Description

Basil Wolverton’s Gateway to Horror                                 One-shot Comic
Featuring 4 Basil Wolverton Horror Classics… all presented in Glorious Black & White. Awesome!!
Cover by: Steve Bissette

Basil Wolverton’s distinctive style, a bizarre combination of the grotesque and whimsical made him one of the most polarizing artists in comic history but gained a strong cult following among comics fans at the same time. The man is notorious for his unforgettable depictions of wacky, grotesque and ugly people. His artwork has often been described as “spaghetti and meatballs”, while he referred to himself as a “producer of preposterous pictures of peculiar people who prowl this perplexing planet”. Yet he didn’t just draw “ugly”. His seemingly disgusting and repulsive illustrations still illuminate a certain fun and charm. Naturally his style suited comedy and horror the best. His career spanned myriad companies and genres.

He created humorous comics like ‘Powerhouse Pepper’ (1942-1952), visualized the previously invisible character Lena Hyena for Al Capp’s ‘Li’l Abner’ and designed the hideous woman on the cover of Mad Magazine’s 11th issue, arguably the most iconic cover in its history. Wolverton drew various chilling one-shot horror stories for comic books like Mystic, Journey Into Unknown Worlds, Adventures Into Terror, Weird Tales of the Future and Weird Mysteries. He also proved he had more up his sleeve than shock and shlock alone. The artist illustrated various chapters of The Old Testament. While not all people may like his aesthetic view, few can deny that Wolverton had a highly original, unique and instantly recognizable style which still influences artists today. He remains the godfather of all “gross-out” cartoonists and was a significant influence on Robert Crumb and other underground comic artists in the 1960s.

This title presents some of Wolverton’s stories that epitomized the pulp science fiction / horror milieu, replete with bug-eyed monsters and grotesquely draw creatures. Also featured is an informative essay about Wolverton’s career by Bill Spicer, and a cover drawn in Wolverton’s characteristic style by comic’s legend, Steve Bissette.

Basil Wolverton’s Gateway to Horror contains:“Weird Wolverton Part 2” 4 pages
Writers: Bill Spicer & Henry Steele

Historical article on Basil Wolverton and the stories reprinted in this issue, illustrated by select panels and by a Wolvertonesque cover by Fox from Weird Tales magazine.
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“Gateway to Horror” 6 pages
Writer: Basil Wolverton
Artist: Basil Wolverton

Two prospectors find sub-surface creatures preparing an attack upon the surface world.

Reprints: A story from Marvel Tales (1951) Issue #104.  Marvel Comics
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“Where Monsters Dwell” 6 pages
Writer: Basil Wolverton
Artist: Basil Wolverton

A scientist uses a projector that banishes people he dislikes to another world. A light indicates where the beam connects both worlds and one of the men returns. He shoves the scientist through the aperture where he is killed by the natives. Other victims rush forward hoping to escape but the man switches off the device. The story ends with the man uncertain what to do: turn the beam on and rescue the other victims which might allow the attackers to pour through or shut it off and condemn them to die. He addresses the reader directly, asking “What would you do?”.

Reprints: A story from Adventures into Terror (1951) Issue #7.  Marvel Comics
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“One of our Graveyards is Missing!” 4 pages
Writer: Dan Keyes
Artist: Basil Wolverton

A lonely cemetery in a small town disappears! The dead are gone, uprooted from their graves by someone… or something. A talk dark stranger is questioned under pressure and his revelation shocks the town.

Reprints: A story from Journey into Unknown Worlds (1952) Issue #14.  Marvel Comics
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“They Crawl by Night!” 5 pages
Writer: Dan Keyes
Artist: Basil Wolverton

A man in an insane asylum cries out that crab-men are biting the other patients. And is soon heavily sedated. But before the sedative kicks in, after the attendants leave, he soon discovers not just crab-men, but the doom of humanity.

Reprints: A story from Journey into Unknown Worlds (1953) Issue #15.  Marvel Comics
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Comic reprints/collects from Marvel Comics:
A story from Marvel Tales (1951) Issue #104
A story from Adventures into Terror (1951) Issue #7
A story from Journey into Unknown Worlds (1952) Issue #14
A story from Journey into Unknown Worlds (1953) Issue #15

Comic is bagged & triple boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Publication Date: June 1988
Format: BW, 32 pages, Comic, 10.20″ x 6.65″
UPC: None Stated

Collectible Entertainment note: One-shot Comic is in Very Fine condition.  Beautiful!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Basil Wolverton collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Very Highly Recommended.

Please read return policy.