Shrinking Horror

In the comments of our last post someone was asking about a particular pre code horror story which we here at THOIA are only more than happy to identify as well as deliver-- so here it is, from the September 1953 issue of Superior Comic's Mysteries #3 --Shrinking Horror! See ya in July, and if you're on the west coast maybe we'll see you at SDCC (info coming!)

#643 - A couple of Phantom strips - this time Dailies

Here I am presenting a couple of Phantom Daily strips 900 pixels wide:

Archive
Name: D194. The Albee - 1999-01-11 to 1999-03-13 - 9 Weeks.zip
Size: 7.57MB
URL: http://www.mediafire.com/download/7z4849h713daxc6/D194._The_Albee_-_1999-01-11_to_1999-03-13_-_9_Weeks.zip


Name: D195. Terror at the Opera - 1999-03-15 to 1999-07-10 - 17 weeks.zip
Size: 13.63MB
URM: http://www.mediafire.com/download/dt1ubja4t1ao345/D195._Terror_at_the_Opera_-_1999-03-15_to_1999-07-10_-_17_weeks.zip

Of course, we have these in larger resolutions, but maybe not in color.

Thanks are owed to Emile.

Enjoy,

Venkit

Number 1393: “This guy ain’t human!” Introducing Flash Lightning

Flash Lightning was born of the “mysterious East.” We find out the bare bones of his origin on page 1 of his introduction in Sure-Fire Comics #1 (1940), published by Ace. He was trained in Egypt. Whatever gave him his powers, by 1940 superheroes were basically old hat and the origin was just a means to an end. And the end was action, action, action! That’s exactly what happens to Flash as he goes right to work rescuing a beautiful girl’s dad from a life of slavery.

The Grand Comics Database lists Robert Turner as writer. There is an indexer note that the story is based on the May 1938 pulp magazine, Captain Hazzard. A lack of originality in the story is matched by swipes from Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon by artist Harry Lucey. A year or so later Flash’s name became Lash Lightning, and while I can’t find official information on the reason for the change, it’s likely DC Comics’ character, the Flash, had something to do with it. Another name change came with the comic book title, which after four issues as Sure-Fire Comics became Lightning Comics. Like many other superheroes born in the wake of Superman, Flash/Lash Lightning disappeared shortly after the end of the war. Had I been in charge of him in 1946 I might have taken away the super powers and made Lash Lightning a private eye with a whip. He couldn’t be a cowboy, because Lash LaRue was already whipping up bad guys in the Western B-movies in which he starred.

The Store at the Cemetery

Another one of my all time favorite pre code tales (originally featured here at THOIA waaay back in 2008) is this highly atmospheric and very unsettling 5 pager from the August 1953 issue of This Magazine is Haunted #12. They don't come much weirder or creepier than this, folks... any eagle eye experts out there know who the artist is?

Number 1392: Advertising for love

The story today is of mid-century advertising boss Katherine Laurel and her rocky road to romance with subordinate, then rival, George Dunn. It's interesting that Katherine, despite her weakness for love (which happens to all of us), is presented as a successful business owner and career woman. That wasn’t the norm in real life-1951 when the story was published in Charlton’s True Life Secrets #2. I know the ending is sort of a cop-out, but it is of its time, and you can cherry-pick the positives in the tale for young female readers.

Number 1391: Kidnapped to the future!

Blonde Phantom, alter ego of mousy secretary Louise Grant, lusts after her boss, Mark. But like many comic book masqueraders, she finds herself in a love triangle with herself. Tsk tsk. My advice to Louise is to tell Mark — don’t keep secrets; they lead to mistrust. (Short lecture over.)

Louise and Mark are kidnapped by a group of future men who put them in a zoo to be studied by the thirtieth century citizens. If Louise had been a guy she would have just used brute force and whupped on the kidnapers. But Blonde Phantom uses her brain to overcome her adversaries...and she does it all in an evening dress and high heels. This entertaining story, from Marvel’s Blonde Phantom #21 (1949) is credited by the Grand Comics Database with art by Al Gabriele and Harry Sahle.