House of Mystery, #252
Published: May-June 1977
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Issue Contents:
Credits
- Pencils: Neal Adams
- Inks: Neal Adams
The Whole World's Upside Down
Storyline
Batman stops the Topsy Turvy Man, who is stealing Hostess treats.
Characters
- Batman
- Topsy-Turvy Man
Credits
- Pencils: Curt Swan
- Inks: Dick Giordano
- Letters: Ben Oda
Story Notes
Hostess Fruit Pie advertisement on inside front cover. Giordano inks per Nick Caputo. Previous indexer credited Vince Colletta.
"Glad to see you could make it back..."
Storyline
The House of Mystery has been condemned and Cain must convince a demolition crew to go away.
Credits
- Script: Paul Kupperberg
- Pencils: John Calnan
- Inks: Jack Abel
- Letters: Marjorie van Doorn (uncertain)
Story Notes
Framing sequence interspersed before, after, and between some stories.
The Devil Strikes at My Old Kentucky Home!
Storyline
The House of Mystery is scouted as a location for an amusement park, then for a movie, but Cain and his fellow weird inhabitants scare everyone away.
Characters
- Cain
- Max Allen
- John Shaw
- Horatio
- Bob
- Cedric B. DeMiles
Credits
- Script: Paul Kupperberg
- Pencils: Don Perlin
- Inks: Romeo Tanghal
- Letters: Ben Oda
Storyline
Cain and Abel spay flowers with bug spray as a giant bug sprays them. Abel stands in a deep hole while Cain dives into shallow water. Two ships in bottles are shooting at each other.
Credits
- Script: Sergio Aragonés
- Pencils: Sergio Aragonés
- Inks: Sergio Aragonés
Story Notes
Three gag cartoons.
The House Called Blefestry
Storyline
Owen Sherwood is haunted by terrible nightmares, but when he consults a psychiatrist he learns that the nightmares are real.
Characters
- Cain
- Owen Sherwood
- Terri Sherwood
Credits
- Script: Bill Kunkel
- Pencils: Alfredo Alcala
- Inks: Alfredo Alcala
- Letters: Alfredo Alcala (uncertain)
The Man Who Saw Tomorrow!
Storyline
An evil baron steals the secret of foretelling the future from an alchemist, but it leads to his death.
Characters
- Cain
- The Baron
- Alchemist (unnamed)
Credits
- Script: Jack Oleck
- Pencils: Bill Draut
- Inks: Bill Draut
Markham's Masterpiece
Storyline
Stanley Markham steals sculptures done by an old lady and passes them off as his own. Eventually he murders her so she can't reveal the truth, but her ghost returns for revenge.
Characters
- Cain
- Stanley Markham
- Mr. Webber
- Mrs. Peterson
Credits
- Script: David Michelinie
- Pencils: Frank Redondo
- Inks: Tex Blaisdell
- Letters: Milt Snapinn (uncertain)
The "Hidden Talent" Puzzle
Storyline
Word search puzzle.
Characters
Credits
- Script: Bob Rozakis
Story Notes
puzzle constructed by Bob Rozakis; solution found on letters page in this issue
"Here it is, folks!"
Credits
- Pencils: Derek Carter
- Inks: Derek Carter
Story Notes
Pin-up of the House of Mystery (exterior).
Credits
- Script: Sergio Aragonés
- Pencils: Sergio Aragonés
- Inks: Sergio Aragonés
Story Notes
Single gag cartoon about a servant using a witches broom to sweep the floor.
Grim Choice!
Storyline
After a plane crash in the mountains, Dolph Culhane is forced to eat the race horse he just bought in order to stay alive, but after he is rescued he learns that the horse was diseased, just as he starts to feel the symptoms himself.
Characters
- Cain
- ‘Dolph’ Culhane
- Guiterrez
- Pepper
- Martinez
Credits
- Script: Arnold Drake
- Pencils: Frank Robbins
- Inks: Frank Robbins
Man Killers
Storyline
A gang of conquering barbarians are captured and killed by a band of Amazons.
Characters
- Cain
- Arnon the Wizard
Credits
- Script: Jack Oleck
- Pencils: Rudy Florese
- Inks: Rudy Florese
The House of Secrets Speaks... Out
Storyline
Two people arrive at Abel's door to see if his house can be used to relocate Cain when the House of Mystery is torn down.
Characters
- Abel
- Jenette Kahn
- Joe Orlando
Credits
- Script: Jack C. Harris
- Pencils: John Calnan
- Inks: Jack Abel
Who -- or What Is the Changing Man?
Credits
- Pencils: Steve Ditko
- Inks: Steve Ditko
Story Notes
house ad for Shade the Changing Man (DC, 1977 series) #1, on sale March 8
Story Notes
Letters submitted by D.B. Webb; Jackie Hullette; Jon Mark Glazner; Rick Burnett; Will Nash; "An Adoring Fan"; "Problem Solvers Limited".
Story Notes
Statement of October 1, 1976 Average number of copies sold during preceding 12 months (total paid circulation): 124,000 Actual number sold for issue nearest filing date (total paid circulation): 87,583 Owner: DC Comics, Inc., wholly owned by Warner Communications, Inc., a publicly-held company, both at 75 Rockefeller Plaza, N.Y., N.Y. 10019
From Beyond the Grave!
Storyline
Maude West finally joins her dead fiancee, fifty years after the accident that killed him.
Characters
- Destiny
- Maude West
- Whitney Lee
- George
Credits
- Script: Marjorie Darland
- Pencils: Alex Niño
- Inks: Alex Niño
Storyline
Single gag cartoon of a beautiful witch changing into an ugly witch so her friends don't find out.
Credits
- Script: Sergio Aragonés
- Pencils: Sergio Aragonés
- Inks: Sergio Aragonés
...Another Masterful Missive from Our Publisher!!
Credits
- Script: Jenette Kahn
#1 Sol Harrison
Credits
- Script: Mike Gold
Story Notes
First of 90 DC Profiles, beginning May 1977. Last in SUPERMAN FAMILY 216, March 1982. Sometimes 4 or 5 profiles a month in various DC titles, some months none. Profiles #1-20 are same format. Profiles #21-63 a different design. Profiles #64-89 less nicely formatted, crammed in "Daily Planet" pages, only in Dollar Book titles, DETECTIVE COMICS, SUPERMAN FAMILY and WORLD'S FINEST. # 1 also in KARATE KID #8, SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS #7, and SUPERMAN FAMILY #183, all cover-dated May-June 1977. Next profile (DC Profiles #2, Walt Simonson) in OUR FIGHTING FORCES #173.