These comics spin a web of mystery around their readers! Spider monsters in Horror comics are not uncommon, and Ace Magazines was no different. Classic pre-Code Horror tales, there are plenty of thrills and chills. From those who command spiders to those who are spiders, evil lives here in the shadows. The authors of all these tales are not known but their artists are. These comic are all in the public domain and available free at DCM.
“Black Magic in a Slinky Gown” (Baffling Mysteries #6, January 1952) Art by Mike Sekowsky and Bill Walton
Leonore is a woman who fascinates and repels men. She marries Delloys, a millionaire then kills. Her old boy friend is on her trail as the were-spider kills again. (It is a very Lovecraftian comic, in that the victim’s lovingly describe their dooms.)
“Lair of the Spidery Fiend” (The Beyond #20, May 1953) Art by Dick Beck and George Klein
While on tour in Germany, Dave Curtiss encounters the Spider Witch, Spinetta, who seduces me away from the army. Her trap for the G. I. is thwarted by the ghost of Crazy Carl, who she killed earlier. When Dan eventually falls victim, it is Carl who saves him from beyond. Spinetta can appear as a young woman, a hag, and as a giant spider. She also commands an army of spiders.
“Web of the Spider Woman” (The Hand of Fate #18, June 1953) Art by Bill Molno
Constable Evans of Scotland Yard goes to the folklorist, Professor John Hawkins, when a spider-like killer attacks several people. Hawkins meanwhile is dating Lucretia Tate, the writer of horror novels. The two plan a friendly debate over a weekend but Ms. Tate is actually the Spider Woman and plans to drink John’s blood. Only the quick action of Evans saves the day. While in Spider Woman form, Lucretia Tate looks a bit like a vampire with spider arms but can also turn into a giant spider. The story was probably suggested by the Basil Rathbone Sherlock film, The Spider Woman (1943).
“Lair of the Black Widow” (The Beyond #24, January 1954) Art by Sy Grudko
Dr. Lucas Vilnar and his lab partner, Marc Ronson, fight over a formula that can cure all poisons. When Vilnar’s secret is stolen, he goes berserk, accusing Ronson and getting bit by a black widow. The serum turns him into a spider-man (This is eight years before Peter Parker and Amazing Fantasy, #15 (1962). Vilnar becomes a were-spider and kills Marc and a cop before Joyce, Marc’s girl, tries to intervene. When she does a giant black widow gets free and chases Vilnar to his death. In a King Kong style last comment, Joyce figures the female was the deadlier of the species.
“Lair of Silken Doom” (Web of Mystery #25, July 1954) Art by Lou Cameron
Stan Raffel is a greedy silk merchant who takes advantage as his competitors disappear one-by-one. The reason for this is a giant spider is killing them. Later a mysterious woman, Lycia, offers Stan a rare silk if he will go into business with her. When Lycia raises her prices, Stanley plans on killing her. Only who will get the upper hand? The man or the monster that makes the silk? Lycia is yet another giant were-spider creature. This story is a little different in that Stanley raffel is a completely unlikable jerk who gets his comeuppance.
All five of these stories have a strange misogyny to them. I suppose that is inherent in the idea of a were-spider usually being female. Even in “Lair of the Black Widow”, where the monster is male, it is the female who wins. These female predators are cruel and ambitious, with Leonore dumping the hero for a money bags, the Spider Witch, Lucretia Tate and Lycia all catching victims in their web of mystery. Like the Pulp spiders of Weird Tales, these creatures are inhuman and unlovable. The only small spot of goodness is Leonore’s reaction when humans kill spiders wantonly. She might be a lycanthropic arachnid but she still loves her little brothers and sisters. I thought it unusual that the spider characters names were Lucretia and Lycia and never Arachne or something of that sort.
Lots of great fun and superior artwork in the Ace Magazines comics. More to come..
