{"id":14,"date":"2012-01-24T13:50:19","date_gmt":"2012-01-24T12:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2015-06-24T11:45:08","modified_gmt":"2015-06-24T09:45:08","slug":"baffling-mysteries","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/?page_id=14","title":{"rendered":"Baffling Mysteries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chronological listing of all issues \u2013 with comments and annotations. We mention date of publication, cover motive and cover artist (if identified). The number in brackets links cover motive to story inside. Especially for ACE HORROR every issue has been indexed at the Grand Comics Database \u2013 the link will show you all available data, including cover shots and story descriptions.<\/p>\n

Just click the underlined<\/span> issue labeling.<\/p>\n

A miniature splash page indicates that you can find this entire story in our „Stories“ section. Just click to read it.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES \/ 22 issues, formerly INDIAN BRAVES<\/h2>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #5<\/strong><\/a>
\n November 1951<\/strong>
\nCover: Goatmen (1) – Ken Rice ?
\n\u201cVolcano Of Vengeance\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Vince Alascia ?)
\n\u201cPhantom Snow Queen\u201d (Maurice Gutwirth) \u2013 reprinted in BAFFLING MYSTERIES Nr. 24
\n\u201cThe Lady Was A Tiger\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cTerror In The Coal Pits\u201d (Gene Colan + ?) \u2013 reprinted in BAFFLING MYSTERIES Nr. 25<\/p>\n

The cover artist seems to be Ken Rice. He\u2019ll be responsible for some of Ace\u2019s better horror title pages later on. The covers for BAFFLING MYSTERIES are highly erratic and one artist won\u2019t be doing more than two covers in a row.<\/p>\n

Ace\u2019s soft spot for lettering with Leroy hits the series right from the start. Only Rice\u2019s tiger tale is left handlettered. Even now both \u201cfillers\u201d (which are unnumbered in this first issue!) are done with Leroy.<\/p>\n

This issue\u2019s text story (\u201eUnderwater Mystery\u201c) appears simultaneously in BEY7. Surprisingly the editors refrained from using their text pieces more often than just once. I would have printed the same story in 70 magazines. They didn\u2019t. They actually came up with dozens and dozens of dopey short stories.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Alien signature?<\/p><\/div>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #6<\/strong><\/a>
\n January 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Fantastic Creature (0) – ???
\n\u201cMacabre Ritual in Witches\u2019 Glen\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + ?)
\n\u201cFatal Rendezvous\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cHorror On Canvas\u201d (??? – Myron Fass)
\n\u201cBlack Magic In A Slinky Gown\u201d (Mike Sekowsky ? \/ Bill Walton ?)<\/p>\n

Just one Leroy-crime in this issue and it strikes down the baddie of the book: \u201cHorror On Canvas\u201d. Very strange that they return (temporarily) to handlettering\u2026 Probably couldn\u2019t handle all that mechanical lettering.<\/p>\n

Art Spotting Arcana Dept. (Seeing Things Division):<\/em><\/strong>
\nHave a look at the „alien symbols“ on that stone slab in the foreground. Don’t they spell „Chilly“ (on the right side)? A certain John Chilly is credited with the cover of BEY16, done half a year later. Just pointing this out for the sheer fun of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack Magic In A Slinky Gown\u201d has a Sekowsky feeling all over it, yet was never credited to him. Does somebody out there feel confident to take it for granted? Looking at it now, I\u2019d say it\u2019s probably Bill Walton \u2013 who can tell?
\nAnd I\u2019d love to know who did that outrageously bad (fun story!) \u201cHorror On Canvas\u201d\u2026
\nAnd just after two years of wondering (tossing and turning in my sleep as well) I suspect it could be Myron Fass.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack Magic In A Slinky Gown<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Most „sexy“ cover ever for ACE HORROR<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #7<\/strong><\/a>
\n M\u00e4rz 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Terror Beneath The Tides (4) – \u201eAce Baker\u201c
\n\u201cA Game With Lucifer\u201d (Lou Cameron + Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cScourge Of The Kentucky Hills\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cBack From An Unhallowed Grave\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + ?)
\n\u201cTerror Beneath The Tides\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + ?)<\/p>\n

