Pocket Chiller Library: Issues 51 – 100

Pocket Chiller Library Montage

Thorpe & Porter and Top Sellers were both imprints of publisher Williams. Between 1971 and 1977, Top Sellers published Pocket Chiller Library, running to 137 issues, but there are plenty of questions circulating online about the title’s origins and exactly what it featured – reprint European strips or commissioned material from British creators?

Read our main feature about Pocket Chiller Library here to find out more

• Checklists: Issues 1 – 49 | Issues 50 – 100 | Issues 101 – 137

Please note: From Issue 86, onwards, the entire remaining run of issues were reprints, so all issues after that are duplicates, some with different covers, and different titles, but the same internal stories. Some of these are even reprints of comics from the two earlier series, Nightmare Suspense Library and Tales of Terror Picture Library – which leads to the situation of one story (“Waxworks/ Terror in Wax) actually being published three times. Again, the story titles were often changed.

Checklist Issues 51 – 100

Additional information welcome!

51 – Epitaph to a Madman

Pocket Chiller Library 51 - Epitaph to a Madman

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later 51 reprinted as No. 110, “The Fiend”

52 -The Monkey

Pocket Chiller Library No. 52 - The Monkey

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later 52 reprinted as No. 111, “Superhuman”

53 – The Devil Worshippers

Pocket Chiller Library 53 - The Devil-Worshippers

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 112, “Everlasting Night”

The cover of “The Devil Worshippers” is almost certainly “inspired by” Silver Surfer #3, specifically an image from the first appearance of Mephisto, art by John Buscema.

A panel from Mephisto's debut in Silver Surfer #3. Art by John Buscema © Marvel
A panel from Mephisto’s debut in Silver Surfer #3. Art by John Buscema © Marvel

54 – Shadow on the Mind

Pocket Chiller Library 54 - Shadow on the Mind

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 113, “Mangled Mind”

55 – The Strangler

Pocket Chiller Library 55 - The Strangler

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later 55 reprinted as No. 114, “The Strangler”

56 – The Rope 

Pocket Chiller Library 56 - The Rope

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Ian Gibson

Later 56 reprinted as No. 115, “The Rope”

57 – The Face in the Mirror

Pocket Chiller Library No.57 - The Face in the Mirror

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 116, “The Face in the Mirror”

58 – Suffer a Witch to Live

Pocket Chiller Library 58 - Suffer a Witch to Live

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 117, “Suffer a Witch to Live”

59 – Shadows in the Night

Pocket Chiller Library No. 59 Shadows in the Night

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 118, “Shadows of the Night”

60 – The Bat 

Pocket Chiller Library 60 - The Bat

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Ian Gibson

Later reprinted as No. 119, “The Bat”

61 – The Skull

Pocket Chiller Library 61 - The Skull

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later 61 reprinted as No. 120, “The Skull”

62 – Face in the Fog

Pocket Chiller Library 62 - Face in the Fog

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 121, “Face in the Fog”

63 – The Hangman

Pocket Chiller Library 63 - The Hangman

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 122, “The Hangman”

64 – Night of the Cactus

Pocket Chiller Library 64 - The Night of the Cactus

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 123, “The Night of the Cactus”

65 – Unseen Master

Pocket Chiller Library 65 - Unseen Master

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 124, “Unseen Master”

66 – Dark Vengeance

Pocket Chiller Library 66 - Dark Vengeance

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 125, “Dark Vengeance”

67 – Trip Fantastic

Pocket Chiller Library 67 - Trip Fantastic

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later 67 reprinted as No. 126, “Trip Fantastic”

68 – The Spider

Pocket Chiller Library 68 - The Spider

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 127, “The Spider”

69 – Born to Be Evil

Pocket Chiller library 69 - Born to be Evil

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 128, “Born to Be Evil”

70 – The Hands of Death

Pocket Chiller Library 70 - The Hands of Death

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 129, “The Hands of Death”

