Haunted Horror: Pre-Code Comics So Good, They’re Scary

by Various, Shelly Moldoff (Contributor), Nick Cardy (Contributor)

Haunted Horror Volume 3: Pre-Code Comics So Good, They're Scary! is the monstrously-great curated collection of the goriest, craziest, rarest comics that the U.S. Government didn't want you to see! David Colton in USA Today screams, "The comic book industry's most obscure and outrageous stories of the 1950s!" Decapitated Dan screeches, "Some of the greatest horror comic material ever to be reprinted!" The Horror Comic Review wails, "The coolest Pre-Code comics from the annals of horror comics history!" Under the infamous melting face cover you'll witness under-appreciated artists Frank Giacoia, Nick Cardy, Shelly Moldoff, Bob Powell, Jack Sparling, Joe Certa, and Lin Streeter, masters of the horror comics genre!

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2015

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good collection of 1950s horror comics. As in the prior collections, some of the stories do have the weaknesses of being too wordy, which can distract from the strength of the stories. What is impressive, however, is the strength of much of the art. If you take away the sometimes silly stories, there is truly some powerful art in this collection. And while some of the stories are hokey, not all are. There are some genuinely scary tales in the collection as well.

If you enjoy horror comics, especially pre-code horror comics from the 1950s, then you'll enjoy this collection.

[Xisix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the Eerie or Creepy comics, these tales tend to primarily have a Twilight Zone twists for the endings. Seems a mixed bag in quality however stories like "The Uninvited" and "The Survivors" stand out. "Ghosts from Mars" in which aliens drop creatures upon Earth is another sinister picture to imagine. Part of the charm of the horror take is the 50's artwork. Coming out of World War II, it seems as if western society was coming to terms with horrors witnessed from the previous decade. Worth a quick read for a nostalgic glimpse of yesteryears nightmares.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great collection from the demented editorial mind of Craig Yoe...and of course, his wife Clizia! We discussed this (out top pick!) on our recent Halloween special: http://comicsalternative.com/episode-....

[Bart Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I could rate this collection of 1950s era horror comics with another star, but even giving it 3 stars is a bit generous in my opinion.
This collection pulls stories from a variety of pre-code comics in the early 1950s, mostly from titles I am unfamiliar with.
Only a few times did I catch myself being able to read more than 3 stories in a single sitting. Most of these stories just couldn't keep me in a nice "suspension of disbelief" and enjoyment.

[Paul Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great covers and horrible stories, all in full-color with commentaries and identification of authors and artists. If EC represented the best of the worst during the early 50s horror craze, then these stories were the worst of the worst. Lots of fun on a Halloween night or any other night.