{"id":2,"date":"2013-08-07T13:49:39","date_gmt":"2013-08-07T11:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/charm-of-charlton.fifties-horror\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2013-09-16T12:46:49","modified_gmt":"2013-09-16T10:46:49","slug":"artists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/?page_id=2","title":{"rendered":"Artists of Charlton"},"content":{"rendered":"

We attach now a survey of CHARLTON HORROR, because the Charlton Company continued some of Fawcett\u2019s magazines. Just to be clear.
\nFawcett published 14 issues of THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED<\/strong>; Charlton took over for another 7 pre-code issues (plus 5 more in the very late, code-approved 1950s).
\nFawcett published 5 issues of STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES<\/strong>; Charlton took over for (again) another 7 pre-code issues (plus lots more in the very late, code-approved 1950s and even a short run in the late 1960s).
\nBut Charlton had books of their own, of course. Namely 17 issues of THE THING<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

CHARLTON HORROR<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\"talesofterror\"<\/a>

Tales of Terror for me, see?<\/p><\/div>\n

Charlton Comics began with YELLOWJACKET, an anthology of superhero and horror stories launched September 1944 under the imprint Frank Comunale Publications. In 8 of its 10 issues YELLOWJACKET presented a feature called \u201cTales of Terror\u201d<\/strong>, starting with adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe stories and four original horror stories hosted by an old witch!<\/p>\n

These four tales from 1946 precede Avon\u2019s horror one-shot EERIE by a whole year and contain a rather spectacular scope of horror lore: Greedy adventurers are killed by falling native idols, wishes are fulfilled but carry a devilish catch, a murderer is brought to justice by the victim\u2019s detached hand. Charlton contributed a pioneering effort to the horror genre<\/strong> in comic books.<\/p>\n

And that may be the best thing anyone ever has said about Charlton Comics. They have a BAD reputation. Allegedly they didn\u2019t care for quality. Artists hated working for Charlton (though they provided work, especially in the post-code late 1950s and early 1960s). Charlton was primarily interested in keeping its in-house printing presses churning.
\nSo let\u2019s have an (open-minded, hehe) look at CHARLTON HORROR. Running our laser eyes over the years 1952-54, skipping the \u201cTales of Terror\u201d.
\nIf you should be interested, I wrote a (German!) in-depth-article about those on my website FIFTIES HORROR, take a look HERE <\/a>and get an automated translation by choosing your language clicking the „widget Google thingy“ in the upper left corner.<\/p>\n

Spotlight: The Ditko Phase<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Though CHARLTON HORROR is associated with artwork by Steve Ditko, he contributed only for a short span of time<\/strong>, from February 1954 to August 1954. His work appears ONLY in THE THING #12-15 (plus the cover of #17), in STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #18-20 and in THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #17 + 18 (plus the covers to #16, 19, 21).<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a meager 9 books out of 32<\/strong> issues containing pre-code horror and suspense (not counting the covers, as you may have noticed). Yet Ditko\u2019s artwork is so outstanding that he left his distinctive mark on CHARLTON HORROR. Like Lou Cameron did with his jobs for ACE HORROR in 1954 (he needed two full years to develop his mastership). Ditko\u2019s got it right from the start. So don\u2019t you be disappointed as we\u2019re looking through all the Charlton horror comics that Ditko\u2019s mostly NOT in there\u2026<\/p>\n

The Artists<\/strong><\/h1>\n

STEVE DITKO<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"ditkoface\"<\/a>

Charlton artist: Steve Ditko<\/p><\/div>\n

You all know Ditko. Silver Age superhero giant. Fan favorite for decades. Ran with Stan Lee at Marvel. You know the guy! Well, I don\u2019t. I have very little connection with Ditko. Just his pre-code horror work.<\/p>\n

The fun fact is that he practically started out with CHARLTON HORROR<\/strong>. His seventh job ever (according to the chronological listing at Grand Comics Database) was \u201cCinderella\u201d for THE THING #12. Ditko stayed only for six months and made a name for him, very fast.<\/p>\n

His style is peculiar. Right from the beginning his pencils and inks \u201cradiate\u201d a flavor of their own. It\u2019s clean-cut, with a great sense of space and perspective. His pages are inhabited with truly evil-looking people and beings!<\/p>\n

I say it\u2019s in the eyes. Ditko draws hypnotic eyes, overly big or strangely slanted eyes!<\/strong><\/p>\n

