Publishers / DC / House of Secrets (1956) / #23
23August 1959
$0.10

House of Secrets #23

DC · August 1959 · on sale 1959-06-18

First appearance: Mark MerlinFirst appearance: Elsa Magusson
Buy it now on eBay ›Graded copies ›
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
House of Secrets (DC, 1956 series)
Issue
#23
Publication date
August 1959
Key date
1959-08-00
On-sale date
1959-06-18
Indicia publisher
National Comics Publications Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Mark Merlin - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Elsa Magusson - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0The Curse of the Prophetic Pencil!cover1pencils: Bernard Baily; inks: Bernard Baily; letters: Ira Schnapp
2I Scout Earth's Strangest Secrets!comic story7.67script: Jack Miller; pencils: Mort Meskin; inks: Mort Meskin; letters: Ira SchnappElsa Magusson First, Mark Merlin First
5-comic story0.5script: Henry Boltinoff; pencils: Henry Boltinoff; inks: Henry Boltinoff; letters: Henry BoltinoffProfessor Eureka
7The Creeping Creatures of Steelcomic story7.67pencils: George Roussos; inks: George Roussos; letters: Stan Starkman
11The Brief Life of Mr. Mechanotext story1script: Jack Miller
12The Crazy House!comic story1script: Mort Drucker; pencils: Mort Drucker; inks: Mort Drucker; letters: Mort Drucker
13Peter Porkchops Gives Tips on Summer Fun!public service announcement1script: Jack Schiff; pencils: Otto Feuer; inks: Otto Feuer; letters: Ira SchnappPeter Porkchops, Wolfie
14The Curse of the Prophetic Pencilcomic story7.67pencils: Bernard Baily; inks: Bernard Baily; letters: Stan StarkmanDwight Henslow; Dorothy Fay; Sam Collins; Arthur Fothergill; Koj

Plus 8.49 pages of advertisements and other matter across 12 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
The Brave and the Bold #571964On eBay ›
The Phantom Stranger #151971On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

‹ #2223 of 154#24 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com