{"id":12,"date":"2012-11-09T12:04:43","date_gmt":"2012-11-09T11:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/highest-standard.de\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2013-09-06T12:16:52","modified_gmt":"2013-09-06T10:16:52","slug":"out-of-the-shadows","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/?page_id=12","title":{"rendered":"Out Of The Shadows"},"content":{"rendered":"

Standard\u2019s second 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. <\/em>Just click to read it.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS\u00a0 \/\u00a0 10 issues <\/strong><\/h1>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #5<\/a>
\nJuly 1952
\nCover: (Giant spectre emanating from coffin and scaring graverobbers) \u2013 George Roussos, signed<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Shoremouth Horror\u201d (Alex Toth + ?)
\n\u201cThe Hag Of Red River\u201d (Art Saaf ?) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cDeadly Diamond\u201d (George Tuska)
\n\u201cCurse of Rockwood\u201d (George Roussos)
\n\u201cThe Haunted Bed\u201d (Art Saaf ?) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cTragedy Of Terror\u201d (Ruben Moreira, signed)<\/p>\n

Standard goes big-time for dark tones (visually, not regarding to content!).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Shoremouth Horror\u201d, Toth\u2019s second horror story, is even better than the first, because now the story is scripted in a better way.
\nThe rest of the stories \u2013 alas \u2013 is weak and uninspired horror writing. You see the \u201ctwists\u201d (hardly to be called such) coming from the second page on<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Dark and moody George Roussos (surely the poorest artist in Standard\u2019s fantastic line-up) fits in nicely though. His cover painting is not bad either. \u201cCurse of Rockwood<\/a>\u201d can be found on this interesting comics art blog (click to see<\/em>).
\n\u201cDeadly Diamond<\/a>\u201d is posted on the opulent „Fabulous Fifties“ blog (click to see).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #6<\/a>
\nOctober 1952
\nCover: (Fiend with vultures lurking above human victim) \u2013 Rocco Mastroserio ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Phantom Ship<\/a>\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cFacts On The Fantastic\u201d (Ross Andru) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Secret One\u201d (Jack Katz)
\n\u201cTrapped From The Grave\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cWitch\u2019s Wish\u201d (Jack Katz)
\n\u201cRequiem\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cSalesman Of Death\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio)<\/p>\n

First story by Mastroserio.<\/strong> He will be contributing massively for the next issue and do most of his work for SHADOWS.<\/p>\n

Still run-of-the-mill writing without any edge. Greedy men turn into rats, a demon causes the usual trouble, a witch wants to possess the body of her young cousin; and a cruel boss is haunted by the ghost of an employee (this at least provides for a lot of zombie action scenes).
\nThese stories have (apart from the artwork!) no \u201cpersonality\u201d, no special touch (like the yarns of many other companies had!). Maybe the name \u201cStandard\u201d is working like a curse here<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n

Strange text story (\u201cNight Of Horror\u201d) in this issue: A man walks unsuspectingly into a Black Mass, held in a church in Nuremberg, Germany. The man is not bothered by this, though. He sold his soul to the devil long ago; his name is Hitler.<\/p>\n


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

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #7<\/strong><\/a>
\nJanuary 1953
\nCover: (Skeleton surprises man rummaging through treasure chest) \u2013 Jack Katz<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cHades Highway\u201d (Jack Katz, signed)
\n\u201cThe Cloak Of A Corpse\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Devil In Massachusetts\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Plant Of Doom\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio, signed \u201cMarcus Rocke\u201d)
\n\u201cThe Fangs Of Fate!\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio, signed \u201cRocke\u201d)
\n\u201cGeneral Moulton And The Devil<\/a>\u201d (Ross Andru)
\n\u201cThe Ugliest Man In The World\u201d (Jack Katz, signed)<\/p>\n

