The Mummy's Revenge [The Lost and Found: Uncovering Hidden Comic Book Treasures]

"BEWARE!" warned the aged Arab. "Beware the wrath of Princess Amen-Ra!"

The four Englishmen laughed uproariously. What was there to fear of an Egyptian princess who had died some 3,500 years ago?

Her mummy case, only recently excavated from the ruins of a nearby temple, lay on the ground before them, and they were determined to bring it back to London, as a souvenir of their holiday in Egypt. Ignoring the old man's repeated warnings, they paid him a handsome fee---for it was he himself who had led them to the buried mummy case---and made off with their prize.

That very night, one of the Britishers was seen to emerge from his tent. He spoke to no one; his eyes were fixed, trance-like, on the wide expanse of desert sand before him. He was like a man possessed as he wandered off. And this was the last anyone ever saw of him. Somewhere in the desert, he had vanished, and no trace of his body was ever found. His friends assumed that he must have been stricken by a fever that had affected his mind.

Yet, only a few days later, a second tragedy occurred, when another of the tourists was shot in the arm by a bandit, and the arm subsequently had to be removed. Upon returning to Cairo, a third member of the party found a cablegram awaiting him, informing that his entire fortune had been wiped out by a bank failure. And when they came back to London, still bearing the mummy case of Princess Amen-Ra, the fourth member of that ill-fated group met with the same news---business collapse which left him a pauper.

But this was still only the beginning. The long-dead princess, it seemed, was determined to avenge herself upon anyone who disturbed the tranquility of her resting place. For when the mummy case was later bought up by the British Museum, more tragedy was in the offing.

First there was the newspaper photographer who took a picture of the exotic looking case, shortly after its arrival at the museum. While en route to his home, he was fatally injured. Then there was the cleaning man, who scoffed at the notion of a haunted mummy case, and proved contempt by waving his duster at it, derisively. Some days later, his wife was stricken by a rare disease.  In addition, all sorts of minor injuries befell various museum workers who had helped set up the mummy case in its exhibit vault. Visitors to the museum began talking of strange noises emanating from the case---tapping and crying---and one night watchman went so far as to claim that the princess once emerged from the vault.

It was then that officials of the British Museum decided that these wild tales had gone far enough, and agreed to remove the case from the exhibit hall and store it in the basement. Of the men selected to carry it down, one of them suffered a badly sprained ankle, almost immediately afterwards, and another was found dead of a stroke, only a few days later.

Of course, nobody, except a handful of superstitious people, ever believed that this mummy case actually bore a curse---that the hardships it seemed to create were ever anything more than mere coincidence. Yet, fate had one more cruel trick to play, involving Princess Amen-Ra in her final tragedy.

For in 1914 an American Egyptologist purchased the mummy case from the British Museum, planning to bring it to this country. But this man, too, went to his death, together with the princess, aboard the steamship Titanic, which struck an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic, and sank with a loss of 1,500 lives!

• story author uncredited
• title header illustration created by TrUz ApalOOza
• story featured in The House of Secrets #67 (October 1957) 
• published & copyrighted by DC Comics

FACT CHECK: I did a little searching and found this article which documents the above story to be untrue, including the Titanic reference.

Disclaimer: As the original publisher is no longer in operation and has not issued digital reprints, this collection serves as a valuable archive of these classic tales for the benefit of researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts. By making these stories available, I aim to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of comic books, while also acknowledging the original creators and copyright holders.

Jakarta Daemon, Part One (Intrigues in Jakarta with John Constantine) [TrUzApalOOza cardstock variant cover]

[my rough proposal for a new John Constantine storyline for DC Comics]

In the neon-drenched underbelly of Jakarta's downtown Tanah Babah shopping district, John Constantine stood shrouded in darkness, the only illumination coming from the eerie glow of vending machines that seemed to pulse with intermittent energy. The rain-soaked streets reflected the dim light of the city, casting a melancholy mood over the bustling metropolis. As he puffed on his cigarette, the faint yellow glow of the burning tobacco cast an eerie light on his weathered face, etched with the lines of numerous battles and countless moral compromises. This is the beginning of the five-part storyline titled Jakarta Daemon, an eerie narrative of terror and the paranormal where John Constantine delves into the dark heart of the city to hunt down the Indonesian daemon known as Kuntilanak that has been mutilating and murdering young women in gruesome and inexplicable ways for the past four months. I am proposing this would be written by Simon Spurrier, interior art by Bilquis Evely, and exclusive painted covers by TrUz ApalOOza.

• Part 2: "The Cursed Streets of Old Batavia" John Constantine's investigation into the daemon Kuntilanak leads him to the historic streets of Old Batavia, where he meets with his local contacts, a group of street-smart kids who've been tracking the daemon's movements. But as John digs deeper, he begins to suspect that his contacts may be hiding something. Despite his reservations, John decides to trust them, and together they uncover a web of ancient secrets and forbidden knowledge hidden within the city's oldest temples.
• Part 3: "The Whispering Walls of the Sultan's Palace" As John's investigation takes him to the Sultan's Palace, he discovers that his local contacts have been playing him all along. They've been using him to get closer to Kuntilanak the daemon, and now they're demanding a share of the profits. John is torn between his loyalty to his new friends and his duty to stop the evil terrorizing their city. He decides to betray his contacts, using them to get closer to the daemon, but at what cost? The whispers of the palace walls begin to echo with the weight of John's betrayal.
• Part 4: "The Blood of the Ancients" John's betrayal of his contacts has consequences, and the streets of Jakarta begin to run red with blood. The daemon's power grows stronger, and John realizes that he's made a terrible mistake. He must now navigate the treacherous underworld of Jakarta's criminal networks to find a way to stop the daemon and make amends for his betrayal. But the city's ancient secrets are not so easily uncovered, and John finds himself trapped in a web of man-made deceit and demonic corruption.
• Part 5: "The Daemon's Reckoning" In the climactic final act, John must face both Kuntilanak, and the true gangster masterminds behind the horrors plaguing Jakarta. But his betrayal of his local contacts has left him isolated and alone. With the city on the brink of chaos, John must use all his wits and cunning to stop the daemon and end the city's cycle of violence. But at what cost? The daemon's reckoning is at hand, and John must confront the consequences of his previous actions. Will he be able to redeem himself, or will the city burn around him?

