Horror Hosts
See also: Horror hostsIn the 1930s-1950s, radio dramatic anthology series devoted to horror and suspense plays, such as Lights Out, Quiet, Please, The Whistler, and Inner Sanctum Mysteries, had more or less sinister "hosts" who introduced and wrapped up the stories. This tradition was introduced into horror comics, many of which were also anthology titles, with many stories in each issue.
EC Comics utilized the conceit of a character who "hosted" the book, often starring in a framing sequence at the beginning of each issue. The most notorious EC hosts were the "GhouLunatics": The Crypt Keeper, The Old Witch, and The Vault-Keeper. In the 1960s, Warren came up with the hosts Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie, and DC followed suit with their hosts Cain and Abel (as well as such minor hosts as Eve, Destiny, Lucien, and the Mad Mod Witch). Charlton had a large cast of hosts for their various horror/suspense titles. Marvel Comics never really embraced the host character for their various titles, though for a short time they did use Digger and Headstone P. Gravely.
The following is a list of hosts from various horror comics titles from over the years.
| Title | Host | Publisher | Publication dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber of Darkness | Digger Headstone P. Gravely |
Marvel | 1969–1971 (retitled as Monsters on the Prowl, with no host) |
| Creepy | Uncle Creepy | Warren | 1964–1983 |
| Dr. Spektor Presents Spine-Tingling Tales | Doctor Spektor | Gold Key | 1975–1976 |
| Eagle | The Collector | IPC Magazines | 1982–? |
| Eerie | Cousin Eerie | Warren | 1966–1983 |
| Elvira, Mistress of the Dark | Elvira, Mistress of the Dark | Claypool Comics | 1993–2007 |
| Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion | Charity (1972–1974) | DC | 1971–1974 |
| Ghosts | Squire Shade (1981–1982) | DC | 1971–1982 |
| Ghost Manor (2 vols.) | Old Witch (1968–1971) Mr. Bones (1971–1984) |
Charlton | 1968–1971 (vol. 1, retitled as Ghostly Haunts) 1971–1984 (vol. 2) |
| Ghostly Haunts | Winnie the Witch | Charlton | 1971–1978 |
| Ghostly Tales | Mr. L. Dedd/Mr. I.M. Dedd | Charlton | 1966–1984 |
| The Haunt of Fear | The Old Witch | EC | 1950–1954 |
| Haunted | Impy Baron Weirwulf (1975–1984) |
Charlton | 1971–1984 |
| The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves | Dr. M.T. Graves | Charlton | 1967–1986 |
| House of Mystery | Cain (1968–1983) Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1986–1987) |
DC | 1951–1983, 1986–1987 (titled Elvira's House of Mystery), 2008–present |
| House of Secrets | Abel (1969–1978) | DC | 1956–1978, 1996–1999 |
| Midnight Tales | Professor Coffin (a.k.a. The Midnight Philosopher) Arachne Coffin |
Charlton | 1972–1976 |
| Plop! | Cain Abel Eve |
DC | 1973–1976 |
| Scary Tales | Countess R.H. Von Bludd | Charlton | 1975–1984 |
| Scream! | Ghastly McNasty The Leper The Night Comer (1986 Scream! Summer Special) Ghoul (1989, Scream! Spinechillers Holiday Special) |
IPC | 1984, various specials until 1989 |
| Secrets of Haunted House | Cain and Abel Eve Destiny |
DC | 1975–1982 |
| Secrets of Sinister House | Eve (issues #6–#16) | DC | 1972–1974 |
| Strange Cases in Judge Dredd Megazine | Judge Strange | Fleetway Publications | 1991–1992 |
| Tales from the Black Museum in Judge Dredd Megazine | Henry Dubble | Rebellion Developments | 2006–present |
| Tales from the Crypt | The Crypt Keeper | EC | 1950–1955 |
| Tales of Ghost Castle | Lucien | DC | 1975 |
| This Magazine is Haunted | Dr. Death Dr. Haunt |
Fawcett, Charlton | 1951–1958 |
| Tower of Shadows | Digger Headstone P. Gravely |
Marvel | 1969–1971 (retitled as Creatures on the Loose, with no host) |
| The Unexpected | Abel The Three Witches Mad Mod Witch (1969–1974) |
DC | 1968–1982 |
| Vampirella | Vampirella (1969–1970 as host; afterward as leading character) | Warren Harris Publications/Dynamite Entertainment |
1969–1983 1991–present |
| The Vault of Horror | The Vault-Keeper Drusilla (1952–1955) |
EC | 1950–1955 |
| Weird Mystery Tales | Dr. E. Leopold Maas (1972) Destiny (1972–1974) Eve (1973–1975) |
DC | 1972–1975 |
| Weird War Tales | Death | DC | 1971–1983 |
| The Witching Hour | The Three Witches | DC | 1969–1978 |
Read more about this topic: Horror Comics
Famous quotes containing the word horror:
“That look of horror spoils your lovely face. What if it should show even through the wax?”
—Crane Wilbur (1889–1973)