The Hand of Fate

Ace Magazines’ The Hand of Fate ran for 19 issues from 1951 to 1955, a supernatural anthology series that leaned into the era’s fascination with eerie twists and moralistic horror. Most frequently drawn by Mike Sekowsky, Jim McLaughlin, and Ken Rice, each issue served up self-contained tales of cursed objects, spectral vengeance, and ironic comeuppances—all framed by the cryptic, cloaked narrator from whom the series took its name. It stands as a solid, workmanlike entry in the pre-Code horror boom, showcasing the clean, effective storytelling that made Ace a steady presence on 1950s newsstands.