Ghost Manor (comics)
Encyclopedia
Ghost Manor was a horror
-suspense anthology
comic book
series published by Charlton Comics
(in two volumes) from 1968 to 1984 (though it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 onward). Volume one was "hosted" by the Old Witch (not to be confused with the Old Witch who hosted the 1950s EC title, Haunt of Fear), while volume two was hosted by Mr. Bones.
Ghost Manor was part of a wave of new horror and suspense comics published by Charlton during this period. Its sister titles, with many of the same creators, were the Charlton anthologies The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
(with host Dr. M.T. Graves), Haunted
(with Impy and then Baron Weirwulf), and Ghostly Tales
(with host Mr. I.M. Dedd). Unfortunately, Charlton's low page-rates and slap-dash production values resulted in few notable characters or stories; Ghost Manor was typical in this regard.
, with a new host, Winnie the Witch (who had actually debuted in Ghost Manor #19).
Ghost Manor volume two introduced a new host, Mr. Bones, a re-animated skeleton butler
with a devilish mask. A new tagline was introduced, as well: "Visit Ghost Manor... if you Dare!" The second series was primarily edited by George Wildman
, who took over the title from Gentile with issue #6 (August 1972) and helmed the book until its cancellation with issue #77 (Nov. 1984). Ghost Manor continued to be bimonthly, except for a publishing hiatus from January-August 1977, between issues #32 and #33.
Regular contributors to the first Ghost Manor series included Pat Boyette
, Steve Ditko
, Joe Gill
, Sanho Kim
, and Mo Marcus. Volume two contributors included Boyette, Ditko, Gill, Vince Alascia
, Nicola Cuti, Wayne Howard
, Pete Morisi
, Don Newton
, Charles Nicholas, Enrique Nieto, and Tom Sutton
.
With issue #35 (February 1978), Ghost Manor volume two became primarily a reprint title, mostly using material from earlier issues, but also culling stories from Ghostly Tales
and other Charlton horror/suspense titles.
Horror comics in general were in decline in the early 1980s, and Charlton in particular was suffering financially. In the fall of 1984, Charlton suspended publication, and Ghostly Tales ended its run along with the rest of the company's remaining titles.
Horror comics
Horror comics are comic books, graphic novels, black-and-white comics magazines, and manga focusing on horror fiction. Horror comic books reached a peak in the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, when concern over content and the imposition of the self-censorship Comics Code Authority contributed to...
-suspense anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
(in two volumes) from 1968 to 1984 (though it was primarily a reprint title from 1978 onward). Volume one was "hosted" by the Old Witch (not to be confused with the Old Witch who hosted the 1950s EC title, Haunt of Fear), while volume two was hosted by Mr. Bones.
Ghost Manor was part of a wave of new horror and suspense comics published by Charlton during this period. Its sister titles, with many of the same creators, were the Charlton anthologies The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves
The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves was an American supernatural-anthology comic book published by Charlton Comics and best known as a showcase for the popular writer-artist Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Marvel Comics' Spider-Man. The eponymous Dr. M. T...
(with host Dr. M.T. Graves), Haunted
Haunted (comics)
Haunted was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1971 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Impy, a pint-sized ghost dressed in an all-white superhero costume...
(with Impy and then Baron Weirwulf), and Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1966 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Mr. L. Dedd , a middle-aged gentleman with purplish skin and horns who dressed like a vampire. Mr...
(with host Mr. I.M. Dedd). Unfortunately, Charlton's low page-rates and slap-dash production values resulted in few notable characters or stories; Ghost Manor was typical in this regard.
Publication history
Ghost Manor volume one debuted in July 1968 and was bimonthly during its run; all 19 issues were edited by Sal Gentile. The book's tagline was "Echoes of the Spirit World." With issue #20 (September 1971), the book changed its title to Ghostly HauntsGhostly Haunts
Ghostly Haunts was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1971 to 1978. The book was "hosted" by Winnie the Witch, a "moddish" blue-skinned witch....
, with a new host, Winnie the Witch (who had actually debuted in Ghost Manor #19).
Ghost Manor volume two introduced a new host, Mr. Bones, a re-animated skeleton butler
Butler
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
with a devilish mask. A new tagline was introduced, as well: "Visit Ghost Manor... if you Dare!" The second series was primarily edited by George Wildman
George Wildman
George Wildman , is an American cartoonist most noted for his work in the comic books industry. He was a top editor at Charlton Comics from 1971–1985, where he also became the long-time regular artist on Popeye comic books....
, who took over the title from Gentile with issue #6 (August 1972) and helmed the book until its cancellation with issue #77 (Nov. 1984). Ghost Manor continued to be bimonthly, except for a publishing hiatus from January-August 1977, between issues #32 and #33.
Regular contributors to the first Ghost Manor series included Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette
Pat Boyette Pat Boyette Pat Boyette (July 27, 1923, San Antonio, Texas – January 14, 2000, was an American broadcasting personality and news producer, and later a comic book artist best known for two decades of work for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the character The Peacemaker...
, Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, Joe Gill
Joe Gill
Joseph Gill was an American magazine writer and highly prolific comic book scripter. Most of his work was for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the superheroes Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster, among others. Comics historians consider Gill a top contender as the comic-book field's most...
, Sanho Kim
Sanho Kim
Sanho Kim is a Korean comic book artist, considered the first artist working in a manhwa style to be published regularly in the United States...
, and Mo Marcus. Volume two contributors included Boyette, Ditko, Gill, Vince Alascia
Vince Alascia
Vincent Alascia , also known as Nicholas Alascia, was an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America during the Golden Age of comics, and for his 23-year run as inker on a single creative team, with penciler Charles Nicholas Wojtkowski and writer Joe Gill at Charlton Comics...
, Nicola Cuti, Wayne Howard
Wayne Howard
Wayne Wright Howard was an African-American comic book artist best known for his 1970s work at Charlton Comics, where he became American comic books' first known cover-credited series creator, with the horror anthology Midnight Tales blurbing "Created by Wayne Howard" on each issue — "a...
, Pete Morisi
Pete Morisi
Peter A. Morisi , who sometimes went by the pseudonym PAM, is an American comic book writer and artist who also spent much of his professional life as a New York City Police Department officer. He is best known as creator of the 1960s Charlton Comics series Peter Cannon .....
, Don Newton
Don Newton
Don Newton was an American comic book artist. During his career, he worked for a number of comic book publishers, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Charlton Comics. He is best known for his work on The Phantom, Aquaman, and Batman...
, Charles Nicholas, Enrique Nieto, and Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton was an American comic book artist who sometimes used the pseudonyms Sean Todd and Dementia...
.
With issue #35 (February 1978), Ghost Manor volume two became primarily a reprint title, mostly using material from earlier issues, but also culling stories from Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales
Ghostly Tales was a horror-suspense anthology comic book series published by Charlton Comics from 1966 to 1984 . The book was "hosted" by Mr. L. Dedd , a middle-aged gentleman with purplish skin and horns who dressed like a vampire. Mr...
and other Charlton horror/suspense titles.
Horror comics in general were in decline in the early 1980s, and Charlton in particular was suffering financially. In the fall of 1984, Charlton suspended publication, and Ghostly Tales ended its run along with the rest of the company's remaining titles.