Big and pleasant surprise: the writing changes for the better<\/strong>! \u201cHades Highway<\/a>\u201d is a cool story title and entertaining enough, depicting a killer\u2019s journey into madness. \u201cThe Plant Of Doom<\/a>\u201d is a fast paced revenge plot involving giant killer plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fangs Of Fate!<\/a>\u201d is pure and zany monster snake madness. What can go wrong writing about an eerie doctor running a snake farm?!<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ugliest Man In The World<\/a>\u201d is a bit of a classic: Illogical, but deeply disturbing story about an actor whose face gets horribly disfigured. See it posted as a „double feature“ on Karswell’s fantastic blog „The Horrors Of It All“.
\nKatz\u2019s artwork is crude, but most effective \u2013 and the two final pages reveling in the man\u2019s sheer despair are unparalleled in horror comics history.<\/p>\n

Quite fun stuff now! Will they keep it up?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #8<\/strong><\/a>
\nApril 1953
\nCover: (Brute boiling human heads in giant cauldron) \u2013 Jack Katz<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Drums Of Cajou\u201d (George Roussos)
\n\u201cDevil\u2019s Mansion\u201d (Vince Colletta) \u2013 half-pager before advertising
\n\u201cThe Mask Of Death\u201d (Jerry Grandenetti)
\n\u201eThe Man In The Mirror\u201c (Morris Marcus ? + Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cCeltic Spirits\u201d (Morris Marcus ? + Aldo Rubano) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cMasque For A Monster\u201d (Charles Sultan)
\n\u201cThe Philosopher Finds A Ghost\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Drums Of Cajou<\/a>\u201d (posted on the „Fabulous Fifties“ blog<\/em>) is not bad, but again standard Standard lore.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mask Of Death<\/a>\u201d is not bad either, but would have been better if they had dared to end this story with the dark twist (EC would have done so). With Standard, they chose to add two more panels for a \u201chappy\u201d ending.
\nKarswell posted the newly colored reprint version.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201eThe Man In The Mirror\u201c lacks impact, because it refrains from depicting blood and guts<\/strong>. Just a cop TELLING us about a man gone to pieces and only DEPICTING some shards of glass does not make the readers\u2019 day, folks.
\nOddly, this story would have been fun if there were strewn in at least three panels of gratuitous violence. More oddly, Mastroserio excelled at that in his collaboration with Lou Cameron for the Ace horror books. Was there a \u201cStandard house rule\u201d at work, opposing show of blood and violence?
\n(should have tried THAT at Harvey\u2026)<\/p>\n

Fawcett veteran and ACG horror artist Charles Sultan contributes his second (and last) Standard job. His \u201cMasque For A Monster\u201d wins prize for best story (a journey into madness), but worst artwork of the issue.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #9<\/strong><\/a>
\nJuly 1953
\nCover: (Skeleton in wheelchair enters house and surprises couple) \u2013\u00a0 ???<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe Corpse That Came To Dinner\u201d (Reed Crandall + Mike Peppe, signed \u201cC&P\u201d)
\n\u201cThe Human Hyena Of Pirra\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Horror Of Candle Lodge<\/a>\u201d (Nick Cardy)
\n\u201cBattle Of Edge Hill\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cTill Death Do Us Part\u201d (Nick Cardy)
\n\u201cGunnvor The Sorceress<\/a>\u201d (Ralph Mayo, signed)
\n\u201cHanged By The Neck\u201d (Reed Crandall + ?)
\n\u201cThe Spanish Steed\u201d (Mort Meskin + George Roussos ?) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

The cover could not be identified by the best art spotters of their generation. I wonder if this is Celardo; or Celardo inking Crandall even? The man sure looks like a Crandall pencil drawing. I like a wild guess now and then\u2026<\/p>\n

