PLOP, 1 of 3

In the 70s, DC Comics was doing pretty well with their horror comics, they had regular horror comics, romance horror comics, gothic romance horror comics, etc., usually with a host narrating the stories. Somewhere along the line, one of the combinations with horror was humor horror.

Continuing my showcasing the content of various humor magazines is PLOP!, the aforementioned combination of humor and horror. Before showing that, here's the inspiration for that title. Within HOUSE OF MYSTERY, their title with straight horror stories, they decided that instead of going with someone like Berni Wrightson, they'd have Sergio Aragones illustrate one of their stories. First here's the genesis for PLOP! from #201 in 1972. I'll have an actual issue this Thursday.

Aieee! The Teeth!

People have asked me where my Blogger avatar comes from. Actually, the real reason I put this up is because it's Halloween. Ooh, scary, kids!

Chicken Little

I think they were trying to imitate 'Grim Fairy Tales' from TALES FROM THE CRYPT. This was originally in MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #25 in 1954, scanned from BEST IN HORROR AND SCIENCE FICTION from 1988

Frank N. Stein

Probably every Frankenstein parody used this pun. I always thought Bill Everett was one of the most underrated comics artists before he became an alcoholic and stopped caring. Here's a piece showing what I mean that was originally in CRAZY #1 in 1953 but I got it from AARGH! #2 from 1975. Marvel/Atlas/Timely seemed to reprint stuff to keep their copyright, but as far as I know it's probably expired.

Don't Be a Stumbling Spook

And now a story from DARK SHADOWS #2 (not based on the later horror soap opera) in January 1958.

Ajax-Farrell comics can always be recognized for the italic title lettering in their splash pages and the figures that seem similarly slanted. It was probably better known for the stories reprinted in grade-Z black and white horror magazines of the 70s.

Some publishers had stories in their non-humor comics most likely meant for the MAD imitations that they cancelled in the late 50s. This may be one of them. The rest of the comic is usual horror fare. As with most Ajax-Farrell comics, no artist is given credit.

Going, Going, Real Gone!

I think I'll eventually post this entire issue of MADHOUSE. It works on so many different levels...







Not only did they not get Kurtzman, I don't think they got fine art either. Parodying a culture without getting it quite right has always been entertaining to me.

TerrorVision

From CHAMBER OF CHILLS #19, by Howard Nostrand again.

The Lonely

From BLACK CAT MYSTERY #48, by Howard Nostrand

Jungle

from WITCHES TALES #19, Harvey 1953, by Howard Nostrand