He left and did a (first) stint at Atlas\/Marvel in 1956, then returned to Charlton and contributed to many of their mystery titles. The year 1959 saw him move over to Marvel again. The rest, as they say, is comics history.<\/p>\n

BOB FORGIONE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The man who let CHARLTON HORROR out of the gate. The first 11 issues of THE THING bear his mark. His hard-edged style relies on heavy inks and transports a massiveness which isn\u2019t always the best approach to horror\u2026<\/p>\n

Forgione, too, is a Charlton beginner. Got the boot at the end of 1953 and went looking for work elsewhere. Contributed to ACG\u2019s and Atlas\/Marvel\u2019s horror titles as well as for St. John\u2019s WEIRD HORRORS.<\/p>\n

ALBERT TYLER<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tyler began by teaming up with Forgione as his inker. In 1952 he was allowed to do a handful of solo stories for Charlton. After some contributions to ST. JOHN HORROR (like his buddy Forgione) he left the business in 1953.<\/p>\n

So the first issues of THE THING were made by these two total rookies<\/strong>! Greenhorns come to shock you. Always nice if a publisher cares\u2026<\/p>\n

JOHN BELFI<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s an early CHARLTON HORROR \u201chouse style\u201d<\/strong>, made up by Tyler, Forgione and this guy: John Belfi. He has to count as the \u201cveteran\u201d of the gang, because he (allegedly) appears as early as 1940 at Centaur (first credit) and 1942 at Quality Comics (second credit).
\nUntil 1950 he\u2019s just doing piecework here and there. Doing inking stints at DC, Hillman, Prize and Lev Gleason. The next two years find him inking western stories for Magazine Enterprises.
\nCharlton becomes his main employer (not only for horror) in 1952- 55. Belfi stops working on horror when Ditko and Ayers get on board.<\/p>\n

\"ForgBelfFace\"<\/a>

Charlton artists: Bob Forgione (left) and John Belfi (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

DICK GIORDANO<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Was THE prominent crime comics artist<\/strong> for pre-code Charlton books. Began with the likes of LAWBREAKERS, RACKET SQUAD IN ACTION and CRIME AND JUSTICE, then moonlighted for the horror titles as well (mainly STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES). Great, another rookie!<\/p>\n

But this rookie, of course, went on to have a decade-spanning career in comic books. After having spent 15 years at Charlton, he went over to DC and worked alongside Joe Orlando as editor.
\nI don\u2019t care much for Giordano. I believe him to be the archetype of a solid artist doing solid jobs. Drawing really good and making no mistakes. But nothing will grip you. Have a look at his Wikipedia page<\/a> if you like.<\/p>\n

\"GioTylFace\"<\/a>

Charlton artists: Dick Giordano (left) and Albert Tyler (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

DICK AYERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"ayersface\"<\/a>

Charlton artist: Dick Ayers<\/p><\/div>\n

The second veteran in our pre-code posse. He began ghosting Joe Shuster on \u201cFunnyman\u201d for Magazine Enterprises in 1948, and then continued there with the western books TIM HOLT, GHOST RIDER and also BOBBY BENSON\u2019S B-BAR B RIDERS.
\nAtlas invited him over to do horror in 1952-53. His first job for Charlton was the MAD clone EH #1. Because this man can look funny!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Which is what shines through his horror efforts. This is taking some of the edge of the cruelties he so likes to depict.<\/p>\n

Ayers by the way continued his grisly career<\/strong> years later in the infamous magazines coming from Eerie Publications. There he relished in depictions of ripped-out eyeballs flying through the air. I direct potential voyeurs to this blog, sadly no more active: \u201cThe Bloody Pulp<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

And may recommend Mike Howlett\u2019s excellent book about this crazy enterprise: \u201cThe Weird World of Eerie Publications<\/a>: Comic Gore That Warped Millions of Young Minds\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ayers later went on to some respectable fame by being the inker for Jack Kirby at Marvel. \u201cSeven pages a day\u201d, as the delightful encyclopedia \u201cComics Between the Panels\u201d informs us.<\/p>\n

SEYMOUR \u201cSY\u201d MOSKOWITZ<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"moskoface\"<\/a>

Charlton artist: Seymour Moskowitz<\/p><\/div>\n

Moskowitz is probably only know to pre-code horror aficionados. In the end it boils down to 5 stories he did for CHARLTON HORROR. And 11 more he did for ATLAS HORROR.<\/p>\n

