{"id":10,"date":"2012-11-09T12:04:24","date_gmt":"2012-11-09T11:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/highest-standard.de\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2014-11-27T18:45:25","modified_gmt":"2014-11-27T17:45:25","slug":"the-unseen","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/?page_id=10","title":{"rendered":"The Unseen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Standard\u2019s flagship horror title.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chronological listing of all issues \u2013 with comments and annotations. We mention date of publication, cover motive and cover artist (if identified). Every issue has been indexed on the Grand Comics Database \u2013 the link will show you all available data, including cover shots and story descriptions.<\/p>\n

Just click the underlined<\/span> issue labeling.<\/p>\n

\u00a0A miniature splash page indicates that you can find this entire story in our \u201cStories\u201d section. Just click to read it.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN \/ 11 issues <\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

THE UNSEEN #5<\/a>
\nJune 1952
\nCover: (Gnarly monster tree ripping at male victim, skeletons lying around) \u2013 Ross Andru ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Blood Money Of Galloping Chad Burgess\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cSpectral Ships\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cShadows In Pawn\u201d (Abe Simon ?)
\n\u201cThe Hungry Lodger\u201d (Jerry Grandenetti)
\n\u201cThe Devil\u2019s Stones\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Nine Horrors\u201d (Ross Andru)
\n(click miniature splash to read) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Standard comes crashing out of the gate with its first horror comic book and surprises with brilliant artwork<\/strong>.
\nThree out of the four stories (plus two small \u201cfiller\u201d features) are simply astonishingly beautiful.
\nAlex Toth\u2019s first horror story ever is almost a milestone. And Grandenetti and Andru are keeping up with him in this issue. As will many of the artist working on Standard\u2019s horror books.<\/p>\n

The downside: the writing is bad and unbalanced<\/strong>. \u201cChad Burgess\u201d is unmotivated and erratic, \u201cHungry Lodger\u201d slips into a giant monster action stereotype, \u201cNine Horrors\u201d works with a ridiculous assumption and \u201cShadows In Pawn\u201d is just kind of pathetic. Wotta shame! Will they be getting better?<\/p>\n

Looking closely at the splash page from \u201cNine Horrors\u201d you will find that in the left corner newspaper clipping some artist names are hidden: „simon \/ perlin \/ peppi“ (=Peppe). We speculate this to be some inside joke from Andru (or the letterer) for his friends and colleagues. This is no hidden signature for the artwork, it is surely Ross Andru.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Blood Money Of Galloping Chad Burgess<\/a>\u201d and \u201cThe Hungry Lodger<\/a>\u201d are posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c \u2013 to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #6\u00a0<\/a>
\nSeptember 1952
\nCover: (Car crash victim fleeing through swamp and being pursued by pale, bearded fiends) \u00a0\u2013\u00a0 George Roussos ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jack Katz comes aboard.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe Phantom Bus\u201d (George Roussos)
\n\u201cGhost Portraits\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cBayou Vengeance\u201d (Jack Katz)
\n\u201cDr. Death\u201d (Art Saaf)
\n\u201cMirror Of Hate\u201d (Ross Andru)
\n\u201cPeg Powler\u201d (Alex Toth) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Eerie Glen\u201d (George Roussos)<\/p>\n

Enter Jack Katz at Standard<\/strong> \u2013 looking a bit similar to Roussos in this early phase.<\/p>\n

Again an interesting issue: a double feature by George Roussos, a crazy Jack Katz tale, the wonderful Ross Andru stays true to the UNSEEN and makes his second horror contribution \u2013 and we have here the most beautiful one-pager by Alex Toth: \u201cPeg Powler\u201d.<\/p>\n

