Number 2199: See no, hear no, speak no...

The popular maxim, “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,” often accompanied by three monkeys with hands over their eyes, mouth and ears, comes from at least the 17th century (Japan) and maybe even further back to the 8th century (China). It has different meanings based on one's interpretation, but for the sake of the two stories I am showing today, it is about people seeking evil.

It may or may not be clever to base a story on such a familiar trope, but it seems a natural for writers of horror or mystery stories. When in doubt, go to what is familiar. And, of course I chose the stories because they feature apes!

“Search for Evil” is from Harvey’s Black Cat Mystery #44 (1953). No scripter is listed by the Grand Comics Database, but the artist is Howard Nostrand. ”Hear, See, Speak Evil” is from Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery #11 (1965), published by Gold Key. Again, no scripter, but the artwork is signed “AW” — Al Williamson.

Number 2162: Tripping with Turok, Son of Stoned

Turok and Andar eat some tasty fruit that makes them hallucinate. Of course, no hallucinogen works the way this fruit does. One does not share the same hallucination with others under the influence. Paul Newman wrote it, and used artistic license.

Despite that, I am no expert, because I have never taken hallucinogens. I had an Army friend who took LSD and went on sick call complaining of a skunk rotting in his stomach. It made me vow to myself to never go anywhere near LSD.

But back to the story. Like some other people, Andar wants to relive the experience, but older and wiser Turok steers him away from the fruit. In sixties jargon, Turok would have been a downer, but I think of him as smart. Who needs a pal who is seeing dinosaurs with three heads? Or has a skunk rotting in his stomach?

The story, from Turok Son of Stone #31 (1963), is drawn by Giovanni Ticci and inked by Alberto Giolitti. Giolitti lived in America for a time, became a naturalized citizen, then moved back to Italy and founded an art service, Studio Giolitti. The artwork is slick and illustrative. They did a lot of stories for Whitman (Dell, then Gold Key) over the years. Giolitti, born in 1923, died in 1993 at age 69.

The striking cover painting is by George Wilson.

Number 2012: Former EC artists’ “true” ghost stories

Ten years after the end of EC Comics, three of the artists closely associated with EC had stories published in Gold Key’s Ripley’s Believe It Or Not True Ghost Stories #1 (1965). George Evans is credited with “The Mummy’s Hand,” Wallace Wood with “The Ghost Ship,” and Al Williamson with “The Flaming Scar.”

That word “true” shows up in the title, but proving any of these stories to be true would be impossible, except for the verifiable Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago, 1903, and the sinking of the Titanic. You think a mummy’s hand caused a curse? You think the son of a sea captain found his father’s ghost ship, 10 years lost, floating full-masted with canvas in perfect condition? You think a man avoided death by avoiding a man with a flaming scar?

I don’t believe in ghosts, or at least I don’t now...when at some point I have passed over into the great unknown I’ll attempt to come back and haunt you readers. Believe it or not!

Believe it or not, this coming Sunday I have a Pappy’s Sunday Supplement...the complete issue of The Face #2.

Number 1862: Otherworldly Tales: John Carter of Mars wraps up

Let us review. In 1963-64 when Gold Key reprinted the three issues of John Carter of Mars, originally published under the Dell imprint in the early fifties, they got the last two issues reversed. Dell #3 became Gold Key #2. So what I am showing today as the final posting of our Otherworldly Tales theme week, was published by Dell as #3, and then became GK #2. I am posting them in their Dell order, not Gold Key. If you have a problem with that or don’t understand what I have done, then please don’t complain to me. I have enough trouble keeping even simple things straight.

The artwork, as with the other two issues, is by Jesse Marsh. I’m not sure why Dell didn’t continue the 1950’s series. A guess is that it didn’t sell well enough, or it might have been licensed from Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. as a three issue mini-series only. After 60 years, the answer my friend, is blowing in the ether.

If you prefer, you can go to the links below and click on them to read the posts preceding today’s.

Issues #1 and #2...just click on the thumbnails.