Only the last story is executed in Leroy. For the moment handlettering is en vogue.<\/p>\n

With this and the following issue, BAFFLING presents two covers by \u201eAce Baker\u201c a.k.a. Frank Giusto.
\nThe most sexy ones Ace horror ever dared to publish.<\/p>\n

BAFFLING\u2019s covers were in general Ace\u2019s most orthodox horror motifs, meaning that they often depicted damsels in distress. Blonde, of course.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #8<\/strong><\/a>
\n May 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Queen of the lizard men (0\/4) – \u201eAce Baker\u201c
\n\u201cThe Bride\u2019s Borrowed Time\u201d (Lou Cameron + Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cJungle Idol\u2019s Vengeful Rage\u201d (Bill Molno ? + ?)
\n\u201cAt The Sound Of Airi\u2019s Drum\u201d (Lou Cameron + Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cYama\u2019s Fiery Fury\u201d (Chic Stone)<\/p>\n

\"Bride1\"<\/a>

Cameron with Mastroserio in „Bride“<\/p><\/div>\n

Handlettering again predominates.
\nThis issue is packed with two stories by the team Lou Cameron & Rocco Mastroserio.
\nCover could be referring to story number four, but \u201cYama\u2019s Fiery Fury\u201d is about \u201clava men\u201d, not \u201clizard men\u201d. But who gives?<\/p>\n

\u201cYama\u2019s Fiery Fury\u201d is a story of great significance: the first pre-code horror tale (I ever came across) that ends on a peaceful note concerning the island\u2019s natives. Allright, some heads get bashed in before, but in the end the natives are being treated like real human beings, eye to eye. Thank you, Ace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #9<\/strong><\/a>
\n July 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Demons of Hades (0) – Ken Rice
\n\u201cWhen Black Wings Flap\u201d (Lin Streeter)
\n\u201cDread City Of The Undead\u201d (Bill Molno + Vince Alascia ?)
\n\u201cMad Matador\u2019s Fiendish Frenzy\u201d (Lou Cameron)
\n\u201cVictims For The Crawling Menace\u201d (Louis Zansky)<\/p>\n

\"Matador\"<\/a>

Cameron solo in „Matador“<\/p><\/div>\n

Now it\u2019s both fillers lettered by hand and all the stories done with Leroy stencils.<\/p>\n

\u201cMad Matador\u2019s Fiendish Frenzy\u201d is Lou Cameron\u2019s first solo job for Ace horror.<\/strong> Looks insecure. His brush and pencils seem to slip in several panels. He felt much more confident when backed up by Mastroserio.
\nBut Cameron gets better in quantum leaps. Already in the next issue he will deliver exciting work.<\/p>\n

\u201cVictims For The Crawling Menace\u201d was my first encounter with Louis Zansky. I was appalled by his artwork. Noticing on first glance only bad drawing and crude scrawling. After a good and deserved chastising from Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. I learned to appreciate his fine and unique style.
\nBut I still hold my ground by stating that \u201cVictims For The Crawling Menace\u201d is his worst!
\nIt\u2019s coherently composed, but the artwork on pages 5 to 7 is just crude. Yeah, man.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Don’t look now – yecchy cover!<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #10<\/strong><\/a>
\n September 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Cavern of forgotten souls (0) – John Chilly ?
\n\u201cDiogenes\u2019 Deadly Lamp\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cNightmare Flight\u201d (Lou Cameron)
\n\u201cMonster Of The Moat\u201d (Paul Gattuso + Richard Case)
\n\u201cLand Of The Silicon Men\u201d (Louis Zansky)<\/p>\n

