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 Only appears from the second issue (#9) on: Fate<\/p><\/div>\n HAND OF FATE #8<\/strong><\/a> The Ace horror family\u2019s \u2018baby\u2019 takes its first steps mostly in Leroy letters. One story and the one-pagers are handlettered.<\/p>\n Premiere for a great artist (and a discovery I share with Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr.) \u2013 Lou Cameron begins his Ace horror work!<\/strong> But he does so incognito and flanked by a trusty wingman: Rocco \u201eRocke\u201c Mastroserio will be his inker for over a year.<\/p>\n Looking at \u201cMonster Of The Bayous\u201d I can\u2019t shake a sneaking suspicion. Though credited to Mike Sekowsky & Vince Alascia I think this could be the artistic duo of Ben Brown & David Gantz (of \u201ePurple Claw\u201c fame) as well. They did work for the company and signed a story from CRIME MUST PAY THE PENALTY #30 (\u201cA Death Mask For Scarpa\u201d, Feb. 1953). This style is driving me insane anyway. Could also be Bill Walton or Albert Tyler\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cMonster Of The Bayous<\/a>\u201d is posted on my German website – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n PS: Then again I thought it could be Norman Nodel inked by Vince Alascia. Calling Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. again for an expertise, he thinks it’s probably Bill Walton. And we both agreed that there is too much Sekowsky credit in Ace books. Will be holding a conference on this matter. So stay tuned…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #9<\/strong><\/a> Fate is not a nice guy, by the way.<\/strong> He\u2019s aloof and even cruel. Have a look at \u201cStrange Rendezvous At 17 Rue Noir\u201d. Businesslike and in a stone-cold way Fate collects the gambler\u2019s life. This is going to be standard procedure.<\/p>\n Artwork\u2019s a puzzler here. Looks like it\u2019s Mastroserio inking Rice now (and not Cameron as usual). A one-time collaboration. Or is it?<\/p>\n HAND9 impresses with neatly knitted stories of a literary claim. This series seems to reject all that drivel ordinarily passing as pre-code horror. HAND OF FATE will be presenting a distinguished line of horror, able to restrain itself.<\/p>\n \u201cSecret Of The Witch\u2019s Urn<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n \u201cVengeance From A Restless Grave<\/a>\u201d is posted on the wonderful \u201cThe Fabulous Fifties\u201c blog – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lettered again like the previous two issues mostly in Leroy. Fate makes his appearance in the third story. This cover is done so elegantly it has been wrongly credited to EC\u2019s Johnny Craig for quite some time.<\/p>\n Again the Ace writers unfold stories of high complexity<\/strong>, surpassing even EC\u2019s literary yarns. <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #11<\/strong><\/a> Lettered again like the previous three issues mostly in Leroy (each three stories). This is the most constant pattern up to now in all titles. Fate is hosting the first story and appears in the second \u2013 only to be verbally abused by a mime: \u201eHa, you\u2019re not even a good actor! Get out of my way, you cheap costume horror!\u201c<\/em>.<\/strong> At first glance th The plot of \u201cThe Brew Of Frightful Faces\u201d by the way pops up half a year later in Jack Katz\u2018 \u201cThe Ugliest Man In The World\u201d (OUT OF THE SHADOWS #7, January 1953, Standard Comics): a movie shoot, makeup artists, a deformed face and a mysterious cave where a strange tribe is living.<\/p>\n \u201cRoots Of The Evil Tree\u201d blends elements from Pinocchio (entities out of wood), Frankenstein (birth in a thunderstorm) and even King Kong (scaling skyscrapers) \u2013 cool. \u201cRoots Of The Evil Tree<\/a>\u201d is posted on the blog \u201cRagged Claws Network\u201c \u2013 to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Final Curtain\u201d takes us into the world of a theater company. We get a sniff of Hamlet and Macbeth (washing of bloody hands) as well as the myth of Sisyphus.<\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #12<\/strong><\/a> Leroy takes a step towards domination: the one-pagers fall prey to the all-consuming stencils, so it\u2019s just one story done by hand now. Fate is involved in three stories! The cover baffles me every time. How can one get the size ratio of objects that wrong?!