Today we’re looking at a reprint of Voodoo number 15 from May June of 1954. Pre-code horror comics, all stories, no ads published by classic Comics library.
Watch the full video here.
It is just the comics only, there are no ads which is kind of unfortunate because I love the original ads in these comic books. It’s not a facsimile, it’s just reprinting the actual stories themselves and as you can see the quality is mixed to say the least. You find that the contrast has been kicked up so you lose detail and the images look darker. Sometimes they’re a bit fuzzy as you can see with the voodoo cover on the left so it’s just not that sharp unfortunately but this particular issue of voodoo 15 has some great stories in it and I got it on Amazon for three dollars. I had free shipping with a couple of other items so nothing to lose there folks. Keep in mind that the art in Voodoo was primarily by Iger shop, published by Ajax Farrell.
Iger shop was composed of a variety of artists including including Matt Baker, Jay disbrow, Robert web, Ken batefield, and Ruth roach was the editor for Iger shop.
First up we have “Doomed.” “On a sweltering slim covered rock not far from the infamous penal colony of Devil’s Island there is another more horrible Island. Here is washed up the human debris that is too horrible for even the devil. Nobody but murderers are sent to the Rock and it is here that an American reporter is trying to get a story about the Doom knife.” As you can see, the high contrast takes out detail the images are a bit darker in spots.
A very average reprint but then folks we have “Nightmare Island” with one of those great Splash Pages featuring the girl stuck in a mouse trap with a giant rat. If you want to see a better reprint of nightmare Island and this fabulous splash page I highly recommend Voodoo volume 3 from IDW and yoe books because you’re going to get a much better reproduction.
“In the end, three humans and a brute who belonged in a nightmare were all caught in the terrible spin snapping snare of the big rat trap nightmare Island.” The woman goes outside and sees a dog house in the backyard. “Why it’s a dog house, how nice. I love dogs and they love me and a nice friendly dog will make this place seem less Grim. Here doggy, nice doggy!” Suddenly from the dogghouse there rushes a slavering ravening horror with long needles sharp teeth and jaws flecked with foam the chain strains to Breaking Point as it tries to get it Lucy. “A big rat!” there you go folks that’s what I’m talking about right there is only Iger shop can give you. The ending- “The man steps back into the trap feels the trigger spring just as he sinks the axe deep into the furry gray skull the big rat which gives a death Screech. The Trap Springs with terrible force and the lamp shatters on the floor. The man screams for a long time before he dies, but fate is merciful he dies before the Flames can reach him the giant rat is dead too. There is only the crackling of the fire and the howling of the other animals as they sense death.”
Next up “Hammer of evil.” “This is a crazy story but let’s pretend that you are there an imaginary jury and it is up to you to decide put yourself in this doomed man’s place and meet Kolla the atavar.” They find this woman encased in a chunk of ice and of course she gets thawed out and it’s Kolla the atavar and she’s a little Savage.
The last story in Voodoo number 15 “Dead Man’s pajamas.” “When is a murder not a murder? a good question so said the police and one they could not answer until John Foster famous private investigator risked his life life to supply the solution. Your skin will creep as you read this mad story of a dead man’s pajamas!”
Voodoo was one of the most daring books featuring not only suspenseful stories and excellent Artistry but the graphic horror that made parents fear for their children’s sanity.
Unfortunately the final printed product is very average and nowhere near the quality for example of PS art books or IDW-Yoe Books. I hope you enjoyed this video and as always please like and subscribe. Watch this video here.
Pre-Code HORROR COMICS Movie on Sale NOW
Get the Witch Tales blu-ray featuring terrifying pre-code comic tales of horror along with a FREE COPY of Horror Anthology Movie vol. 1 DVD ON SALE NOW with FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING.
Witch Tales has stories adapted from Harvey’s Chamber of Chills, Ajax Farrell’s Haunted Thrills, and Story Comics Mysterious Adventures with a spine tingling wrap around featuring a seductive witch making her own special conjuration on Halloween eve!
Available now on Ebay and Etsy.
Witch Tales (2020) Pre-Code Comic Book Origins
The new feature length horror anthology movie WITCH TALES (2020) is based upon pre-code horror comic book stories of the 1950s from a variety of publishers. One of the most well known publishers of the time was Jerry Iger and his Iger Shop. Helmed by editor and story writer RUTH ROCHE, the Iger Shop employed many artists who made assembly line comic book stories to keep up with the many monthly titles offered by Ajax-Farrell and other pre-code comic book publishers.
Roche started as a writer at the Will Eisner- Jerry Iger studio. She wrote stories for “Phantom Lady”, “Senorita Rio”, “Sheena, Queen of the Jungle”, “Kaanga”, and “Camilla”.
She is also credited for writing the pre-code horror tale EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, one of the three stories adapted into segments for WITCH TALES. Experiment in Terror (shown on the cover of FANTASTIC FEARS #8) was originally published in HAUNTED THRILLS.
BON APPETIT, originally known as CHEF’S DELIGHT, was also later released as FOOD FOR GHOULS in Eerie Publication’s WEIRD magazine in the 1960s. It first appeared in MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #20 in 1954.
CYCLE OF HORROR originally appeared in CHAMBER OF CHILLS #16 from Harvey Comics in 1953. The writer is unknown, probably the editor at the time, but the artist was Al Eadeh, who did a lot of work for Harvey in the 50s.
WITCH TALES is now available on VIMEO VOD and as a special limited edition signed and numbered blu-ray that includes a bonus DVD and the HORROR TRIVIA CONTEST where you can enter to win one of ten MOVIE PROPS from the film.
More info on the website.