One of Standard\u2019s best known horror books –\u00a0 because of the Reed Crandall double feature<\/strong>. This is Crandall\u2019s only appearance in Standard horror. Both stories are no solo jobs and coincide with his debut for EC\u2019s SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES #9 (\u201cCarrion Death\u201d). I consider \u201cCarrion Death\u201d a true horror masterpiece \u2013 and so is \u201cThe Corpse That Came To Dinner<\/a>\u201d. For the first seven of its eight pages\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A brilliant exposition and splash (no one draws frightened faces better than Crandall!) is followed by a highly original, truly shocking and suspense-filled nightmare of a young couple. Only on the last page they go for a twist which is annoying beyond belief. The corpse is in reality no corpse, but a prankster using make-up to look like one?!
\nThat goes unnoticed \u2013 for days? Please. The ending fouls up the story<\/strong> (no pun intended).<\/p>\n

\u201cTill Death Do Us Part<\/a>\u201d (the next issue of SHADOWS will present another story with the exact same title, by the way) is unusual in its construction. The first and last page are used for explanations, but the four pages between are pure cinematic action. Unhindered by balloons, Nick Cardy is allowed to wallow in gorgeous pictures. The forced twist is quite unnecessary and sadistic as well.<\/p>\n

This issue\u2019s third long story, \u201cHanged By The Neck<\/a>\u201d, is satisfactory. Great art illustrating a classical tale of hate and retribution set nicely in Vaudeville milieu.
\nAll in all, SHADOWS #9 presents great value and may count as a pre-code horror milestone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #10<\/strong><\/a>
\nOctober 1953
\nCover: (Green spider fiend with red cape attacking man in spider web) \u2013\u00a0 George Roussos<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cDestroy My Enemy<\/a>\u201d (Nick Cardy)<\/strong>
\n\u201cRoom Of Terror\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cWeird Watson\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager (funny feature) after advertising
\n\u201c\u2019Til Death Do Us Part\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe)<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe Sergeant\u201d (Jack Katz) \u2013 two-pager
\n\u201cRevenge Of The Little People\u201d (John Celardo)
\n\u201cThe Corpse That Lived!\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe)
\n\u201cThe Fettered Phantom\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

This is pathetic. Nick Cardy\u2019s beautiful lead story ends with a killer genie turning on his master \u2013 just because they hassle about words and phrasings. Aarrrgghh.<\/p>\n

Strangely off balance is the writing again in \u201c\u2019Til Death Do Us Part<\/a>\u201d: the story about a husband being dominated by his cruel wife gets mixed up with a ghost mystery about two sisters living in seclusion. The plot has its moments, but is brought hastily to an overly violent end. Why is the man burning? Couldn\u2019t he just have gone mad? Can only shake my head here.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s another Aarrgghh for \u201cRevenge Of The Little People\u201d. What\u2019s with these midget ghosts? Where do they suddenly come from? Why can ghosts manipulate solid objects? There are enough living \u201clittle people\u201d around at that circus who could get involved in some nice retribution, lead on by a ghostly Major Martin for all I care\u2026
\nAch, the writing is so often just that fatal bit off the track!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Best piece of the issue is \u201cThe Corpse That Lived!<\/a>\u201d, an allegedly factual three-pager about a seemingly dead woman buried with her precious jewels \u2013 and rescued by grave robbers!
\nToth\u2019s wonderful artwork saves the day and almost placates me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #11<\/strong><\/a>
\nJanuary 1954
\nCover: (Skeleton rising from trunk and shocking porter) \u2013 ???<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cFountain Of Fear\u201d (George Roussos)
\n<\/strong>\u201cThe Black Candle\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cHorror\u2019s Scrapbook\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Coin Of Evil\u201d (Nick Cardy)
\n\u201cThe Prophecy\u201d (Jack Katz)
\n<\/strong>\u201cAria In Blood\u201d (George Roussos) \u2013 two-pager
\n\u201cThe Man They Could Not Hang\u201d (Pete Morisi) \u2013 one-pager
\n\u201cThe Wig\u201d (Mike Roy, signed)
\n\u201cThe Mask Of Graffenwehr\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe) \u2013 two-pager
\n(posted on same page as \u201cCoin Of Evil\u201d, follow link below<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Again a nice cover, but untraceable to a certain artist. Probably a joint effort.
\nSo, let\u2019s brace ourself for the stories:<\/p>\n

