Cover art by Berni Wrightson, DC Comics (1975). Photo courtesy of Almost Anything Opelika.
A great horror comic cover makes a promise: open the book, and something unsettling awaits. House of Mystery #236 makes that promise with a striking image by Berni Wrightson. Cover dated October 1975, this DC anthology belongs to an era when a single eerie illustration could stop a reader at the newsstand.
Wrightsonâs cover is the first attraction, but the stories inside give readers more to explore. In âDeath Played a Sideshow,â a carnival medium becomes the focus of a murder mystery with a supernatural turn. The issue also includes âDeep Sleep,â another tale suited to a title that invited readers to expect the unexpected. Artists Steve Ditko, Mike Royer, Paul Kirchner, and Neal Adams contributed to the interior stories.
That variety was part of the pleasure of House of Mystery. Each issue offered a fresh visit to DCâs world of strange events, uneasy questions, and endings that might leave you looking over your shoulder. Issue #236 brings together memorable creators under one wonderfully ominous cover.
For collectors, a CGC 9.2 copy offers the added appeal of high-grade condition. Bronze Age comics were made to be picked up, passed around, and read, so a well-preserved example can be especially satisfying to display. The holder also puts Wrightsonâs artwork where it belongs: front and center.
Whether your collection focuses on DC horror, Wrightson covers, or the artists who shaped comics in the 1970s, House of Mystery #236 is an inviting find. Its cover catches your eye; the stories give you a reason to stay a while.
Where to buy it
The CGC 9.2 copy of House of Mystery #236 pictured here is available from Almost Anything, 221 South 9th Street in downtown Opelika, which has specialized in comics and collectibles since 1992. It is listed at $649.99 as of Sept. 26. Buy it online from Almost Anything or call the store at 334-741-0808.
Almost Anything is an advertiser with the Opelika Daily News.
