House of Secrets #109 is an issue of the series House of Secrets (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1973.
Synopsis for "Museum of Nightmares"
Audiences come to marvel at the handiwork of artist Louis Gordou. Gordou creates life like wax figures that recreate some of the most notorious serial killers in history. Among the crowd members is a notable detective named Krupou who gained fame for actually killing one of the serial killers in real life. Detective Krupou is introduced as having shot the notorious killer Cardoti who is being recreated in wax. The detective compliments Gordou and notes that the wax figures look so lifelike. The scene changes to a woman walking down the street when she is suddenly attacked by a man wielding a knife. The killer strikes again and police notice that he seems to be imitating the crimes of Cardoti. Detective Krupou investigates the case by disguising himself as a female with a wig and skirt. He hopes to attract the attention of the killer and he soon gets attacked by the killer on a lonely street. Krupou struggles with the killer as he runs away. Krupou gives chase and follows him back to the Wax Museum. He has a life and death struggle with the killer until Krupou grabs and axe and chops off the killer's head. Krupou notices that the killer is actually a dummy, not real at all. It is then that Krupou notices sounds coming from another room where he finds the artist Gordou dressed as a wizard mumbling enchantments. Gordou reveals that he is indeed a sorcerer that brings his wax figures to life to harmlessly recreate some of the bizarre murders of the past. His figures are all made of wax including the female victims. Detective Krupou is shocked, but he is determined to arrest Gordou. At this point, Gordou reveals that the detective himself is one of his wax creations that he has brought to life. Krupous figure starts to melt to the ground and Gordou reveals that the real detective Krupou is actually dead.
Appearing in "Museum of Nightmares"
Narrator:
Featured Characters:
- Wax figure of Inspector Krupou (Single appearance) (Melts)
Supporting Characters:
- Louis Gordou (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Wax figure of Cardoti (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Gordou's wax figures
Synopsis for "And in Death There Is No Escape!"
A callous, insensitive actor emotionally mistreats his spouse to the point to where she commits suicide by jumping off a set of stairs. The authorities are summoned, and they reveal that the actor Hannibal Hangle has a history of spouses that took their own lives or were committed as a result of his cruelty. Hangle soon finds out that he has been replaced as the lead in a play, so he strikes out on his own determined to create and star in his own play. One evening as Hangle is riding his carriage back home he is attacked by the brother of the woman who was married to Hangle. He blames Hangle for her death and attacks him. The two men struggle but Hangle survives by beating the man to death with a cane. As he wanders through the dark countryside, he encounters an old man who claims that he is on his way to visit a mystic that will grant him immortality. The old man has a key which he claims will unlock the mystic mansion and entitle him to receive any wish. Hangle murders the old man and steals the key for himself. He arrives at the mansion and meets the mystic himself. Hangle announces that he wishes to receive the gift of immortality which the mystic supposedly grants. Hangle then awakes in his own bed where he is nursed back to health from a knife wound. He concludes that the mystic had stabbed him in the heart to prove that he is immortal, but he seems to be suffering from great discomfort. Hangle is still determined to star in his own play, but he lacks the necessary funds. He decides that he must marry a wealthy heiress named Elizabeth Morgan so that he can take control of her fortune. The only problem is that Morgans father has a strong dislike for Hangle and would not approve of the marriage. Hangle gets a maid who agrees to go work for Morgans father so that she can poison him to death and that would leave Hangle free to marry his daughter Morgan. The murder is committed but the maid is so full of guilt that she commits suicide by jumping off a bridge into the water. Her body is fished out when fisherman discover it wrapped in their net. The police are summoned, and they immediately suspect that Hangle is responsible for the death. The police reveal that they wish that they could arrest Hangle but he had apparently had an accident and had been badly burned beyond recognition. The story fast forwards more than a hundred years into the future to 1973 where a carnival showman is urging crowds to come see the miserable sight of a being who has lived over a hundred years and begs for the mercy of death. The star of the show is Hannibal Hangle himself, the Immortal Monstrosity.
Appearing in "And in Death There Is No Escape!"
Narrator:
Featured Characters:
- Hannibal Hangle (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Marie Hillory (Single appearance; dies)
- Doctor Mystik (Single appearance)
- Elizabeth Morgan (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Anthony (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Gertrude Hangle (Single appearance; dies)
- Edward (Single appearance; dies)
- An old man (Unnamed) (Single appearance; dies)
- Mr. Morgan (Single appearance; dies)
- A fisherman (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- 19th Century, England
- Hangle residence
- Mystik mansion
- Morgan residence
Items:
- Mansion key
Vehicles:
- Horse & carriage
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Showcase Presents: The House of Secrets Vol. 2.
See Also