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.

STARTLING L.B. COLE COVERS

Star Publications, Inc. was founded by artist L.B. Cole and attorney Gerhard Kramer in 1949 and lasted until 1954 after Fredric Wertham included a number of their titles in his book, "Seduction of the Innocent" which became instrumental during the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency hearings held in April of that year.

The imprint specialized in crime, horror, romance and funny animal titles. Italian illustrator Bruno Premiani was the primary editor, with additional editing by Cole. Premiani would go on to co-create the Doom Patrol and Teen Titans for DC. Some of the artists that contributed work to Star were Frank Frazetta, Joe Kubert, Alvin Hollingsworth and Wallace Wood.

STARTLING TERROR TALES was published from 1952-1954. L.B. Cole drew the covers for the 13-issue run in varying styles. His most remarkable are the ones he created with bright, lurid covers and, along with the electrically-charged titling must have really made these jump off the stands.

ARTIST PROFILE: L.B. COLE

Some of the most unique horror comic covers from the Pre-Code years are the result of the stylings  of the talented artist L.B. Cole. He was born Leonard "Lenny" Hildebrandt Cohen on August 28, 1918 in the Bronx, New York City. At the age of fifteen, his father changed the family name to the "less Jewish-sounding Cole, something done quite often during the time to both "Americanize" the name, as well as avoid any stigma about being Jewish.

Cole left school and went to work in his grandfather's cigar factory, where he cultivated an interest in commercial art. He landed a job at the company that manufactured his grandfather's cigar box labels and remained in the field of commercial art until 1940, when he began to paint adult paperback book covers for Phoenix Press for Harry Donenfield, future co-owner of DC Comics.

Paperback book covers by L.B. Cole [Source: Pulpartists.com].

In 1949, Cole founded Star Publications after buying the rights to the characters from Novelty Press' BLUE BOLT COMICS. Star remained in business until 1954, when the Comics Code Authority went into effect. Cole continued with his art into the 1990's until his death on December 5, 1995 at the age of 77.

Mainly a cover artist, Cole is known for creating some of the most imaginative and strangest cover images ever. Likely result of his background in commercial art, his covers are works of as much design as they are illustration. His choice of color was always highly-saturated hues, likely to draw more attention on the comic racks. Cole returned often to the theme of the Devil or devilish characters to suggest that malicious or evil intent was in store for readers.

L.B. Cole cover for 3-D Exotic Beauties (3-D Zone, 1990).

L.B. Cole undated art.

L.B. Cole undated art.

See more of L.B. Cole's work HERE.

PLASTIC MAN VS. THE VAMPIRE

While not technically a horror comic, per se, this story from PLASTIC MAN #43 (Quality, November 1953) still has all the trappings of one, albeit in a humorous vein (pun intended).

In "The Evil Terror" Plas and his pal Woozy Winks are sent on a mission by the FBI to Vampire Valley to investigate a trail of corpses that leads to Count Dronga, fresh in from Transylvania, along with his servant, Borloff and a cast of frightened townspeople.

Scripted by Joe Millard, the art is attributed to Al Luster, who also worked for Lev Gleason, Harvey and Marvel.