Again both fillers are handlettered \u2013 small relief.
\nThis issue\u2019s cover is a disgrace<\/strong> and the baddest in BAFFLING\u2019s run. Perspective is wrong, size ratio is off, exactly like on the cover of HAND12 (published simultaneously).
\nAce\u2019s third „horror cover“ (in the true sense of the meaning) is BEY16, also from this time. We\u2019ll never know what the hell came over the editors to let these pages see print\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cNightmare Flight\u201d could have been the inspiration for the cover of BEY25 (to be published one and a half years later!). Two skeletons piloting a passenger plane. And a wild story it is, containing rotting corpses, a swamp of death, a cruel \u201cswamp queen\u201d, a jump out of a plane in mid-air. These slightly sickening stories were mostly handled by Lou Cameron. Did he write them as well? Does anyone out there know?<\/p>\n

\u201cNightmare Flight<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>BAFFLING MYSTERIES #11<\/strong><\/a>
\n November 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Worshippers of Baal (4) \u2013 Jim McLaughlin
\n\u201cAppointment In Hades\u201d (Gene Colan)
\n\u201cStep Into My Grave\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cRed Talons Of Lupercalia\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cSinister Return Of The Priestess Of Baal\u201d (Chic Stone)<\/p>\n

The die is now cast: BAFFLING\u2019s first issue to appear completely done in Leroy letters.
\nMy favorite Ace horror cover \u2013 Whotta babe!
\n(see it by clicking on the underlined issue title…)
\nAs I mentioned before, BAFFLING presented the more sexy covers.
\nMade a count now: 9 times we get the standardized blonde in a red dress. A horror title without ever showing off by depicting a blonde in a red dress harassed by ghosts or ghouls or skeletons does not deserve the term \u201chorror\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAppointment In Hades\u201d is a grim war story and the last contribution by Gene Colan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cStep Into My Grave<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

\u201cSinister Return Of The Priestess Of Baal<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #12<\/strong><\/a>
\n December 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Indian Burial Chamber (0) – Jim McLaughlin
\n\u201cVengeance Of The Tiger Queen\u201d (Chic Stone)
\n\u201cPaint A Picture In Crimson\u201d (Al Eadeh)
\n\u201cHouse Of The Screaming Fiends\u201d (Dick Beck + Pete Costanza?)
\n\u201cNever Bargain With A Spirit\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Bill Walton ?)<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered.
\nFollowing WEB\u2019s \u201cmanic autumn\u201d of 1952 now BAFFLING is entering into a streak of hardboiled horror<\/strong>: BAFF12 features man-eating tigers and headless zombies, a kill-crazy model and her werewolf lover as well as undead fiends operating on live humans. Only \u201cNever Bargain With A Spirit\u201d offers a relaxing tale about a curse you cannot escape\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cVengeance Of The Tiger Queen<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

\u201cHouse Of The Screaming Fiends<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>BAFFLING MYSTERIES #13<\/strong><\/a>
\n January 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Mummy bleeding from the mouth (0) – Jim McLaughlin
\n\u201cDr. Gueux\u2019s Nightmare Monsters\u201d (Louis Zansky + Mario Rizzi ?)
\n\u201cGreed\u2019s Grisly Treasure\u201d (swipe artist ???)
\n\u201cRole Of The Footlight Werewolf\u201d (Charles Nicholas + Paul Gattuso)
\n\u201cBlack Horror Of Druid\u2019s Glen\u201d (Charles Nicholas + Chris Rule ?)<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered; third McLaughlin cover in a row (this establishes a modest record).
\nAce authors are again left off the leash: We get fascist fantasies of omnipotence, nightmare monsters, a devilish tavern and biblical demons, a werewolf tale with an unequaled body count and druids conducting human sacrifices.<\/p>\n

\u201cRole Of The Footlight Werewolf<\/a>\u201d is posted on Prof. Ravensdeath\u2019s \u201cMonster Rally\u201c blog – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

