Comic Title: House of Secrets #43
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: April 1961
On Sale Date: February 21, 1961 Copyright Date February 21, 1961
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1961

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

Title: "The Court of Creatures"
Pages: 9

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

Writer: Jack Miller
Penciller: Carmine Infantino
Inker: Mort Meskin

Reprinted In:
House of Mystery #174 (1968)
Showcase Presents:The House of Mystery Vol. 1 TPB (2006)
House of Mystery:The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2019)

Feature Character(s)

• Mark Merlin (last appearance in House of Secrets #42; next appearance in House of Secrets #44)

Supporting Character(s)

• Elsa Magusson (last appearance in House of Secrets #42; next appearance in House of Secrets #44)

Villain(s)

• Governor Tarsus and his henchmen (disguised as creatures; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Mark Marlin and Elsa visit the town of Cottswald which has changed little in the last 1500 years. After visiting a creature shrine, Governor Tarsus urges Mark to leave town. He warns that creatures will come to get him. Undeterred, Mark stays in town when the creatures arrive. They put him on trial for desecrating the shrine. Though they consider putting him to death, they decide to banish Mark.

Mark refuses to accept the punishment and leads the creatures on a chase through town. He then exposes them as phonies. Mark deduced that the governor was using the creatures to maintain power over the townspeople. With the scheme exposed, Tarsus and the men disguised as creatures are sent to prison.