<\/strong> Postscript June 2013:<\/strong> I’m willing to put the blame on John Chilly. This is probably his fourth cover for ACE HORROR. Others are BEY16, BAFF10 and WEB12. All from early autumn 1952. Think he’s swiping a Rice man’s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Again only one last story is handlettered. Fate hosting the first story and appearing actively in the last one. Should you be looking at this book on the Digital Comic Museum – the discoloration throughout this issue is caused by the mildew nesting in this book. Being a comics historian is no picnic, folks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #14<\/strong><\/a> First issue of this series to be completely lettered in Leroy. Innovative splash by Zansky in \u201cDevilish Dolls Of Death\u201d. Three panels layered on top of each other. Ace horror comic books are taking a creative direction \u2013 the page layouts are being designed more openly.<\/p>\n Burn, baby, burn – see if Fate will care!<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cMeet Me At The Cemetery\u201d is one of the first solo horror jobs by \u201cfiller artist\u201d Sy Grudko. Identified it on a second run through all the books.<\/p>\n \u201cDevilish Dolls Of Death<\/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 HAND OF FATE #15<\/strong><\/a> Second issue to be completely designed in Leroy letters. The air plane crash story \u201cDead Ringer\u201d would have fitted nicely to the cover of HAND12.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Signed cover by Giusto<\/p><\/div>\n HAND OF FATE #16<\/strong><\/a> Completely in Leroy. Third issue in a row. Fate once active, once passive. We show you this issue’s cover here, because it is credited to (and confirmed in person by) Frank Giusto. If you enlarge it by clicking it, you can even spot a signature „FG“ right next to the balloon. \u201cSpecters Stalk The Bloody Tower<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n For an explanation what we mean by \u201cswipe artist\u201d, please see our entry for BAFFLING MYSTERIES #13 \u2013 and click the above link for a quick glance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No aberration from our motto \u201cEverything must be Leroy\u201d. Fate intervenes in two stories. \u201cOrchids From The Dead\u201d is one of the whackiest stories Ace ever spewed forth. Sadly Ken Rice\u2019s sloppiest job for Ace as well. Probably a cheap shot done in a hurry. The 2-page-text story (\u201eThe Sabre Of Gregory Tamoric\u201c)\u00a0 is highlighted with two small illustrations by Lou Cameron, a unique occurrence at the house of Ace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #18<\/strong><\/a> Now we have an interesting exception, a breaking of the mould. \u201cThe Phantoms\u2019 Vengeful Return\u201d is handlettered, but no reprint. Because it\u2019s drawn by Chic Stone who joins the Ace staff as late as the beginning of 1952. <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #19\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/a> The reprint is handlettered, the rest in Leroy, business as usual. Two stories feature Fate (being involved in one of the two). The reprint of course is not a Fate story.<\/p>\n Damn strange cover by Unknown. Could be Ken Rice, but just looks off. \u201cStampede Of The Centaurs\u201d poses another prime example for myths being remodeled into an Ace horror story. We are regaled with living centaurs, the Hydra monster, the crown of Helen of Troy \u2013 all stirred together with a dramatic plot about jealousy and murder. And a beautiful woman blowing up the whole schmear. Accidentally, of course.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #20<\/strong><\/a> Competely Leroy lettered. Fate once actively, once passively involved.<\/p>\n Absolutely whacky cover \u2013 but most fitting for Ace horror.<\/strong> A man sprawled across the floor, supposedly trampled by an elephant. The woman delivering \u201cinformation exhibit A\u201d (\u201cElephant prints!\u201d), the miniature statuette of an elephant being \u201cinformation exhibit B\u201d. Anyway,\u00a0 Ace delivers a lot of bull \u2013 harhar. \u201cDeath Was The Bridegroom\u201d may serve as a cautionary tale. Metaphysical mumbo-jumbo garnished with too much drivel, unwinding without any suspense to a declamatory end. <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #21<\/strong><\/a> Competely Leroy lettered. Fate working hard for his money, appearing in three stories. This time getting ranted at as follows: \u201eGoing around rigged up like the veiled prophet doesn\u2019t give you the right to interfere with peoples\u2019s business! Now out of my way, screwball!