In \u201cDr. Gueux\u2019s Nightmare Monsters<\/a>\u201d Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. sees pencilwork by Louis Zansky. Heavily clouded by someone else\u2019s thick inks. I never would have realized this. That\u2019s why Jim is the world\u2019s finest \u201cart identifier\u201d. It is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s welcome to our table a new unidentified member. With \u201cGreed\u2019s Grisly Treasure\u201d debuts an illustrator we\u2019ll call \u201eswipe artist\u201c<\/strong>. Some of his panels look just fine (here he swiped), some look like ripped out of my daughter\u2019s hands (8 years old). We will meet him again.
\nHames Ware and Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. rounded up the following suspects: Art Gates, Louis Ravielli and Bob Bean. From what I\u2019ve seen, I\u2019d go for Louis Ravielli, but there\u2019s just too little material online to make a solid comparison. So we are waiting to find more stories and hopefully a signature somewhere. The only way to be really sure.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreed\u2019s Grisly Treasure<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack Horror Of Druid\u2019s Glen<\/a>\u201d is posted on Prof. Ravensdeath\u2019s \u201cMonster Rally\u201c blog – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>BAFFLING MYSTERIES #14<\/strong><\/a>
\n March 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Won\u2019t be one of you pygmies (0) \u2013 \u201eAce Baker\u201c
\n\u201cThe Dead Are Never Lonely\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)
\n\u201cProwl Of The Stalking Terror\u201d (swipe artist ???)
\n\u201cBeware The Graveyard Clay\u201d (Charles Nicholas)
\n\u201cSlave Of The Orchid Goddess\u201d (Howard Larsen)<\/p>\n

Leroy Lettering sets the standard.
\nAn undead actress stalking the living, a vampire spree in a hospital, Voodoo devils and a florist\u2019s little shop of horrors make BAFF14 a third manic issue in a row.<\/p>\n

One-time cameo by Howard Larsen, who worked mainly for Avon and Fiction House in the 1940s and 1950s.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeware The Graveyard Clay<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dead Are Never Lonely<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #15<\/strong><\/a>
\n May 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Follow the disciple of evil (0) – Jim McLaughlin
\n\u201cSnakes Alive!\u201d (Charles Nicholas)
\n\u201cBazaar Of The Cursed Goblins\u201d (Lin Streeter)
\n\u201cMy Image Of Evil\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cQuiet Stalks The Undead Fiend\u201d (Louis Zansky)<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered.
\nWith the two last stories the Ace writers return to their more docile form of horror literature.
\nSo let\u2019s say goodbye by having a look at one of Charles Nicholas\u2019 best jobs for Ace (pre-code horror blogging guru Karswell beat me to the publication, but I\u2019m glad for it):<\/p>\n

\u201cSnakes Alive!<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>BAFFLING MYSTERIES #16<\/strong><\/a>
\n July 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Wha\u2026? That\u2019s me! (3) – Jim McLaughlin
\n\u201cDoom Comes In Emerald Green\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cThe Witch\u2019s Vengeful Return\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cStrands Of The Faceless Horror\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cWings Of Wickedness\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered.
\nIn McLaughlin\u2019s handiwork style changes are happening. His characters look more like Rice, his layouts have a touch of Zansky and Cameron. I guess he\u2019s being inspired by his colleagues.<\/p>\n

The wish-fulfilling Indian rug in \u201cStrands Of The Faceless Horror\u201d (this issue\u2019s cover motif, also!) is to be found earlier in the April 1952 issue of Harvey\u2019s WITCHES TALES #9.
\nIn \u201cThe Fatal Steps\u201d one mustn\u2019t walk on the rug, here one mustn\u2019t even look at the rug. In both stories the souls of unwary men get woven into the rug.<\/p>\n

