Michael Kaluta Web of Horror Story

This complete four-page story, written and drawn by Michael Kaluta, was intended for publication in Web of Horror #4 or #5 in 1969. Then - suddenly - it disappeared. For forty-five freakin’ years.

In 2014 these lost stories surfaced on Heritage. They turned up in the estate of Robert Sproul, erstwhile publisher of Web of Horror who moved shop from Long Island to Florida while neglecting to tell the artist-creators of the fanzine.

In total there were six lost stories, and Wrightson’s “The Monster Jar” was among them. Restitution was made with the creators. In 2024 all of these stories were published in The Complete Web of Horror hardcover.

Kaluta was a member of The Studio, that forge of youthful energy and creativity in NYC in the 1970s. While I’m more familiar with Wrightson’s work from that period, I am stunned by the skill with which Kaluta created this trippy horror story. Every time I study the panels I see new patterns and motifs. So many details, so many narrative choices.

At the risk of hyperbole, the fact that these stories survived at all - and survived in such good shape generally - is miraculous. Many thanks to Bechara who made it possible for me to add these pages to my collection.