31 Nights of Halloween - Night 8 - The Valley of Death

 

Tonight's story is called The Valley of Death and is taken from Scary Tales #2 a Charlton Comic from October, 1975. All the voices for this video are done by Metarog, a pillar of the YouTube comic book community.

Scary Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1975 to 1984. The book was "hosted" by Countess R. H. Von Bludd, an alluring female vampire in a tight-fitting dress. Artist Steve Ditko was a regular contributor to the book during its entire run.

Scary Tales was part of a wave of new horror and suspense comics published by Charlton during this period. Its sister titles, with many of the same creators, were the Charlton anthologies The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves (with host Dr. M.T. Graves), Ghostly Tales (with host Mr. L. Dedd, later I. M. Dedd), Ghost Manor (with host Mr. Bones), Haunted (with hosts Impy and then Baron Weirwulf), and Ghostly Haunts (with host Winnie the Witch).

Valley of Death, script and art by Paul Kirchner

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

31 Nights of Halloween - Night 7 - Those Eerie Eyes in the Grinning Skull

 

This night's tale 'Those Eerie Eyes in the Grinning Skull' was taken from The Witching Hour #50, January 1975. It features a guest voice artist from my good friend on YouTube Matilda Gothika.

The Witching Hour was an American comic book horror anthology published by DC Comics from 1969 to 1978.

The series was published for 85 issues from February–March 1969 to October 1978. Its tagline was "It's 12 o'clock... The Witching Hour!" and was changed to "It's midnight..." from issue #14 onwards. The series was originally edited by Dick Giordano, who was replaced by Murray Boltinoff with issue #14. Nick Cardy was the cover artist for The Witching Hour for issues #1–6, 11–12, 15–16, 18–52, and 60. Stories in the comic were "hosted" and introduced by three witches, Morded, Mildred, and Cynthia.

After The Witching Hour's cancellation as a result of the "DC Implosion", the title was merged with The Unexpected until issue #209. The witches were later revived along with the hosts of the companion series House of Secrets and House of Mystery as important characters in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman.

"Those Eerie Eyes In the Grinning Skull" 
Written by Carl Wessler
Drawn by Fred Carrillo

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

A Chat with author Rina Brown

For this interview I got to talk with young author Rina Brown  who is just beginning on her journey as a writer, with her 1st novel Isle of the Dark being released on her recent 19th birthday. It's an exciting and perhaps daunting journey for her to be embarking on, but perhaps not as scary as the journey her hero has to undertake in her debut book. To find out more watch the video and see the links below for where you can buy her books and merchandise.

Centuries after a plague of monsters known as Datsoes blight the land, the Guardians led by Ranger the greatest monster killer amongst them, have to brave a journey through dangerous enemy territory to ensure the safety of the people. With winter fast approaching they find themselves facing a battle against monsters, the elements and even time in a race for survival. Along the way Ranger finds himself having to do the unthinkable, having to ally himself with a Datsoe! How can he put his trust in a monster who's nature it is to kill especially when his own instincts are telling him to slay it?

The monstrous villains of Isle of the Dark are the Datsoe, once normal animals that become demonically twisted once they are infected with the Datsoe plague. They in turn spread the disease creating an army of magical demon/animal hybrids.

Just in time for Halloween this pulp style anthology is inspired by dark tales of local folk lore from across America. Learn about all manner of legendary creatures from the Moth Man to the Blue Dog. Rina's contributions to the book are "Wrath of Ol' Ms. Johnson," and "Hell's Highway" and she is hard at work writing creepy new short tales for the follow up. 

Go on over to Rina's Wattpad account to read a free short story online called Sinner. In it you get to meet Demo, the only Demon in existence that is allowed to live in Heaven. He was presented to the Gods as a baby, with the idea that one day he could be a bridge between Heaven and Hell.

Links

Rina Brown Author
Wattpad

************************************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

31 Nights of Halloween - Night 6 - Summer Camp

 

Tonight's tale of terror is about a tale of terror but is it truth or fiction? 'Summer Camp' is taken from Unexpected #200, July 1980.

The Unexpected was a fantasy-horror comics anthology series, a continuation of Tales of the Unexpected, published by DC Comics. The Unexpected ran 118 issues, from #105 (February–March 1968) to #222 (May 1982). As a result of the so-called DC Implosion of late 1978, beginning in 1979 The Unexpected absorbed the other DC horror titles House of Secrets, The Witching Hour, and Doorway to Nightmare into its pages. Horror hosts featured in The Unexpected included The Mad Mod Witch, Judge Gallows, Abel, and the Witches Three.

