PRE-CODE HORROR: "THE WITCH'S CURSE"

 
Those of you familiar with horror comics know that the "classic years" known as the "Pre-code era", lasted until 1954, when the Comics Code Authority, formed in September of that year, was established. One of its numerous and draconic prohibitions was "horror" in comics, which subsequently lead to the demise of scores of titles (and publishers), including the now-famed EC Comics line.

It wouldn't be until a decade later when James Warren found his way around the restrictions by publishing a full-size magazine (where the Code didn't have sway) staffed with many of the artists that had worked for EC.

The comic shown today is WEIRD MYSTERIES #8 (January, 1954) and was on the newsstands just months ahead of the scourge of what I call "The Hammer of Comics". Published by Key Publications and edited by Stanley Morse under the Gillman Magazines colophon, it lasted from October 1952 until September 1952, coinciding with the establishment of the Comics Code.

Featured here is the original art for one of the stories in the issue, "The Witch's Curse", and is a typical example of the type of tale that could be found in this title. The script writer is lost to history, and according to the Grand Comics Database, the artist is probably one Eugene E. Hughes. Interesting to note is the "Weird Mysteries" blue penciled in the top margin of the each page has been taped over and "Shock #1" has been added. Since WEIRD MYSTERIES was the only horror title under the Gillman imprint, is it possible that they were planning to expand?

Following the art is the issue in which it appeared, so the comparison can be made between the "raw" pencil and ink version to the finished color version of the comic book.