The House of Secrets, Volume One

I bought the volume for #92 the story on the cover. I am a huge fan of Len Wein & Berni Wrightson. Able (of Cain & Able) has been sent to the cemetery by Cain to find his courage to catch a SNIPE!!! (Wrightson drew Cain & Able, never a more sinister Cain & a pathetic Able) The story starts on pg 283. it starts "I cannot remember the morning any more--but I know the evening well! I belong to it now-- and it cares for me in return." It is about one of the predecessors of the Swamp thing (Alex Olsen), his lovely golden haired wife Linda, and his covetous best friend Damien. With all love triangles something always goes bad. Well Damien and Linda are now married since Alex is dead. Linda figures out who killed Alex. It ends badly, as Linda is frightened of the Swamp thing, who just saved her life. the last line of the story is heartbreaking. "The tortured shattered look in her once-sparkling eyes is more than I can endure-- I turn my face away from her-- and start to go home... Only the swamp is kind to me now-- it is only the swamp that cares-- If tears could come-- they would!" The whole volume is filled with some of the best of the best writers & illustrators. I now have to get the "House of Mystery" Cain's house and his stories. Able isn't complete with out Cain. And watch out for "Goldie". 17 issues with 541 pages.

The prior review misses the point: these are horror tales from a distant era. Of course they are basic! That is part of the charm of this volume, so go into it with your eyes open. This series is totally on the same level as HOUSE OF MYSTERY. The Abel framing sequences are very odd and endearing: we also get a few cameos from the sexy young witch from THE WITCHING HOUR, so perhaps we'll see a Showcase for that title in the near future.

A fairly good buy, but it's flawed. I found it to be one of the weakest in the DC horror reissue series, but even so, the real fans amongst us will be mostly satisfied with it. I will balance the 'highs' and the 'lows' of the book here : True, there is definitely some filler here, some dross amongst the 'gems' -- Some of the stories here seem to date back to the early to mid 60's,and don't at all fit with the early 70's 'flavour' of the whole series. True, the art is not consistently up to the standard of "House of Mysteries'" best moments. But rest assured, there are still some truly great artists here too, with very heavy woodcut /Roy Lichtenstein ( Whaaaamm! ) style art which you shouldn't miss. And, importantly, some of the stories do indeed, feature, Nino, Alcala and the other Fillipino artists who were at the top of their game in the early to mid 70's. Final conclusion -- Volume Two in the series is better, but Volume One is still a pretty good reissue to keep the real fans amongst us satisfied.....until DC reissue the next in the series to feed our pulp comic book habit ! So -- Remember reading these comics, on a rainy afternoon alone, in Dad's study ( that smelt of pipe smoke), or huddled in your bed ,under freshly starched sheets, totally drawn into the sense of mystery in the art and stories ? The rain and thunder rumbles and trickles outside,as you feel the slight chill of the afternoon drawing to a close, the evening hues slowly darkening the skies..... These reprints re create some of that magic.