[Workflow: My final image was inspired by a sketch I found on Reddit which started my creation within Tengri, then elements were added to fill in the gaps to fill out the comic book cover layout, variant cover logo overlay merged, storyline logo with text and sigil badge, creator credits, barcode, DC Black Label badge, the addition of rain, smoke, cigarette features, and camera refocusing were all completed within Affinity Photo.]

Best from NightCafe (creatures made from food)

Here are some delightful food-related AI images I gathered from NightCafe; while they are not my own, I found them so enjoyable that I saved copies here.  Quite a few of these are from @Cilia, and as I find more that I enjoy, they might get added this post.

Gorilla's Sanctuary (at sunrise)

This NightCafe [DALL-E 3] image came out nicely from the following prompt: The background should feature a breathtaking jungle forest at sunset depicted with tetradic colors, particularly warm hues of green and blue. A large, full-sized silhouette of a grey gorilla should be centered within the full scene. Inside this silhouette, weave a mesmerizing image of small jungle animals relaxing, creating a fascinating play between illusion and reality. Use tactics of depth of field to enhance the visual interest of this composition.

Lainey Wilson Shines Bright on Stage during Bell Bottom Country Tour

Lainey Wilson, the country music sensation, will bring her star quality to the stage as part of the 2024 Bell Bottom Country Tour. Wilson will leave audiences in awe with her powerful vocals and captivating stage presence. Wilson's confidence and charisma shine through as she takes the stage, making her a true standout in the 2020-era country music scene. Her ability to connect with the crowd through her music and engaging stage presence is a testament to her ongoing growth in star quality.

[Workflow: Image sourced from Lainey's Instagram account, then I did minor image edits, added tour logo, layered in the starfield, etc. within Affinity Photo.]

Constantine's Inferno

John Constantine stands at the edge of a hell portal, with the apocalyptic backdrop of a burning London looming behind him. The eerie atmosphere sets the stage for a thrilling adventure as Constantine, a seasoned demon hunter, prepares to face the unknown terrors that lie ahead.

Supergirl: Sheriff of Red Rock

Supergirl materialized in the dusty, sun-scorched town of Red Rock, Texas, her eyes scanning the bustling main street. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, leather, and smoke. The year was 1850, and the Wild West was alive and kicking.

As Kara Danvers, aka Supergirl, took in the sights and sounds of this alternate multiverse Earth, she couldn't help but feel a sense of disorientation. Gone were the towering skyscrapers and bustling city streets of her native Metropolis. Instead, she found herself amid a rugged frontier town, where cowboys and outlaws roamed free.

Wonder Woman Glamour Pose

Wonder Woman [angry] Glamour Pose

Robbery Just Got a Whole Lot More Painful (The Punisher)

The neon lights of the Hell's Kitchen bodega cast an eerie glow over the dark streets of Manhattan. The smell of fresh bread and spices wafted through the air, mingling with the distant hum of the city's never-ending din. It was a typical Tuesday evening in the neighborhood, with the sounds of laughter and chatter filling the streets. But amidst the bustle, a sense of unease hung in the air.

Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, strolled through the crowded aisles, his sharp eyes scanning the shelves for the perfect jar of pasta sauce. Despite his frequent visits to this bodega, each trip held a sense of familiarity and comfort for him. The owner, Maria, greeted him with a warm smile as he passed by, a brief respite in the chaos of the city.

As Frank reached for a jar of sauce, the tranquility of the moment shattered as a group of young thugs barged into the store, their aggressive demeanor sending a wave of fear through the patrons. 'Everybody get down!' one of them barked, brandishing a gun erratically. The customers huddled in fear, but Frank's steely gaze remained unwavering as he swiftly drew his own weapon, ready to confront the threat head-on. In that tense moment, the Punisher prepared to bring justice to the chaos unfolding before him.

Batsuit Model No.68 (exoskeleton)

Batsuit Model No.68 (exoskeleton) diagrams taken from 1979 archives.

Flight of the Penguin: Escape in the Shadows

The Penguin, also known as Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, is a supervillain in DC Comics who is a frequent adversary of Batman. He first appeared in Detective Comics #58 in December 1941 and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. The Penguin is a Gotham City mobster who sees himself as the top "Gentleman of Crime" and is known for his distinctive appearance with a monocle, top hat, and umbrella. He owns a nightclub called the Iceberg Lounge, which serves as a front for his criminal activities. Unlike many of Batman's villains, the Penguin is portrayed as completely sane and in full control of his actions, leading to a unique dynamic with Batman. Various sources inspired his original comic book character design, including the Kool cigarettes mascot and high-society gentlemen in tuxedos. The Penguin is known for using high-tech umbrellas with multiple functions as his signature weapons.

[Workflow: Scanned a panel from Batman #146 (DC Comics 2024) that was drawn by Jorge Jiménez with colors by Tomeu Morey.  Within Affinity Photo I then masked out page unwanted details to focus on The Penguin, layered in a logo, added basic Who's Who biography info, tossed in a classic Rogues Galley emblem, and then masked in a new light flare.]