The Undead Thread: Pre-Code Horror 21 21

[originalisbest]

Great assemblage of colors and nice art for this Web of Mystery #23, though it seems the animated mummy isn't too aware of what's going on around him - you're quite a ways away from your tomb, buddy, as evidenced by the desk and blinds in the background; probably in some stuffy museum. Makes you kinda feel for the night guard making his rounds downstairs...

 

[originalisbest]

Finally, here's one of my most fave Ditko covers - Strange Suspense Stories #18. I love the expression and mood he got in the unlucky girl's face with the most minimal linework, letting the colors fill in the remainder - that, the blowing clothes, loose lock of hair and the leaves floating about, really contribute to the sense of unease that's about to get worse, once she gets a look at the bony-fingered figure... not as expensive as his great THING! covers, but I feel this is one of Ditko's best.

 

[Jayman]

SPLOOSH! Goes Mister Mystery #8. It's not an acknowledged classic like #6, 11, 12 or 13 - but it is a pretty nice cover in its own right, certainly in the better half of all Mister Mystery covers. Nice stories inside as well - including Tony Mortarello's well-known "Rat-Trap!"

 

Prophetic reading material there, honey - "The Dead that Rise!"

 

 

What did you expect her to read on a ship named the S.S. Mystery!

Great books originalisbest!

[originalisbest]

Thanks Jayman! Hmm - y'know, even for the era of GGA and such, that negligee she's sportin' seems pretty skimpy for cover work?

[precodekeith]

Prophetic reading material there, honey - "The Dead that Rise!" .....

 

What did you expect her to read on a ship named the S.S. Mystery!

Great books originalisbest!

 

Is it my imagination or is there a bookmark flying up into the air?!

[originalisbest]

That's how I see it too Keith - I think it's her ticket stub that was serving as a bookmark?

[precodekeith]

Atlas loved to use the title "13th Floor!" quite a bit.... here's another...

 

Edited October 20, 2005 by precodekeith

[goldust40]

 

Another 13th Floor Atlas cover...I sense a new thread!!

[precodekeith]

I always thought they should have used those "13th Floor!" covers on issues numbered 13 myself.

[originalisbest]

I love that Mystery Tales #21 cover, Keith! White sky with black clouds seems appropriately jarring... but on that AIT #12, such strange cheekbones for a woman - I've seen "her" on other Atlas covers - which artist was responsible for that womanly look?

[Jayman]

I agree! Those cheeks are more frightening than that glowing figure in the doorway, Yeeesh!

Here's my Big Apple copy of MT # 12. Love that Maneely cover!

 

[precodekeith]

Jayman, that is an awesome looking corpse-thingy by Maneely!

 

Pretty cool that it's a Big Apple copy as well.

[precodekeith]

Check out the socks on the guy with the loafer.

 

Would you buy a tonic from a guy with fangs and pointy ears?! Just fangs, maybe, but not in combination with those ears.

 

Edited October 21, 2005 by precodekeith

[Scrooge]

Man, how far off are we from the first post-code issue in this series? Seems to me that it is one of those "twilighter", books taming down in anticipation of the Code. Am I wrong?

[originalisbest]

Gettin' pretty close, Scrooge. The copy of Mystery Tales #23 is one of those late issues that I picked up at the recent Chicago con, that Ted at Superworld and Gary C. commented on - that they hadn't seen that one before. Doesn't help that it's not in the Gerber, I don't think.

 

Cool cover Keith!

 

And yours is a sweet Maneely Mystery Tales, Jayman!

[precodekeith]

Man, how far off are we from the first post-code issue in this series? Seems to me that it is one of those "twilighter", books taming down in anticipation of the Code. Am I wrong?

 

Nope. You are correct, sir! The code was on the way in just a few issues.

[originalisbest]

Let's not talk about those dark days of the scrubbed-clean code approaching - instead, let's turn to just a few years earlier, when things were hopping, when Wallace Wood created this gem -

 

 

[precodekeith]

I love that work! Totally insane!

[precodekeith]

Jayman... did you have a b-day just a couple days ago!?

 

Happy belated birthday, you child of October!

[precodekeith]

I really like Joe Maneely horror. I think he is generally under-appreciated.

 

Edited October 25, 2005 by precodekeith