His first credited job ever is said to be the 45-page Gilberton CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED #107: \u201cKing of the Khyber Rifles\u201d. Never seen this book. Too bad.
\nAround the same time (spring 1953) he has been spotted (by Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. and myself) in a Story Comics war title (FIGHTING WAR STORIES #5, I posted it online at the Digital Comic Museum, see it clicking HERE<\/a>). He\u2019s doing the last story.<\/p>\n

Then he\u2019s murdering the CLASSICS again (#110, \u201cA Study in Scarlet\u201d, a Sherlock Holmes mystery).<\/p>\n

He then teams up (!) with Steve Ditko (!!) to do a singular story for AJAX-FARRELL HORROR (!!!):<\/strong> As fantastic as that sounds, it seems to be true. \u201cHair Yee-Eeee\u201d is the name of the story; STRANGE FANTASY #9 is the book; December 1953 is the date.
\nYou can see it online HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ditko is published at Charlton from February 1954 on; Moskowitz joins the stable in spring and works on SPACE ADVENTURES #10-14. He is sort of a replacement<\/strong> for Ditko<\/strong> and contributes horror stories in late autumn of 1954.
\nMoskowitz does look just a bit like Ditko, in my opinion. Must be the same inclination to draw strange faces\u2026 He left the business in 1955.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Artist overview: Who did how much?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As usual we present a \u201cranking\u201d of artists\u2019 assignments.<\/strong> Let me preface this by saying that I counted jobs, not pages. Most CHARLTON HORROR stories ranged from five to seven pages. So it equals out, more or less\u2026<\/p>\n

I neglected all one-page \u201cfillers\u201d. Maybe I should have gone for pages, but now it\u2019s too late:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Steve Ditko<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bob Forgione<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n(4 inked by Vince Alascia)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dick Giordano<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n(3 inked by Vince Alascia)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John Belfi<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Albert Tyler<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n(7 inked by Bob Forgione)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dick Ayers<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n(3 inked by Ernie Bache)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joe Shuster<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n(inked 5 x by Ray Osrin, each 1 by Vince Alascia and John Belfi)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seymour Moskowitz<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
„Collier“<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bill Molno<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n(inked by Ray Osrin)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anthony Tallarico<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sheldon Moldoff<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n(1 inked by Vince Alascia)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bob McCarty<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ed Waldman<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Steve Kirkel<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chic Stone<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Each 1: Stan Aschmeier, Tex Blaisdell, Stan Campbell, Art Cappello, Sid Check, \u201cTC\u201d, Al Fago, Maurice Gutwirth, \u201cMartin\u201d, Lou Morales, Bob Powell, Leon Winik (with Ray Osrin).
\n9 stories remain unidentified (but we believe 2 of those were also inked by Vince Alascia)\u2026<\/p>\n

Frankly, I was surprised to see Ditko in the lead<\/strong>. He\u2019s only in 9 books. These 9, however, are partly (or wholly) crammed with Ditko. What\u2019s striking is how many jobs are splitted into pencils and inks. If you were willing to put Bob Forgione\u2019s inkwork into account, he\u2019d be on top of the list with 28 contributions.<\/p>\n

Just three men are formative for CHARLTON HORROR. Ditko, Forgione, Giordano.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Underneath that you\u2019ll find astonishing art by inventive guys like Ayers, Moskowitz and Kirkel. The rest is graphic landfill by journeymen arists like Belfi, Tyler and that Shuster-Molno-Osrin combo.<\/p>\n

Spotlight: Covers and Stories<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Who came up with that very peculiar logo<\/strong> \u201cconsisting\u201d of ghoul faces, skeletons and fright scenes? There\u2019s even an eyeball in the exclamation mark\u2019s dot. Very inventive and interesting.<\/p>\n

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

And something EC might have copied for their MAD-logo<\/strong> (from # 24 on, when they went magazine in July 1955). Or has this \u201ctechnique\u201d been used before (if you know please e-mail me<\/em>)?
\nSadly, they abandoned this nice touch for the last five title pages. It\u2019s just a blank and emptied white logo screaming \u201cTHING!\u201d<\/p>\n

What about the cover motifs<\/strong>? They were mostly wild, moody and sometimes shocking. Crowded, as well. A pell-mell arrangement (and brightly colored, too) of heads and characters. The beholder won\u2019t always be able to tell what exactly IS going on \u2013 something unholy, that much is sure.<\/p>\n

CHARLTON HORROR covers feature horror and mystery in a big way (mainly THE THING). Ditko\u2019s are the best. These title pages emanate an alarming disquietude.<\/p>\n

