THE WITCH-CAT OF SALEM!

When the townsfolk of Salem, MA burn a witch, they have no idea that the witch left a curse for them in the form of her familiar, a large black cat. The cat appears throughout the years, terrorizing and murdering those who were responsible for killing the witch. It takes a holy object from out of the past to finally end the curse.

"The Witch-Cat of Salem" is from ACG's ADVENTURES INTO THE UNKNOWN #3 (February-March 1949) and illustrated by Ken Bald.

THE CRYPT OF EC COMICS COVERS

Due in early December from Fantagraphics is the two-volume set of the complete EC covers. Pre-order HERE.

From the publisher:

The Crypt of Covers: The Complete EC Covers Compendium

Price: $150

The most comprehensive compilation of EC Comics covers ever!

Here, for the first time, in a deluxe two-volume collection, is the best compilation of the covers from EC Comics. From the company's earliest days of its earnest Picture Stories titles to its kiddie, Western, and romance titles of the 1940s, through the heyday of such titles as Tales From the Crypt, Vault of Horror, Weird Science, Shock SuspenStories, Crime SuspenStories, Two-Fisted Tales, and Piracy, through its "New Direction" and "Picto-Fiction" period with titles such as Aces High, Extra, Impact, Terror Illustrated, and Confessions Illustrated—they're all here!

These covers were drawn by the greatest array of artistic talent ever assembled at one comic book company (excepting Fantagraphics, of course). Their names are legend—Craig, Crandall, Davis, Evans, Feldstein, Frazetta, Ingels, Kamen, Krigstein, Kurtzman, Orlando, Severin, Torres, Williamson, and Wood. And most of these covers are colored by the equally legendary Marie Severin.

Each of the hundreds of full-color covers is lovingly scanned from pristine original comics and presented in a lush, oversize format to show off with spectacular precision every meticulous line, brushstroke, and nuance of chromatographic splendor. But it doesn't end there. This unique collection also showcases alternate covers, original artwork, paperback covers — even unpublished, "what if" covers by EC "grand old man" Angelo Torres that have never seen print before.

The Crypt of Covers: The Complete EC Covers Compendium takes you on a curated tour of the history of EC Comics through its cover art from start to finish, guided by EC expert Grant Geissman. Each cover in this stunning collection is worthy of gallery or museum display.

Specs

Pages 500

Format Hardback

Color Full color

Dimensions 11" × 14.6"

ISBN-13 9798875002533

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MY LOVE!

Fred is the unfaithful fiancé to Charlotte who just adores him. When she catches him necking with the floozie Betty Merriweather, he's got to drop her or lose his meal ticket with the wealthy Charlotte. The new bride finds a way to keep her husband from straying and she celebrates the morbid occasion on their 10th anniversary.

"Happy Anniversary" was the cover story for Harvey's CHAMBER OF CHILLS #19 (September 1953) illustrated by Bob Powell with possible assistance from Howard Nostrand. As for the cover itself, the art is generally attributed to Lee Elias, but he may have collaborated with Warren Kremer who might have drawn the cover rough.

UPDATE: In his book, LIGHT AND DARK: THE ART OF LEE ELIAS (Moonage Books, 2025) author Nick Neocleous gives Elias full attribution for the cover art.

Follow the link on the sidebar to purchase the book.

IT DOESN'T PAY TO GOSSIP

This revolting story of a spiteful trio of snooping old biddies, suicide, murder and revenge is from Aragon Magazines' MISTER MYSTERY #13, cover dated September-October 1953 (GCD incorrectly lists it as September 1953). Aragon was one of the many imprints that Stanley P. Morse used for his comics. Tony Mortellaro "executed" the art.

WALL OF FLESH!

This is probably the most repulsive story produced by a Fawcett pre-Code horror comic. The pulsating living wall of flesh that devours human beings lurks in THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #12 from August 1953 with art by Bob Powell. Yuk!

MONSTERS FROM THE SEWER!

Monsters from outer space or under the sea are one thing -- but from the sewer? Ugh!

In Paris, a man named Jean is miraculously saved from hanging and escapes into the sewers, breaking his neck in the process (!). In the lower depths and corridors he comes upon a group of underground fungus-covered denizens whom he manages to befriend. He convinces them to follow him to the surface and wreak a murderous havoc on the townspeople (sound familiar?). But, the air is too pure for their fetid lungs (!) and the creatures begin to perish, one by one. Jean is recaptured and this time the execution is served.

"The Sewer Monsters" appeared in Harvey's WITCHES TALES #4 (July 1951) with art by Bob Powell.

SERVANTS OF THE TOMB!

This story could almost be called heroic horror or a fear-flung fairy tale as a "The White Giant of Peace" comes from the sky to save the townspeople from a raging, murderous mummy. Only in pre-Code horror comics! "Servants of the Tomb" appeared in WITCHES TALES #6 (Harvey, November 1951), with art by Bob Powell and Howard Nostrand.

BOY, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE COVERS!

I've mentioned that many crime comics by virtue of the subject are often horror adjacent. This gallery of covers from Lev Gleason's BOY COMICS emphasizes the point. Some pretty ghastly stuff here.