I read Magic just to cleanse myself of my childhood terror of the trailer for the movie:

The effects in "Squeeze" still hold up well for me, mostly because it's largely left up to the imagination.  If they'd actually tried to show him stretching, using 1990s TV special effects, it would have been something akin to the Roger Corman "Fantastic Four" movie.

The effects in "Squeeze" still hold up well for me, mostly because it's largely left up to the imagination.  If they'd actually tried to show him stretching, using 1990s TV special effects, it would have been something akin to the Roger Corman "Fantastic Four" movie.

They probably are woodcuts.  Lynd Ward was a great woodcut artist of the 1930s (in addition to illustrations, he did a series of "woodcut novels" that are often listed among the early graphic novels).  That book looks gorgeous.

They probably are woodcuts.  Lynd Ward was a great woodcut artist of the 1930s (in addition to illustrations, he did a series of "woodcut novels" that are often listed among the early graphic novels).  That book looks gorgeous.

The most amazing racist Lovecraft story is "Medusa's Coil," about a woman with killer Medusa hair so powerful that even *paintings* of it come to life and strangle people…but the real horror, saved for the final twist ending, is that SHE HAS A TINY AMOUNT OF BLACK ANCESTRY!  BOO!!!

The most amazing racist Lovecraft story is "Medusa's Coil," about a woman with killer Medusa hair so powerful that even *paintings* of it come to life and strangle people…but the real horror, saved for the final twist ending, is that SHE HAS A TINY AMOUNT OF BLACK ANCESTRY!  BOO!!!

That one is a retelling of a story called "The New Mother," by Victorian writer Lucy Clifford.  Because that's what you wrote to entertain Victorian children.  I don't know why the wooden tail is the most horrifying detail, but it is, it is.

The first paragraph of "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" is also brilliantly skin-crawling.  Shirley Jackson was so good.  Amazingly, during her life she was better known for humorous Erma Bombeck-style essays about her family than for horror (except for "The Lottery," which caused something of a scandal when it…

The first paragraph of "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" is also brilliantly skin-crawling.  Shirley Jackson was so good.  Amazingly, during her life she was better known for humorous Erma Bombeck-style essays about her family than for horror (except for "The Lottery," which caused something of a scandal when it…

I always open the shower curtains in any bathroom.  Because Bob from Twin Peaks probably isn't hiding in there, but you know, he could be.

I always open the shower curtains in any bathroom.  Because Bob from Twin Peaks probably isn't hiding in there, but you know, he could be.

Also by Junji Ito!

Also by Junji Ito!

According to my Korean students, Gangnam is a trendy noveau riche district of Seoul (which is itself pretty rich and trendy these days).  So, yes, like Beverly Hills.  The lyrics are all about claiming to be Gangnam when he's clearly not.

According to my Korean students, Gangnam is a trendy noveau riche district of Seoul (which is itself pretty rich and trendy these days).  So, yes, like Beverly Hills.  The lyrics are all about claiming to be Gangnam when he's clearly not.

Even though The Young Ones is just a group of British comedians stomping around hollering at each other, it is one of the greatest TV shows ever made.  "Bambi" holds its own against any episode of Fawlty Towers.  Yes, I said it.

Even though The Young Ones is just a group of British comedians stomping around hollering at each other, it is one of the greatest TV shows ever made.  "Bambi" holds its own against any episode of Fawlty Towers.  Yes, I said it.

"Oh, a magic door.  Why didn't you say?"

"Oh, a magic door.  Why didn't you say?"