Best Classic Horros Series/Issues

[pinkfloydsound17]

Not sure if there was/is a thread like this but I am wanting to branch into some classic 60's/70's horror comics. I was wondering which titles people would recommend or perhaps specific issues of series that are good to read. Thanks!

[FanboyStranger]

I'd recommend picking up the recent Creepy Presents Richard Corben HC at your soonest convenience. Incredible, ground-breaking work, particularly when it comes to Corben's use of color, something that has never really been matched.

[shaxper]

Definitely the post-Goodwin era Eerie and Creepy mags by Warren Publishing.

And, if you're looking for an amazing horror mag with an ongoing protagonist that lasted all of 9 issues, I'm saving it for the Twelve Days of Classic Comics Christmas this year, but pm me and I'll tell you about it

[An Ear In The Fireplace]

Mike's Amazing World of Comics is always an interesting place to explore all the comics that were coming out in a given period (even though it doesn't yet include every publisher). It seems like all the comic companies had their horror titles in the early 70s. And I just discovered that Archie had its own horror anthology--Chilling Adventures in Sorcery--and with issue 3 this came under the Red Circle imprint (in fact, it's the first instance of Archie using the Red Circle imprint), then with issue 6 this becomes Red Circle Sorcery (running for a total of 11 issues). I'd be curious to know what this horror anthology was like.

[MRP]

Mike's Amazing World of Comics is always an interesting place to explore all the comics that were coming out in a given period (even though it doesn't yet include every publisher). It seems like all the comic companies had their horror titles in the early 70s. And I just discovered that Archie had its own horror anthology--Chilling Adventures in Sorcery--and with issue 3 this came under the Red Circle imprint (in fact, it's the first instance of Archie using the Red Circle imprint), then with issue 6 this becomes Red Circle Sorcery (running for a total of 11 issues). I'd be curious to know what this horror anthology was like.

That's actually one of the titles on my short list for the 12 Days of Christmas. I only have a couple of the issues. The stories were pretty standard schlock horror/sci-fi stories of the time (think attack of the 50 foot man, giant ants, cursed jewelry etc.) but it is drawn in the Archie house style (Stan Goldberg and Dan DeCarlo did the art in the stories I read) making it extremely disconcerting for me because I associate that style with the lighter humorous stories of the Archies I read as a kid, not sci-fi horror. Sabrina acts as narrator in the earliest issues but I believe they abandoned that device later on.

It was a fun read nonetheless.
-M

[DubipR]

That's actually one of the titles on my short list for the 12 Days of Christmas. I only have a couple of the issues. The stories were pretty standard schlock horror/sci-fi stories of the time (think attack of the 50 foot man, giant ants, cursed jewelry etc.) but it is drawn in the Archie house style (Stan Goldberg and Dan DeCarlo did the art in the stories I read) making it extremely disconcerting for me because I associate that style with the lighter humorous stories of the Archies I read as a kid, not sci-fi horror. Sabrina acts as narrator in the earliest issues but I believe they abandoned that device later on.

It was a fun read nonetheless.
-M

It barely missed my 12 Days of Christmas list. I thought that would be something I would be the only person to have that on my list. Glad to see we have common tastes.

[mrc1214]

You really can't go wrong with Tomb of Dracula and Man-Thing (volume 1 by Gerber).

[rarndt]

Not sure if there was/is a thread like this but I am wanting to branch into some classic 60's/70's horror comics. I was wondering which titles people would recommend or perhaps specific issues of series that are good to read. Thanks!

That period of time is rich with great horror stories. I'd recommend the Steve Skeates written issues of The Many Ghosts Of Dr. Graves from 1967-1969, the House Of Mystery, House of Secrets & Witching Hour from 1968 or so to 1973, the Man-Thing & Son of Satan books previously mentioned, any of the Creepy, Eerie or Vampirella Archive volumes, the B&W Skywald books Psycho, Nightmare & Scream, the Red Circle/Archie comic series already mentioned, Marvel's issues of Tower of Shadows & Chamber of Darkness as well as Supernatural Thrillers, the Friedrich/Ploog issues of The Monster of Frankenstein, the Wein/Wrightson issues of Swamp Thing, Marvel's color & B&W Dracula titles--Tomb of Dracula & Dracula Lives!; Tales Of The Zombie, Dell's Ghost Stories and Tales From The Tomb, the Charlton horror comics from 1972-1977--there's great stuff hidden in those crappily produced comics!, Fantagor, Skull Comics & Slow Death from the underground scene and...well, let's let some other folks recommend more, shall we?

[An Ear In The Fireplace]

Granted I only read one or two issues for any of these titles back in the day, but adding to the list of publishers there was Gold Key putting out Dark Shadows, the Twilight Zone, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Grimm's Ghost Stories, Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery and Mystery Comics Digest. I thought a lot of the art was crappy at the time, but going back to these books I realize they weren't so bad--and some of the artists were name artists, who the elites hold in regard--so wha' did I know.

[verslibre]

That period of time is rich with great horror stories. I'd recommend the Steve Skeates written issues of The Many Ghosts Of Dr. Graves from 1967-1969, the House Of Mystery, House of Secrets & Witching Hour from 1968 or so to 1973, the Man-Thing & Son of Satan books previously mentioned, any of the Creepy, Eerie or Vampirella Archive volumes, the B&W Skywald books Psycho, Nightmare & Scream, the Red Circle/Archie comic series already mentioned, Marvel's issues of Tower of Shadows & Chamber of Darkness as well as Supernatural Thrillers, the Friedrich/Ploog issues of The Monster of Frankenstein, the Wein/Wrightson issues of Swamp Thing, Marvel's color & B&W Dracula titles--Tomb of Dracula & Dracula Lives!; Tales Of The Zombie, Dell's Ghost Stories and Tales From The Tomb, the Charlton horror comics from 1972-1977--there's great stuff hidden in those crappily produced comics!, Fantagor, Skull Comics & Slow Death from the underground scene and...well, let's let some other folks recommend more, shall we?

The Seventies were dripping with stellar horror comics. Great list, and let's add another underground (or direct sales) 'zine, Hot Stuf.' It had horror, fantasy, SF and weird stuff under great covers by Kaluta, Corben and others.

[DavidB.]

I'd recommend picking up the recent Creepy Presents Richard Corben HC at your soonest convenience. Incredible, ground-breaking work, particularly when it comes to Corben's use of color, something that has never really been matched.

I second this and I add the Creepy Presents Bernie Wrightson HC!
The last story on the Wrightson HC is probably my favorite horror short story ever (in comics anyway).

[Polar Bear]

Yeah, I have a soft spot for the Ditko-drawn stories in Many Ghosts of Dr. Graves and for occasional issues of Ripley's Believe It or Not. I'd also suggest the issues of Adventure Comics that feature The Spectre drawn by Aparo.

[MDG]

I second this and I add the Creepy Presents Bernie Wrightson HC!
The last story on the Wrightson HC is probably my favorite horror short story ever (in comics anyway).

Which one is it (I have most in original prints).

I think his adaptation of Cool Air might be his best work.

[Gothos]

I have a vague memory that someone reprinted some of the 1960s KARLOFF books, which were a favorite of mine-- at least in the earliest period.

[verslibre]

I have a vague memory that someone reprinted some of the 1960s KARLOFF books, which were a favorite of mine-- at least in the earliest period.

Boris Karloff Tales Of Mystery Archives. Hardcovers, too. Bud has all six volumes in stock. http://budsartbooks.com/prod.cfm/pc/BOR01H/cid/37