The March/April 85th anniversary issue of Weird Tales features our big list of “The 85 Weirdest Storytellers of the Past 85 Years.” We’re breaking it down online, too: one honoree per day, in no particular order, for 85 days!

When SALVADOR DALI (1904–1989) expressed his support for Spanish dictator Francesco Franco, the other surrealist artists expelled him from their group. Dali’s response: “I myself am surrealism.” He had a point. From his paintings (melting pocketwatches) to his filmmaking (ants in the hole in my hand) to his theatrical public quirks (stole Velazquez’s mustache), Dali may have defined weirdness for the 20th century more than any other single figure. Plus, “Visage of War” would have made an incredible Weird Tales cover.