House of Secrets #50 is an issue of the series House of Secrets (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1961.
Synopsis for "The Town That Lost Its Face"
Dr. Jay Bufford is on his way back to his hometown, which he hasn't visited in years. As he flies past the local mountain in his private helicopter, he spots Stone Face, a well-known rock formation that looks like a featureless face. Jay puts his helicopter on autopilot and climbs down a ladder, hoping to be the first person to see Stone Face from up close. However, he's overcome by dizziness and barely makes it back to his helicopter.
Later, when Jay arrives in town, he catches up with the mayor and his old teacher. Next, he pays a visit to the two friends with whom he'll be staying. Finally, he goes to the office of Dr. Burton, whom he'll be working with.
Suddenly, the mayor stumbles into Dr. Burton's office, and his face has started to disappear. He explains that the same thing is happening to Miss Potter, Jay's old teacher. As the mayor's face disappears completely, Jay's two friends burst into the office, and the same thing is happening to them.
Jay realizes the problem must be connected to Stone Face, so he gets into his helicopter and blows up the rock formation with several sticks of dynamite. But when he returns to town, he discovers that everyone's face is still blank, including Dr. Burton's. Everyone Jay has talked to is affected.
Jay decides to spend his life in exile, because he cannot risk causing others to suffer the same fate. As he's packing, he notices an old blanket hanging on his wall. The blanket depicts three images. The first shows an American Indian spirit carving Stone Face, complete with eyes, a nose, and a mouth. The second and third images show an evil spirit taking the face off the mountain and leaving behind a featureless face.
Jay now understands what he must do. He loads a jackhammer into his helicopter and carves a perfect likeness of the original Stone Face, as depicted on his blanket. Back in town, everyone's face goes back to normal.
Appearing in "The Town That Lost Its Face"
Featured Characters:
- Jay Bufford (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Dr. Burton (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mayor Nelson (Single appearance)
- Miss Potter (Single appearance)
- Mike (Single appearance)
- Ellen (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Black Hills of South Dakota
Vehicles:
- Jay's Helicopter
Synopsis for "Pageant of the 300-Year Doom!"
Appearing in "Pageant of the 300-Year Doom!"
Featured Characters:
- Charles Belmont (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Andre D'Amadur (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Jean Le Sabre's crew (As a spirit) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Pierre Leduc (Single appearance)
- Raoul D'Amadur (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Amadur Island
Items:
- Red Plume
Synopsis for Mark Merlin: "The Last Survivors of Planet Earth"
Appearing in Mark Merlin: "The Last Survivors of Planet Earth"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Nol Fleer, Ryn Stoog's lab assistant (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Yx'Rodians (Single appearance)
- Ryn Stoog, a scientist (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Earth
- Planet Yx'Rod
- Ryn's Lab
- Fun Town
Vehicles:
- Mark's plane
- Spaceship
- Yx'Rod flying vehicles
Notes
- "The Town That Lost Its Face" is reprinted in House of Mystery #227.
- Other features appearing in this issue of House of Secrets include:
- "Wanted: Safe Bus Riders!", a PSA written by Jack Schiff, drawn by Bernard Baily, and lettered by Ira Schnapp.
- "Dr. Floogle" by Henry Boltinoff.
- "Mysterious Tree!", which was originally printed in House of Mystery #44. Penciled by Morris Waldinger, inked and lettered by Tom Nicolosi.
- "Black-Magic Beasts", a text story.
See Also