Their story titles<\/strong> are mostly very matter-of-fact and by far not as lurid as the artwork<\/strong>.
\nIt\u2019s \u201cThe Devi\u2019s Kiss\u201d, \u201cThe Road To Madness\u201d, \u201cThe Tavern Of Terror\u201d, \u201cThe Gorgon\u2019s Claw\u201d or \u201cThe Clutch Of Doom\u201d. This might be 19th century mystery novels.<\/p>\n

\"Thing#7\"<\/a>

The infamous THING #7, the most brutal cover from Charlton<\/p><\/div>\n

The artwork on the other hand can be outright brutal. Not so much for quality, but for content. CHARLTON HORROR confronted their readers with some of the most violent imagery of that era.<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s drastic. I was impressed. They didn\u2019t shy away from being \u201cgraphic\u201d.<\/p>\n

In our book-by-book review we\u2019ll post the most sensational panels to give you a feeling for what they pulled off inside.<\/p>\n

We should probably talk about Charlton\u2019s bodiless horror host, The Thing. <\/strong>But I don\u2019t want to. I\u2019ve got a strong aversion against that stupid \u201cThing\u201d. The idea of a \u201cvoice-over\u201d host may seem elegant to some, I find it wacky. It annoys me.
\nAnd don\u2019t get me started on that typographical accentuation by lettering word combinations with \u201cthing\u201d a different way<\/strong>. That\u2019s downright silly, folks!
\nThey really did that in some stories. I\u2019ll point out where\u2026<\/p>\n

CHARLTON HORROR writing is peculiar<\/strong>. Let me stress this point.<\/p>\n

Okay, time to be unfair: Describe the horror output of pre-code publishing companies in one word. Atlas is jokey, EC is ingenious, Ace is sophisticated, ACG is clich\u00e9d, Harvey is fickle, Fawcett is quirky, Standard is tedious, Gilmor is trashy, Ajax-Farrell and Superior are nutty and Charlton is\u2026 daring<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

CHARLTON HORROR has a certain edge; they go out on a limb sometimes. They did not re-invent the genre, but they combined elements and patterns in a unique (and daring!) way.<\/p>\n

The name \u201cJoe Gill\u201d emerges as kind of a headwriter for Charlton books, but only from 1954 on. There\u2019s a Wikipedia article<\/a> about him. We don\u2019t know if he contributed horror scripts. Before 1954 or at all. If you know something, please don\u2019t hesitate to drop us a line.<\/p>\n

My horror websites are not gospel, but a starting point for research and open for your comments. I\u2019d like to know all there is to know.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CHARLTON\u00a0 CHRONOLOGY <\/b><\/h1>\n

