Comic Title: House of Secrets #27
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: December 1959
On Sale Date: October 22, 1959 Copyright Date October 22, 1959
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1959

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "The Secret of the Fossil Egg"
Pages: 9

Feature(s):
Mark Merlin (of Earth-1)

Artist: Mort Meskin

Feature Character(s)

• Mark Merlin (last appearance in House of Secrets #26; next appearance in House of Secrets #28)

Supporting Character(s)

• Elsa Magusson (last appearance in House of Secrets #26; next appearance in House of Secrets #28)

Villain(s)

• A creature from inner Earth (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Professor Dan (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Mark Merlin answers a call for help from a friend who has discovered a giant egg inside a volcano. The egg seems impervious to destruction, so Mark decides to hatch it by exposing it to extreme heat. The egg opens and a flaming creature emerges which poses a threat to everyone around. Mark quenches the flame by opening a dam. However, the creature changes into a poisonous smoke being. Mark bottles the creature, which then changes to stone.

Mark realizes that the creature is headed back toward the volcano from which it originated. He reaches the top before the creature and finds more eggs inside. Mark then tries to delay the creature, but he is unable to stop it. Finally Mark learns that it gains power from the sun. He then orders a plane to cause a smokescreen over head which disables the creature. Mark then pushes the creature and the other eggs back into the volcano where they will no longer threaten the surface world.