Number 847

Henpecked Harry

Fred Kida, a true talent who came from the Golden Age, and who could work in various styles and genres, drew this little tale of a murdering spouse in Eerie Comics #1, dated January, 1947. Avon published this one-shot, which is reputedly the very first horror comic book, predating Adventures Into The Unknown #1, dated Fall, 1948, by over a year. Avon did a second series of Eerie after horror comics became popular.

"The Strange Case of Henpecked Harry " is more O. Henry than horror; it has a murder, but there's a twist.

Kida, who celebrated his 89th birthday last December 12, was active for a long time in the field. He drew the Spider-Man comic strip until the mid-'80s.