I promised you ghost stories this month for xmas so once again it's time to resurrect a couple of creepy golden age Atlas moldies for a dreary double feature of fright! The first is from the August 1952 issue of Uncanny Tales #2, followed by one from the October 1952 issue of Adventures into Terror #12. More ghosts coming up boo-- errr-- too, so stay boomed-- err-- tombed!
Man, that first tale of the uncanny is quite beautiful. I really love the clock tower panel at the top of page three. It's really charming the way the letterer went with counting the beat instead of the usual "bong bong bong" sound effect.
ReplyDeleteLoving these Christmas ghost stories!
I really enjoyed the first story. Last panel on the last story is fantastic. As someone who lives in the ghost house in town and enjoys cemeteries,ghost are my friends too.
ReplyDeleteI still think you need to go full on Pumpkinhead witch house mode and really mess with the neighbors haha ;)
ReplyDelete> loving these Christmas ghost stories!
I’ll have a few more as we edge closer to Xmas!
I love that first one! It’s so cool!
ReplyDeleteFirst tale leading by 3!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to throw a vote for story #2 just to even the odds a bit!
ReplyDeleteFirst page, third panel is the best panel in the bunch. It's really striking, with the house (and single glowing window) the end point to the arrow of all the tombstones. It's like a haunted trench run! The green eyes are also a decent red herring.
OK, I lied, yeah, the first story is better, but I think the coloring was a bit lazy. First two panels of page 3 I get the coloring choices, but I think it bleed out the shadows a bit, especially panel 2. Still, great images that are staged really well. The scare panel, and the under the face lighting, is also great.
The first story, with its darkness and shadows was the better of the two. Is it just me or does the ghost in the first panel/splash look a bit like Bela Lugosi?
ReplyDeleteHow the second story would have had more of a punch-
If the police who showed up turned out to be the ghosts of police officers who didn't like prank callers while they were alive.
Great double header, Karswell.
I'l add that I like the first story better as well, the seriousness feels more compelling than the silly punchline and annoying boy who cried wolf antics of the second. Thanks for the comments, stick around all month for lots more spooks, kooks, and even a little bit more witchcraft --coming up next!
ReplyDeleteI'm late to the party on this one, but I actually was disappointed with the ending of the first story. The story was lovely and pleasant, and I was enjoying the positive spin it gave to someone who was kind enough to acknowledge the dead. So I didn't really feel like this ending "fit" with the rest of it. It's a good "punch line", but ..... just not for THIS story, for me personally.
ReplyDeleteSo I think I prefer the second one, because the Boy Who Cried Wolf will NEVER get old. It'll be relevant until the end of time. And you know I love a good comeuppance story!