I should be glad of more Halloween time, but...

In a horror movie, this would be an unsettling moment early on, where a character seemingly loses track of time for no good reason: I would've sworn Halloween was this week. Nope! And I have a very nice, very fun, five-day vacation coming up...right before the real horror, Election Day. I'm sure that'll be relaxing as all get out and won't gnaw at the back of my mind...Well, if we're honest, losing a week here or there doesn't mean much, when I keep doing the same things regardless. Namely, we're watching Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires and tackling a big one: 100-pages from 1974, Unexpected #157, cover by Nick Cardy.

A reporter interviews the last of a line, in "The House of the Executioner." (Story by Leo Dorfman, art by E.R. Cruz.) The ghosts of the Grue family haunt the family home, although Loren, the last surviving member, isn't worried about them killing her. Only one ghost doesn't do much: Uncle Jonah, who had been a hangman briefly, before the state changed to the electric chair. Jonah had been trained extensively on use and operation of the chair, before the state changed its proverbial mind again and gave up capital punishment. Furious, Jonah died of a rage-stroke, but in his will stipulated a working electric chair be kept there, to show he had been ready to do his duty. The reporter resembles Jonah's single credit as a hangman, though: his brother...there's two more pages, you can guess, huh.

Two girls visit a western ghost town in "The Corpse in the Dead Letter Office." Marge wants to see a ghost, and finds an old newspaper with a personal ad...did they have those in the 1870's? Marge impulsively jots off a note answering the ad, but is then seemingly compelled to wait for a response. Can her friend save her from the spirits? Well, it's in the title...(Art by John Calnan.) Then, "Something's Alive in Volcano 13!" Two months after a volcano expert disappears in a crater, a sexist reporter elbows his way onto a mission, with Dr. Susan Akers and her "Iron Mole" tunnelling machine. Deep underground, they find the volcano expert, turned into a giant caveman by trapped gases. Does anything good ever come of exploring caves in these comics? (Art by Jim Mooney.)

A young thug is given a magic canvas by a hobo, in "The Man Who Cheated Death." From then on, whenever he made a narrow escape, whatever nearly got him would appear on the canvas; but what will happen when he runs out of space? (Art by Bill Ely.) "Mystery of the Sorcerer's Squad" features a bunch of antique oak wands sold at a magicians' convention, that turn out to have actual powers! Or do they? It's an elaborate sting operation, as the cops let a mobster buy them with stolen cash, but one turns out to really really work! This proves magic exists, and could change law enforcement techniques for years to come...if the head lieutenant didn't burn all the wands in the end. Gotta maintain that status quo! (Art by Ruben Moreira.)

Bill Ely again on "The Phantom Duel," as Raoul kills Pierre in a duel, but Pierre swears to come back for him. Then, Sheldon Moldoff art for "Beware, I Can Read Your Mind," as a young boy exposed to radiation grows up with the ability to duh, read minds. But, he feels stifled as a sideshow act, so he does some courtroom work to gain some prestige, or at least notoriety. Swell, except his power has grown to where he hears too many thoughts...I hadn't mentioned it before, but most of these stories end with some variation of "unexpected" worked into the last panel, which I guess used to be the book's gimmick?

"I Battled the Abominable Snowman" is another one that's exactly what it says on the package, isn't it? (Art by Leonard Starr.) "Born Loser" is a slightly more modern tale, as a hard luck bum tries to get thrown in jail so he could get a decent meal; and of course fails miserably until it would actually be inconvenient to be arrested. Sad trombone noise. (Story by Carl Wessler, art by Sonny Trinidad.) "The Dagger's Deed" is a hokey one-pager, then another older reprint, "The Mystery of the Teen-age Swami." 'Swami' would be dated enough, but a hyphenated 'teen-age' dates this even more! (Art by Mort Meskin.)

"A reasonably honest morgue-keeper" is forced to turn "Body Snatcher!" to make enough cash to keep his girlfriend, which seems an odd job in the late twentieth century; as well as the fact that he was rolling large by selling stiffs for $7.50 a pop. (Story by Carl Wessler, art by Rich Buckler.) Finally, George Kashdan and Alfredo Alcala ask, "Who Will Kill Gigantus?" An African tribe worships a completely preserved dinosaur, until it is stolen by a greedy explorer. Of course, the dinosaur goes on a rampage, and the explorer gets his, which is hardly unexpected--damn, now I'm doing it! 

Unexpected would run 100-pagers for the next few issues, until #162. This issue has a USPS statement of ownership, to boot. Average number of copies sold during preceding 12 months (total paid circulation): 164,344. Actual number sold for issue nearest filing date (total paid circulation): 190,500.