2008 Halloween Countdown 13 Bonus - Blog Alert: Negative Pleasure

Negative Pleasure has made a few posts about DC Comics' horror titles including The Witching Hour, Unexpected and Secrets of Sinister House. He also has horror movie reviews that are very interesting to read.

2008 Halloween Countdown 13: Elvira's House of Mystery #9

The cover of Elvira's House of Mystery (November 1986) #9 is the first issue to feature a photo image of the Mistress of the Dark. Unfortunately, the photo image is black and white with a really crappy yellow background making this the worst cover of the series in my opinion. Her four page segment is titled "Film Festival" and I was surprised that they did not use this type of segment earlier in the series. The two twisted tales are "Lost Souls" and "Drink Like a Fish".

Elvira's House of Mystery #9 cover

Film Festival page 1

Film Festival page 2

Film Festival page 3

Film Festival page 4

2008 Halloween Countdown 12: Elvira's House of Mystery #8

The Mistress of the Dark is protraying the Statue of Liberty complete with torch, crown and book that adorns the cover of Elvira's House of Mystery #8 (October 1986) drawn by Dwight Turner. Yes, you read that right for this comic book from DC Comics actually hit the stands in July but is cover dated October. Comic and magazine publishers have long since dated their issues often weeks or months before their actual release date. This allows the publications to appear current even if they have been on the newstands for some time. The practice also informs them when an unsold comic book can be removed to either be returned to the publisher or be destroyed (yes, the latter is even horrible for me to read too).

Her one page segment is titled "The Library of Elvira's House of Mystery" pencilled by Dwight Turner and inked by the legendary Dick Giordano (unfortunately the writer is unknown). This issue has the following three tales of terror that has nothing to do with the Fourth of July: "Gruesome Gretchen", "Mummy Dearest" and "Out of Synch!".

This issue does feature an update about the "Find Cain" contest.

Elvira's House of Mystery #8 cover

The Library of Elvira's House of Mystery

Contest update

2008 Halloween Countdown 11 Bonus - Blog Alert: Spectre At Dial B for Blog

Dial B For Blog is taking a special look at the Spectre who had his start in the Golden Age. He was created by Jerry Siegal (Superman's co-creator) and Bernard Baily.

2008 Halloween Countdown 11: Elvira's House of Mystery #7

The Mistress of the Dark heads into outer space in Elvira's House of Mystery #7 (September 1986) with a special sci-fi issue. Her four page segment does not even get a title this time around. The cover art is by the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz featuring Adam Strange, who is one of the many space heroes that DC Comics has. The two tales featured are "The Dollmaker" and "Star Born" but I found both rather boring. This issue does have details about the "Find Cain" contest that her fan club started.

Elvira's House of Mystery #7 cover

Elvira in space page 1

Elvira in space page 2

Elvira in space page 3

Elvira in space page 4

Elvira fan club contest ad

2008 Halloween Countdown 10: Elvira's House of Mystery #6

One would think that a comic book turned sideways would be a good idea. Unfortunately, DC Comics gives us Elvira's House of Mystery #6 (August 1986), which crams two pages sideways on one page. Not only is the artwork much smaller than normal but the text is is extremely hard to read. I was thirty-one when I first bought this issue and I had to bring out my magnifying glass to read it. I am glad that the Elvira pinup and letters page was not turned sideways.

The cover of Elvira's House of Mystery #6 (August 1986) is by Mark Beachum. The Mistress of the Dark's segment is titled "Attic Attack" written by Tom and Mary Beirbum, penciled by Tom Grindberg and inked by James Bosch aka Jim Fern. Unlike previous issues that had two tales, this one has the following five fright-filled fantasies: "A New York Yankee in King Arthur's Court!", "Subject for Post-Mortem", "Two-Edged Sword", "You'll Beg to Die" and "Just Like Clockwork" (the latter one is written by Joey Cavelieri).

Elvira's House of Mystery #6 cover

Attic Attack part 1

Attic Attack part 2

Attic Attack part 3

Attic Attack part 4

Elvira's House of Mystery #6 pinup
For larger images of this and previous issues, check out Elvira's House of Mystery

2008 Halloween Countdown 9: Elvira's House of Mystery #5

The cover artist for Elvira's House of Mystery #5 (July 1986) from DC Comics is Mark Beachum. The Mistress of the Dark is featured in a four page segment titled "Clue Number 1" written by Joey Cavelieri and Mark Beachum. Not only do we find out that she sleeps nude but we also find out that she wears nothing under her gown. The first twisted tale is "Waddell and the Beav" about a mean drunk that dresses up as Billy Beaver for a kiddie show meeting a nasty end. The second shock story is "The Clockwork Dragon" about a woman that discovers her husband is a monster. As usual, I am just posting the cover and the Elvira segment.

Elvira's House of Mystery #5 cover

Clue Number 1 page 1

Clue Number 1 page 2

Clue Number 1 page 3

Clue Number 1 page 4

Breaking News From Smallville

We interupt the 2008 Halloween Countdown to bring you breaking news from Smallville: Jonathan Kent passes on. The Kansas farmer leaves behind a wife, Martha, and an adopted son, Clark.

Goodnight, Pa Kent, we will miss you...again.

2008 Halloween Countdown 8: Elvira's House of Mystery #4

After the first three issues, the Mistress of the Dark does not appear much in Elvira's House of Mystery #4 (June 1986). The peek-a-boo cover is by an unknown artist. She does present two tales that are more romantic than scary. The first is "Light of Day, Dark of Night, All the World Loves a Lover" and the second is "She Knows Someone Is Watching Her". The real bonus is the live pinup of Cain and Abel circa 1970.

Elvira's House of Mystery #4 cover

Elvira's House of Mystery #4 page one

Cain and Abel pinup circa 1970

2008 Halloween Countdown 7: Elvira's House of Mystery #3

The Mistress of the Dark is still wearing her cowboy hat and six guns in Elvira's House of Mystery #3 (May 1986) from DC Comics. The cover art is by Denys Cowan and Dick Giordano. Elvira's segment is titled "Retribution" or "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Tin Badges!" written by Joey Cavalieri with art done by Stan Woch and Dick Giordano. The two tales of terror are "Ballad of Hanging Rock" (a weird western tale) and "One Way Passage" (elevator to Hell story). Here is the cover and the four page Elvira segment:

Elvira's House of Mystery #3 cover

Retribution page 1

Retribution page 2

Retribution page 3

Retribution page 4

2008 Halloween Countdown 6: Elvira's House of Mystery #2

Elvira's House of Mystery #2 (April 1986) from DC Comics is a Samurai special. The cover features the Mistress of the Dark holding a sword. The segment featuring Elvira is called "In Quest of a Caretaker" written by Joey Cavalier and drawn by Bob Oksner. The two tales of horror featured are "The Samurai Condemned To Live!" and "The Samurai Who Surprised Death!" I am only featuring the Elvira story in this post.


Elvira's House of Mystery #2 cover

In Quest of a Caretaker page 1

In Quest of a Caretaker page 2

In Quest of a Caretaker page 3

In Quest of a Caretaker page 4

In Quest of a Caretaker page 5

2008 Halloween Countdown 5: Elvira's House of Mystery #1 Final

To wrap up my coverage of Elvira's House of Mystery #1 (January 1986), here are two black and white pinups of the Mistress of the Dark. At first glance, the pinups appear to be the same but there are a few subtle differences beside just the color of the background.

Inside back cover of Elvira's House of Mystery #1

Back cover of Elvira's House of Mystery #1