House of Mystery #198 is an issue of the series House of Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1972.
Synopsis for "Two Lives to Live!"
A painter sells his soul to Satan so that he can have a twin which will take over his painting while he goes out and parties. Eventually he becomes jealous of the work the twin is producing so he demands that the twin take his place at the parties. When his other self comes home drunk, he begins to resent him still more, so he locks him in the basement and leaves him to starve. When the twin dies, the painter dies as well.
Appearing in "Two Lives to Live!"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Ian Lerner (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Ian Lerner's twin (Single appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Luisa (Single appearance)
Locations:
Vehicles:
- Ship
Synopsis for "He Adopted A Martian Boy"
This story is reprinted from Tales of the Unexpected #28.
Appearing in "He Adopted A Martian Boy"
Featured Characters:
- Fred Marshall (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Akza, an alien boy (Single appearance)
Animals:
- Gorillas
Other Characters:
- Azka's parents (Single appearance; dies)
- Camping children (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Locations:
Vehicles:
- Spaceship
Synopsis for "Brief Visit"
Satan visits the surface every thousand years or so for a week to examine the state of mankind, but he finds the process of assuming human form distasteful. Placing a demon in charge of Hell during his absence, he heads up to observe the handiwork of WWII. Satan is impressed with how busy humanity has been in developing clever means of murdering each other. When he sees the atomic detonation over Hiroshima, he is so delighted that he thinks he might stay awhile.
Appearing in "Brief Visit"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Demons
- Reltih (Single appearance)
- Nilats (Single appearance)
- Itepal (Single appearance)
Locations:
Synopsis for "The Day of the Demon!"
Appearing in "The Day of the Demon!"
Narrator:
- Cain (Host)
Featured Characters:
- Peter Kurt (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Erica Kurt (Single appearance)
- Stefan Kurt (Single appearance)
- A stranger in black (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Gustav Tablan (Single appearance)
- Mordok (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Coachman (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Hungary
- Stürngart
Items:
- Book of Spells (Destroyed)
Vehicles:
- Horse & Coach
Synopsis for "The Thing in the Telescope"
This story is reprinted from House of Mystery #60.
Appearing in "The Thing in the Telescope"
Featured Characters:
- Detective John Hollis (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Oswald Freems (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Big Ed Runnel (Mentioned only)
- Willy (Single appearance; dies)
- Jack (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- An undisclosed city
- Freems' Antique Shop
Items:
- A telescope
Vehicles:
- A truck
Notes
- Aside from those that are reprints themselves, the stories and features in this issue are reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 2.
- "Cain's Game Room" was drawn by Sergio Aragonés, while "Cain's Room 13" was by Lore Shoberg.
See Also