Homer the Happy Ghost #1 (March 1955, Atlas Comics) — VG/FN 5.0
“There’s Been a Horrible Mistake!” — Dan DeCarlo’s Ghostly Golden-Age Gem
The debut issue of Homer the Happy Ghost, a lighthearted humor series from the Atlas stable that followed the success of Casper and other “friendly ghost” comics of the 1950s. Written by Stan Lee and drawn by Dan DeCarlo, this book marks one of the earliest humor titles in Atlas’s post-horror lineup, blending slapstick gags, suburban Americana, and gentle supernatural mischief.
Cover: Dan DeCarlo — A classic domestic gag setup with DeCarlo’s trademark clean lines and expressive motion. Homer is mistakenly hung on a clothesline, exclaiming, “There’s been a horrible mistake!”
Feature Stories:
“This Looks Like a Good House for Us to Haunt!”
Script: Stan Lee Art: Dan DeCarlo
Homer and his parents move into a new home and discover a cast of ghosts and a mischievous witch already living there.
“Melvin, Would You Go to the Store…” — Melvin’s well-meaning but bumbling errands end in ghostly chaos.
“Look, Zelda’s Crying!” — The gang’s broomstick caper gone wrong.
“Melvin, Can Ya Lend Me 10 Cents?” — A mix-up leads Homer and Melvin into an accidental “bank robbery.”
“How Do You Like My Sailboat, Melvin?” — Snow-boat races and slapstick competition.
Text Story: “Tessie’s Problem.”
Tone: Light humor, domestic antics, and playful supernatural elements; part of Atlas’s pivot from horror to kid-friendly comedy after the Comics Code crackdown.
VG/FN (5.0) — Strong mid-grade copy with vibrant red and yellow hues and excellent eye appeal. Light edge wear, faint spine stress, and small corner bends, but structurally sound and fully attached at staples. Interior pages off-white with supple texture. Minimal surface soiling and a tiny pencil date notation near masthead.
Homer the Happy Ghost #1 (March 1955, Atlas Comics) — VG/FN 5.0
“There’s Been a Horrible Mistake!” — Dan DeCarlo’s Ghostly Golden-Age Gem
The debut issue of Homer the Happy Ghost, a lighthearted humor series from the Atlas stable that followed the success of Casper and other “friendly ghost” comics of the 1950s. Written by Stan Lee and drawn by Dan DeCarlo, this book marks one of the earliest humor titles in Atlas’s post-horror lineup, blending slapstick gags, suburban Americana, and gentle supernatural mischief.
Cover: Dan DeCarlo — A classic domestic gag setup with DeCarlo’s trademark clean lines and expressive motion. Homer is mistakenly hung on a clothesline, exclaiming, “There’s been a horrible mistake!”
Feature Stories:
“This Looks Like a Good House for Us to Haunt!”
Script: Stan Lee Art: Dan DeCarlo
Homer and his parents move into a new home and discover a cast of ghosts and a mischievous witch already living there.
“Melvin, Would You Go to the Store…” — Melvin’s well-meaning but bumbling errands end in ghostly chaos.
“Look, Zelda’s Crying!” — The gang’s broomstick caper gone wrong.
“Melvin, Can Ya Lend Me 10 Cents?” — A mix-up leads Homer and Melvin into an accidental “bank robbery.”
“How Do You Like My Sailboat, Melvin?” — Snow-boat races and slapstick competition.
Text Story: “Tessie’s Problem.”
Tone: Light humor, domestic antics, and playful supernatural elements; part of Atlas’s pivot from horror to kid-friendly comedy after the Comics Code crackdown.
VG/FN (5.0) — Strong mid-grade copy with vibrant red and yellow hues and excellent eye appeal. Light edge wear, faint spine stress, and small corner bends, but structurally sound and fully attached at staples. Interior pages off-white with supple texture. Minimal surface soiling and a tiny pencil date notation near masthead.
