House of Mystery #195 is an issue of the series House of Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1971.
Synopsis for "Bat Out of Hell"
A man murders his wife and walls up her body in an abandoned castle to avoid discovery. A large bat harasses him and he assumes that it is his wife risen from the dead as a vampire. Eventually the bat causes him to fall from a height and he breaks his neck. What he didn't know was that the bat was protecting a nest within the wall.
Appearing in "Bat Out of Hell"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Adam Leach (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Martha Leach (Single appearance; dies)
- The Leach's children (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for "The Fantastic Wishing Well"
This story is reprinted from House of Secrets #14.
Appearing in "The Fantastic Wishing Well"
Featured Characters:
- Brad Horton (Single appearance)
Locations:
- United States of America
- Undisclosed wooded area
- Egypt
Items:
- Wishing Well
Vehicles:
- Freight Train
Synopsis for "Countdown"
A rival for the pilot of the first ship to Mars switches the man's oxygen tank with poison gas so the man dies and he will be chosen to fly the ship instead. The dead man's ghost gets revenge by hitting the auto-destruct button.
Appearing in "Countdown"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Peter (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Jason (Dies in flashback) (As a spirit)
Other Characters:
- Valerie (Flashback only)
Vehicles:
- Rocket (Destroyed)
Synopsis for "Things Old, Things Forgotten"
Appearing in "Things Old, Things Forgotten"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Igor Lazlo (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Gork (Single appearance; dies)
- Eric Roder (Single appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Moss Beings (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Hans (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Lazlo's private coach
Synopsis for "Who Am I?"
This story is reprinted from Tales of the Unexpected #11.
Appearing in "Who Am I?"
Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Trick or Treat"
Two sinister men transport a virus that affects the nerve center, weakening the will of whoever it contacts. They planned to release it into the air so that it eventually affects the entire population, to control the world. A wave hits the ship, wetting the deck, and since water can utterly destroy the virus, they decide to tuck it safely away in the stateroom. The name of the ship was printed on a nearby life preserver; the Titanic.
Appearing in "Trick or Treat"
Featured Characters:
- Bearded man (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Bald man (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- A virus
Vehicles:
Notes
- The stories and features in this issue are reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 2, with the exception of the stories "The Fantastic Wishing Well", which is a reprint from House of Secrets #14, and "Who Am I?", which is reprinted from Tales of the Unexpected #11.
- "Countdown!" is also reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #24.
- The Cain hosting segments that bookend each story in this issue were drawn by Sergio Aragonés.
See Also