In two stories (\u201eWitch\u201c + \u201eWings\u201c) the leading women struggle with their inherent evil \u2013 in vain!
\nThis issue is entirely illustrated by Ace\u2019s \u201cBig Four\u201d<\/strong>: Cameron \/ Rice \/ Zansky and McLaughlin.
\nThis only happens four times in Ace\u2019s horror books. BAFF16 is the premiere.<\/p>\n

\u201cWings Of Wickedness<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #17<\/strong><\/a>
\n September 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Lava men\u2019s sacred rites (0) – Ken Rice ?
\n\u201cKill, My Minions Of Death!\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cDuel Of The Spectres\u201d (Dick Beck + George Klein)
\n\u201cEvil Cult Of The Juggernaut\u201d (Dick Beck + Don Perlin ?)
\n\u201cMaster Of The Undead\u201d (Al Hartley) \u2013 reprint from BEYOND #1<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered, except for the last story \u2013 which is a 1950 reprint.
\nThe cover refers to \u201cYama\u2019s Fiery Fury\u201d from BAFF8, published one and a half year before!<\/p>\n

Wonderful pop art splash<\/strong> by Cameron in \u201cKill, My Minions Of Death!\u201d \u2013 and a joke in German upon the gravestone: \u201cHier liegen Ludwig Kameron (!) + Baron von Levitdorf \u2013 geboren 1824 \u2013 von zuviel Trinken gesterben 1895\u201c. Translates as:
\n\u201eHere lie Ludwig Kameron (!) Baron von Levitdorf \u2013 born 1824 \u2013 died from too much drinking 1895\u201c. Was Cameron born in Levittown? \u201cDorf\u201d meaning \u201cvillage\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Small Dick Beck festival in this issue. Two stories in a row originate from the pens of this interesting artist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The \u201cart spotting squad\u201d of Hames Ware and Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. tell me that \u201cMaster Of The Undead\u201d is a one-time cameo by Al Hartley. Who did the 1940s funnies title DOTTY for Ace and later on hooked himself up with post-code Atlas\/Marvel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #18<\/strong><\/a>
\n November 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Die by the stings of my death\u2019s-head moths\u00a0 (0) – Jim McLaughlin ?
\n\u201c6 Of Me On The Prowl\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201c12 Hours To Doom\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cThe Ghost In The Portrait\u201d (Ken Rice) \u2013 Reprint from CHALLENGE OF THE UNKNOWN #6
\n\u201cCrimson Wraith From The North\u201d (Sy Grudko)<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered, except for the last story \u2013 which is a 1950 reprint. One from Ace\u2019s very first horror comic book.
\nThis cover motif, too, does not cover any story inside, but reminds the alert reader of a story from BEY8: \u201cThe Winged Spectres Of Dismal Swamp\u201d, almost two years previously published.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s a Ken Rice double feature<\/strong>. Good occasion to compare how his style has changed over two years.<\/p>\n

\u201c6 Of Me On The Prowl<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #19<\/strong><\/a>
\n January 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: Man-eating plant (0) – ???
\n\u201cThe Monster Maker\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)
\n\u201cThey Strangle By Night\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cConjurer For The Foul Fiend\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cThe Werewolf Strikes!\u201d (\u201eAce Baker\u201c) –\u00a0 reprinted from BEYOND #1<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered, except for the reprint, of course.
\nBest cover in BAFFLING MYSTERIES\u2019 run.
\nThe man-eating plant anticipates the look of that hideous \u201cAlien\u201d monster from the movie 30 years later. In my eyes, at least.
\nGCD speculates this cover to be drawn by George Roussos. Sounds improbable to me, because Roussos didn\u2019t do any other work for Ace (as far as I know currently).
\nPuzzles me. Can\u2019t put my finger on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Monster Maker<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

\u201cConjurer For The Foul Fiend<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #20<\/strong><\/a>
\n April 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: Return the jewel of the Pygmy God (0) – ???
\n\u201cThe Maze Master\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cTune Of The Zombie Queen\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cHostage Of The Unearthly\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cWhen Voodoo Drums Rumble\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered.
\nThe cover looks definitely like McLaughlin, except for the woman\u2019s head. What\u2019s wrong with your face, girl?!<\/p>\n