The scripts are okay (high point being \u201cThe Eerie Glen\u201d) and even the two-page text story (\u201cDeath By Darkness\u201d) is quite good, credited to a certain John Marvin.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Death<\/a>\u201d and \u201cThe Eerie Glen<\/a>\u201d (and there attached „Peg Powler“) are all posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c \u2013 to read click on underlined titl<\/em>es.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #7<\/a>
\nNovember 1952
\nCover: (Plane crash victim being stalked by pale, female vampire) \u2013\u00a0 John Celardo<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Betraying Hands\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cThe Ghosts In Blue\u201d (Art Saaf) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cMoon Madness\u201d (Jack Katz, signed)
\n\u201cThe Smiling Man\u201d (??? + Ralph Mayo)
\n\u201cVampires\u201d (Jack Katz) \u2013 two-pager
\n\u201cTime Is The Killer\u201d (Ross Andru)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Betraying Hands\u201d: O not, not again a mad art painter story! Standard leaves out no clich\u00e9<\/strong>. Guilty hands working on their own, getting amputated, coming back from the grave to strangle their evil owner\u2026 booooring\u2026 as seen in so many other stories of that time, and stretched into 8 pages, where 6 would have been enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoon Madness\u201d starts promising, but dissipates into a formula huntdown of a werewolf. \u201cThe Smiling Man\u201d is a crime story. It\u2019s quite nice and fits well into its 5 pages, but it\u2019s a crime story \u2013 without any supernatural element.<\/p>\n

Highlight of the issue surely is \u201cTime Is The Killer<\/a>\u201d, a mad tale about bodies stored in grandfather clocks. In his Standard overview published in TALES TOO TERRIBLE TO TELL, George Suarez was fascinated by the sheer ridiculousness of the ending. Two clocks moving around a house and entering an upstairs (!) bedroom. The story is posted on my German website – to see click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

Enter Mike Sekowsky into the artists\u2019 line-up<\/strong>. He seems to have comer over from Ace Magazines, where he contributed a fine lot of horror stories up to the end of 1952. Maybe he was lured to Standard by his friend Alex Toth. It is almost shocking to see how marvelous his artwork will bloom from now on. Sekowsky\u2019s best horror work can be found in the books to come<\/strong>. He is partly mimicking Toth by the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Alex Toth – wanna bet?<\/p><\/div>\n

Thereby hangs a tale: Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. (who loaned me books and advised me on the artwork) was a good friend of Toth. One day they were talking over the phone and Toth revealed to Jim that he and Mike Sekowsky had a bet going.<\/p>\n

Sekowsky would do a story in Toth\u2019s style and Toth would draw one in Sekowsky\u2019s style! The atmosphere around Standard was playful and enthusiastic \u2013 as is mirrored in these graphically breathtaking first issues. Sadly Toth didn\u2019t tell WHICH those stories were. They seem to have gone through with their prank. Maybe we will offer a candidate later on\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #8<\/a>
\nJanuary 1953
\nCover: (Giant skeletal hand reaching for horse-drawn carriage in flight) \u2013 Nick Cardy ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Vengeance Vat\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + John Celardo)
\n\u201cGraveyard Of The Atlantic\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Phantom Train\u201d (Ray Osrin ?) \u2013 two-pager
\n\u201cThe Accusing Fiddle\u201d (John Celardo) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Ring Of Horror\u201d (Morris Marcus ? + Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cBlood On The Speedway\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Aldo Rubano)
\n\u201cSatan\u2019s Bullet\u201d (John Celardo) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

Particularity in this issue: only three \u201clong\u201d stories (8, 8 and 7 pages) instead of the usual four. Plus three \u201cshort\u201d ones (1, 1 and 2 pages).
\n\u201cThe Vengeance Vat\u201d is a rather tedious I-killed-someone-and-now-am-being-driven-insane-by-hallucinations story.
\nBeen there, seen that, got the t-shirt!<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ring Of Horror\u201d is another bland tale not ending on a shocking twist, but more fading out in a way which makes the reader shrug his shoulders. Though it ends badly for all characters involved, it does in no way grip you.
\n\u201cBlood On The Speedway\u201d can be filed under \u201cokay\u201d. Straight story with a nice twist I didn\u2019t see coming.<\/p>\n

Best story of the whole issue is the two-page text piece<\/strong> (\u201cThe Eternal Stooge\u201d): Aspiring actor Larry Simms ends up as stooge for comedian Mac Horton. They both go to hell and have to perform the same routine for all eternity – in front of an audience incapable of laughter. That would have made for a better comic story than the others!<\/p>\n