\u201cFountain Of Fear\u201d surprises. A brutal escaped murderer, the fountain of youth and a nice twist make for a good and tough lead story. There remains only one question: To what state please does evil Gil Lansing exactly regress?! Not embryonic, as the picture shows. Hmmm. Never mind, it\u2019s a gripping and moving yarn.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Coin Of Evil<\/a>\u201d is yet another variation of the horror story classic \u201cThe Monkey\u2019s Paw\u201d by William Wymark Jacobs, first published in 1902. Wishes come true, but with terrible consequences. There are some horror comic versions around. \u201cThe Coin Of Evil\u201d is the best one I know of. Cardy\u2019s artwork is very Toth-like and shows us moving everyday characters struck by tragedy.
\nHigh drama. I\u2019ve seldomly been touched more by a comic book story!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Prophecy\u201d is a rather weak piece and not one of Jack Katz\u2019 good jobs (I wonder if he\u2019s inked by Roussos here?). But it\u2019s a straight four-pager and we\u2019ll let it go.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A most nonsensical final panel haunts the two-pager \u201cAria In Blood\u201d. The voiceless singer going \u201cCroak! Croak!\u201d like a parrot on ecstasy.<\/p>\n

Would have been much better without that \u201csound effect\u201d\u2026
\nThere\u2019s even a pun here, as I just noticed:
\nOne of the singers croaks, the other as well! Hehehe.<\/p>\n

And so we come to \u201cThe Wig<\/a>\u201d, a story I\u2019m just crazy about. I love those zany horror stories, where the impossible happens. Here it is a toupee strangling (on its own, don\u2019t know how!) the hairdresser who killed the man to whom the hair belonged.
\nHair actively committing murder gets my attention every time. And Standard did another one of these killer hair tales (\u201cThe Fatal Strands\u201d in DARKNESS #8, see there).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Wig\u201d even exists in two versions<\/strong>. One from Standard (follow the link to read it online) and one from Fawcett, posted on my German website, see it HERE<\/a>.
\nOne clever writer cashed in twice there. Feel free to compare!<\/p>\n

Conclusion: SHADOWS #11 is a strange issue. The writing is enormously diverse, ranging from touching tragedy to whacky comedy. Art-wise not one of the highlights, but wonderfully colorful. There are seven artists (at least) present here.<\/p>\n

We pause for a one-page bonus „quickie“ by Gene Fawcette:<\/em><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #12<\/strong><\/a>
\nMarch 1954
\nCover: (Female vampire rises from coffin and is visited by male vampire) \u2013 Mike Roy ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHand Of Death\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cCanterbury Ghosts\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cThe Man Who Was Always On Time\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe, signed)
\n\u201cGallery Of Horror\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cImages Of Sand<\/a>\u201d (Alex Toth + Mike Peppe, signed)
\n(click to see reprinted newly colored version at Karswell’s, click splash below to see the original in our „Stories“ section)\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>
\n\u201cWhen They Die\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cKill Happy\u201d (Jack Katz)
\n\u201cThe Monsters\u201d (???) \u2013 one-pager<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Needless to say this is one of the great issues \u2013 because it features two stories by Toth and Peppe<\/strong>. It will be their last contribution to Standard\u2019s horror line as well.
\nExit Jack Katz as well<\/strong>, swinging over to Atlas war and horror.<\/p>\n

Bit of a mystery why they didn\u2019t chose the gorgeous looking \u201cImages Of Sand\u201d as lead story…
\nBut let us start at the beginning:<\/p>\n

\u201cHand Of Death\u201d is one of those many stories about detached hands. This is a bad one, about a matador\u2019s skills he obtains from a witch. They hassle quite childishly about money, and a hand gets detached, then attached again, then more money problems. Shameful, one-dimensional writing<\/strong> \u2013 still at home at Standard.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Man Who Was Always On Time<\/a>\u201d (posted on „Fifties Horror!“) is run of the mill, but offers an interesting topic (clock collectors) and nice touches (the punctuality tic, underlying spousal tension). Even the twist is okay \u2013 poetic justice at its best.<\/p>\n

