House of Mystery #191 is an issue of the series House of Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1971.
Synopsis for "No Strings Attached"
A kind old man dies of a broken heart when an opportunist buys his house in order to profit from a new highway which will run through the property. The neighborhood children's ill wishes towards the man animate the old man's puppets who murder him and dangle his body in the puppet show with strings attached.
Appearing in "No Strings Attached"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Gegory "Gramps" Miller (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Children of Pottersville
- Dick (Single appearance)
- Jill (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Lucas Stone (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- House of Mystery (Mentioned only)
- House of Secrets (Mentioned only)
- Pottersville
Items:
- Suzy the Doll
- Puppets & Marionettes
- Wood carving of Abel
Synopsis for "The Hanging Tree"
In the past, a witch is hanged in Salem and curses the tree so that all who carve their initials on it will meet horrible deaths. In present day, a resident who believes in the curse shoos away a tourist couple and makes the witch angry. Her ghost appears to him and says that she'll take him instead. He tells her that she has no power over him as he hasn't carved his initials in the tree. The tourists hear from another resident the story of the witch and they think that the man was just making a fool of them. They decide to return to the tree and finish carving. The man follows them but doesn't say anything to them because he knows they won't listen. After they leave, he goes to the tree and attempts to erase their initials with his knife. The witch's ghost appears, and he is terrified. She tells him that she isn't after them now, but him. He claims his initials aren't on the tree, but she points to his carving, and he is startled to see that when the ghost interrupted his work, he had actually transformed the couple's initials into his. The witch's ghost drags him under the ground.
Appearing in "The Hanging Tree"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Isaac Irvington (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Jimmy (Single appearance)
- Anne (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Hecubah (Dies in flashback) (As a spirit) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Amos (Dies in flashback) (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Hecubah's tree
Synopsis for "Night Prowler!"
A man is depressed over the news, including the reports of a series of burglaries. He and his wife go to bed, later awakened to a noise downstairs. The man goes down with a weapon, ready to confront the potential prowler, but the stranger in the house is in fact a special jolly visitor. The man returns to his bedroom, more optimistic about the future.
Appearing in "Night Prowler!"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Fred (Single appearance)
- Fred's wife (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Santa Claus (Behind the scenes)
Locations:
- A woodland home
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 1.
- "No Strings Attached" is also reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #24.
- "Night Prowler!" is also reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-43, Roots of the Swamp Thing #3, and DC Universe Christmas.
- The "Room 13" and "Cain's Game Room" gag features in this issue are drawn by Sergio Aragonés.
See Also