And – a short intermission – we post a Standard one-page „quickie“.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"AccusingFiddle\"<\/a><\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #9<\/strong><\/a>
\nMarch 1953
\nCover: (Zombie carrying woman in yellow dress to her ready grave) \u2013\u00a0 Art Saaf ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYour Grave Is Ready\u201d (Mike Sekowsky ? + Ross Andru)
\n\u201cCreepy Scrap Book\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Rat Man\u201d (Jack Katz)
\n\u201cThe Wailing Woman\u201d (George Roussos) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cTill Death Do Us Part\u201d (Ralph Mayo)
\n\u201cThe Bleeding Platter\u201d (Ross Andru + Mike Esposito, signed \u201cMikeross\u201d)
\n\u201cThe Phantom Hitch Hiker\u201d (Art Saaf) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

On his index card for UNSEEN #9 Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. sees possible pencilwork by Mike Sekowsky in the first story (\u201cYour Grave Is Ready\u201d), which looks more like an Andru job. The story has been reprinted in Eclipse\u2019s SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT #6 (April 1986). Therein Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. writes a foreword and credits the story to the team of Ross Andru + Mike Esposito.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>First I thought: \u201cAh, the index card is older, and he revised it when looking at the stories for the Eclipse edition\u201d. Then I noticed that he had corrected his own card with my red pen when we met in Paris \u2013 and let the Sekowsky hunch stand.<\/p>\n

Welcome again to the hellish task of art spotting<\/strong>. I find it particularly difficult with Standard\u2019s horror line. They encouraged a \u201chouse style\u201d (based on the fantastic work of Toth) and in my mind the panels of Sekowsky, Andru, Saaf, Roy, Cardy, Esposito, Peppe, Celardo, Mayo seem to blend into each other. I relied heavily on Jim\u2019s expertise here.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Grave Is Ready<\/a>\u201d, the werewolf tale, is strangely anaemic \u2013 if you\u2019ll excuse the pun. Though the art is again brilliant, we feel for none of the characters \u2013 and so did the writer(s).
\nA formulaic nothing. Even the girl\u2019s grisly death (the whole of page 5!) leaves the reader bored and uninterested. Read it though on Pappy’s delightful „Golden Age Comics Blogzine“ (scroll down to second story!)…<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Rat Man<\/a>\u201d is a refreshing five-pager for a change. Straight rat horror, thank you.
\nAgain it\u2019s Jack Katz who got assigned the most entertaining story. See it posted on „Fifties Horror!“.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTill Death Do Us Part\u201d (Click miniature splash to read)<\/em>: Siamese twin stories are never bad, this one is. How could they possibly pull off that ending?<\/strong> When it\u2019s clear from the beginning that every twin shares the pain of the other? Which is of course the biggest nonsense of them all. Reminds me of the old Woody Allen joke: One twin took a bath \u2013 and the other got clean.<\/p>\n

\"LivingPottery2\"<\/a>

Living pottery on display: the Standard version (left) and the Fawcett variant (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe Bleeding Platter\u201d: Got the feeling I\u2019ve seen this story somewhere else\u2026 but can\u2019t find where. It\u2019s crazy, it\u2019s absolutely fantastic (a bit too fantastic: a potter creating living pottery? How?!). And it feels trimmed and shortened (that\u2019s why I\u2019m hoping there is a longer version out there, a longer version which would make more sense than these five pages).<\/p>\n

Postscript April 2013:<\/strong> Found something.
\nNot the hoped for longer version, but a different one \u2013 in Fawcett\u2019s THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #12 (August 1953).
\nA society dinner, the lady of the house looking for exquisite pottery, a mad potter creating life-like pieces and the lady ending up as just such one on the dinner table. It\u2019s all there, indeed making a bit more sense in this later version.
\n\u201cThe Store At The Cemetery\u201d puts the pottery shop next to a graveyard; the potter is no beatnik here, but a rather sinister looking ghoul.<\/p>\n

\"DesignForDeath\"<\/a>

Coming to you in 3-D now, folks!<\/p><\/div>\n

Postscript November 2014: There you are! Found that longer version I was looking for!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s called „Design for Death“ and (oddly enough) published one-and-a-half-years LATER (August 1954) in THE TORMENTED #2 – the second and last horror book from Sterling Comics.
\nHere we are treated with 7 instead of 5 pages. Same story, same personnel, same text in most places. But now rendered by Bill Ely, in a quirky and interesting way.<\/p>\n

