Strange Suspense Stories #4 (1952)
Interesting Facts:
Fawcett Comics debuted Strange Suspense Stories in June 1952. The title ran for five issues under Fawcett. In 1954–55, Charlton acquired a stable of comic book properties from Fawcett Publications, which was shutting down its comics division. Charlton continued publishing two of Fawcett's horror books— This Magazine is Haunted and Strange Suspense Stories.
In a quirk common to the publisher, Charlton's Strange Suspense Stories started not with issue #6 (continuing the Fawcett numbering) nor with issue #1, but with issue #16. Both of those earlier titles were decidedly pre-Comics Code books, featuring murders, gruesome covers, and scantily-clad women.
More on this book:
Terrifying pre-code stories: "Curiosity Killed the Ghost," art by Bob Powell; The ghost of Markham Avery leaves the graveyard; He ventures into the village to solve the mystery of his own murder. "Beyond the Grave"; The stage magician Renaldo experiments with suspended animation and goes into a coma; But his assistant Jason considers leaving him that way and taking over Renaldo's act. "Beast of the Borgias" text story by John Martin. "The Man Who Outdistanced Death," art by George Evans; Chief Whitecloud Comatok is the greatest long distance runner on record; When rival Georgie Kerrik finds out his secret of success, he is caught in a race for life itself. 36 pgs., full color.