Second time that the \u201cBig Four\u201d create a whole issue by themselves: Cameron \/ Rice \/ Zansky and McLaughlin. Happens simultaneously with BEY26.<\/p>\n

\"mazedetail\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Maze Master\u201d suprises with psychedelic images in the vein of Salvador Dali.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another surprise is the ending of \u201cWhen Voodoo Drums Rumble\u201d, wherein the bad guy does not go to hell, but is doomed to spend the rest of his life as the witch\u2019s henpecked husband. Maybe for all eternity?!
\nA downright comical twist. Can\u2019t think of another one in Ace\u2019s horror production\u2026
\n\u201cVoodoo Drums\u201d by the way can be seen as a variation of \u201eHorror Of The Cannibals\u2019 Dinner\u201c from DARK MYSTERIES #15 (December 1953, by rival publisher Story Comics). Same plot \u2013 a tyrannical plantation owner seduced by a voodoo witch. The Story version however ends on a different note: deadly revenge, of course.<\/p>\n

\u201cTune Of The Zombie Queen<\/a>\u201d and \u201cHostage Of The Unearthly<\/a>\u201d and also \u201cWhen Voodoo Drums Rumble<\/a>\u201d are posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.
\nFor „Maze Master“ please look up the issue on the Digital Comic Museum, click HERE <\/a>(we can’t do everything ourself).<\/p>\n

Postcript June 2015:<\/strong> He did it again. „Doc“ Karswell completed this issue on his THOIA blog! So go look for „The Maze Master<\/a>“ right there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #21<\/strong><\/a>
\n July 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: Prehistoric monster on guard (0) – Ken Rice ?
\n\u201cThe Horror Of Hillory Hill\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cDoom Dancer\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cValley Of The Mayan Goddess\u201d (Martin \u201cMarty\u201d Rose) \u2013 reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #5
\n\u201cArm Of Vengeance\u201d (Sy Grudko)<\/p>\n

Completely Leroy lettered, except for the reprint.
\nAfter having been \u201csuspended\u201d for a few months, Sy Grudko is allowed to contribute a whole story again. It\u2019s just his second for BAFFLING MYSTERIES.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #22<\/strong><\/a>
\n September 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: You are now slaves to the flame queen (0)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0– Jim McLaughlin ?
\n\u201cSculptress Of Doom\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cCurse Of The Condemned Gypsy\u201d (Jay Scott Pike) \u2013 reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #3
\n\u201cOver My Dead Body\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cThe Amulet Of Terror\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + ?) – reprint from BEYOND #3<\/p>\n

Standard practice in these last issues: two handlettered reprints and two new original stories done with Leroy stencils.<\/p>\n

Lou Cameron signs his name twice<\/strong> in \u201cOver My Dead Body\u201d: once in the splash and once in the \u201ebook of Moloch\u201c on page 2 where his name appears above the names of the story\u2019s protagonists (see above<\/em>). Hardly a „hidden signature“.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Coloring in BAFFLING #23<\/p><\/div>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #23<\/strong><\/a>
\n November 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: These hags, too, called me ugly! (0) – ???
\n\u201cWerewolf Husband\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cIt Happened On Valentine\u2019s Eve\u201d (???) \u2013 reprint from BEYOND #4
\n\u201cClang Of The Crypt Door\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cThe Frenzy Of Sheila Lord\u201d (Maurice Gutwirth \/ George Appel) \u2013 reprint from BEYOND #5<\/p>\n

Ace really did not care for covers. Just look at that.
\nThat\u2019s more of a rough sketch by someone but no glossy title page. Probably McLaughlin on the fly.<\/p>\n

Great tongue-in-cheek text story about a man-eating kiler carpet („The Deadly Visitor“)!<\/p>\n

