Originally Published In Issue 47
Reprinted In Issue 106
First published back in December of 1972, Issue 47 of the ‘Pocket Chiller Library’ comic series was titled ‘The Cupboard’. The comic was later reprinted under the alternative title ‘Left To Die’ within Issue 106.
During the 1970s the ‘Pocket Chiller Library’ was a pocket-sized mainstream horror comic which ran for a total of 137 issues between 1971 and 1977. Each month, two issues of the comic were published, amounting to a total of twenty-four issues of the comic published each year.
However, it should be noted that issue 83 and then from issue 86 onwards, the publishers started reprinting the earlier stories. Of these reprints, the first 29 reprints (issues 83 and then 86 – 113) retitled the story. As such, there were only ever a total of 84 unique stories within the series, despite there being more titles.
Unfortunately, each issue was undated, making it difficult to be sure of the date for first publication of each issue. However, it is widely understood the comics were monthly publications, with two publications released simultaneously each month, with the original stories running from January 1971. Therefore, the above date of publication is a relatively reasonable assumption.
Additionally, each issue was unfortunately uncredited to either the writer or the comic artist(s).
Martha Kelsey knew all about her husband’s affair with Sally. She’d found their love letters which had told her everything she needed to know. So, when Arnold returns home late from the office, she finally confronts him, demanding he tell his young lover that their affair is over.
However, Arnold isn’t about to end it with the woman he truly loves. In a moment of blind rage, he wraps the phone cord around Martha’s throat, strangling her until his wife’s body goes limp.
Knowing he needs to make sure of his murderous task, Arnold grabs a knife from the kitchen. But before he can finish off Martha once and for all, he hears the sound of an approaching late-night visitor. In a desperate attempt to hide his crime, Arnold bundles Martha’s body into one of her clothes cupboards.
Thankfully the visitor turns out to be Sally, wanting to help with Arnold’s admission of adultery. Luckily for Arnold, it doesn’t take much convincing for him to whisk Sally away from the house so he can be deal with the body later.
Meanwhile, Martha has awoken from her unconscious state to find she’s trapped within the tight confines of her cupboard. Furthermore, to her horror, the cupboard door won’t open from the inside. And the more she shouts, the more precious air within the cupboard she uses up, until eventually Martha succumbs to death.
But before terror overwhelms her, Martha curses her murderous husband with her last dying breath. A promise Martha intends to keep, even in death…
Oh boy, is this an excellent one! Like with many PCL offerings, this story deals with a bitter love triangle, immersed in deception, ultimately leading to revenge from beyond the grave. However, here the ghostly haunting emanates from the very place of the victim’s death – a cupboard.
The result is a decidedly dark and sinister story. Our lead character – Arnold – has become a cold-blooded murderer through his desperation to be with Sally. Although following Martha’s murder, we see him go back and forth with guilt. Nonetheless, he ultimately goes through with everything – including a somewhat morbid way of disposing of his wife’s corpse, to try to throw the authorities off the scent of potential murder!
Of course, we then have the haunting. Faint tapping coming from within the cupboard, keeping Arnold awake at night. Each time he investigates, he catches glimpses of the clothes hanging up within the cupboard moving, a gloved hand reaching out, the suggestion of a body moving within the garments. It’s all good, creepy PCL stuff.
By now the sanity of poor old murderous Arnold is gradually slipping. So, drastic times call for drastic measures. All the while he’s desperately trying to keep Martha’s murder secret from Sally who’s now become his new wife. Oh yeah, this young lass doesn’t hang around to be straight in there, securing a future with her man now Martha’s out of the picture.
It’s all thoroughly entertaining stuff, especially Arnold’s escalating desperation and spiralling sanity. Of course, this is a PCL story, so it’s not going to get to a happy ending. However, this one’s pretty darn bleak, even by PCL standards!
The entertainment value of the story alone is up there with the best of the PCLs. Add in the sheer ludicrousness of the plot – essentially a cupboard so airtight you can suffocate within it – and you’ve got an absolute classic PCL.
The accompanying comic artwork is equally of a high calibre. Fundamentally, it’s a character driven story, with as much emphasis put on the characters’ increasingly desperate reactions as with their dialogue. Thankfully the artist absolutely nails all those wild and exaggerated facial expressions!
So yeah, an absolute classic PCL. Definitely one to track down if you’re a fan of these vintage comics.
The comic book runs for a total of 64 pages.
© DLS Reviews
