House of Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1971.
Synopsis for "Born Loser"
A man uses magic spells to make him appear dead in his cell after he murders his wife and is scheduled to hang. He has made previous arrangements with his lover to collect the body, but when she goes to get it she is told the man has been cremated.
Appearing in "Born Loser"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Homer Weaver (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Priscilla (Single appearance)
- Judith (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Judith's father (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Prison Warden (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Demons
Locations:
Items:
- Books of Black Magic
Synopsis for "The Human Wave"
This story is reprinted from House of Secrets #31.
Appearing in "The Human Wave"
Featured Characters:
- Dirk Huntley (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Brenda (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- A wizard (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- A human wave (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Jean Latour (Dies in flashback)
Items:
- Jeweled sword of Latour
Vehicles:
- Latour's ship (Destroyed)
- Huntley's Launch (Destroyed)
- Rescue Copter
Synopsis for "The Negative Man"
This story is reprinted from House of Mystery #84.
Appearing in "The Negative Man"
Featured Characters:
- Hydo, Kardusian (Single appearance)
- Shaxor, Kardusian (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Sarah, an old blind woman (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Kardus II
- Earth
- United States of America
- A farm
- United States of America
Vehicles:
- Spaceship
- Rock-Mobile (Destroyed)
Synopsis for "The King Is Dead"
A full moon turns the new king into a monster that murders many people. He tells his reluctant guards that he must be locked in the dungeon to save lives. The monster manifests in his cell and kills him, killing itself in the process.
Appearing in "The King Is Dead"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- King Karil (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Prime Minister (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Count Sforza (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Karil's monster form (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Karil's father (Appears only as a corpse)
Locations:
- Europe
- A small country near the Carpathian Mountains
Notes
- "The Human Wave" was reprinted from House of Secrets #31.
- "The Negative Man" was reprinted from House of Mystery #84.
- The rest of the stories and features, including Sergio Aragonés's gag strip, "Cain's Game Room", are reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1.
- "Born Loser" is also reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #24.
See Also