The book is online at Digital Comic Museum (click HERE <\/a>if you like)… It’s fun to compare all three stories – and try to guess which version is the one the author imagined in the first place.
\nAnd presenting you the shocking finale of that dinner party, this time done with a three-dimensional head!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #10<\/strong><\/a>
\nMay 1953
\nCover: (Living mummy forcing man into sarcophagus) \u2013\u00a0 Jack Katz<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Vengeance Of Mark Denton\u201d (Art Saaf + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cDeath Warmed Over\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cR.I.P.\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Cup Of The Dead\u201d
\n(Jack Katz, signed)
\n\u201cEyes Of Evil\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Thirsty Idol\u201d
\n(Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cHaunted Houses\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

Good news: Writing is getting better<\/strong>. Even if still a bit too long, \u201cThe Vengeance Of Mark Denton\u201d surprises with charming character studies (the justice of the peace on pages 4 and 5!) and a gratifying twist.<\/p>\n

Great artwork by Sekowsky\/Peppe in \u201cDeath Warmed Over\u201d, but the fast-paced story is totally out of balance and makes the reader wonder if this was meant to be some kind of murder mystery riddle. Bummer!<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cup Of The Dead\u201d is another wasted story. Up to page 5 it proves quite fascinating (which will be the real \u201cCup of Death\u201d?), but dissolves into a disappointing formula ending.
\n\u201cEyes Of Evil\u201d is a one-page \u201cfiller\u201d story which would have fitted into the line-up of fillers produced by Ace.<\/p>\n

Glad to tell you that \u201cThe Thirsty Idol<\/a>\u201d is this issue\u2019s gem: Six pages and none of them wasted. We get a creepy bloodthirsty idol, spousicide by a ruthless woman, a plane crash in the jungle, a treasure-laden temple \u2013 and lots of blood.\u00a0
\nSee it posted on „Fifties Horror!“.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #11<\/strong><\/a>
\nAugust 1953
\nCover: (Green monster fiend with lantern lurking over man held by jaw trap) \u2013\u00a0 Jack Katz <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Sealed Coffin!\u201d (John Celardo)
\n\u201cThe Songs Of St-Saens\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cFright Cry\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cA Father\u2019s Phantom\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Wolf Dancer!\u201d (Artie Saaf, signed)
\n\u201cRevenge At Glamis Castle\u201d (Jack Katz) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cInterlude For Death\u201d (Jack Katz)
\n\u201cTwo Deaths To Die!\u201d (\u201cLittle Al\u201d) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

Note for artist credit in the one-pager \u201cTwo Deaths To Die!\u201d: Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. identified this as a man he dubbed \u201cLittle Al\u201d \u2013 at loss for a real name. You will find 8 sightings of \u201cLittle Al\u201d indexed on Grand Comics Database!<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s look at the \u201cbiggies\u201d:<\/p>\n

The writing is surely taking off into a more dark direction, as we\u2019ll see in \u201cThe Sealed Coffin!<\/a>\u201d.
\nA misanthropic masterpiece about blas\u00e9 movie stars<\/strong> not caring for human life. A boy\u2019s death, a pillow smothering and a creepy disease create an atmosphere of slight nausea.
\nHardly paralleled in any other Standard book, let alone by the products of the competition. In addition, Celardo shocks us with a (dynamically drawn) vicious beating of a lady on page 8.<\/p>\n

Though nonsensical in the end (the toy locomotive showdown!), \u201cFright Cry\u201d is moving and even unsettling (a woman trying to murder a child under her protection).<\/p>\n

Another woman gets slapped deftly in the face (and shortly after that killed) in \u201cThe Wolf Dancer!<\/a>\u201d, making UNSEEN #11 probably THE most misogynist horror book ever<\/strong>\u2026
\nThis story is nothing special though; a dancer learns a wolf dance and turns into one.<\/p>\n

