Not used as much as other subject matter in pre-Code horror comics were puppets . . . the evil and murderous kind, of course. This tale, "Puppet Peril" is from WEIRD ADVENTURES #2 (July-August 1951), published by P.L. Publishing. Some claim the company was located in Canada because of the "Printed in Canada" notice on the indicia, but they were actually out of Rockefeller Plaza in New York, where other American comics publishers were based.

Nevertheless, P.L. was one of the most obscure of publishers, preferring non-super hero titles, such as Westerns and romance, and were all published in the last quarter of 1951. WEIRD ADVENTURES began as a crime book, and then for the next (and last) two issues switched to horror, likely in reaction to horror titles gaining popularity.

As far as art credit goes, comics historian Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. identifies it as being a collaboration between possibly Lou Morales (because of the initials "LM" hidden on the store sign of the splash page) and Harry Harrison. The Fantagraphics anthology of reprints, "Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s" (September 2010) credits Ernie Bache and and Harry Harrison.

And for all you SOTI fans, included in this story are a couple of hypodermic needle panels.

Sorry to "string you along" -- here's "Puppet Peril" for your weekend dose of illustrated horror!

Jack "Killer" Cabot has broken out of jail just before he's to be executed and escapes into a swamp. He comes upon an old house (of course!) and a man invites him in and tells him that he can change his appearance so the law won't recognize him. Then he proceeds to put the bite on him, after which Cabot changes into an ugly beast. Two prison guards end up tracking him down, but not before Cabot has a little accident.

A so-so story is saved by some marvelous art by Basil Wolverton. The slimy monster seen in the splash panel is replaced by Cabot's "pig/ape" in the rest of the story that appears in Stanley Morse's WEIRD MYSTERIES #5 (June 1953).

Bruce Timm's art is unmistakable and his work has spanned almost four decades. Now, Flesk Publications has collected more than 130 examples of his horror art into one volume titled, FIENDISH MONSTERS: THE HORROR ART OF BRUCE TIMM. Sometimes sexy, sometimes sinister, but always spooky, Timm has elevated the art of cartoon horror to a new level and this book aims to prove it.

From the publisher:

Plas and Woozy Winks again almost meet their match when they come up against Zelda, "The Witch of Wailing Woods" and her two goons in Quality's PLASTIC MAN #42 (July 1953). Thanks to some quick thinking by Woozy this time, they escape another jam.

Art is by Alex Kotsky (maybe) an Chuck Cuidera (for sure).

Taking a cue from Edgar Allen Poe's "The Premature Burial", the unknown writer of this tale tells the story of an unnamed man who is winged by a passing car and hits his head on a fire hydrant after leering at a girl on the street who shows a little leg when her skirt is blown up in the breeze!

Appearing medically dead but still conscious, his unfaithful wife gives permission for the coroner to have his body donated to "medical science". The slightly-nutty doctor removes the man's heart, after which he is placed in a coffin and buried like any other stiff. The problem is, after all he's gone through, he's still alive!

"Cry From the Coffin" was drawn by the Iger Shop and published in Farrell's STRANGE FANTASY in their October 1953 issue.

On a side note, this title was edited by Ruth Roche, who was one of the very few women of that era to hold such a lofty position. Miss Roche was part-owner of the Iger Shop from 1945 to 1961.