Saturday, April 12, 2008

Hansel and Gretel

Since I’m much too poor to actually own any copies of Charlton’s infamous The Thing series, my pal Brian Hirsch has kindly submitted a great story to fill a request. Someone calling himself “Killer Matt” (I guess that’s his real name) asked to see "something wild” from The Thing. So here you go, killa, THOIA makes wishes come true… even for killers.

From the December 1953 issue of The Thing #11








Thanks again to Brian for the scans!

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Yeesh. This makes the rest look like naptime at playschool. That said, I love the old crone's dialect.

Anonymous said...

WHAT AN ENDING! THATS SOME GREAT NIGHTMARISH IMAGERY. I RECOGNIZE FORGIONE ART FROM THE ACG STORIES OF HIS YOU'VE POSTED.

Anonymous said...

Excellent post, thank you!

Anonymous said...

That's some great artwork that is.as for the story,it sounds like a twist the Grimms really WOULD have used.

Unknown said...

I read four later issues of The Thing last night, but this beat them out handily. Really gory publication.

Mr. Karswell said...

>Really gory publication.

Today's post might not be gory but the implications sure are chillingly grue-tastic!

I hope everyone comes back tomorrow, it's time to take a closer look at a Jack Kirby Black Magic classic. Also, I'll announce the winner of our Horror Give-away #2! See ya's on Sunday!

Anonymous said...

I feel that some of the artwork is strangely awkward, perspectives especially. This does not really detract for the overall nightmarish aspect though.



Good post.

Don't be Swindle! said...

boy, that witch fell for a classic blunder.

I like how she wasn't going to let them in till they said they were artists. I guess artists taste much better than riff raff. The younger generation of ghouls really think fast on their feet.

great comic

Mr. Karswell said...

For those just joining us, head over to Pappy's today for another great post from The Thing for Monday April 14th:
http://pappysgoldenage.blogspot.com/

The Vicar of VHS said...

"You must be drenched to your lovely, soft skins!"

Wow, what a tale! I'm so sorry I missed this one on the day it was posted! That's what I get for turning my back around here, Karswell! ;)

That's GOT to be be the splash page to end all splash pages. The coloring here is really great throughout, expressionistic (reminds me of Gauguin, almost--no, seriously!) and that so-called "awkward" art for me just added to the whole nightmare aspect of it.

And the artist really knew how to use extreme close-ups of eyes to great effect! The witch's close up on pg. 3, that bravura sequence of Carol's capture on page 5, and even Jack's weeping eye on pg. 7. And that panel with the witch dragging her "son" away at the top of pg. 4--*shudder*

I have to say I'm not a fan of the ending, though. A lot of comics and "Tales from the Darkside" episodes take this kind of twist, and it always seems cheap and perfunctory to me. After all, if they're ghouls, why are they so freaked out earlier in the story? Why is Jack weeping like a little girl? It's inconsistent.

Still, a fabulous tale, probably my favorite so far.

Mr. Karswell said...

>Still, a fabulous tale, probably my favorite so far.

Brian Hirsch has kindly submitted 2 more stories from The Thing that I will be posting every remaining Saturday this month. Don't miss 'em!