Domestic violence also occurs in \u201cInterlude For Death\u201d, a story about a pact with death. Stalling his demise (depending on a potted plant, oddly enough) old Jethro becomes a mean and evil person. Not especially inspired is Katz\u2019 artwork (I wonder if this is really a solo job, aren\u2019t these Mastroserio inks?).<\/p>\n

Underlined stories are posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c \u2013 to read click on titles.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #12<\/strong><\/a>
\nNovember 1953
\nCover: (Long, whitehaired zombie risings from swamp and frightening couple in rowboat) \u2013\u00a0 Nick Cardy ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cEdge Of Darkness\u201d (Mike Roy, signed)
\n\u201cThe Screaming Skulls\u201d (Gene Fawcette ?) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cWeird Facts\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Beast Within\u201d (George Roussos)
\n\u201cThe Helmsman\u201d (George Tuska)
\n(reprinted in SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT #6, Eclipse)<\/em>
\n\u201cGrip On Life<\/a>\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cThe Thing In The Well\u201d (Gene Fawcette, signed) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Thing From The Dark\u201d (George Roussos)<\/p>\n

(Attention, Toth lovers!<\/em> The Italian Gianluca Maconi runs a beautiful blog called \u201cThe Alex Toth Archives<\/strong>\u201d where he has posted almost every story by this exceptional artist \u2013 in the best possible quality! To get there follow our link to \u201cGrip On Life<\/a>\u201d.)<\/p>\n

The last issue (UNSEEN #11) was a pleasant surprise in so far that the writing flexed muscles in an off-beat way. Promising. Let\u2019s have a look what this Roussos double feature book has to offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cEdge Of Darkness<\/a>\u201d (a witch\u2019s evil plans are thwarted) is so straight and telegraphing its outcome all along the way that it lacks any surprise or suspense. Mike Roy looks like a crossover of Toth and Roussos \u2013 with strangely cartoony witches on page 2.<\/p>\n

Exactly the same criticism goes for \u201cThe Beast Within<\/a>\u201d, including a wild bear in attack mode looking astonishingly cute<\/strong> (last panel on page 6).<\/p>\n

Highlight of the issue is the Toth 4-pager \u201cGrip On Life\u201d. A tight, compact and original story about a wife\u2019s love for her corrupt attorney husband. There\u2019s loss, there\u2019s grief, there\u2019s even a good dose of suspenseful crime in here!<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Thing From The Dark<\/a>\u201d is\u00a0 highly delectable rubbish about a man caught in a cave-in and turning into a bloodthirsty mole (yes, mole!). A monster mole going on a rampage and finally killing the people who locked him in that cave. Made me laugh. Thumbs up!
\nAs always: posted stories are underlined – click to see.<\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #13<\/strong><\/a>
\nFebruary 1954
\nCover: (Skeletal groom carrying skeletal bride over the doorstep) – ???<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Death Wish\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + ?)
\n\u201cThe Accursed\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cScream In The Night\u201d (Mike Roy, signed)
\n\u201cThe Get-Away\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cDeath Tolls The Bells!\u201d (Gene Fawcette, signed)
\n\u201cThe Hole Of Hell\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe) \u2013 two-pager
\n\u201cA Shroud Of Vengeance\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cRetribution\u201d (John Celardo) \u2013 two-pager
\n\u201cThe Dew Men\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cWerewolf Of Paris\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising<\/p>\n

Welcome back to Standard hodgepodge with \u201cThe Death Wish<\/a>\u201d.
\nI name the ingredients, you make up a plot<\/strong>: A pilot in the jungle rescued by natives. A hidden treasure. Greed. Murder. Return to civilization. Vengeful spirits. \u2018Nuff said.<\/p>\n

\u201cScream In The Night<\/a>\u201d in contrast is simply gorgeous! Probably Mike Roy\u2019s best work, a moody story told entirely by night \u2013 about a sadistic truck driver killing animals. You see the twist coming, of course, but it\u2019s still a great six-pager.<\/p>\n

And we have to mention a refreshing one-pager (see \u201cThe Get-Away\u201d posted just below<\/em>).<\/p>\n