This title is not to be confused with The Unexpected published by DC Comics in 2018.

"Summer Camp"

Script by J.M. DeMatteis

Art by Ernie B. Patricio

 

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

31 Nights of Halloween - Night 5 - The Fantastic Wishing Well

 

This spooky fable is from House of Mystery #195 published October, 1971.

House of Mystery was an anthology series published by DC Comics, running for 321 issues from 1951 to 1983. The first 173 issues featured science-fiction and weird mystery stories, with recurring features including Martian Manhunter and Dial H for Hero. Starting with #174, the series switched to a horror anthology presented by Cain the Caretaker, DC's most enduring horror host. Late in the series run, House of Mystery added a new ongoing series, "I, Vampire".

Pencilers - Mort Meskin
Inkers - Mort Meskin
Editors - Jack Schiff

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

31 Nights of Halloween - Night 4 - Let The Traitor Sleep

 

Here's a horrid horror gem dredged from the depths of Ghostly Tales #150 published Charlton Comics, August 1981.

Ghostly Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1966 to 1984 (though it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 onward). The book was "hosted" by Mr. L. Dedd (later changed to I. M. Dedd), a middle-aged gentleman with purplish skin and horns who dressed like a vampire. Mr. Dedd spun his "ghostly tales" from the parlor of his "haunted house".

Ghostly Tales was part of a wave of new horror and suspense comics published by Charlton during this period. Its sister titles, with many of the same creators, were the Charlton anthologies The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves (with host Dr. M. T. Graves), Haunted (with hosts Impy and then Baron Weirwulf), Ghost Manor (with host Mr. Bones), and Ghostly Haunts (with host Winnie the Witch).

"Let The Traitor Sleep!" drawn by Warren Sattler

 

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

31 Nights of Halloween - Night 3 - The Curse of the Cat

 

This story is from House of Mystery #177, which was released December, 1968. 

House of Mystery was an anthology series published by DC Comics, running for 321 issues from 1951 to 1983. The first 173 issues featured science-fiction and weird mystery stories, with recurring features including Martian Manhunter and Dial H for Hero. Starting with #174, the series switched to a horror anthology presented by Cain the Caretaker, DC's most enduring horror host. Late in the series run, House of Mystery added a new ongoing series, "I, Vampire".

Writers - Howie Post

Pencilers - Bill Draut

Inkers - Bill Draut

Editors - Joe Orlando

 

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

A chat with Horror author Adam Watts

I know Adam from his Death Metal band Beef Conspiracy and I knew he'd released a couple of books, I even bought and read 2 of them myself. So when I decided to start chatting to some authors on my YouTube channel I knew I needed to get caught up on his writing career.

Since starting to write 12 years ago he's released 3 self-published books and had a short story included in an anthology, he is currently working frenziedly on his 4th, a ghost story which he describes as turning into a bit of a monster by all accounts!

Mr Bloody Sunshine

In this one a disgruntled pizza delivery man grows ever more psychotic and starts to develop a taste for murder.

The Miracle

A bizarre body horror tale with a religious twist, not so much hallelujah as heck no!!

Like Rats

A slow burning post-apocalyptic zombie fest full of dark humour and wry social commentary!!

Twitter

BigCartel

      

31 Nights of Halloween - Night 2 - Open Season

 

Tonight's dive into terror is from House of Mystery #288 from January 1981 and is called "Open Season."

House of Mystery was an anthology series published by DC Comics, running for 321 issues from 1951 to 1983. The first 173 issues featured science-fiction and weird mystery stories, with recurring features including Martian Manhunter and Dial H for Hero. Starting with #174, the series switched to a horror anthology presented by Cain the Caretaker, DC's most enduring horror host. Late in the series run, House of Mystery added a new ongoing series, "I, Vampire".

Writer - Mike W. Barr

Pencil/Ink - Jess Jodloman

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

31 Nights of Halloween - Night 1 - Rampage

 

This story "Rampage" is from House of Mystery #281 from June, 1980. 

House of Mystery was an anthology series published by DC Comics, running for 321 issues from 1951 to 1983. The first 173 issues featured science-fiction and weird mystery stories, with recurring features including Martian Manhunter and Dial H for Hero. Starting with #174, the series switched to a horror anthology presented by Cain the Caretaker, DC's most enduring horror host. Late in the series run, House of Mystery added a new ongoing series, "I, Vampire".

