Originally Published In Issue 48
Reprinted In Issue 107
First published back in December of 1972, Issue 48 of the ‘Pocket Chiller Library’ comic series was titled ‘Dark Heritage’. The comic was later reprinted under the alternative title ‘Indescribable Terror’ within Issue 107.
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).
Rosa Dean couldn’t believe it when she found out she’d inherited a large country house along with a tonne of money from an unknown aunt. The solicitor looking after her late aunt’s estate warned Rosa that Sailsford Hall was gloomy and in a particularly isolated spot. However, despite Mr Thirkell’s concerns, Rosa was instantly set on moving from London to the country house.
When she arrives, Rosa is met by her aunt’s ancient housekeeper – Mrs Pine – who’d agreed to stay on to look after the house and the new owner. Although as far as Rosa was concerned, the icy old housekeeper seemed to be just as cold and unwelcoming as Sailsford Hall was.
However, when Rosa mentions that she’s going to take a walk through the moors to pick up some cigarettes from the nearby village, Mrs Pine’s attitude instantly changes. All of a sudden the old housekeeper’s awash with concern for Rosa – telling her the village folk themselves won’t even cross the moors at night for fear of what lurks in the darkness.
But Rosa Dean is a strong-willed young woman. Despite Mrs Pine’s warnings, she decides to cycle to the village. Although it’s not long before her journey’s cut short when her front wheel hits a stone that’s protruding from the pathway. Luckily, an old-fashioned horse-drawn coach-and-pair pulls up to where Rosa had come off her bike.
Despite her better judgement, Rosa climbs aboard the coach and is instantly whisked off into the gloomy night by the silent coachman. It’s only then, when the coach is tearing down the troublesome lanes of the moors, that Rosa glimpses the face of her driver. It’s enough to make her blood run cold. Sitting before her is a dreadful Death’s Head face silently grinning back at her…
DLS Review:
What we have here is another textbook PCL story pretty much following the same tried and tested formulas we’ve seen in many of the other PCLs. In fact, the comic starts out almost identical to ‘The Brides of Death’ (1972) and ‘Born To Be Evil’ (1973) only with differently named characters involved!
Indeed, at the crux of the story is a plot involving our protagonist inheriting an old house from an unknown relative and being told if she doesn’t stay in the house then she won’t inherit it! It’s a plot we’ve all seen before. A classic haunted house set up – although here it’s not so much the house, but rather the surrounding moors.
The comic plays out along this hauntingly familiar storyline after which we learn the reasoning behind this apparent ghostly presence. It’s a classic story of romantic tragedy leading to murder, where the outcome is the restless spirit of a murderous father from centuries back, endlessly riding across the moors trying to find the severed head of his daughter’s murdered lover.
For the most part the story follows Rosa and her boyfriend, Reggie Carter, who try to make the most of living at Sailsford Hall, knowing that at night the surrounding moors are haunted by this supernatural coachman. Of course, said skeleton keeps coming back to haunt the young couple, until they’ve had enough and call in a priest to rid their lives of this dark heritage.
It all feels typical Hammer Horror crossed with a classic eerie campfire story. There’s also a tonne of elements we’ve seen recurring in many of the other PCLs which will have you thinking you’ve read this one already! The end result is a story that unfortunately doesn’t feel entirely original, but instead a tad cliched.
That said, the ending is unusually upbeat and downright happy for a PCL! This was a little disappointing, as half the joy of these pocket-sized comics is from the dark and downbeat ending that’s usually delivered.
The accompanying illustrative artwork is relatively good, with a good attention to facial expressions and the Death’s Head coachman looking suitably creepy throughout. All in all not a bad story, but far from the best.
The comic book runs for a total of 64 pages.
© DLS Reviews
