First published back in May of 1971, Issue 9 of the ‘Pocket Chiller Library’ comic series was titled ‘The Ghost’. Early issues of the comic contained two stories, with the comic titled after the lead story. This issue contained ‘The Ghost’ along with ‘The Brain’.
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. This particular issue was one of the 33 issues which were not reprinted.
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).
The Ghost - 32 Pages
The double funeral for Sir Alex White’s butler and his daughter governess, Gerda, had hit the family hard. However, it was Sir White’s daughter – Samantha – who had taken the tragedy the worst.
It appeared the pair had taken their own lives after Thomas’ wife had come to the house and confronted them. After they’re deaths, it came to light that the pair had been having an affair and were planning to run away together. After they were caught, they killed themselves, leaving Samantha without her the young German governess she so adored.
Hoping it would help his daughter, Sir Alex has a new girl – Everlyn Lofts – come to the house to replace Samatha’s beloved Gerda. However, from the very moment Everlyn meets with Samantha, she senses something off about the girl. Something that frightens her.
Nonetheless, as she is to be the new governess of the house, Evelyn knows she must put aside her worries and do what she can for the distraught girl. However, it seems everything Samantha says and does, invariably has Gerda at the heart of it. Her beloved Gerda. Someone no one could ever replace…
This opening story is a textbook PCL tale, albeit a somewhat tame version of an otherwise recurring theme. Furthermore, it’s not exactly a story that comes with many surprises. In fact, almost every twist within the narrative can be seen coming from a veritable mile off.
Essentially, we have a young woman who’s come to this manor house to take over the responsibility of looking after Samantha, after the previous governess supposedly tops herself. Early on, Samantha shows signs of not being all there in the head. Furthermore, a look around their greenhouse reveals a jar of arsenic. Something which Samantha proudly exclaims they use to keep the weeds away!
At this stage we’re only pages into the PCL and already things are beginning to come together. Throw in a strange midnight conversation between Smanatha and a woman with a German voice – who we’re obviously supposed to believe is the ghost of Gerda – and we’re now forming a picture of where this PCL is likely to be leading.
It’s not exactly the most adventurous of stories, let down further by its absolute predictability. However, for a short little tale with a glorious ‘Psycho’ (1960) style twist ending, it’s still got enough in it to be an entertaining read.
The Brain - 32 Pages
After leaving university, Norman Cross and Oliver Maniells used their savings to set up a laboratory within the basement of an old Dorset house where they lived. Over the ensuing months, in the gloom of the basement, the pair continued their experiments to create a human brain.
Sure enough, before long they’d created an almost perfect brain. And early indications revealed that the bad cells within the brain were inferior to the good cells. A seemingly perfect combination.
However, after just two days, Oliver notices that the bad cells had absorbed the good ones. Recognising the danger of what they’d done, Oliver is determined to destroy the brain. Something which Norman simply can’t allow to happen.
But once Norman’s alone with the brain, he finds he no longer needs to look at the control panel to see what the brain is trying to say to him. It was as if the brain was able to communicate out loud! A voice which now could be heard inside Norman’s own head.
The brain was demanding a body…
Now this is a fun one. Essentially, it’s a sort of B-Movie mash-up of ‘Frankenstein’ (1818) and ‘The Brain That Wouldn't Die’ (1962) in which we see these two young scientists create a human brain, which soon turns decidedly evil.
Of course, after developing the ability to communicate telepathically with Norman, the brain then extends its abilities to eventually control the hapless scientist. Next, we have a fight break out between the two scientists which ends in explosive disaster.
Meanwhile, Oliver’s sister – Froisa – has come to stay with the two of them. Oh yeah, we can see where this is going! We have an evil brain that’s craving a human body, a scientist who’s in recovery from an electrical explosion, and a young woman coming to stay. That’s pretty much every box ticked off for an insanely wild and wacky B-Movie!
This story really is every bit as fun as it sounds. There’s pretty much everything packed into this ridiculously short page count. Love, betrayal, deceit, comeuppance and eventual tragedy. All because this pair of overly ambitious scientists ventured into territory whence should never have gone! Oh, the sheer fun of it.
The comic book runs for a total of 64 pages.
© DLS Reviews