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n No wonder Fate is such a grumpy character…<\/p>\n Again a mystery cover. Who did this? I think it\u2019s the same guy who drew the flesh-eating plant on BAFF19 (January 1954). My observation is that Ace handed out cover assignments in batches. \u201cYou there, come in and draw two covers.\u201d Same procedure next week: \u201cAh, once you\u2019re in the office, won\u2019t you do three covers? Yeah, for our next three horror mags, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Far out issue, by the way. A monster hunter, an undead wild west posse and the synod of evil\u2026\u00a0 Come again?!<\/p>\n \u201cStrange Gift From The Unknown<\/a>\u201d\u00a0 is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n \u201cPhantoms Of The Forgotten<\/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 HAND OF FATE #22<\/strong><\/a> Competely Leroy lettered. Fate once actively, once passively involved. \u201cTo Behold His Doom<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n \u201cWhom The Image Strikes<\/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 Again that mystery cover art we saw with HAND21. This looks like McLaughlin inks, but whom is he inking?! Mystery artwork in \u201cShattering The Time Barrier\u201d. Am completely at a loss here; spotting art, anyone? This story has been under examination to be possible contribution by Myron Fass, but is probably not. Next story in this issue (\u201cHell Beyond The Crystal Ball\u201d) bringing up the next surprise: a contribution by Richard Case who has been absent for over two years.<\/p>\n \u201cHe Who Robs The Dead<\/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 HAND OF FATE #24<\/strong><\/a> Competely Leroy lettered and last issue to present all new material. Fate is involved in the lead story, then acts as host in another two. Cover is universally valid and may point to all stories. Again the contents of this issue are pretty far gone. Fate abdicates and lets a power greedy individual run the universe? A junk spirit with devil-like qualities does voodoo magic?? Zodiac beasts at the command of a mortal man??? And a woman turning into a were-alligator???? The second \u201cfiller\u201d is special: The first (and only) Ace one-pager to be told by a first person narrator, a castle tourist guide.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Of The Tattered Realm<\/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 HAND OF FATE #25a<\/strong><\/a> Fate only appears in the two original stories, not in the reprinted ones (because they come from early issues of BEYOND).<\/p>\n A quick explanation concerning the two number 25s<\/strong> (25a and 25b). In those critical weeks at the end of the year 1954, there must have been some editorial mix-up, maybe panic even. The almost simultaneous publication (one in November, the other in December) led to confusion in numbering. The December issue should have been a number 26. The run-of-the-mill story formula of discovering the elixir of eternal youth takes nice turns in \u201cWho\u2019d Believe Kasimir Raades?\u201d. The Ace writers truly explore the tragic component of this classic plot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HAND OF FATE #25b<\/strong><\/a> Exciting last issue. Just one reprint. All the other horror books at this point in time featured two reprinted stories. The misnumbered HAND OF FATE 25b (which should have been a #26!) rewards us with a very special third original story: \u201cThe Witch\u2019s Wicked Words\u201d. This is Larry Woromay swiping Jack Davis art from VAULT OF HORROR #36<\/p><\/div>\n The art looks startingly like Jack Davis, which can\u2019t be, because he was strung up at EC. So Howard Nostrand, the famous Davis-imitator from Harvey, comes to mind. But it took Jim Vadeboncoeur, Jr. just the batting of an eyelash to confirm that it\u2019s the talented Larry Woromay<\/strong> (of Atlas\/Marvel fame, later on Eerie Publications). So enjoy his only work he ever did for Ace Horror!<\/strong><\/p>\n Cameron\u2019s \u201cThe Last Hiding Place\u201d is a mad, mad, mad story about a gangster couple and a carnival witch turning them into a tiger woman and a werewolf \u2013 makes absolutely no sense at all. Baddie. The dark side of Ace horror. \u201cThe Last Hiding Place<\/a>\u201d is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n In \u201cWhen His Number\u2019s Up\u2026\u201d Zansky again touches the world of high finance and murderous businessmen. Compare to \u201cSlaves Of The Undead Brain\u201d in BEYOND #30 (January 1955).