Vault of Horror (1950) 35

“Ho, Ho, Ho! And what would you like for Christmas? Have you been a ghoul little child! I hope so, for with the Christmas spirit all about us, the editors thought it would be fitting to give our story for this issue a little Christmasy feeling! It’s Christmas Eve! And all good little children are tucked in their beddy-byes fast asleep! Ho! Ho! A perfect atmosphere for a Christmas tale, eh?

…And all through the house…”

Vault of Horror (1950) 35

So begins Santa’s narration for the cover story of Vault of Horror issue 35.

The cinemaesque storyboard-pages tell the tale as a noir piece of fiction, shadows and angles as much a part of the plot as the characters. Two feet and a dead body book end pages two and three of the story; a killer in heels absently singing a holiday tune as she prepares to dispose of the body.

To paraphrase a pop song, “Death is what happens while making other plans.” Such is the course of the tale’s trail as it weaves to involve a sinister character from outside.

The best laid plans of killers often go astray with innocent help as a special Santa makes his call upon the naughty.

The Vault Keeper reveals himself to be the story’s author as readers are left wondering what became of the protagonists.

Next in line is Tombs-Day from the Crypt of Terror and a mummy come for revenge.

 Beauty Rest allows the pageant winner to retain her looks forever.

Shoe-Button Eyes is another holiday horror offering as a little boy is given the gift of sight – at the expense of his brutal step-father.

And All Through the House was originally adapted for the big screen for a movie version of Tales from the Crypt. Later it was translated to television for an episode of the popular Tales from the Crypt that aired on HBO.

Vault of Horror was a bi-monthly comic book published by EC Comics from 1950 to 1955. The title became a casualty during the purge of “unwholesome” comic books in the mid-1950s.