\u201cDeath Tolls The Bells!\u201d makes use of some lines from Edgar Allan Poe\u2019s poem \u201cThe Bells\u201d. Thus claiming literary respectability for itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hole Of Hell\u201d is another (meanwhile rare) contribution by Toth and Peppe \u2013 and only two pages long. Too short to draw any interest and\/or come up with a satisfying story arc (let alone an explanation for the \u201cblack monster\u201d), but great artwork. We post it HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finally \u201cA Shroud Of Vengeance\u201d emerges as the issue\u2019s baddie. A disfigured guy seeking revenge on a society that shuns him, Abel Brendon even dons a cape (!) on his mission to flood the town by bursting the dam.
\nReminds me of two stories from Ace. A disfigured artist on a crusade against beauty (and also sporting a cape on his mission) in \u201cHorror On Canvas\u201d (BAFFLING MYSTERIES #6, January 1952) and the poor shunned goon wanting to flood the town in \u201cVengeance From A Restless Grave\u201d (HAND OF FATE #9, February 1952).
\nThere\u2019s too much alike to count as coincidence. I dare say the Standard writers cleverly blended these two into their own \u201cA Shroud Of Vengeance\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Getaway\"<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #14<\/strong><\/a>
\nApril 1954
\nCover: (Skull faced woman and skeleton waiter frighten man at dinner table) \u2013 \u00a0??? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cMonsters Of The Deep\u201d (Ralph Mayo)
\n\u201cGrim Grins\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager (funny feature) after advertising
\n\u201cNo Rest For The Dead!\u201d (Gene Fawcette)
\n\u201cThe Fifth Corpse\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio + ?)
\n\u201cDo You Believe\u2026?\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cDeath Reaches Out\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe ?) \u2013 two-pager
\n\u201cSkeleton\u2019s Gibbet\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cHorror\u2019s Scrapbook\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cCrime And Punishment\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

Color mismatch on the cover<\/strong> (see it posted below). The title logo loses itself in a reddish blur against that orange curtain. Why not black? Or a dramatic blue?<\/p>\n

UNSEEN14 definitely is a Mastroserio issue. Two long stories and a one-pager. Note that he looks different in these two stories. I guess he\u2019s solo in the second and inked by someone in the first. But who knows for sure?<\/p>\n

\u201cMonsters Of The Deep<\/a>\u201d has been credited to John Celardo. As much as I would like that, I revoke and put Ralph Mayo in his place. Who appears for a \u201ccameo\u201d after ten months of absence. The story about a cruel tribe of mermaids capturing a human is surprisingly good. Though the golden-age-old question remains how a human can be breathing underwater\u2026 tssttssssttss\u2026 ahh, we\u2019ll never know.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Rest For The Dead!<\/a>\u201d is another delightful surprise: the story is told by no other than Death himself. What a perfect host for horror.<\/strong>
\n\u201cI am Death\u201d begins his narration about a sadistic undertaker killing the girl he loves and brings her back from the dead to be his zombie lover!
\nThis tale runs in the same vein as \u201cBride Of Death\u201d in DARKNESS #7, but is more elegant. \u201cNo Rest For The Dead!\u201d is surely the best three-pager in Standard\u2019s horror output.
\nThe undertaker\u2019s name by the way is Lethan Krewal \u2013 quite a brilliant tongue-in-cheek pun (lethal \/ cruel).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Shocking cover… bad color choice.<\/p><\/div>\n

Next story up is \u201cThe Fifth Corpse<\/a>\u201d, told in that \u201cYou\u201d-narrative I do like so much. Doesn\u2019t disappoint. Though the twist is a bit over the top, but refreshing.
\nThey are suddenly going someplace. This feels weird now. Three stories in a row \u2013 and not a clunker so far?<\/p>\n

Even the text story (\u201cIcy Fingers\u201d) following now is fun entertainment. A young man is sexually harassed by an invisible ghost, loses his girl over this new relationship and ends locked away in the asylum. Creative, almost mind-blowing plot for a horror book. Again written with a deft touch of irony.<\/p>\n

And then the old uninspired Standard writing returns in \u201cDeath Reaches Out<\/a>\u201d \u2013 but only for two pages.
\nSo it all comes down to the last long story, \u201cSkeleton\u2019s Gibbet<\/a>\u201d.
\nIt proves to be the small drop of bitterness for an else great horror comic book. The second Mastroserio job is not a bad one at all, even has nice touches (the gambling payback scene, the all-knowing servants), but is your usual murderer-is-haunted-and-punished tale.<\/p>\n