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the way: <\/p>\n For the record: HAND OF FATE \u2013 Top Spotted Artists<\/strong> (number of stories in brackets)<\/p>\n Each 1: Maurice Gutwirth, Mario Rizzi, Lin Streeter, Bill Walton, Charles Nicholas, Richard Case, Larry Woromay and \u201eAce Baker\u201c.<\/p>\n <\/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":1191,"parent":0,"menu_order":50,"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\/16"}],"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=16"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1396,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions\/1396"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}THE HAND OF FATE \/ 19 issues, formerly MEN AGAINST CRIME<\/h2>\n
![\"FirstFate\"](\"http:\/\/aces-of-ace.de\/filecollection\/sites\/2\/2012\/01\/FirstFate.jpg\")
<\/a>
\n December 1951<\/strong>
\nCover: Meet your fate (0) – Ken Rice
\n\u201cThe Revolt Of The Heads\u201d (Lou Cameron + Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cCanyon Of The Living Dead\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)
\n\u201cDeath Howls By Moonrise\u201d (Maurice Gutwirth)
\n\u201cMonster Of The Bayous\u201d (Mike Sekowsky or Bill Walton ? + Vince Alascia ?)<\/p>\n
\n February 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: That\u2019s my name on the stone (1) \u2013 Ken Rice ?
\n\u201cIt Is Written: I Die Tomorrow!\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cSecret Of The Witch\u2019s Urn\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + ?)
\n\u201cStrange Rendezvous At 17 Rue Noir\u201d (Ken Rice ? + Rocco Mastroserio ?)
\n\u201cVengeance From A Restless Grave\u201d (Louis Zansky)<\/p>\n<\/a>Lettered like the previous issue mostly in Leroy.
\n\u201cIt Is Written: I Die Tomorrow!\u201d introduces the title\u2019s feature character \u2013 Fate<\/strong>.
\nFate is destiny, omniscient and cloaked in robe and hood. Strange he doesn\u2019t make an appearance not until this second issue.<\/strong>
\nIn HAND8 they posted him big on the cover, but no Fate inside. Probably no one noticed \u2013 or cared, knock on wood. From now on the editors will mind their title\u2019s promise. Fate will be hosting stories (as narrator) or be actively involved in them.<\/p>\n<\/a>HAND OF FATE #10<\/strong><\/a>
\n April 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: No, father! You mustn\u2019t meddle with fate! (0) – Ken Rice
\n\u201cOne Awful Night With A Fiend\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Vince Alascia)
\n\u201cBeware Of Shiva\u2019s Flaming Wrath\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)
\n\u201cBride Of The Golden Skull\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Vince Alascia ?)
\n\u201cLure Of The Zombie Diamonds\u201d (???)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBeware Of Shiva\u2019s Flaming Wrath\u201d is about the Indian \u201csuttee\u201d-ritual, the cult of Siva and a curse of fire and blaze \u2013 with a cameo of Siva in person! All this executed on seven pages and involving five main characters. This is artful writing, folks.<\/p>\n
\n June 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Freed from that cursed Mandarin\u2019s chest (3) – Ken Rice
\n\u201cRoots Of The Evil Tree\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cThe Final Curtain\u201d (Lou Cameron + Rocco Mastroserio)
\n\u201cThe Man Who Bought A Genie\u201d (Bill Molno + Rocco Mastroserio, hidden signature)
\n\u201cThe Brew Of Frightful Faces\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)<\/p>\n
\nRecord run of four covers in a row by a single artist: Ken Rice.<\/p>\n
\nA genie poses as fate-character in the third story.<\/p>\n<\/a>ere\u2019s irritating artwork in \u201cThe Man Who Bought A Genie\u201d. A touch of Cameron? A hint of Zansky? A mixture of both? I\u2019m confident that it is Bill Molno\u2019s first job for HAND OF FATE. There\u2019s a hidden signature on the box in the second panel: \u201eMolno\u201c and \u201eRocke\u201c. \u201eRocke\u201c being Mastroserio\u2019s nickname. Sometimes you just get lucky.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n August 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Fate saved her (0) – John Chilly ?