\u201cImages Of Sand\u201d is one of Toth\u2019s best horror jobs and an all-time classic. Mind you: Even this is standard fare, but just too beautiful to ignore.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s a wrap with \u201cKill Happy\u201d, a Katz crime contribution. It is indeed a thoroughbred crime story of a long 8 pages. Don\u2019t know how this ended up here. Seems to be no leftover story from a Standard crime comic book. Their tentative excursions into crime were limited to the year 1952. It\u2019s wonderful artwork by Jack Katz, but doesn\u2019t really fit in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #13<\/strong><\/a>
\nMay 1954
\nCover: (Giant red hand lowering knife-wielding marionette above victim) \u2013 George Roussos <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fearful Night\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe)<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe Recluse\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio + ?)
\n\u201cThe Cannibal!\u201d (???)
\n\u201cGallery Of Horror\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cMan From The Grave\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cChilly Chuckles\u201d (???) \u2013 half-pager (funny feature) after advertising
\n\u201cDon\u2019t Look Behind\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mike Peppe \/ Nick Cardy ?)<\/p>\n

This is a Sekowsky issue. Two long stories inside.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Incidentally, all of the stories are posted on a blog dedicated to the products of the Standard company (aka Nedor). Thus the blog is called „Nedor-A-Day<\/strong>„. But the blogger just published these four horror tales (and the first one from Toth, to be precise). Follow the links to get there. Have a look around if you\u2019re interested in other genres.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fearful Night<\/a>\u201d stages a drama about a vagabond in the Carpathian mountains falling prey to a band of wicked witches. Stephan has to shed blood to break the spell, but is doomed for eternity anyway. A very literary account of guilt and damnation, but clearly lacks a zest for horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Recluse<\/a>\u201d is a crudity, adequately drawn by Rocco Mastroserio. The story picks plot elements from different formula stories and tries to piece together a whole new puzzle. They almost succeed, but the twist ends up in smoke.<\/p>\n

Mystery artwork in \u201cThe Cannibal!<\/a>\u201d. No one dared put a name to these pages. I won\u2019t do either. It is irritating, indeed. There is this \u201chouse style\u201d feeling; instinctively you think of Mastroserio, Saaf or even Cardy \u2013 but looking closer, nothing fits. This may be an elaborate swipe job, executed by an uncredited guest artist.
\nPostcript December 2012:<\/strong> Dutch art spotter Ger Apeldoorn reports: „To me The Cannibal<\/em> has definite signs of Reed Crandall“. Interesting guess. Bedankt, mijnheer.<\/em> The style doesn’t strike you as Crandall’s, but if you look at it with Crandall in mind, there it is. Some faces, some postures, the general composition… hmmm.<\/em><\/p>\n

The story itself is Standard\u2019s second try at cannibalism<\/strong>. After the flawed \u201cFeast Of The Ghouls\u201d in DARKNESS #13 two months earlier, they now go for sheer horror! No monsters, but a refined English gentleman under suspicion to attack his victims at night and picking them clean to the bare bones (in minutes!). Plausibility aside, this is a horror comic trying to entertain. And it is fun! Very atypical concerning company \u201cpolicy\u201d.
\n\u201cThe Cannibal!\u201d seems to be an outside job, in writing and illustrating.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Over-the-top-morale in „Don’t Look Behind“<\/p><\/div>\n

Art spotting acuteness in \u201cDon\u2019t Look Behind<\/a>\u201d: Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. thinks the inks here may be not Mike Peppe, but Nick Cardy. I wouldn\u2019t know, I give up.<\/p>\n

