House of Mystery #197 — VG+ 4.5
December 1971 • DC Comics • Horror anthology • Neal Adams cover
One of the great Bronze Age House of Mystery covers — Neal Adams at full atmospheric power. A skull rising out of ocean fog. A wrecked ship. Kids stranded on broken planks while something ancient and wrong stares out of the mist. It’s a perfect piece of early-’70s DC horror: moody, cinematic, and designed to get under your skin before you even open the book.
Inside is a stacked lineup of classic supernatural short stories. The lead tale “Ghost Ship” reworks the Flying Dutchman legend into a grim sea-bound nightmare, followed by the chilling “Mr. Mortem!”, a story about Death stalking a man through everyday life. The issue also includes “I Wish I May, I Wish I Might,” “House of Horrors,” and “The Guardian of the Past,” blending ghosts, curses, time slips, and psychological unease in the way only DC’s Bronze Age horror line could. Host segments by Cain frame the issue with just the right mix of sarcasm and dread.
Maj. Picto’s Grading Notes (4.5 / VG+)
Cover shows general surface wear, edge and corner softness, and light color wear consistent with handling. Mild creasing visible with no major breaks. Spine is intact with moderate wear but solid structure. Back cover shows light soiling and age toning. Interior pages are off-white to cream, complete and firmly attached. A clean mid-grade copy with strong eye appeal and no major defects.
House of Mystery #197 — VG+ 4.5
December 1971 • DC Comics • Horror anthology • Neal Adams cover
One of the great Bronze Age House of Mystery covers — Neal Adams at full atmospheric power. A skull rising out of ocean fog. A wrecked ship. Kids stranded on broken planks while something ancient and wrong stares out of the mist. It’s a perfect piece of early-’70s DC horror: moody, cinematic, and designed to get under your skin before you even open the book.
Inside is a stacked lineup of classic supernatural short stories. The lead tale “Ghost Ship” reworks the Flying Dutchman legend into a grim sea-bound nightmare, followed by the chilling “Mr. Mortem!”, a story about Death stalking a man through everyday life. The issue also includes “I Wish I May, I Wish I Might,” “House of Horrors,” and “The Guardian of the Past,” blending ghosts, curses, time slips, and psychological unease in the way only DC’s Bronze Age horror line could. Host segments by Cain frame the issue with just the right mix of sarcasm and dread.
Maj. Picto’s Grading Notes (4.5 / VG+)
Cover shows general surface wear, edge and corner softness, and light color wear consistent with handling. Mild creasing visible with no major breaks. Spine is intact with moderate wear but solid structure. Back cover shows light soiling and age toning. Interior pages are off-white to cream, complete and firmly attached. A clean mid-grade copy with strong eye appeal and no major defects.
