2017 Blog-o-Ween Art Source

Here's the original source for this year's Blog-o-Ween image:

It's from Captain America #24, cover-dated March, 1943.

And the resulting image was:

As you can see, I performed the sacrilege of replacing the moon and the vampire's wings.

See you here on Monday for an exciting announcement of a new book!
 

Happy Hallowe'en for 2017!

For our final trip to Halloween's magical land of memories and chills, some not-chilly photos from a long-ago scary evening.

 You might call the above photo "Frankenstein."

Which would make this one "Son of Frankenstein."  Not too spooky, but plenty of fun.

That sentiment is my wish for you, Fiends and Slaybors, Boils and Ghouls ...

Happy Halloween!

See you back here on Thursday with a brief note about the Blog-o-Ween header art.
 

Poem: "Mephitos"

This sonnet was inspired by Robert E Howard’s story “The Black Stone,” in which a foolish visitor to a mid-European country imperiously decides to investigate the horrific rumors about a certain standing stone.  This sarsen is rumored to have been the site of human sacrifices and the unholy worship of evil entities.

Mephitos

Engirded on each side by liches robed

In tattered cerements, you stand alone.

Your soul is penetrated, your eyes probed

By theirs as you reel stumbling from the stone.

The tale of how you came here flees your mind,

As reason’s tatters creep and drool away,

Until appearance only stays behind —

Although the watchers fade before the day

No trace of your volition lies intact:

The others with the sunrise have arrived

But you are no more theirs, in simple fact.

Your mind knows not that it is now deprived.

     You visited the Black Stone, as your right,

          But you trespassed upon Walpurgis Night.

copyright © 2017 by Mark Alfred

See you back here on Tuesday, the 31st, for the wrap-up to this year's Blog-o-Ween!  But in the meantime, head on over to Spock’s Record Round-Up for musical fun during Spooky Spock-Tober!
  

Can You Topps This?

More Topps monster cards.

 The Invisible Man appears to be doing a towel dance with his face, not his heinie.

 QUESTION: Just where does your tummy hurt, Junior?
ANSWER: You should know, Doc!  You put it there!

 Talk about a stranger in the mirror!

I only have to outrun you!

See you back here on Friday for more fun!  Until then, you can head on over to Spock’s Record Round-Up for musical fun during Spooky Spock-Tober!
 

A Halloween Story from Timberland Tales

This evil little tale of "pumpked" evil is from the October, 1981 National Lampoon.

See you back here on Wednesday for our next instalment of Blog-o-Ween.  But first, head on over to Spock’s Record Round-Up for musical fun during Spooky Spock-Tober!

It's a Nightmare

Here's a charming little sonnet I wrote one Friday the 13th:

Nightmare

 by Mark Alfred

Enveloping, it chafes and smothers you;

You have no warning; then it is too late

To keep from seeing what no others do.

This is your private torment; yours the gate

That leads into the hidden, dim recess

Of every misbegotten lust and dream.

For nothing here forbids: no foul excess

Can be denied in this dark-litten gleam.

Your self is yourself’s  pris’ner, and no cell

Could grip with clammy clutch to such intent.

Awakened, you must sleep, and who could tell

What horrors lurked in sleep, or what they meant?

It seems the grandest terrors still remain;  

Your pleasant, daylight heart must bear the stain.

Come back on Monday for more trips down Halloween Lane.  Now, head on over to Spock’s Record Round-Up for musical fun during Spooky Spock-Tober!
  

Munsters at the Ball

A few more images from the Munsters' visit to a Halloween party ...

 Marilyn is so funny!  As if anybody could lose an eight-foot-lug like Herman Munster!

 The hostess may not appreciate what she sees ...

So, does Herman look like a knight, or a welder, in that helmet?

See you here on Friday, for more spooky silliness.  Head on over to Spock’s Record Round-Up for musical fun during Spooky Spock-Tober!