In a delightful framing sequence drawn by Neal Adams, Cain and Abel from the House of Mystery and House of Secrets visit the three witches, for this is "New Year's Eve" at The Witching Hour.
The first story is "The Maze" written by Marv Wolfman and Alan Gold and magnificently illustrated by Gray Morrow. Harold Beedle wakes up in a metal room, without memory or hope. A voice tells him his name and his goal: he is in a labyrinth with one million possible combinations and only one that leads to his reward. He wanders from room to room, hallway to hallway. Sometimes he sleeps, sometimes music and sound are blasted at him at painful volume.
He cracks up, begs to die then begs to be kept alive then begs to die again. He wonders if he is already dead, but the voice tells him it is not so, he is alive and finally, he reaches the end of the maze, the maze that has been his home for one week, six days, and thirty-nine minutes. He exits the maze and finds a huge block of cheese waiting for him and two gigantic aliens, Spafon and Squatront, watching him as he lays down and dies. The aliens find this odd and decide that they need to find another specimen to test. This story was reprinted in Omega Men #24 (1985). In the letter column in Omega Men #24, it is revealed that these aliens were a prototype version of the Psions, created by Marv Wolfman, which were an integral part of the Omega Men series. The names of the two aliens, Spafon and Squatront, are also the names of two famous EC fanzines.
Cain mocks Abel for being frightened by the story in the continuing Neal Adams-drawn framing sequence. Mildred thinks she has a much better story to tell,
That leads us to "The Accursed Clay!" by Jack Miller, Jack Sparling, and Frank Giacoia. Arthur Delano was a sculpture of unfortunately minor talent. Good enough to sculpt, but lacking the greatness the museums required. One day a man arrives at his studio and offers him some ancient clay, enough for four statues. He tells him that the first statue will be great, the second greater still, the third almost a masterpiece, and the fourth will rival Rodin, Michelangelo, and Da Vinci. When Delano asks what he must pay, the man says he has asked for nothing in return,
Delano starts on his first statue and it is the best thing he has ever done. A face appears in his mind and he is compelled to place it on the statue. The next morning he sees the same face on the front page of the paper, a man who died in a freak storm at sea. Deeming it a coincidence, Delano makes another statue and once again is compelled to put a specific face on it. As before the next day, the papers show the same man died by freak electrocution. Still going for a coincidence, Delano sculpts the third statue and when a face comes to him he tries to put a different one on the statue, but he is compelled to put the one he sees in his head. That man is also found dead, hit by a meteorite. Delano realizes he is killing these people by creating his artwork, so he deems to create no more.
But the man who gave him the clay arrives and tells him he cannot stop, that he agreed to make four statues, and Delano once again finds himself compelled to create. This time, however, he adds the face of the man who sold him the clay, who falls to the floor. As he dies he whispers, "Not such a bad bargain. You have your masterpiece and I finally have my peace." What Delano never learns is that the man was an evil sorcerer named Rokk and that he was cursed, doomed to wander the earth until his image was duplicated exactly, as a place to hold his soul during death.
"The Accursed Clay!" was the last story written by Jack Miller, who passed away in 1969. Jacob Edward Miller (1908-1969), wrote under the name Jack E. Miller. Principally known as a creator of stories and editor for DC Comics. Miller created and wrote Sgt. Rock, as well as contributed to "Batman," "Superman," "Wonder Woman, "Showcase," Deadman, "Tarzan," "Action Comics," "Detective Comics," "Adventure Comics," "Aquaman," and "Phantom Stranger" comics. On TV he helped to create and wrote 25 episodes of "The Mighty Hercules" cartoon show from 1963-1966.
Continuing the Neal Adams framing sequence, Cain doubles over in laughter at this story and Mildred is none too happy about it. Just then, the Mad, Mod Witch from the Unexpected shows up. Cynthia has a tale of her own to tell.
"The Rush-Hour Ride of Abner Pringle!" is by Len Wein and Jose Delbo. On the night of April 18, 1775, there is a fourth man who rides to warn the people when the signal is given in the Old North Church. We never read of this man, Abner Pringle, because he has not finished his ride yet. That fateful night his horse stumbled in a hidden chuck-hole and Abner was thrown off, landing near a tree, where he slept till 1970. When he awakens he gets back on his horse and rids into Concord, causing traffic jams and almost getting arrested. When no one will take him seriously, he rides out of town, and once again his horse trips on the same chuck-hole. As he sleeps as the entire British Army marches by on their way to modern-day Concord and beyond.
Back at the Neal Adams' framing sequence, Cain rather liked this tale. The gathering is interrupted when Igor appears, a manuscript in his hands.
We end with a one-page text story illustrated by Sal Amendola entitled "The Witching Hour Mistree." The entire book was reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Witching Hour Vol. 1 TPB (2011).
Edited by Dick Giordano.
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