House of Secrets #2 is an issue of the series House of Secrets (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1957.
Synopsis for "The Witch's Candles!"
While visiting the house of the Redson Witch to take some pictures, magazine writer Roger Arness finds a box of six magic candles.
Appearing in "The Witch's Candles!"
Featured Characters:
- Roger Arness (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Redson Witch (Depicted in a painting)
Other Characters:
- Mr. Crandell (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Old Salem
Items:
- Six magic candles
Synopsis for "The Brain Thief"
A mentalist named Dante performs uncanny mind tricks on audiences. His mentalist act leads people to believe that Dante can really read minds. One night his tricks are challenged by an audience member who proves that Dante and his act are a fraud. Dante is disgraced and his reputation is sullied. He is unable to find steady work until one day pieces of debris from a marquee fall on his head. He goes to a doctor who is about to X-ray his head when the X-ray machine is suddenly struck by lightning. The incident gives Dante the ability to really read minds. He reads the doctors mind as he thinks if his two children at home. He reads the mind of a man on the street who is thinking of picking pockets, and he reads the thoughts of a man who buys a balloon for his son. Dante tries to resuscitate his old mind reading career, but he finds that his reputation as a fraud is too pervasive. He then decides to use his abilities for crime. He reads the mind of a man who has left an open safe at the city hospital. Dante heads there to rob the open safe. He takes out the contents which turn out to be radium. As he is leaving the hospital, he encounters security, so he stashes the radium on a nearby man who seems to be a caretaker at the hospital. Dante promises him $10,000 if he stashes the package he stole from the safe. Dante makes his escape from the hospital and returns to retrieve his package from the caretaker. The caretaker gives him a blank look when Dante asks for the package. Dante attempts to read the man's mind but it is blank. He then sees the package next to the caretaker, but he is quickly apprehended by security. They inform him that the caretaker is really an imbecile whose mind cannot be read.
Appearing in "The Brain Thief"
Featured Characters:
- The Great Dante
Other Characters:
- A skeptic (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Professor Morton (Single appearance)
- A mental patient (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
Items:
- Radium
Synopsis for "Mars Calling"
Mr. Hall receives an unexpected call from Mars while playing with his radio equipment. The martians give him detailed instructions on how to build a scale model of Earth, which he builds with the help of his collegue, Professor Timkins. Once the incredibly accurate model is finished, the two come to the horrible realization that whatever damage the model takes, the real Earth will also receive it.
Appearing in "Mars Calling"
Featured Characters:
- Mr. Hall (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Martians (Phone call only)
- Professor Timkins (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- The Grixa (Behind the scenes)
Other Characters:
- Malloy (Single appearance)
- Sally (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Central China
- Yangtze river
- Southern Italy
- United States of America
Items:
Synopsis for "The Mask of Fear"
The astounding animal trainer Captain Hercule is permanently disabled after being attacked by a tiger, and circus owner Monsieur Varon and ringmaster Jacques are forced to look for a replacement for their star act. After many months of fruitless search, a shady agent puts them in contact with his client, the incredible yet mysterious Major Marouf.
Appearing in "The Mask of Fear"
Featured Characters:
- Captain Hercule (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Monsieur Varon (Single appearance)
- Ringmaster Jacques (Single appearance)
- Major Marouf (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Rajah the tiger (Single appearance)
- Toto the gorilla (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Circus
Notes
- "The Witch's Candles!" was reprinted in DC 100-Page Super Spectacular #4.
- "The Brain Thief" was reprinted in The Unexpected #129.
- "The Mask of Fear" was reprinted in World's Finest #155.
- Also appearing in this issue of House of Secrets were:
- Buzzy's "Famous Books" Quiz (one-page public service announcement) by Jack Schiff, Ruben Moreira, and Ira Schnapp.
- Moolah the Mystic (one-page humor strip) by Henry Boltinoff.
- "The Phantom Sniper" (two-page text story) by George Kashdan.
See Also