Originally Published In Issue 40
Reprinted In Issue 99
First published back in August of 1972, Issue 40 of the ‘Pocket Chiller Library’ comic series was titled ‘Fear Has A Thousand Eyes’. The comic was later reprinted under the alternative title ‘Curse Of Zilhaus’ within Issue 99.
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).
For two weeks Tim Carey had been walking across the mountains of the Austrian Tyrol, determined to get away from the humdrum of nine-to-five office life in London. Whilst making his way to the village of Lautergang, a torrential downpour forces Tim to seek shelter for the night. Luckily, good fortune he spots a castle perched atop one of the many mountainous peaks. The ancient stone building casting a shadow of a bleak and lonely place. Nevertheless, it offers sanctuary from the unrelenting storm.
Upon arriving at the ancient structure, Tim’s greeted by the owner of Castle Zilhaus. A strange, withered old Austrian man who appears half mad but eager to help. Despite its isolated setting, the castle’s owner keeps a room within one of the castle’s turrets free for guests. The room which Tim is hastily escorted to.
But Tim can sense something almost unreal about Castle Zilhaus, something evil and unnervingly nightmarish. Before leaving Tim to his rest, the old man speaks of a fear that has a thousand eyes. It is a strange parting message seemingly laced with threat.
That night, Tim is woken by an unnerving sound of scratching at the door. When he goes to investigate, the whole room suddenly comes alive by a frantic swirling mass of bats. Through the swarm of fluttering wings, Tim sees a young boy, scratching at the door to the room. Seconds later the boy is transformed into a bat, upon which it then launches at him, sinking its fangs into the soft flesh of Tim’s neck. Moment later the oblivion of unconsciousness takes hold of Tim.
The next day Tim wakes, unsure what had happened to him during his time in the room. Surely the madness of the night before was little more than a nightmare. However, the marks upon his neck suggest otherwise.
What will unfold from this moment on is a hellish descent into something born from fear itself. The curse of Castle Zilhaus has befallen Tim Carey. And within twelve hours, the mark of doom shall strike…
Every now and again you get a PCL which delivers a story that’s just that little bit out-of-left-field. A plot rich in ideas and inspiration, which tries to cram as much into the short comic book’s page count as it possibly can. This is one such comic.
Yes, it’s all very gothic, with an almost cliched set up, setting the piece in motion. However, even from the initial pages, there’s a sense of impending doom, a smothering blanket of dread, which seems to seep out of every page. This is handled incredibly well by both the narrative as well as the illustrative artwork throughout.
Quite purposefully, the writer keeps the mystery alive through much of the story, not really explaining what the hell’s going on, until the final few pages reveal all (well, almost all!). We see our protagonist, Tim Carey, thrown into a wild nightmare-like scenario in the dead of night, ending when he’s bitten by a vampire bat.
What follows is a series of increasingly weird transformations, starting with Tim’s finger suddenly snapping at a right angle, followed by his right arm gradually shortening, and thick hair growing across his face. I’ll leave it at that for what transformations occur, but you can probably guess where it’s heading!
However, it’s how the whole story ends which really gets you. It’s what makes the story that much odder, makes it feel unique and downright bleak. Again, no spoilers here, but what I will say is it’s probably not an ending you were altogether expecting.
There’s actually quite a lot that goes on in the story. Of course you’re following Tim Carey through his gradual downfall. From the mountains of the Austrian Tyrol, then back to London, and then back again to Austria. Honestly, the writer absolutely packs it in here. All the while Tim’s suffering and not knowing what the hell’s going on, but deep-down suspecting something unnatural is at play. Something he fears from the bottom of his gut.
Yeah, it’s all pretty damn bleak stuff. This one really is a great read!
The comic book runs for a total of 64 pages.
© DLS Reviews