To give you an overview of the company\u2019s output, here\u2019s a listing of all their comic books from the beginning of 1952 to the spring of 1955.
\nLeft column: horror books<\/strong>\u00a0 –\u00a0 Right column: every other comic book published in these years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nFebruary 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #1<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS #5
\nCOWBOY WESTERN COMICS #37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nMarch 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #6
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nApril 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS #6
\nCOWBOY WESTERN COMICS #38
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nMay 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #7
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #1
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJune 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS #7
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJuly 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #8
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #2
\nCOWBOY WESTERN COMICS #39 (last)
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #1
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAugust 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS #8
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSeptember 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #9
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #3
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #2
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nOctober 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS #9
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #6
\nSPACE WESTERN #40 (first)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nNovember 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #10
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #3
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nDecember 1952<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #7
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #4
\nSPACE WESTERN #41<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJanuary 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS SUSPENSE STORIES #10
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #11
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #4
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFebruary 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #8
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #5
\nSPACE WESTERN #42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nMarch 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS SUSPENSE STORIES #11
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #12
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #5
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #12
\nATOMIC MOUSE #1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nApril 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #8<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #9
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #6
\nSPACE WESTERN #43<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nMay 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS SUSPENSE STORIES #12
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #13
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #6
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #13
\nATOMIC MOUSE #2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJune 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #10
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #7
\nSPACE WESTERN #44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJuly 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #9<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS SUSPENSE STORIES #13
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #14
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #7
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #14
\nATOMIC MOUSE #3
\nZOO FUNNIES #1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAugust 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #11
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #8
\nSPACE WESTERN #45 (last)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSeptember 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #10<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS SUSPENSE STORIES #14
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #15
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #8
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #15
\nATOMIC MOUSE #4
\nZOO FUNNIES #2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nOctober 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #12
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #9
\nCOWBOY WESTERN COMICS #46 (one shot relaunch)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nNovember 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #11<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLAWBREAKERS SUSPENSE STORIES #15 (last)
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #16
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #16
\nATOMIC MOUSE #5
\nZOO FUNNIES #3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nDecember 1953<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEH! #1
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #13
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #9
\nCOWBOY WESTERN HEROES #47 (one-shot)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJanuary 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #16 (continued from Fawcett)<\/td>\n<\/td>\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #10
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #17
\nATOMIC MOUSE #6
\nZOO FUNNIES #4
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #24 (first)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFebruary 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #12THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #15 (continued from Fawcett)<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEH! #2
\nTV TEENS #1
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #17
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #14
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #56 (first)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nMarch 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #16
\nSTRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #17<\/td>\n		<\/td>\nATOMIC MOUSE #7
\nZOO FUNNIES #5
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #57
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #21 (first)
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #47 (first)
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #10
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #25
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #18
\nSWEETHEARTS #22 (first)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nApril 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #13<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEH! #3
\nTV TEENS #2
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #18
\nFUNNY ANIMALS #84 (first)
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #15
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #48
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #58<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nMay 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #17
\nSTRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #18<\/td>\n		<\/td>\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #11
\nATOMIC MOUSE #8
\nZOO FUNNIES #6
\nCOWBOY WESTERN #49 (first)
\nFUNNY ANIMALS #85
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #22
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #59
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #26
\nROMANTIC STORY #23 (first)
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #11
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #19
\nSWEETHEARTS #23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJune 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #14<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEH! #4
\nTV TEENS #3
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #16
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #60
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #23
\nROMANTIC STORY #24
\nSWEETHEARTS #24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJuly 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #15THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #18
\nSTRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #19<\/td>\n		<\/td>\nEH! #5
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #19
\nATOMIC MOUSE #9
\nZOO FUNNIES #7
\nCOWBOY WESTERN #50
\nFUNNY ANIMALS #86
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #17
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #49
\nMY LITTLE MARGIE #1
\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #12
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #61
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #27
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAugust 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #19
\nSTRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #20<\/td>\n		<\/td>\nEH! #6
\nTV TEENS #4
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #62
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #24
\nROMANTIC STORY #25
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #21
\nSWEETHEARTS #25
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSeptember 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #16THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #20
\nSTRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #21<\/td>\n		<\/td>\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #20
\nATOMIC MOUSE #10
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #18
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #50
\nMY LITTLE MARGIE #2
\nROMANTIC STORY #26
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nOctober 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #13
\nCOWBOY WESTERN #51
\nFUNNY ANIMALS #87
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #63
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #25
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #13
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #22
\nSWEETHEARTS #26
\nTV TEENS #5
\nZOO FUNNIES #8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nNovember 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
THE THING #17 (last)THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #21 (last)
\nSTRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #22 (last)<\/td>\n		<\/td>\nEH! #7 (last)
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #21 (last)
\nATOMIC MOUSE #11
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #19
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #51
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #26
\nMY LITTLE MARGIE #3
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #29
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nDecember 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCOWBOY WESTERN #52
\nFUNNY ANIMALS #88
\nGABBY HAYES #51 (first)
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #52
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #64
\nMY LITTLE MARGIE #4
\nROMANTIC STORY #27
\nSWEETHEARTS #27
\nSOLDIER AND MARINE COMICS #11 (first)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nJanuary 1955<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #14
\nBADGE OF JUSTICE #22 (first)
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #20
\nMY LITTLE MARGIE #5
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #65
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #30
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #14
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #24
\nZOO FUNNIES #9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFebruary 1955<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nTHIS IS SUSPENSE #23 (first)
\nATOMIC MOUSE #12
\nBLUE BEETLE #18 (first)
\nCOWBOY LOVE #28 (first)
\nCOWBOY WESTERN #53
\nDANGER AND ADVENTURE #22 (first)
\nFROM HERE TO INSANITY #8 (first, formerly \u201cEH!\u201d)
\nFUNNY ANIMALS #89
\nGABBY HAYES #52
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #53
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #27
\nMY LITTLE MARGIE #6
\nMONTY HALE WESTERN #83 (first)
\nROMANTIC STORY #28
\nSWEETHEARTS #28
\nSOLDIER AND MARINE COMICS #12
\nTV TEENS #6
\nWIN A PRIZE COMICS #1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nMarch 1955<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nRACKET SQUAD IN ACTION #15
\nCRIME AND JUSTICE #23
\nHOT RODS AND RACING CARS #21
\nLASH LARUE WESTERN #54
\nROCKY LANE WESTERN #66
\nSIX-GUN HEROES #31
\nSPACE ADVENTURES #15
\nTRUE LIFE SECRETS #25
\nZOO FUNNIES #10
\nDON WINSLOW OF THE NAVY #70 (first)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nApril 1955<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nTHIS IS SUSPENSE #24 (code-approved)
\nBLUE BEETLE #19
\nCOWBOY LOVE #29
\nCOWBOY WESTERN #54
\nDANGER AND ADVENTURE #23
\nFROM HERE TO INSANITY #9
\nFUNNY ANIMALS #90
\nMY LITTLE MARGIE #7
\nGABBY HAYES #53
\nMONTY HALE WESTERN #84
\nTEX RITTER WESTERN #28
\nSOLDIER AND MARINE COMICS #13
\nROMANTIC STORY #29
\nSWEETHEARTS #29
\nWIN A PRIZE COMICS #2 (last)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Two more issues of THIS IS SUSPENSE (#25 and #26) appear under the code in the following months.<\/p>\n

THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED<\/strong> has a further run, oddly numbered 12 – 16, from July 1957 to May 1958.<\/p>\n

STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES<\/strong> continue with #27 (?!) as code-approved from October 1955 on.<\/p>\n

I was surprised to see how little Charlton started out in 1952<\/strong>. That’s just a handful of books. And they go absolutely through the roof when Fawcett closes shop<\/strong>. They relaunch titles from Fawcett like crazy (and a few others from St. John, Mainline and Comic Media as well) – apparently at random.
\nThey also reprint material from Fox (BLUE BEETLE).<\/p>\n

They pulled off very strange things in their publication schedule.<\/strong>
\nTake e.g. COWBOY WESTERN COMICS: Begins in 1948 with #17, continues up to #39 in July 1952. Then takes a pause for one and a half years and comes back as a one-shot with #46! As if\u00a0 # 40 – #45 had been printed on a bi-monthly basis. But they do not seem to exist. Just to be followed by the next one-shot: COWBOY WESTERN HEROES #47.
\nAaand hold it, people, waitaminnit. Got if figured out now: COWBOY WESTERN COMICS gets renamed SPACE WESTERN and bridges that #40-45 gap as this new hybrid title – Fun!
\nNever seen such machinations at work before.<\/p>\n

Most interesting observation concerning Charlton: They did not trust their own products!<\/strong>
\nHave again a look at the years 1952\/53. Charlton has everything. They publish their own lines of crime comics, horror comics, funny animal comics, western comics, romance comics and science fiction comics. They even dare to cook up a „MAD“-imitation („EH!“) and an „ARCHIE“-clone („TV TEENS“).
\nComes the year 1954 and Charlton gets hectic<\/strong>. Every month they’re picking up and reviving titles from the defunct Fawcett publishing company. By the end of 1954 only few of the „old“ titles remain and Charlton blazons with „borrowed feathers“.<\/p>\n

Note: FAWCETT & CHARLTON HORROR is a spin-off of the German website FIFTIES HORROR (presenting pre-code horror in general to an unsuspecting public). FAWCETT & CHARLTON HORROR specializes in the products of two specific companies and is therefore drafted in the English language. The sister websites ACE HORROR and FICTION HOUSE & STANDARD HORROR are already online. Look for the links just below…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Acknowledgements:<\/strong>
\nAll the folks at the Digital Comic Museum<\/a> (DCM) and the Grand Comics Database<\/a> (GCD), who have been incredibly supportive – as always. Special mention goes to Mike Benton and George Suarez, who have been breaking ground for pre-code horror research in the 90s.
\nAnd of course a big hand (drumroll) for (you guessed it) Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr.<\/strong>, the man with all the wisdom and generosity.
\nJim again loaned me many missing comic books, which I scanned and uploaded to the Digital Comic Museum. Almost all horror magazines from Fawcett and Charlton are now online.
\nOf course I’ll try and complete the run over the years.<\/p>\n

If you like to read on, click on our „Series Section“
\n(MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED \/ WORLDS OF FEAR \/ ANOTHER WORLD \/ BEWARE! TERROR TALES \/ STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES \/ THING) for our issue by issue review for all books.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We attach now a survey of CHARLTON HORROR, because the Charlton Company continued some of Fawcett\u2019s magazines. Just to be clear. Fawcett published 14 issues of THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED; Charlton took over for another 7 pre-code issues (plus 5 more in the very late, code-approved 1950s). Fawcett published 5 issues of STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-artists.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/69"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/charm-of-charlton.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}