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House of Mystery #1

Vertigo Comics - Matthew Stures & Bill Willingham (writers) - Luca Rossi & Ross Campbell (pencils)

In the modern era of decompressed storytelling, the first victim wasn’t a reader’s pocketbook. (Although that was the bloodiest victim). It was that mainstay of the spinner racks from the 1950s - 1970s; the Anthology Comic. Comics like Tales of Suspense, True War Stories, and my personal favorite, House of Mystery.

Thankfully, the talented crew at Vertigo, arguably the most successful comic book line of all time, resurrect the anthology comic with an all new House of Mystery!

It is everything you remember and nothing familiar!

For people that grew up with fond memories of DC's darker side of the universe, they will see many familiar faces. Yet those faces have evolved. Evolved to fit the modern Vertigo Universe that runs parallel, yet perpendicular with DC proper whenever necessary. I know in many articles I've lamented the lack of a cohesive setting within the two major comic companies. However, when it comes to the Vertigo line and especially this all new House of Mystery, I am completely fine with a little continuity chaos. I think you will as well. The opening pages sets the stage perfectly. DC's version of EC Comics Cryptkeeper, Cain, finds himself without his home. A home that filled reader imaginations with horrific glee has up and vanished; only to reappear somewhere between the Bleed and Limbo that maintains the Vertigo setting. I know, it sounds a lot like an ongoing series and not an anthology.

Well, you'd be right and you'd be wrong!

Matthew Sturges pens the tale of young Miss Keele. A woman running from her insane visions. Visions of a house she can't stop drawing. Even when she feels her life is in danger as hovering spectres chase her through an Austin neighborhood, she clutches her drawings as if they a newborn child. Inter cut with Keele's fears, the reader receives a slow and wholly intriguing introduction to the myriad of characters serving time in this all new House of Mystery. A house with a pub that never closes and only charges a well spun yarn for a drink and a table.

Enter Bill Willingham of Fables fame.

Taking a cue from his darker fairy tales, Bill Willingham gives to the reader a throughly entrancing and disgusting tale about precious Hungry Sally. A simple tale about a young girl and her Prince Charming. After reading this tale, you might think twice about the purity of marriage. Still, her tale told. Her seat earned, Hungry Sally joins this fantastic cast of characters and their tales.

What of poor Miss Keele?

Well, I don't know yet. No one does. Hers is but one of thousands of tales behind each door in the House of Mystery. Vertigo has a long history of quality stories. With this all new House of Mystery, the opportunities at limitless. In the words of Matthew Sturges. "This is a book where you can have a pirate, a psychic detective, a spaceman, a French romantic poet and an NYU film student sitting at a table having a beer together. It's a writer's dream come true."
Well Mr. Sturges, it is a reader's dream come true as well.

Run out now and get your own key to this new House of Mystery.