Number 1604: Flapping Head

“The Flapping Head” is a not untypical tale from Forbidden Worlds, but it has the distinction of being drawn by Al Williamson.

Williamson was known for his collaborators on a job, nicknamed the Fleagle Gang by Harvey Kurtzman: Angelo Torres, Roy Krenkel, Frank Frazetta, among others, but for this story the Grand Comics Database credits Williamson for pencils and artists Larry Woromay and King Ward for the inking.

This story has been reprinted several times in the past few decades, solely because of art by Williamson.

From Forbidden Worlds #6 (1952):

Number 1598: Ted’s head!

We are slipping out of June with a couple of stories from one of the first horror comics I ever owned. I got it in a trade circa 1959, and it has been in my collection since.

I have shown the Dick Briefer-drawn “Somewhere Lurks a Thing!” before, in the early days of this blog. These are new scans. “Ted’s Head” has art credited by the GCD to Larry Woromay ? by way of the Atlas Tales site. I think Larry did a pretty good job showing headless people without the gore. But it wouldn't have satisfied the Senate committee and their hearing on comics. They didn’t buy Bill Gaines’ decapitated head cover of Crime Suspenstories #22 as “being in good taste for a horror comic.” For the record, I think “Ted’s Head” is in good taste for a horror comic.

Number 1461: Horror without the horrible

Only a few more days until Halloween. Fill up those candy bowls for the visiting trick-or-treaters, but save the best stuff for yourself. Pappy's rule for Halloween: the kids get the cheap stuff.

No cheap stuff for you today. I’m showing all the stories from Atlas Comics’ Marvel Tales #119 (1953). The tales run the gamut from a golddigger/serial killer to mummies from outer space to choosing a new life, to...well, read on.

Unlike most horror comics of the era there aren’t any vampires or werewolves, and the mummies aren’t even Egyptian mummies. All in all it’s a fun issue. There is some variety, even humor to some of the stories. Besides the total silliness of the plot of “When the Mummies Rise,” drawn by Russ Heath, there is a shaggy dog joke ending to “They Gave Him a Grave,” illustrated by Larry Woromay. John Forte’s art is perfect for the serial killer story, “Collector’s Item!” I got a laugh out of the Marilyn Monroe panel in “The New Life!” drawn by Al Eadeh. Mac Pakula wraps up the issue with a story of a killer who escapes earthly justice only to find it in space.

I could not help comparing the cover by an unknown artist to an earlier cover by horrormeister Bernard Baily for Mister Mystery #11.

As a morbid child I used to think of what would be the most terrible way to die. High on my list was being buried up to my chin and set upon by ants. Despite having a higher ratio of skulls to head, the Marvel Tales cover is tepid compared to Baily’s.

Number 275

Don't shake the family tree

This short-short story from Atlas Comics' Uncanny Tales #7, published in 1953, is by Larry Woromay, an artist who went from comics into fine art. He died last year. These are a couple of paintings from his web site:


The story, "The Witch of Landor," is scanned from a reprint in Marvel Comics' Chamber of Chills #15, from 1975. Karswell ran a story here, done in an imitation Jack Davis style, which one of the comments identified as being by Woromay. Could be. I haven't seen enough of Woromay's work to know, but it's a great Jack Davis rip-off, whoever did it.

Based on "Witch of Landor," which is full of moody panels and artwork, I'd like to see more by Woromay in his own style.

"Landor" teaches one thing, and that is be careful when shaking your family tree. You just never know what will fall out of the branches.

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HAPPY ST PAT'S DAY!

Here's my contribution to this day, a Lucky Charms ad from 1964, scanned from Sad Sack #157, from 1964. Baby Boomers will remember the Leprechaun and Lucky Charms commercials from television in the early 1960s. The artwork is by Bill Williams. I have a story written by John Stanley and drawn by Bill Williams coming up very soon.

In the meantime, hoist a green ale for Pappy.