Issue #7 is a special vampire issue contains lots of articles on the blood-sucking undead. Included are features on DRACULA'S DAUGHTER, Bela Lugosi, an interview with Kate Beckinsale, Hammer's Dracula and more.

Also included are plenty of articles on horror comics, from pre-code to post-code.

A most delectable smorgasbord of retro creep culture, all curated by your fiendly Cryptologist, Peter Normanton.

Order your copy direct HERE.

From the publisher:

NOW BI-MONTHLY! “I’m back again—the Cryptologist, with an issue dedicated to the undead of the vampire ilk. We begin with an insight into the career of Bela Lugosi, with illuminating commentary from those who once knew him. Then feast on the Universal classic Dracula’s Daughter, as a prelude to Blood of Dracula’s Castle. Marv Wolfman discusses his time working on Marvel’s celebrated Tomb of Dracula, with a host of mesmerising artwork from Gene Colan, Tom Palmer and Gil Kane. We delve into comic book vampires, exploring their roots from the latter 19th century. Vampire warrior Kate Beckinsale also gives us a few words on her role in the Underworld franchise. For those of you with a craving for this bloodsucking breed we’ve got vampire toys, vampire films from the 1980s, more from Hammer’s legion of the undead, and our Killer B department drives a stake into The Return of Dracula and Grave of the Vampire. So sink your teeth into this latest juicy morsel, made especially for you retro horror fans by Tim Leese, Mark Voger, Steve & Michael Kronenberg, and editor Peter Normanton!”

WEIRD AND WILD PUNCH COMICS COVERS

From the strangely silly to the slightly sinister, these covers from pre-Code Harry A. Chesler comics incorporate crossovers from several common themes with an emphasis on crime and horror.

Chesler was the first "comic packager", that is, a studio comprised of writers, artists. letterers and colorists who produced comic books for other publishers who didn't want to invest in the expense of hiring their own staff.

Worth noting is that Chesler's PUNCH COMICS was mentioned in Dr. Fredric Wertham's "Seduction of the Innocent".

Here are some examples of the splash pages from PUNCH COMICS #1 (December 1941). They are not horror related, but they'll give you a look at the imaginative ideas that comic book artists would come up with for dramatic scenes.

PUPPET PERIL!

Not used as much as other subject matter in pre-Code horror comics were puppets . . . the evil and murderous kind, of course. This tale, "Puppet Peril" is from WEIRD ADVENTURES #2 (July-August 1951), published by P.L. Publishing. Some claim the company was located in Canada because of the "Printed in Canada" notice on the indicia, but they were actually out of Rockefeller Plaza in New York, where other American comics publishers were based.

Nevertheless, P.L. was one of the most obscure of publishers, preferring non-super hero titles, such as Westerns and romance, and were all published in the last quarter of 1951. WEIRD ADVENTURES began as a crime book, and then for the next (and last) two issues switched to horror, likely in reaction to horror titles gaining popularity.

As far as art credit goes, comics historian Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. identifies it as being a collaboration between possibly Lou Morales (because of the initials "LM" hidden on the store sign of the splash page) and Harry Harrison. The Fantagraphics anthology of reprints, "Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s" (September 2010) credits Ernie Bache and and Harry Harrison.

And for all you SOTI fans, included in this story are a couple of hypodermic needle panels.

Sorry to "string you along" -- here's "Puppet Peril" for your weekend dose of illustrated horror!