My Rating
Brainfever….
Myrna Clawson awoke from the nightmare once again. It was the same as last time. It’s always the same. Her mother rushed to the bedside as Mr. Clawson phoned the doctor. An hour later Myrna’s parents are in an agitated debate over the diagnosis. Brainfever? How much more of this can their daughter take? It’s been over a year since Myrna began having those dreams. The only recommendation the doctor has left is the rest home.
The asylum?! Myrna fights with her parents as they travel to the northwest side of town. Why is she still having the same dream of the young blond haired man driving a Model T Ford through the rainstorm? The lightning always strikes the tree branch hanging over the road. The tree falls on the red sedan, killing the man like clockwork. Her parents have no answers for their young Myna.
Will Myrna find the cure for her “brainfever” in the gothic halls of Dr. Colenby? Is Larry Shields a part of her delusion or a flesh and blood savior? What are the chances Myrna is set for electroshock treatments?
The Fiend In The Fog
London Harbour – 1831, the fog is especially thick tonight. As Elizabeth Matthews walks slowly down the street leading to the waterfront, the faint outline of three ship masts can be seen from a distance. The young redhead stops to adjust her ruby colored bonnet. Before she can even react, a deranged lunatic lunges from a dark corner, grappling her arms.
As Elizabeth begins to scream, the deranged man begins to pull her into a fog filled alleyway. Her eyes go wide as she realizes the greasy haired sailor means to murder her. The man’s eyes, in return, are fixed in a wild state. Shouts coming from the docks to the west, startling the creeper, and causing him to release Elizabeth’s wrists. In mere moments three sailors from the nearby cargo ship arrive and chase off the attacker.
The following night Captain Teague dines with the family of Elizabeth Matthews. Her father, Reverend Matthews, listens to the tale of his daughter’s heroic rescue. During the entire conversation Captain Teague’s eyes never leave Elizabeth’s face. The young man has become enamored with her.
As dinner comes to an end, the captain makes ready to leave. He says his goodbyes, then warns Elizabeth not to go out at night in the fog. Never travel in the fog. Reverend Matthews now comes to realize his daughter is just as infatuated with the sailor as he is with her.
His hat! Elizabeth shouts. Captain Teague forgot his hat. The young redhead picks up the captain’s cover and runs out the front door into the foggy night. Her hope is to catch her new love before he gets too far away. This would be the biggest mistake of her life.
Why does Captain Teague forbid Elizabeth from boarding his ship the Sea Princess? How did Elizabeth get the gold button from her lover’s coat? Should Captain Teague set sail and forget he ever saved the woman from certain death?
A Real Good Witch (text only story)
Ever since the city passed that new ordinance cracking down on fortune tellers and their ilk, police captain John Meadows has been up to his eyeballs in fraud cases. Just today a young woman filed a report stating a witch has been taking advantage of her mother for quite some time.
The mother has been paying $50 dollars a session. What is the daughter to do? No worries, John Meadows is on the case. His destination is the little studio with the sign in the window marked “A Real Good Witch”.
How does a police officer prove the existence of a “real witch”? Where did the old lady get the information about Captain Meadows? Can some really vanish from the highly secure, windowless jail cells down at the police precinct ? Collect the series to find out!
Reviewer Notes
So, who is more to blame for plot holes in story ending? The writer or the editor? Welcome to Charlton Comics shoehorning endings 101! Haunted Love #2 was cruxed with this same issue. I’m not sure if Nicola Cuti was an inexperienced writer at the time, or if there was an issue with meeting a deadline, but the “Brainfever” story ending seemed ill conceived.
We are in luck, however, because the second story was the crown jewel of this issue. Joe Gill spins a yarn about two young lovers stalked by a phantom killer through the foggy streets of Victorian Era London. The best part of “The Fiend In The Fog” is the amazing art by Tom Sutton. The story splash page alone is worth the read. I think I’ve found my phone’s next background wallpaper!
The Real Good Witch is another shot at exposing psychic mediums and fortune tellers. This time however it is written as a fictional piece. Again, it would have been nice if Charlton Comics would have disclosed who wrote the story.
I’m giving the third installment of Haunted Love four out of five stars.
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