Thursday, May 13, 2010

Ship of the Dead / Phantoms from the Sea

Today we batten down the hatches with a double shot of bizarorror on the high seas, and our first weird tale comes from the January 1954 issue of Spook #27. A very eerie story with typically loose Star Comics artwork, but it's strangely appropriate and works none the less (and you gotta love that bonkers L. B. Cole cover!) Followed by our second soggy spook-o-rama from the Winter 1952 issue of Ghost Comics #5. This one features some really nice and crisp Fiction House art, though I think I spot a swipe or two... or twelve.









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6 comments:

Prof. Grewbeard said...

i can't wait to comment on the first story- it is absolutely brilliant to draw shadowy horror-figures in every freakin' panel until the real boogiemen come along 'cause it really keeps the five-year olds along for the ride, y'know? i love it! the splash looks like an ad for monster masks! really, this is exploitation of garish neato-ness at it's utmost! "i may pull out this yet!" that THAT, melty blue pirate dead guy!...

um, guess i'll go read the other one now, but really, i'm spent...

phil vas said...

Gotta love that creepy Spook cover!

Anonymous said...

I REALLY LIKED THE FIRST STORY. BEING TRAPPED ON A SHIP WITH A BUNCH OF SUPERNATURAL HORRORS ALWAYS MAKES FOR A CREEPY TALE.

SOME OF THE FACES IN THE SECOND TALE LOOK LIKE KIRBY, COOL TALE TOO. THANKS KARS!

Mr. Karswell said...

>this is exploitation of garish neato-ness at it's utmost!

Then I deadicate this story to you Prof!

>Gotta love that creepy Spook cover!

I may have said this before, but these L. B. Cole covers totally remind me of the velvetty blacklight posters I used to have as a kid. Someone really should do something with his covers like that, they're mini masterpieces of weirdo greatness and deserve to be framed and hanged on a wall.

>SOME OF THE FACES IN THE SECOND TALE LOOK LIKE KIRBY

My thoughts exactly ALL CAPS. If anyone has any panels to compare with let us know! Keep the comments coming gang, thanks!

goblin said...

I love the grotesque art in 'Ship of the Dead' with all the weird, menacing grimaces popping up in every panel, but the clunky narration made the whole thing unintentionally hilarious! Case in point:
"He follows the silent deckhand down the length of the silent ominous ship… Other sailors go about their tasks… silently… grimly… Then his guide silently points to a door marked 'Commander,' and disappears from view!"

I mean, how many "silents" and "silentlies" do you need to get your point across?

Mr. Freibert said...

L.B. COLE, make you wanna die.