The story about a brutal killer\u2019s conscience coming after him (literally) is not that bad, but ends on a cheesy moral note:
\n\u201cDugan\u2019s conscience finally caught up with him! Have YOU consulted yours lately?!<\/strong>\u201d.
\nAs if any of us would be a murderer or a drunkard, a thief or a gambler! I think it over the top here; or is it appeasement to justify that story in the first place?!<\/p>\n

Another run-of-the-mill Standard book, with an outside contribution (probably) standing out.
\nTssk. Tssk. Tssk.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OUT OF THE SHADOWS #14<\/strong><\/a>
\nAugust 1954
\nCover: (Murdered man lying in front of armored skeletal knight) \u2013 ???<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cWerewolf\u201d (signature \u201cMR\u201d, Mort Meskin + George Roussos)
\n<\/strong>\u201cThe Storm Ship\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cJunk-Man\u2019s Treasure\u201d (Rocce Mastroserio + Nick Cardy)
\n\u201cThe Brannock Curse\u201d (Mike Roy)
\n\u201cOmens Of Death!\u201d (Mort Meskin + George Roussos) \u2013 half-pager after advertising
\n\u201cWhen Death Takes A Hand\u201d (Gene Fawcette, signed)
\n\u201cDay Of Reckoning\u201d (Rocco Mastroserio + John Celardo)
\n\u201cThe Ghost Girl\u201d (Gene Fawcette) \u2013 two-pager<\/p>\n

The cover of SHADOW\u2019s last issue is shockingly lame and seems to be heralding the advent of the Comics Code. What about the stories?<\/p>\n

\u201cWerewolf\u201d is an okay horror tale sporting a red herring which comes as no surprise in autumn 1954. And marks the second installment of the short-lived Meskin\/Roussos collaboration.<\/p>\n

\u201cJunk-Man\u2019s Treasure<\/a>\u201d is a fast and dirty three-page shocker. Fair enough!
\nSee it posted on Karswell’s fantastic blog „The Horrors Of It All“.<\/em><\/p>\n

Must stories about family curses be always that foreseeable? \u201cThe Brannock Curse\u201d is, though I give it credit for choosing a nice ambience for the showdown: a skiing slope.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Death Takes A Hand\u201d is another very nice job by Gene Fawcette, see it posted HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The story \u201cDay Of Reckoning\u201d has no connection with \u201cDay Of Reckoning!\u201d by John Celardo in DARKNESS #5. Artwork is a puzzler. Experts believe it to be a joint effort by Mastroserio and Celardo (again). Just who did what is disputable. Both are to be found in our „Stories“ section.<\/em><\/p>\n

The story itself is one of those partly enjoyable \u201cbaddies\u201d bursting with illogical and idiotic incidents. I only missed my favorite horror phrase, shouted by spurned lovers: \u201cIf I can\u2019t have you, no one shall!\u201d<\/p>\n

So, out of business goes OUT OF THE SHADOWS.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our \u201cwho did how much\u201d \u2013 splitted into a neat page count:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
44<\/td>\nRocco Mastroserio<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43<\/td>\nJack Katz<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
33<\/td>\nGeorge Roussos<\/td>\n(7 with Mort Meskin)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/td>\nAlex Toth<\/td>\n(with Mike Peppe)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/td>\nNick Cardy<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/td>\nMike Sekowsky<\/td>\n(mostly inked by Mike Peppe)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nJohn Celardo<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nReed Crandall<\/td>\n(8 with Mike Peppe)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nMike Roy<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nGene Fawcette<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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

Mayo, Andru and Saaf did not contribute to OUT OF THE SHADOWS (just single pages).<\/p>\n

Sekowsky not nearly as prominent as in THE UNSEEN, Katz high up now with Mastroserio again, mostly \u201cfiller\u201d work by Fawcette, only appearance by Crandall, and Cardy on the map (he was unseen in THE UNSEEN).<\/p>\n

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

Standard\u2019s second 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":810,"parent":0,"menu_order":30,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12"}],"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=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":851,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions\/851"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/highest-standard.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}