\n\u201cThe Man Who Pawned His Soul\u201d (Bill Molno + ?)
\n\u201cCauldron Of Evil\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cDr. Chaney\u2019s Macabre Creation\u201d (Mario Rizzi)
\n\u201cThe Grave Will Not Wait\u201d (Chic Stone)<\/p>\n
\nFor the second time a lead story by Bill Molno. This is going to happen just once more in Ace horror history.<\/p>\n
\nThe strong motif (air plane crash!) is ridiculed by the fireman\u2019s monologue. The visual perspective of things seems to be far off, as well. Pathetic!
\nI\u2019m still trying to identify this \u201cartist\u201d, he did other covers, too, spotted him on Ace\u2019s war books. I am afraid that it could be \u2018roughs\u2019 by Ken Rice, actually, but it\u2019s a mystery.<\/p>\n<\/a>HAND OF FATE #13<\/strong><\/a>
\n October 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: The crystal shows the future, but only fate can change it (0) – Lou Cameron ?
\n\u201cNecklace Of Death\u201d (Lin Streeter)
\n\u201cDemonized Sweetheart\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cUnder The Telamone\u2019s Spell\u201d (Louis Zansky, signed \u201cLZ\u201d)
\n\u201cFate\u2019s Final Scoop\u201d (Bill Walton ?)<\/p>\n
\nFirst (and so far only) time to find a signature by Zansky<\/strong> \u2013 prominently positioned in the splash.<\/p>\n
\n November 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: Something is strangling me (2) – ???
\n\u201cThe Spirits Sing Tonight\u201d (Mike Sekowsky ?)
\n\u201cMeet Me At The Cemetery\u201d (Sy Grudko)
\n\u201cNo Escape From Nightmare\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cDevilish Dolls Of Death\u201d (Louis Zansky)<\/p>\n
\nCover has a McLaughlin touch, but something is wrong here. Collaboration with Cameron?
\nFate again hosting the first story and appearing actively in the third one. Is this some kind of pattern? Fate once active, once passive? Mostly, but not always.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\n December 1952<\/strong>
\nCover: What kind of a masquerade party is this? (0) – Jim McLaughlin
\n\u201cDead Ringer\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + Mario Rizzi?)
\n\u201cThe Mystery Of The Tarot\u201d (Mike Sekowsky + ?)
\n\u201cRing Of Evil\u201d (\u201eAce Baker\u201c + ?)
\n\u201cThe Doom Of The Lucky Devil\u201d (Bill Molno)<\/p>\n
\nHAND15 seems to have been drawn by up to eight artists and sets a teamworking record.
\nAnother record: Fate is an active protagonist in all four stories!
\nAnd proves to be a cruel, almost sadistic peeping Tom. Coming onto poor Hubert and punishing him? But who lets planes crash in the first place and leads innocent people into temptation to rearrange their curriculum vitae?! Hm?
\nAgain Fate gets scalded for his looks by a gangster: \u201eWhat kind of a nut are you, sneaking around draped in a sheet?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>
\n February 1953<\/strong>
\nCover:<\/strong> Pay for your folly (0) – \u201eAce Baker\u201c<\/strong> = Frank Giusto<\/strong>
\n\u201cSpecters Stalk The Bloody Tower\u201d (swipe artist ???)
\n\u201cThe Clock Of Doom Strikes Loud!\u201d (Mike Sekowsky ? + Mario Rizzi ?)
\n\u201cThe Black Curse Of Rhan Giva\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cHavoc On The Midway\u201d (Sy Grudko ?)<\/p>\n
\nMy favorite HAND cover. A beautiful woman menaced by a mysterious evil, Fate lingering in the background mumbling pompous drivel. This the best you\u2019ve got? Yes, it is.<\/p>\n
\nGiusto remembers vividly doing that cover (according to the book „Matt Baker – the Art of Glamour“, TwoMorrows Publishing, 2012) – and I quote: „One [cover I did] was the HAND OF FATE, because they had a pair of ghost hands coming out of a grave strangling some bimbo“<\/strong>.
\nTch, tch, tch. Bimbo? Frank.
