CHAMBER OF DARKNESS #6 AUGUST 1970
A man hurtles towards us, his hands outstretched, having seemingly leapt from the dragon-shaped upper level of a carnival fun-house. It's an exaggeratedly dramatic scenario, the worm's eye view low angle affording us a view of the startled onlookers, the fun-house itself and a roller-coaster in the background. And while there are no superheroes on view, it is immediately clear that this is a Marvel comic, that the picture has been drawn 'the Marvel way', i.e. with lots of exaggerated movement an expression. Ironically, there is much about this image which might be considered 'anti-Marvel', because the central figure is about as anti-Marvel as you could get-- he wears a drab grey suit rather than a gaudily coloured costume - his face is hidden rather than being clearly on view - and rather than soaring upwards in a heroic mission, he is plummeting to earth and his own death. But this is not a Marvel superhero comic, this is Chamber of Darkness, and in the tradition of Horror comics dating back to the 40s and 50s (unlike Horror films of the period) there is rarely a positive outcome for protagonists in this genre.
The cover, drawn by Marie Severin and Bill Everett, illustrates the third story in this issue, PUT ANOTHER NICKEL IN!!! and is one of those covers fairly common at the time which acts as a spoiler for the story itself. As with the DC Horror antholgies from this era, the title features several short stories from a range of creators, though only two in CHAMBER OF DARKNESS #6 are new stories, one being a reprint from 1959.
The first story, A CHANGE OF MIND is written by Len Wein and illustrated by Sal Buscema and Syd Shores. Whereas DC titles employ the device of their stories being usually introduced by fictional hosts, here the innovation is to include a page in which the artist himself introduces himself and offers up his opening story page. Sal Buscema depicts himself hunched over his drawing desk, his studio littered with discarded sketches. As with the cover we are positioned looking upwards from that worm's eye view, the darkened underside of Buscema's desk towering above us. But the artist humorously presents himself not as some imposing, dominating threat but as a spindly-limbed exhausted wreck.
The story itself is a frenzied collection of over-the-top gestures and crazy angles.
The narrative combines elements of FRANKENSTEIN and pulp Sci Fi stories, its protagonist being a would-be megalomaniac whose plan you just know is doomed from the start.
It all builds to a neat conclusion which I won't spoil here, instead I'll just present another great image depicted from that worm's eye view.
The second story is I DARED TO DEFY MERLIN'S... BLACK MAGIC! originally presented in STRANGE TALES #71. Set in that mainstay of Horror stories, a curio shop, its central character is also familiar to Horror aficionados, the arrogant guy who refuses to believe in the supernatural.
Illustrated by Steve Ditko it features an appearance from Merlin whose star-patterned outfit is truly a thing of wonder.
Again I won't reveal the ending, but you won't be surprised by the story's familiar central message. Here, instead, is lovely tryptich of frames courtesy of Mr Ditko.
The third and final tale in this issue is the aforementioned PUT ANOTHER NICKEL IN!!! As with the other stories the protagonist is presented from the outset as an unpleasant sort, this time a criminal thief. The dynamic opening splash page sets up a narrative about a mysterious nickelodeon that depicts a person's own life story.
Written by Mimi Gold with art by Dick Ayers is not as wholly satisfying as the other stories in this collection, and as I say its ending is in part compromised by the issue's cover.
As is customary with these Bronze Age anthologies, CHAMBER OF DARKNESS #6 is something of a mixed bag. Perhaps the thing I take away from it most is the way that the ten-year old reprinted Steve Ditko story perfectly bridges the more traditional art style of Dick Ayers and the outrageous stylings of new kid on the block Sal Buscema.
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