House of Mystery #27 is an issue of the series House of Mystery (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1954.
Synopsis for "The Magic Mask of Murano"
Appearing in "The Magic Mask of Murano"
Featured Characters:
- Rudolph I, Austrian King (Flashback only)
- Philip Marborough (Flashback only)
Supporting Characters:
- Murano, court magician (Flashback only)
- Mrs. Marborough (Flashback only)
Antagonists:
- Manson (Single appearance; dies)
- Joey (Single appearance)
- Ottokar, Bohemian King (Flashback only)
- Duke Charles "the Bold" (Flashback only)
- Henry Acton (Flashback only)
- Thibault (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
- Sam (Single appearance)
Locations:
- A museum
- 13th Century, Austria
- 15th Century, France
- 18th Century, England
Items:
- Mask of Murano
Synopsis for "Death's IOU"
Appearing in "Death's IOU"
Featured Characters:
- Raoul de Villiers (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Roxanne (Single appearance)
- The Duc, Roxanne's grandfather (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Simon de Montefort (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Gaston (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Dueling Pistols
Synopsis for "The Man Who Built a Crazy House!"
Appearing in "The Man Who Built a Crazy House!"
Featured Characters:
- Frank Hall (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Asa Hawley (Single appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Jason Church (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Town of Fairview
Synopsis for "Fate Holds Four Aces!"
Reporter Jane Howard is summoned to the house of gambler Joseph Kerr. Kerr has invited the reporter over to show off his collection of framed aces. The four huge photos depict characters that symbolize the essence of each playing card. The ace of spades is symbolized by Jim Murphy, a World War I pilot who won a playing card cut to earn the privilege of going on a dangerous flying mission with his Spad airplane. He is shot down during the mission and perishes and that is why Kerr cleverly has him depicted as the “Ace of Spades”. Kerr then explains the ace of clubs. The card has a depiction of champion golfer Hank Minor who was shot and killed for cheating at a card game. He is depicted on the card as the “Ace of Clubs” because of his golf clubs. He moves on to the next card, the Ace of Hearts. The giant card depicts a famous movie star actor named Dick Barry. Barry had visited a fortune teller who used playing cards to foretell his future. The fortune teller had seen that the black ace was covering the ace of hearts and warned Barry to be careful. Minutes later Barry is shot dead as he gets caught in a crossfire during a robbery. Kerr places him on the Ace of hearts because of his fate with the cards and his affair with starlet Edna Meadows. Reporter Jane Howard is then led to the final card the ace of Diamonds. It depicts a kindly old man by the name of Philip Strome who was killed as he investigated a robbery in his shop. Strome had been the city's leading diamond dealer and that is why Kerr had depicted him on the Ace of Diamonds. Kerr then explains that he is still missing one more card, the Joker but he has no idea where to find a subject for that card. Jane thanks the gambler for the story and goes on her way. She finds herself strangely fascinated by Kerrs obsession. One evening Kerr attends a costume party dressed as a joker. He runs into a man who who tells Kerr the story of his brother who lost his las penny in a card game against Kerr. The brother kills himself as a result of his losses but the costumed man blames Kerr for his death. He produces a dagger and kills Kerr with it. Several weeks later Jane Howard uses Kerrs image for the last card, the Joker. She depicts him on the card not only because he died in a jokers costume but also because his name was Joe Kerr (Joker).
Appearing in "Fate Holds Four Aces!"
Featured Characters:
- Jane Howard (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Joe Kerr (Single appearance; dies)
Antagonists:
- Joe's unnamed killer (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Jim Murphy (Dies in flashback)
- Hank Minor (Dies in flashback)
- Dick Barry (Dies in flashback)
- Edna Meadows (Flashback only)
- Philip Strome (Dies in flashback)
Locations:
- Kerr's house of cards
- Hollywood
Items:
- Joe's collection of Aces
Vehicles:
- SPAD fighter plane
Notes
- The inker of the cover image has not yet been definitively identified, but is speculated to be George Klein. See the page for House of Mystery #27 at the Grand Comics Database.
- "Fate Holds Four Aces!" is reprinted in World's Finest #163.
- Other features appearing in this issue of House of Mystery:
- "Binky Says: "Act Your Age!" (PSA) written by Jack Schiff, art by Win Mortimer.
- "The Crew-less Ship!" Reprinted in Tales of the Unexpected #34.
- "Death at the Controls"
- "America's Most Mysterious Man" (text story) by Jack Miller.
- "Professor Eureka" by Henry Boltinoff. Reprinted in Blackhawk #134.
See Also
Links and References
Look at how sad this is making Batman. You did this.