House of Mystery #196

Two wide-eyed children crouch behind a partition, peering in on a chilling ritual — a robed figure raises a white cat and a gleaming sword aloft while a hooded congregation of animal-masked cultists looks on from the shadows. Tony DeZuniga's cover art for this 1971 DC horror anthology captures that perfect blend of dread and curiosity that made House of Mystery such a compelling destination for fans of the uncanny. At 48 pages for just 25 cents, it's a generous slice of early-'70s supernatural storytelling, with Nick Cardy bringing interior craft to the featured tale, "A Girl and Her Dog.