THE ZANY HORROR HOUSE (PART 1)

Another in the long parade of MAD copycats was ZANY, published by Candar Publishing Co. Inc. The first two issues were edited by veteran artist Carl Burgos with Phyllis Yampolsky as art editor for issues 1-3. Dick Richards was the editor for issues 3-4.

Candar was the imprint of Ace Comics' magazine publishing line. The first editor was Donald A. Wollheim, mainly because of their science-fiction titles. After Wollheim, a fellow by the name of Robert C. Sproul -- whose father Joseph was circulation manager of Ace books -- took over the editing chores. which included a line of men's adventure magazines. The company eventually was re-named Major Magazines. Sproul and Major may sound familiar as they would be associated with another humor magazine named CRACKED.

As for the humor in ZANY, like so many others, it is mediocre-to average and sometimes even wince-inducing. But, as you can see, they parodied a few monsters and fantasy newspaper strips along the way with some work by familiar artists.

Zany #1, September 1958. Cover by Bill Everett.

Script and art unknown.

Scriptwriter unknown; art by Paul Reinman.

Scriptwriter unknown; art by Carl Burgos.

Zany #2, December 1958. Cover by Bill Everett.

Scriptwriter and artist unknown.

Scriptwriter unknown; art by Don Orehek.

Scriptwriter unknown; art by Jim Roth.

Scriptwriter and artist unknown.

Included in the pages of ZANY were the first Horror House ads which were hot on the heels of Warren's "Monster Mail Order" that had just started appearing in the back pages of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. Since ZANY was a parody mag, they made sure readers didn't mistake it as a gag by adding "REAL AD" to the heading!

Horror House "real ad", artist unknown.

The Horror House artwork changed in the 1960's with new art by John Severin.

Severin's original art.