For the series of the same name, see House of Mystery Vol 1.
The House of Mystery is the abode of Cain, storyteller extraordinaire and possibly history's first murderer.
History
Pre-Crisis
The origins of the House of Mystery are unknown, but it appears to usually exist simultaneously in both the realm known as The Dreaming and on Earth, next to a graveyard (the House of Secrets stands opposite it). The House appears to be sentient, and to act as a repository for stories, normally quite horrific ones.
For countless years, Cain has acted as caretaker of the House, as his brother Abel does the House of Secrets. For a brief period a few years ago, Cain went missing and the House appointed Elvira to be its new caretaker until he returned; the House appears to need a caretaker, even though it is quite capable of looking after itself, and indeed of completely restructuring itself at will.[1] After some time, however, Cain revealed that he had been hiding inside the House all along, and Elvira left to host horror stories elsewhere.[2]
Pre-Flashpoint
Shortly afterwards, Morpheus, the Lord of the Dreaming, returned to his domain after almost a century of imprisonment, and stumbled to the House of Mystery's door, where Cain and Abel nursed him back to health. After Morpheus's return, the House stuck mostly to the Dreaming, where Cain frequently entertained other supernatural storytellers.[3] More recently, the House has disappeared from its customary location(s), and become a coaching inn at an extra-dimensional location; Cain spent several months looking for it.
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Post-Flashpoint
John Constantine won possession of the House in a card game, but after the Justice League Dark faced Blight, John lost ownership to Zatanna.
Eventually the House called out to John Constantine to return to the property, and he reclaimed ownership.
Following DC Rebirth, the house is no longer used as the Justice League Dark's base of operations as they have relocated to The Dark Quarters within Hall of Justice. It is currently unknown if John Constantine still holds ownership.
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Residents
Former Residents
Notes
- The House of Mystery originally appeared in House of Mystery #175 in the Pre-Crisis continuity and was later reintroduced in Sandman (Volume 2) #1 as a part of The Dreaming in the Sandman/Vertigo continuity. In the Post-Flashpoint continuity, the House of Mystery made its first appearance in Justice League Dark #10, but its Dreaming legacy was only restored in The Sandman Universe #1 after the Rebirth.
- In the Pre-Crisis continuity, the House of Mystery told Elvira that it was built in 1748.[5]
- In the Pre-Flashpoint continuity, the House of Mystery became a pub visited by patrons from across the Multiverse during the events of House of Mystery (Volume 2).
- On Earth 13, the Tavern of Mystery is a pub run by Cain and Abel.[6]
Trivia
- The House once manifested in Gotham City.[7]
See Also
- Appearances of House of Mystery
- Location Gallery: House of Mystery
- Catalogued images related to House of Mystery