470 – Mask of Horror

A panel from "Mask of Horror" from Vault of Horror #18, January 1951
A panel from “Mask of Horror” from Vault of Horror #18, January 1951

The Vault of Horror #18 (January 1951) includes the story “Mask of Horror”. A story about masks, what they hide, what they do to us inside. It is very reminiscent of The Masks, an episode of the Twilight Zone that aired 13 years later.

After being rejected by his cold, cheating fiance, Ken buys a zombie costume and mask from a costume shop for a masquerade ball. He meets someone who has bought an ugly vampire’s mask from the same shop and they start to fall in love.

Anotherr panel from "Mask of Horror", January 1951
Another panel from “Mask of Horror”, January 1951

After the dance, they decide to go out into the courtyard to reveal their faces. It turns out the she is now a fiend herself:

Yet another panel from “Mask of Horror”, January 1951

After a struggle, Ken manages to drown the vampire girl, losing his own mask in the process to find that his face has been changed…

The final panel from “Mask of Horror”, January 1951