Welcome back! Don't let the size of my little flock fool you! What it lacks in numbers, it more than makes up for in appetite! I'm Cain--sometime shepherd--here to offer shelter from the coming storm! Join my flock and follow me--I'll lead you to the...House of Mystery! 
- — Cain
House of Mystery #202 is an issue of the series House of Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1972.
Synopsis for "The Shearing of a Soul!"
A woman makes a deal with Satan to transfer the mind of her old husband into the body of her newborn son.
Appearing in "The Shearing of a Soul!"
Narrator:
Featured Characters:
- Carson Shrew (Flashback and main story) (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Milly Crochet (Single appearance)
- Abner (Flashback and main story) (Single appearance)
- Ellen (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Mrs. Shrew (Dies in flashback)
Other Characters:
- Jubal Shrew (Dies in flashback)
Locations:
- The Shrew Mansion
Synopsis for "A Deal with a Sorcerer!"
A novice sorcerer hexes the driver of an armored car to plow into a wall and then takes a bag of money. An officer pursues him, and he impales his leg while hopping a fence. He tries to flag down an alley bum to help him home, but the bum turns on him and takes the bag of money. The man makes his way to a bar where he sees the bum treating the patrons to drinks with the stolen money and threatens him. The bar patrons beat him and put him in the hospital. After the man is discharged from the hospital, he thinks to return to his sorcery tutor and renounce sorcery, but then an expensive car drives by and he forgets his resolve to quit.
Appearing in "A Deal with a Sorcerer!"
Narrator:
Featured Characters:
- Franklin Owen (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Urbain (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Urbain (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Paul (Single appearance)
- Mr. Petty (Single appearance)
Locations:
- House of Mystery
- An undisclosed city
Vehicles:
- Armored truck
Synopsis for "Stay Away from Me --You Might Die"
This story is reprinted from My Greatest Adventure #72.
When Dr. Allen Bertrand picks up a seemingly ordinary piece of meteorite, the rock starts ticking in his hand. His military training guiding him to not let go, he hurriedly rushes to a team of scientists who examine the object and confirm that it was the most powerful bomb they had ever seen. Bertrand had to hold down the trigger to prevent it exploding until they're able to come up with a way he can be freed. The answer was to send him up to space in a rocket where everything is weightless, and therefore the trigger would do no harm. To everyone's surprise, an alien ship intercepts the rocket and takes the "Star-Bomb" back, saying it landed on Earth by mistake.
Appearing in "Stay Away from Me --You Might Die"
Featured Characters:
- Dr. Allen Bertrand (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Charles (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Mrs. Bertrand, Allen's wife (Single appearance)
- Aliens (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- The Star-Bomb
Vehicles:
- Rockets
- An alien UFO
Synopsis for "The Poster Plague"
Appearing in "The Poster Plague"
Narrator:
Featured Characters:
- Warren (Single appearance; dies)
Supporting Characters:
- Debbie (Single appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Mysterious poster placer (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Harold University (Destroyed)
Items:
- Giant boulder
Synopsis for "The Phantom on Wheels!"
This story is reprinted from House of Mystery #58.
Appearing in "The Phantom on Wheels!"
Featured Characters:
- Ted Perry (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Mr. Dennings (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Murdock the Magician (Flashback only)
- Mike, a guard (Single appearance)
- Mr. White (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Murdock's estate
Vehicles:
- The Murdock Limousine
Notes
- The following stories and features are reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Mystery Vol. 2:
- Cain's preface, drawn by Mike Kaluta with Ben Oda on lettering, is also reprinted in The Best of DC #60.
- The Shearing of a Soul!
- A Deal with a Sorcerer!
- Trick or Treat, by Sid Greene.
- Also reprinted in The Best of DC #60.
- The Poster Plague
- Also reprinted in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-23 and The Best of DC #60.
- This story won the 1972 Shazam Award for "Best Humor Story".
See Also