Weird Mystery Tales

Weird Mystery Tales

Weird Mystery Tales #1 (July/Aug. 1972). Cover art by Michael William Kaluta.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Bimonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre Horror
Publication date July/Aug. 1972–November 1975
Number of issues 24
Main character(s) Dr. E. Leopold Maas
Destiny
Eve
Editor(s) E. Nelson Bridwell, Joe Orlando, Tex Blaisdell

Weird Mystery Tales was a mystery (horror) anthology from DC Comics, which ran from July/Aug. 1972-November 1975. Like its sister books House of Mystery and The Witching Hour, it was known for its "monstrous stories" with shock endings.[1]

Weird Mystery Tales was originally hosted by Destiny,[2] but was gradually taken over by Eve, who fully assumed the title with issue #15 (December 1974-January 1975). Early issues printed material by Jack Kirby that had been intended for his black-and-white, magazine-size DC comic, Spirit World, which lasted only one issue.[1] These stories featured Dr. E. Leopold Maas as host, sometimes with an appended hosting segment by Destiny.

Weird Mystery Tales boasted an impressive list of contributors, including Kirby, Berni Wrightson, Howard Purcell, Michael William Kaluta, and such Filipino artists as Tony DeZuniga, Nestor Redondo, and Alfredo Alcala.

In 1996, DC released a free ashcan edition also titled Weird Mystery Tales, with the tagline, "Welcome to the Dark Side of DC"; it was written by Adam Philips and drawn by Anthony Williams.

Contents

Issues

Issue Date Title Writer Pencils Host(s) Notes
#1 July-Aug 1972 Introduction Marv Wolfman Bernie Wrightson Destiny
Horoscope Phenomenon or Witch Queen of Ancient Sumeria? Jack Kirby Jack Kirby Dr. E. Leopold Maas originally written for Spirit World #2
The Brothers Beaumont! Howard Purcell Howard Purcell Destiny Destiny illustration by E. Nelson Bridwell
Special Delivery, based upon notes compiled from research done in conjunction with Dr. E. Leopold Maas Mark Evanier, Steve Sherman none Dr. E. Leopold Maas
#2 Sep-Oct 1972 Toxl the World Killer! Jack Kirby Jack Kirby Dr E. Leopold Maas and Destiny originally written for Spirit World #2
Titanic Howard Purcell Howard Purcell Destiny and Death cover by Howard Purcell
They're Still Up There! - - none
#3 Nov-Dec 1972 The Burners! Jack Kirby Jack Kirby Dr. E. Leopold Maas originally written for Spirit World #2
I Know Your Future! Howard Purcell Howard Purcell none
The Wizard's Gift! - - none reprint from House of Mystery #95
The Cosmic Log - Berni Wrightson Destiny cover by Nick Cardy
#4 Jan-Feb 1973 Introduction Michael W. Kaluta Destiny Immortality-themed issue
The Devil to Pay Jack Oleck Rubeny none Lucifer appearance
The Secret of Bat Island! none
The Hotel cover by JA
To Live Forever Steve Skeates Romy Gamboa, Rico Rival Destiny (stock image)
The Cosmic Log Joe Orlando?, Raymond Feldman, Art Stampler, Clifford King Bernie Wrightson
#5 Mar-Apr 1973
#6 May–June 1973
#7 July-Aug 1973
#8 Sep-Oct 1973 Final Take! Michael Pellowsky, Robert Kanigher Tony de Zuniga Destiny
Portrait of Terror Jack Oleck Bernard Baily none
An Evil Pair John Albano Ernesto Patricio Destiny Western setting
The Cosmic Log Joe Orlando?, John Elliot, Barry Rosenstein, Keith Reed Berni Writghtson Destiny
#9 Oct-Nov 1973 Vampire's Gold! Jack Oleck Jess Jodloman Destiny
Checkmate! John Jacobson, Robert Kanigher Nestor Redondo Destiny
Evil Power Jack Oleck AlexM Eve
The Cosmic Log Joe Orlando?, Paul Edwards, Kenny Sugar, Lisa Anderson, Terry Pearce, Jed Rifkin Berni Wrightson Destiny
#10 Dec-Jan 1974 The Curse Bill Reilly G.K. Destiny Destiny is a featured character in the story
Lady Killer Jack Oleck Alfredo Alcala Destiny Jack the Ripper story
The Sunken Pearls of Captain "Hatch" Michael Fleischer Jess Jodloman Eve
The Cosmic Log Joe Orlando?, Tom O'Connell, Howard Kaye, Carole Morrison, Guy Lillian III Berni Wrightson Destiny, Eve
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16
#17
#18
#19 June 1975 Fire Dance Bob Kanigher Abe Ocampo Eve
Flight Lee Marrs Lee Marrs Eve
Death-Calling Kanigher Rubeny Eve
Witch's Tales - Eve
#20
#21
#22
#23 October 1975 The Quiz Show Michael Fleisher Fred Carrillo
Fair Exchange Sergio Aragones & Steve Skeates Wallace Wood
#24 November 1975

Notes

  1. ^ a b Frye, Todd. "Weird Mystery Tales," Pop-Cult.com (2008).
  2. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "The host that was first presented in a framing sequence by scribe Marv Wolfman and artist Bernie Wrightson would provide endless creative material for Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series decades later." 

References

External links