House of Mystery, #20
Published: November 1953
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Mr. Mortem!
"There he goes-- every time death occurs, Mr. Mortem is on the scene!"
Credits
- Pencils: Leonard Starr
- Inks: Leonard Starr
- Letters: Ira Schnapp
United Nations Day - October 24th
"It's a far cry from the ancient Tower of Babel, with its confusion of many tongues..."
Credits
- Script: Jack Schiff
- Pencils: Win Mortimer
- Inks: Win Mortimer
Story Notes
Inside front cover.
The Beast of Bristol
"I must be going mad! They can't both be the frauds I created! One of them must be... real"
Storyline
English horror actor Elliot Smathers fears to lose his mind. Is he really going on nightly killing sprees in his sleep? Or is it a scheme of his agent to drive him insane?
Characters
- Alex Kent
- Elliot Smathers
- Meeker
Credits
- Pencils: Jim Mooney
- Inks: Jim Mooney
Featuring Schwinn
Strange Dream!
"In Southern France, some 50 years ago, Judge M. Berard, while vacationing in an inn near Siegan, dreamed of a man, who, while sleeping in the judge's very bed, was knifed by the innkeeper and his wife!"
Storyline
In France, judge Berard dreams of a man's murder.
Characters
- Judge M. Berard
- Mr. Benet
- Mrs. Benet
- Victor Arnaud (in a dream)
Mr. Mortem!
"Hide, Drew, hide---while I call the police!"
Storyline
When Drew Wilson sees a strange man at his uncle's funeral, and again at the death of a boxer he realizes that Death itself has been stalking him.
Characters
- Vera
- Drew Wilson
- Conrad Wilson
- Mr. Mortem
- Biff Saunders
Credits
- Pencils: Leonard Starr
- Inks: Leonard Starr
Story Notes
First-person narrative.
Featuring Wildroot Cream-Oil
Have Fun with Gun (1)
"Let's hurry – we'll make the native village by nightfall."
Characters
- Pud
- Tim
- unnamed pigmies
Credits
- Pencils: Ray Thompson
- Inks: Ray Thompson
Editorial Advisory Board
Red Car of Death
"When the Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were killed in their red touring car at Saravejo in 1914, it started World War I!"
Storyline
Archduke Francis Ferdinand was killed in a red touring car in Sarajevo in 1914. Many other people found their untimely deaths while owning that car.
Characters
- Archduke Francis Ferdinand
- Duchess of Hohenberg Sophie
- unnamed Austrian army officers
- Yugoslav Governor
- Dr. Sriskis
- M. Tiber Hirschfield
The Lamp That Changed People!
"Go on, Jennie -- pick the one you'd like to be, and I'll make you her! Go on Jennie-- pick some one to be... anyone!"
Storyline
Jennie discovers that the junk lamp that her husband brought home is really a magic lamp that can make her the richest woman in the world.
Characters
- Jennie Doldrum
- Casper Doldrum
- Cleopatra
- Caesar
- Ann Boleyn
Credits
- Pencils: Nick Cardy
- Inks: Nick Cardy
Featuring Scripto
Prince of Prophets
"Almost 400 years ago, a prophet predicted the rise and fall of Hitler and Mussolini—and for good measure described the manner and time of their deaths."
Storyline
The visions and prophecies of Nostradamus.
Credits
- Script: Jack Miller
Featuring Our Army at War
"From the M-1 firing marines of Iwo Jima..."
The Hex on My House!
"But, darling... there's no one here but you and me! What you think you see is in your own mind --- the result of your fevered imagination!"
Storyline
The madwoman Eliza Jason goes around putting hexes on people. Her husband Joad collects money to make the curses go away. Finally district attorney Clark starts investigating and exposes the Jasons for extortion. Now he feels a hex on him.
Characters
- Tom Crandall
- Portia Crandall
- Eliza Jason
- Joad Jason
- Ellen
- D. A. Clark
Credits
- Pencils: Curt Swan
Story Notes
First-person narrative.
Featuring Tootsie Roll
Featuring Stephens Credit Sales
Story Notes
Inside back cover.
Featuring Littleton Stamp Co.
Story Notes
Back cover.