Elvira's House of Mystery #1

 

  The House of Mystery has a new owner in Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

   Upon fleeing an angry mob, Elvira takes refuge in what is revealed to be the House of Mystery. Upset upon the loss of it’s owner Cain, the House, which all of a sudden can talk secretly hopes Elvira will find him. So the House of Mystery, under the guise of the domicile protecting her from the violent throng outside sends Elvira throughout time and space in hopes of finding something that will calm the crowd and return Cain as the spooky mansion’s rightful owner.

   Stories include a real life game of Dungeons and Dragons that turns deadly for a coven, a battle between elderly sorcerers in medieval Japan, and a group of kids hoping to win a thousand dollar prize take advantage of a nebbish child in order to do it. As is tradition with the horror version of the House of Mystery, there was also a couple of humorous comic strips peppered throughout.

     Of the three tales, the one about Japan was my least favorite. It had good art and the story was good but it was long. It was all narration (nobody speaks!) and it ran for 36-pages whereas the other yarns were only about 8-pages apiece.

     Elvira’s House of Mystery #1 doubled as a 64-page Halloween Special. As specials go it wasn’t bad. But compared to the quality of the Cain led House of Mystery books, this was a pale imitation as best. I think I understand why this book only lasted 11 issues.

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.