\nThe correct term would be „fuckpuppet“.<\/p>\n<\/a>HAND OF FATE #17<\/strong><\/a>
\n April 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Malevolent mirror men (4) – Dick Beck
\n\u201cThe Sorcerer\u2019s Spectacles\u201d (Bill Molno + ?)
\n\u201cBeware The Snake Queen!\u201d (Charles Nicholas + ?)
\n\u201cOrchids From The Dead\u201d (Ken Rice ?)
\n\u201cMirror Macabre\u201d (Louis Zansky)<\/p>\n
\nNice cover by Dick Beck, his only one for Ace horror. Alas!<\/p>\n
\nRice returns with this story (after five month\u2019s absence), but seems to have his hands full with other jobs. Ace has launched two war books in these times (WAR HEROES + ATOMIC WAR). Additionally to their crime, romance and horror titles.<\/p>\n
\n June 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: That evil hand will drag us into darkness (0) – ???
\n\u201cThe Phantoms\u2019 Vengeful Return\u201d (Chic Stone)
\n\u201cPotion From The Unholy Cauldron\u201d (Sy Grudko ?)
\n\u201cWeb Of The Spider Woman\u201d (Bill Molno + ?)
\n\u201cThe Spectral Executioners\u201d (Ken Rice)<\/p>\n<\/a>The cover seems to be referencing a story from WEB18 (\u201cOut Of Blackness They Come!\u201d).
\nFate again once the host and once the protagonist.<\/p>\n
\nAnd it is a story featuring Fate.<\/p>\n
\nAugust 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Go back to your pirate grave (0) – ???
\n\u201cThe 5 Lives Of Otto Marlin\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cStampede Of The Centaurs\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cSatan\u2019s Sinister Bargain\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201eHigh Priestess Of The Snake People\u201c (\u201eAce Baker\u201c) \u2013 reprint from CHALLENGE OF THE UNKNOWN #6<\/p>\n
\nVery good example for leroyed screaming \u2013 got no style. I feel like there\u2019s a story to this cover, but not in this issue\u2026
\nOne of the finest issues Ace ever published<\/strong>, though. Four beautiful stories, executed in their best way by four fantastic artists. Please find two of them in our scan section.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n October 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: Elephant prints! (0) – Jim McLaughlin ?
\n\u201cDeath Was The Bridegroom\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cThe Phantom Gladiator\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cLong Shall The Undead Wail\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cDynasty Of Disaster\u201d (Chic Stone)<\/p>\n
\nThe reader (being judge and jury combined) has to put the pieces together and reconstruct a crime of supernatural nature. This crap NEEDS a balloon to get any sense into this picture.
\nElephant prints! Why not an attacking elephant bull in the first place?<\/p>\n
\nStep right up, folks, t<\/a>ake a look at the invisible bull. But what\u2019s that in the corner? Elephant crappings!<\/p>\n
\nAce\u2019 weakness in story writing. They sometimes just couldn\u2019t shake it off.<\/p>\n
\n December 1953<\/strong>
\nCover: When you got the jaws open\u2026 it sprung the gate! (0) – ???
\n\u201cStrange Gift From The Unknown\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)
\n\u201cRevenge Of The Haunted\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cPhantoms Of The Forgotten\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cInvitation To Your Wake\u201d (Sy Grudko ?)<\/p>\n<\/a>\u201cInvitation To Your Wake<\/a>\u201d is great nonsensical fun and crudely drawn – I suspect a sloppy job by Sy Grudko. Hmm, looking at it just now again, it\u2019s probably NOT Grudko, but I\u2019ll let it stand for the moment (so please antagonize me on that one)! It is posted on Karswell\u2019s fantastic blog \u201cThe Horrors Of It All\u201c – to read click on underlined title.<\/p>\n
\n March 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: Each door is a year (0\/1) – Ken Rice ?
\n\u201cTo Behold His Doom\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cWhom The Image Strikes\u201d (Chic Stone)
\n\u201cCurse Of The Sapphire Fiend\u201d (Jim McLaughlin)
\n\u201cThe Night Of Friday 13\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)<\/p>\n
\nOn the cover a couple travels into the future. The first story is (a bit) about that.
