By Matthew Sturges, Bill Willingham, Luca Rossi & various (Vertigo)
ISBN: 978-1-401220792 (TPB)
I suspect we’re on the cusp of another periodic global wave of interest in supernatural suspense fiction. Even if we’re not, there’s a lot of superb comics of that genre that should be reviewed and revisited. Here’s one that hasn’t been seen for a dozen years; long overdue for a digital edition…
Re-imagined under the impressive Vertigo umbrella, one of DC’s most venerable titles returned after years in limbo as a tribute to Something Old cunningly disguised as Something New. Apart from a brief period in the Bat-crazed super-heroic mid-1960s when the Martian Manhunter and the ineffably quirky Dial H for Hero seized control, House of Mystery was an anthology title telling tales of mystery and imagination in the tasteful, sedate manner of its parent company.
The series launched with a December 1951/January 1952 cover-date and ran for 321 issues, before finally folding in October 1983. When superheroes fell out of favour at the end of the 1960s, a little deft retooling made it one of DC’s top selling titles.
Here, however, at a place where realities meet – or at least overlap – a ramshackle house of indeterminate size, shape and age sometimes stands. In its own capacious grounds the unique structure offers a welcome to the star-crossed and time-lost souls of infinity. The lower floor has been converted into a welcoming hostelry.
Like the bar in Cheers, creatures from literally anywhere (many looking like characters out of the previous comic book incarnation) drop in for a brew and a chinwag, often paying their way with a novel yarn. For a select few – such as the Bartender, the Poet, the Pirate and the Drama Queen – the House is more like the Hotel California – in that they can check out any time they like, but they can never leave…
Fig Keele is an architecture student with a problem and a history. Her home fell apart and two spectral, floating horrors started chasing her. Fleeing in panic, she fortuitously found an entrance to the House, and now it won’t let her go. Surprisingly, she adapts pretty quickly to the inhabitants, but what really freaks her out is that the House speaks to her…
Writer Matthew Sturges, with sometime collaborator Bill Willingham, managed the nigh-impossible task of combining the best elements of the old within this compellingly fresh horror yarn, and even concocted a cocktail of actual mysteries to keep the pot boiling away. Strikingly illustrated by Luca Rossi, who incorporated a stylistic ghost of Bernie Wrightson into the artwork, the story of Fig and her fellow residents is punctuated by a series of very classy “pub-stories”, illustrated by some of the industry’s best and brightest talents.
The vignettes include two by Willingham; ‘The Hollows’ – a disturbing love-story by Ross Campbell – and the delightfully far-fetched ‘In Too Deep’ (from Jill Thompson), whilst Sturges scripted the remaining three ‘Spats and the Neck’ (with Zachary Baldus), ‘Familiar’ by Steve Rolston and ‘Jordan’s Tale’ by Sean Murphy.
Collecting issue #1-5 of the much-missed Vertigo comic book series, this is an enchanting blend of ancient & modern, horror & comedy and mystery & adventure, delivering a colossal portion of fearful fun for anyone old enough to handle a little sex and a smidgen of salty language: all whilst unravelling the intricacies of a great big, all-absorbing puzzle.
Just remember once you’re in, you might never want to come out…
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