It's been awhile since I posted a killer puppet story over at THOIA, and even less likely that I've ever posted one here at AEET, so with that, here's a freaky little terror tale (and with a Halloween setting as well) from the June - July 1974 issue of Secrets of Sinister House #18, which was the actual final issue of this short-lived, but none the less very fun DC horror series.
Now I need to go listen to King Diamond's The Puppet Master again!
ReplyDeleteThis one has a fun tone, it's a bit superhero-ish in places (like page 6) and then right to body horror (page 7!)
Some interesting layouts -- an inset panel on page 3 and kind of on page 4.
I like the "Tomorrow" illustration, especially the little dog, I love a good cartoon inquisitive dog!
Nort's business plan of selling stolen marionette - they're marionettes, damn it, not puppets! - for enough of a fortune to make it worth while was slightly....how shall I put it? Hanging in the air? It's like that tale on THOIA of some character murdering the owner of a marionette show to take over the business. Because that's such a money spinner, you know.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, that dude's out trick-or-treating in a paper bag. Didn't even draw a jack-o-lantern face on it or anything. That's some lazyass teen action right there.
ReplyDeleteI like the ultimate reveal. I mean, it's the usual shtick: These figures used to be real people before they were waxed, or dummied, or all dolled up. But here it's nicer because he's an old Santa Clause type--a little nutty, a little pitiable, but ultimately belovable. Perhaps he only exercises his power on those he deems deserving--Dracula, Satan, a petty thug. But he's certainly entitled himself to carte blanch whee it comes to offing the competition and turning them into playthings. Puppeteer justice! There's nothing much petty about that.
Well, the moral of this story (don't be an a-hole because karma's a beotch) certainly came with... no strings attached... ;) (I haven't had much sleep lately, I'm so sorry for this comment.)
ReplyDeleteIs everyone enjoying these these silver age tales? I thought I'd try a little something different this year, since we're down one blog anyway and I had so much good stuff to post, we might even keep it going a bit longer in November as well, but I'll be sure to spice it up with the other usual types of oddball stuff that AEET is best known for. Thank you for the comments!
ReplyDelete