Writer - Carl Wessler

Ink & Colouring - Frank Redondo

***********************************

      

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

A chat with author Beverly Sandford

This week I got to have a chat with an old mate of mine Beverly Sandford! She was just a youngster when I 1st knew her as the younger sister of my mate's girlfriend. She'd talk all about her love for New Kid's on the Block and I'm sure she was filming a promo as she wanted to be a presenter for some youth TV programme. She seemed very confident and precocious and more than a tad cheeky. Of course, the chances are that I am remembering it all wrong!

Luckily I got to interview her then so we could compare each other's memories of them very old days but mostly to talk about her writing career. She has written books for children and young adults for Badger Learning and has recently got to contribute some stories for Dr Who anthologies from Target books.

XXXXX

 

Facebook

Official Page

Twitter

Instagram

***********************************

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

     

A chat with Horror author Natasha Danzig

I recently interviewed my mate Natasha Danzig on my YouTube channel about her musical work with her band LadyAxe. We touched on the subject of her Horror writing but I thought it would be cool to have a more in-depth chat with her about that facet of her creative endeavours. 

Natasha has ghost written an impressive number of books, including 24 books in the Order of the Black Sun series and a dozen in the Witch's Kitchen series. Since choosing to write under her own name she has so far released 3 novels. 

Beware the Chair

A chilling ghost story set in South Africa about a dark figure that sits in the spare room chair. When two friends, Storm and Ghita set out to discover the origins and identity of the spirit they unearth secrets from the past they may have been better off undiscovered.

The House that Ate Bone

Newly released from prison Chantal Rathbone is set up in an old house in the Irish countryside. At first this seems idyllic until human bones are discovered in the roof's thatching and intangible forces start to exert very tangible influence on her life.

Animosity

Centred around the town of Heathenn in the dark woodlands of Alaska, veterinarian Chase's sceptical view of the mystical is challenged when the black magic of the Ursai and their 'Bear Mother' is unleashed.

Around Halloween 2019 Natasha mixed her Horror with her music writing when she released Underground, an album that was accompanied by a book of short stories that told the tales behind the songs. You can listen to the album for free, or purchase a physical copy from her Bandcamp page.

Natasha recently let me host a reading she did of her short story "Bait" on my channel, you can check that out below to hear that she can tell a tale just as effectively as she can write one.

Check these links

Buy the books

Facebook

Order signed copies of the book from this link

Goodreads

Bandcamp

My Interview with LadyAxe

***********************************

***********************************

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel

And add my Facebook page too!!

Lisa Superhero challenge

Round One - Easy

1

2

3

4

5

Round 2 - Intermediate

1

2

3

4

5

Round 3 - Hard

1

2

3

4

5

Round 4 - Impossible

1

2

3

4

5

Bonus Round

Entry into Spirit Comics and Matilda Gothika's contest

The Origin of Photon

My proposed page layout is shown below

Panel 1

Text

A ordinary day in East London and teenager Graham Fraser is walking home after visiting his local comic shop.

Picture

A young beardless me walking along the street with my bag of comics

Panel 2

Text

Suddenly he became aware of something happening above him, up in the sky, it was an aerial battle between the famed Alien Protector and some unknown foe.

Picture

View from behind Graham's head looking up to see two flying figures firing blasts at each other. One of the figures is hit.

Sound effect (of power blasts)

"Tzzzaaaarrrkk"

Word balloon (from  Graham)

"Oh no Protector's falling! I must see if I can help him!"

Panel 3

Picture 

The Alien Protector crashes down onto the roof of a bus shelter and Graham rushes towards him.

Sound effect (of impact)

"Kaaaa-blaaaaamo"

Panel 4

Text

The dying alien reached out his hand and Graham held it

Picture

Alien Protector lying on his side atop the crumpled bus shelter, his arm dangles over the side Graham has grasped his hand, There is an aura around their clasped hands.

Word Balloon (Graham)

Is there anything I can do to help? I can't understand what you're saying. Oww! I can feel some kind of energy passing into me through our contact!

Word Balloon (Alien Protector)

unintelligible alien language in weak voice that trails off

Panel 5

Text

Somehow the dying hero from another world had passed some of his mighty powers into the Earth teenager who vowed to fight on in the Protector's honour as....

Picture

Graham in his Photon costume

Word Balloon (Photon)

"PHOTON"

My rendition of the art