Number 2348: Landau x 2: some rottin' tales

In 1969 Stanley Morse introduced Shock,* a competitor for Myron Fass’s sleazy line from Eerie Publications. Morse had been a comic book publisher, and the first couple of issues of Shock reprinted some stories from his own comics, then went to other sources, including the recently (1967) deceased ACG. He printed them in blackline, like Eerie Publications. At least one of the stories I’m showing today came from ACG: “Yawning Graves!” from The Clutching Hand #1 and only issue, published without the ACG logo. (Did Morse buy out what was left of ACG when it shut down? The stories appear to be reprinted from proof sheets, or perhaps even the original lithographic negatives. It seems very soon — two years — to be publishing stories from another publisher, even one no longer in business.)

Both “Yawning Graves!” and the other story, “Within the Tomb,” are drawn by Kenneth Landau. Landau had a long career as an artist, with only a few years as a comic book artist. But if he showed anything in comics, he showed he could draw decomposing corpses as well as anybody in the business. Ken Landau signed his work. Yay! Not every artist was proud to put his or her name on horror comics art. He wanted people to know who drew it. Beyond that, I think Kenneth Landau is underrated for his comic art.

The Grand Comics Database has no listing for “Within the Tomb.” With the inclusion of a horror host (top panel, page one), it eliminates thought it could be from an ACG publication. It is loosely inspired by “The Premature Burial” by Poe, although the story is modernized, and takes a scientific approach: people can appear dead and still be alive with an anesthesia invented by Chauncey Joad. Chauncey has a scheme to use the appearance of death for a criminal act. It is a horror story, so you can probably guess what happens next.

*Morse also published newsstand fodder like men’s magazines. He became the second-biggest publisher of men’s adventure magazines after Martin Goodman, who also published Marvel Comics. Information from MensPulp.Mags.com.

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