\nUnique occurrence: you get two fresh stories by Lou Cameron. Best deal in HAND OF FATE\u2019s run<\/strong>.
\nIn addition to it, \u201cThe Night Of Friday 13\u201d poses a highlight in Ace\u2019s horror opus. Absolutely cool story about Death taking a relaxing break. Told in first person by the reaper himself! Click to read in our \u201cStories\u201d section.<\/p>\n<\/a>HAND OF FATE #23<\/strong><\/a>
\n June 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: Run! Run! We can wait! (1) – ???
\n\u201cHe Who Robs The Dead\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cShattering The Time Barrier\u201d (???)
\n\u201cHell Beyond The Crystal Ball\u201d (Richard Case)
\n\u201cThrust Of A Ghost Lance\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)<\/p>\n
\nCompetely Leroy lettered. For the second time in HAND\u2019s run Fate is an active protagonist in all four stories!
\nIn the lead story \u201cHe Who Robs The Dead\u201d Lou Cameron designs panel borders out of bones. Gives it a scary and at the same time ironical touch.<\/p>\n
\nPostcript January 2015<\/strong>: \u201cShattering The Time Barrier<\/a>\u201d now posted on Karswell’s blog – and we all are still wondering who the art could be by…
\nI got a faint suspicion about it, though. Am getting a Jay Scott Pike vibe now (who did ONE horror story for Ace, in WEB OF MYSTERY #3, in 1951, three years ago). It’s highly improbable, cause Pike is working almost exclusively for Atlas\/Marvel since about 1950. But his „Curse of the Condemned Gypsy“ is getting reprinted in September 1954 – in BAFFLING MYSTERIES #22. Hmm, hmm, hmmm.<\/p>\n
\n August 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: If you are guilty you shall pay (1-4) – ???
\n\u201cThe Man Who Would Be Fate\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cLord Of The Tattered Realm\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201c12 Symbols To Hell\u201d (Louis Zansky)
\n\u201cBeast Of The Bayous\u201d (Jim McLaughlin + ?)<\/p>\n
\nGreat issue by Ace\u2019s \u201cBig Four\u201d: Cameron \/ Rice \/ Zansky and McLaughlin. Only one in the run of this series. And the last one in the history of Ace\u2019s horror books (number four out of four).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n November 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: You cannot hold back time! (3) – ???
\n\u201cWho\u2019d Believe Kasimir Raades?\u201d (Ken Rice)
\n\u201cBig Top Nightmare\u201d (Lin Streeter) \u2013 reprint from BEYOND #5
\n\u201cDeath Wears No Face\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cTrial By Ghost Light\u201d (Ken Rice) \u2013 reprint from BEYOND #4<\/p>\n
\nThe editors probably rushed this issue to the newsstands to avoid approval through the newly founded Comics Code Authority.<\/p>\n
\n December 1954<\/strong>
\nCover: Go back to the living and make amends! (0)\u00a0 Jim McLaughlin ?
\n\u201cThe Last Hiding Place\u201d (Lou Cameron, signed)
\n\u201cRendezvous With The Phantom Gypsies\u201d (Ken Rice) \u2013 reprint from WEB OF MYSTERY #5
\n\u201cThe Witch\u2019s Wicked Words\u201d (Larry Woromay)
\n\u201cWhen His Number\u2019s Up\u2026\u201d (Louis Zansky)<\/p>\n
\nA fast paced action story, atypical for Ace.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nWe have no information about authorship or the writing staff, but I wonder if Cameron sometimes did his own stories.<\/p>\n
\nIf you want to read a story which is not presented here or linked – please go looking for the whole book on sites like Digital Comic Museum<\/a> or\u00a0 Comic Book Plus<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Louis Zansky<\/td>\n (11)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Lou Cameron<\/td>\n (11)<\/td>\n 2 with Rocco Mastroserio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Jim McLaughlin<\/td>\n (9)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Mike Sekowsky<\/td>\n (8)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Ken Rice<\/td>\n (7)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Bill Molno<\/td>\n (5)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sy Grudko<\/td>\n (4)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Chic Stone<\/td>\n (4)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n