The reprints are newly colored. Interestingly ALL of the reprints have been taken anew to the colorist.<\/strong> The editors would have kept the black and white original art and compiled a \u201cnew\u201d batch of stories for each issue – to be taken to the colorist and then the printer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Coloring in BEYOND #4<\/p><\/div>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #24<\/strong><\/a>
\n January 1955<\/strong>
\nCover: Warrior trapped in this glacier (0) – Ken Rice ?
\n\u201cThe Sacred Fingers Of Princess Thais\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cScourge Of The Scorpion Cult\u201d (\u201eAce Baker\u201c) \u2013 reprint from BEYOND #6
\n\u201cThe Phantom Snow Queen\u201d (Maurice Gutwirth \/ George Appel) – reprint from BAFFLING MYSTERIES #5
\n\u201cThe Menace That Stalked Brooding Cunliffe\u201d (Jim McLaughlin) – reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #5<\/p>\n

The cover refers to a story that feels familiar from an Ace horror story some years earlier. Can\u2019t remember which one at the moment\u2026<\/p>\n

With this issue BAFFLING MYSTERIES go down in flames.<\/strong> Only the lead story is an original. And \u2013 to do Sy Grudko justice – both of the fillers. The rest are reprints. It\u2019s the last pre-code horror book ever published by Ace (together with BEYOND #30, also January 1955).
\nIt\u2019s McLaughlin\u2019s double feature again, please compare the first to the last story (there\u2019s a full four years between them).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #25<\/strong><\/a>
\n July 1955<\/strong>
\nCode approved Cover: [Man on psychedelic staircase] (0) – Louis Zansky ?
\n\u201cRiddle Of Pete Dunn\u2019s Last Fight\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?) \u2013 reprint from BEYOND #6
\n\u201cMark Of The Cat\u201d (Lou Cameron + Rocco Mastroserio) \u2013 reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #7
\n\u201cFlee The Other Self\u201d (Ken Rice) \u2013 reprint from HAND OF FATE #9
\n\u201cNight Of Strangeness\u201d (Gene Colan + ?) \u2013 reprint from BAFFLING MYSTERIES #5<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Original: a backstabbing affair<\/p><\/div>\n

Cover seems to be by Louis Zansky, that would be his first for Ace horror. Zansky (like McLaughlin) stayed on in the code days and did the last cover for Ace crime books as well (PENALTY #48, January 1956). In my eyes, he is a perfect cover artist. Too bad he just was assigned the occasional title page for a western-romance book or earlier crime fare.<\/p>\n

BAFF25 is a strange book, cause code-approved.<\/strong>
\nFirst story (a boxer\u2019s tale) seems uncompromised, in the second the title has been rendered harmlessly from \u201cMark Of The Sinister Cat\u201d to just \u201cMark Of The Cat\u201d. On page 2 a knife thrown at a cat is drawn smaller and more out of range. On page 4 facial transformations are not shown anymore. Same goes for page 6, where it\u2019s just six hairs standing on end of the woman\u2019s head which are left out!
\nGrand finale on page 7: \u201cShe must die!\u201d is changed to \u201cShe must pay!\u201d and another reference to death is cancelled. The man stabbing the woman is gone. And the last panel has new text: \u201cI don\u2019t understand\u201d replaces the former phrase: \u201cThat she-devil is destroyed at last\u201d.<\/p>\n

The next story is heavily retouched, please see for yourself: \u201cFlee The Other Self\u201d (Ken Rice) used to be: \u201cIt Is Written: I Die Tomorrow!\u201d. In many balloons the Leroy original text has been doctored in handlettered changes. The best part: The Fate character (it\u2019s a story from HAND OF FATE) has been redrawn in many pictures (probably by Louis Zansky) to look like the doppelganger of the protagonist!<\/strong>
\nThe end is just fantastic: Paul falling down a man-hole, killing himself and drifting face-down away through the sewers? Not anymore! He is drawn pulled out of the water and gets to live!
\nThe real mystery is why they took the pains to rewrite (and partially redraw!) this piece at all. Ace still had plenty of \u201charmless\u201d stories lying around to pick for a reprint.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Reprint: What’s going on?<\/p><\/div>\n