There. I said it.<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE UNSEEN #15<\/strong><\/a>
\nJuly 1954
\nCover: (Man in barber chair encounters razor wielding skeleton) – Mort Meskin + George Roussos <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Monsters of Harlow Caverns\u201d (George Roussos + Mort Meskin)
\n\u201cThe Missing Man\u201d (George Roussos + Mort Meskin) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cHand Of Glory\u201d (Mort Meskin + George Roussos) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cStronger Than Death\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cDate With A Corpse\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cCellini\u2019s Night With The Demons\u201d (Gene Fawcette, signed)
\n\u201cThe Curse Of The Undead!\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cThe Man They Couldn\u2019t Bury\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 half-pager
\n\u201cMasks For The Dead\u201d (Gene Fawcette ?) \u2013 half-pager
\n\u201cThe Ghost Hunter\u201d (Mort Meskin + George Roussos) \u2013 two-pager<\/p>\n

The cover sports the signature \u201cMR\u201d which has been interpreted as either \u201cMeskin & Roussos\u201d<\/strong> or \u201cMike Roy\u201d. We believe it to be Meskin and Roussos, because they used this signature in their stories for the (unpublished!) DARKNESS #15 (see entry there<\/em>). They are teaming up now and will be collaborating sadly only for this UNSEEN issue, cause it is the last. For one more \u201cMR\u201d see SHADOWS #14.<\/p>\n

\u201cHand Of Glory\u201d is Standard\u2019s best half-pager, posted right HERE.<\/p>\n

\"HandOfGloryHalb\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s make this short, people. This is one of the most boring horror books I\u2019ve ever read. Except for the three-page short feature by Fawcette (beautifully done and posted in our „Stories“ section). And of course except for \u201cDate With A Corpse\u201d:<\/p>\n

This surely would have made Dr. Wertham\u2019s day.<\/strong> But it is July 1954, the damage is long done already. Straight necrophilic version of \u201cBride Of Death\u201d, a story Jack Katz illustrated one and a half year earlier in DARKNESS #7.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ever had a date with a corpse?<\/p><\/div>\n

No mad science, no life giving potions, just a sick gravedigger wanting to get his hands on a woman \u2013 dead or alive.
\nThe deadly embrace of rigor mortis plays much more better here, even if it is the exact same twist ending as in the 1952 version.<\/p>\n

\u201cDate With A Corpse<\/a>\u201d (posted under this link on „Fifties Horror!“<\/em>) is credited to Sekowsky + Peppe, but there is a definite touch and feel of Toth about it. The Prankster strikes again – Who knows?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>The rest of the stories are so utterly run of the mill that the mill would protest if it could.<\/p>\n

And on that fine note we shut the doors on THE UNSEEN and come to our artist assignment count.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who did what and how much?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Because Standard story lengths range from a half up to nine pages, we won\u2019t count the jobs, but the pages executed per artist:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
59<\/td>\nMike Sekowsky<\/td>\n(mostly inked by Mike Peppe)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43<\/td>\nRocco Mastroserio<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39<\/td>\nGeorge Roussos<\/td>\n(11 with Mort Meskin)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34<\/td>\nJack Katz<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/td>\nRoss Andru<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nRalph Mayo<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nJohn Celardo<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/td>\nArt Saaf<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nAlex Toth<\/td>\n(with Mike Peppe)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nGene Fawcette<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nMike Roy<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

And bits and pieces by George Tuska, Jerry Grandenetti and unidentified artists.<\/p>\n

That is surprisingly little Toth in THE UNSEEN and most stuff is done by trusty work horses like Sekowsky, Mastroserio and Roussos.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Standard\u2019s flagship horror title. Chronological listing of all issues \u2013 with comments and annotations. We mention date of publication, cover motive and cover artist (if identified). Every issue has been indexed on the Grand Comics Database \u2013 the link will show you all available data, including cover shots and story descriptions. Just click the underlined […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":808,"parent":0,"menu_order":20,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-artists.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":890,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions\/890"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}