House of Mystery #197 is an issue of the series House of Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1971.
Synopsis for "Ghost Ship"
Sailors mutiny against a cruel sea captain and are pitched overboard. They are picked up by the Flying Dutchman. Two sailors escape, but the evil captain remains condemned aboard the Flying Dutchman as it vanishes into the mist.
Appearing in "Ghost Ship"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- John Dodson (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Jamie (Single appearance)
- Fenton (Single appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Jonah Frame (Single appearance)
Other Characters: Locations:
Vehicles:
- Elsinore, a clipper (Destroyed)
- The Flying Dutchman, a ghost ship
Synopsis for "Mr. Mortem!"
This story is reprinted from House of Mystery #20.
Appearing in "Mr. Mortem!"
Featured Characters:
- Drew Wilson (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Vera Wilson (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Mr. Mortem (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Biff Saunders (Single appearance; dies)
- Tom, a firefighter (Single appearance)
- Joe (Single appearance)
- Al (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Millburn
- Livingston
Synopsis for "I Wish I May, I Wish I Might"
A man finds a lamp containing a genie, but the genie tells him he only gets one wish. The man wishes for peace and quiet and the genie says that is an easy wish because he wants to get out and see the world, so he offers the man the use of his bottle. The bottle even comes with a beautiful handmaiden, so the man accepts. The genie sets off to see the city sights but is taken for a hippie by the local police and arrested. Meanwhile, the man thinks the handmaiden has turned out to be a bigger shrew than his wife and wishes that the genie would return.
Appearing in "I Wish I May, I Wish I Might"
Featured Characters:
- Mark Wagner (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- A Genie
Other Characters:
- Max (Single appearance)
- Handmaiden (Single appearance)
Locations:
- An undisclosed city
Items:
- Genie's bottle
Synopsis for "House of Horrors"
Appearing in "House of Horrors"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Frank Cannon (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Sheriff (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Anna Vargas (Single appearance)
- Catherine Vargas (Single appearance)
- Jan Vargas (Single appearance)
Locations:
- A small town
Items:
- Stake
Synopsis for "The Guardian of the Past"
This story is reprinted from House of Mystery #11.
Appearing in "The Guardian of the Past"
Featured Characters:
- Alice Simms (Single appearance)
- Philip Gregg (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Mrs. Hendy (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Robert Trent (Single appearance)
Locations:
- An undisclosed city
Notes
- "Ghost Ship", "I Wish I May, I Wish I Might", "Cain's Game Room", and "House of Horrors" are all reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 2.
- "Cain's Game Room" was drawn by Lore Shoberg.
See Also