In the last story (\u201cNight Of Strangeness\u201d) the terms \u201cbizarre\u201d and \u201cinsane\u201d are eliminated in the last panel morale.<\/p>\n

This issue also contains a reprint of (only one) filler and a three-page text story. This, for the first time in Ace horror, is no fictional story, but a detective’s guide to interpret bloodstains from crime scenes. Also strange.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BAFFLING MYSTERIES #26<\/strong><\/a>
\n October 1955<\/strong>
\nCode approved Cover: You are checkmated!\u00a0 (0)\u00a0 Louis Zansky
\n\u201cPrisoners In A Lost World\u201d (Sy Grudko ?) – reprint from BEYOND #10
\n\u201cThe Lorelei Of Loon Lake\u201d (\u201eAce Baker\u201c) – reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #2
\n\u201cThe Phantom Model\u201d (Jim McLaughlin) – reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #9
\n\u201c6 Furlongs To Yesterday\u201d (Gene Colan + ?) – reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #4<\/p>\n

Again a rare Zansky cover. He was the man for all the last ones, because BAFF26 is the last ever published Ace horror comic book<\/strong>. Sob!
\nThe artwork in \u201cPrisoners In A Lost World\u201d was a mystery to me for a long time, but I suspect Grudko now. This would actually be his first full horror story done for Ace. From the beginning of 1953 he will be a regular.<\/p>\n

The first touch-ups due to censorship in this second code-approved issue appear in story number two. In\u00a0 \u201cThe Lorelei Of Loon Lake\u201d the woman\u2019s skeleton is removed.<\/p>\n

The text in \u201cThe Phantom Model\u201d is doctored to avoid all references to death. A panel showing the painting of a drowning girl is replaced by people looking at that painting. The Paris morgue is not the morgue anymore, but an ordinary building. In the final page again paintings of death left out of the picture. The painter does not die, he just faints.<\/p>\n

And these are the reworkings for \u201c6 Furlongs To Yesterday\u201d (which was originally titled \u201cThe Haunted Horse\u201d): The kid\u2019s father finds only praise for his boy (instead of a bit of blame in the original as well), the stable\u2019s owner does not say \u201eIt\u2019s weird\u201c, but \u201eThese things happen\u201c. The boy hasn\u2019t eaten in TWO days (used to be three in the original version) and the ghost of Sammy\u2019s father has been cut from the picture. Saving the best for the end: The boy did not die in the hospital, but sends his congratulations from his sickbed.
\nWho says the Comics Code spoiled all the fun?!<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For the record: BAFFLING MYSTERIES \u2013 Top Spotted Artists (number of stories)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Jim McLaughlin<\/td>\n(12)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lou Cameron<\/td>\n(11)<\/td>\n\u00a03 with Rocco Mastroserio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Louis Zansky<\/td>\n(9)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mike Sekowsky<\/td>\n(6)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ken Rice<\/td>\n(6)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charles Nicholas<\/td>\n(4)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dick Beck<\/td>\n(3)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chic Stone<\/td>\n(3)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bill Molno<\/td>\n(2)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sy Grudko<\/td>\n(2)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lin Streeter<\/td>\n(2)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gene Colan<\/td>\n(2)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Each 1: Maurice Gutwirth, Richard Case, Howard Larsen and Al Eadeh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chronological listing of all issues \u2013 with comments and annotations. We mention date of publication, cover motive and cover artist (if identified). The number in brackets links cover motive to story inside. Especially for ACE HORROR every issue has been indexed at the Grand Comics Database \u2013 the link will show you all available data, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1189,"parent":0,"menu_order":40,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1394,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions\/1394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}