71 – Return from the Dead

Pocket Chiller Library 71 - Return from the Dead

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 130, “Return from the Dead”

72 – The Kolby Curse 

Pocket Chiller Library 72 - The Kolby Curse
Interior art by Ian Gibson on Pocket Chiller Library 72 - The Kolby Curse
Interior art by Ian Gibson on Pocket Chiller Library 72 – The Kolby Curse

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Ian Gibson

Later reprinted as No. 131, “The Kolby Curse”

73 – The Evil Comes From Out There

Pocket Chiller Library 73 - The Evil Comes from Out There

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 132, “The Evil Comes From Out There”

74 – Fear of Night

Pocket Chiller Library 74 - Fear of Night

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 133, “Fear of Night”

75 – Exterminate

Pocket Chiller Library 75 - Exterminate

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later 75 reprinted as No. 134, “Exterminate”

76 – Tomb of the Vampire

Pocket Chiller library 76 - Tomb of the Vampire

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Later reprinted as No. 135, “Tomb of the Vampire”

77 – Dead Man’s Eyes

Pocket Chiller library 77 - Dead man's eyes

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

78 – Immortal Armour

Pocket Chiller library 78 - Immortal armour

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

79 – The Woman in the Glass Coffin

Pocket Chiller Library No. 79 - The Woman in the Glass Coffin

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

80 – The Curse of Suicide

Pocket Chiller Library 80 - The Curse of Suicide

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

81 – Execution of Sinners

Pocket Chiller library 81 - Execution of sinners

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

82 – The Devil’s Servant

Pocket Chiller Library 82 - The Devil’s Servant

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

83 – Terror in Wax

Pocket Chiller Library 83 - Terror in Wax

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

A reprint of No. 21, “Images of Death”

The cover painting for issue 83 is modelled on actress Pamela Franklin in The Legend of Hell House

Pamela Franklin in "The Legend of Hell House"
Pamela Franklin in “The Legend of Hell House”

84 – Brutes of Hell

Pocket Chiller library 84 - Brutes of Hell

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

85 – When Cats Purr

Pocket Chiller Library 85 - When Cats Purr?

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Pocket Chiller Library went fully reprint from Issue 86 onwards (our thanks to reader Adrian Griffiths for this information)

86 – Harridan of Doom

Pocket Chiller library 86 - Harridan of Doom

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Previously presented as No. 27 – “The Secret in the Cellar”

87 – Gibbet of the Damned 

Pocket Chiller library 87 - Gibbet of the Damned

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Previously presented as No. 28, “The Hunchback”

88 – Blade of Death

Pocket Chiller Library No. 88 – Blade of Death

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

A reprint of No. 29, “Obsession”

89 – Creature of the Night

Pocket Chiller library 89 - Creature of the night

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

A reprint of No. 30, “Werewolf”

90 – Blood of Venom

Pocket Chiller Library No. 90 – Blood of Venom

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

A reprint of No. 31, “The Vampire of Loban”

91 – Reign of the Beast Men

Pocket Chiller Library  91 - Reign of the Beast Men

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Originally published in No. 32, “The Monster Maker”

92 – Evil Waters

Pocket Chiller Library No. 92 – Evil Waters

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

First published in No. 33, “The Lake”

93 – The Brides of Death

Pocket Chiller Library 93 - The Brides of Death

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

First published as No. 34, also as “The Brides of Death”

94 – Half Human

Pocket Chiller Library 94 - Half Human
Pocket Chiller Library 94 - Half Human
Pocket Chiller Library 94 - Half Human
Pocket Chiller Library 94 - Half Human

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Reprint of No. 35, “The Mutant”

Interior strip scans with thanks to David McDonald of Hibernia Comics

95 – Decayed Dead

Pocket Chiller Library No. 95 – Decayed Dead

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

First published in No. 36 as “The Dead Don’t Always Sleep”

96 – Man Beast

Pocket Chiller Library No. 96 – Man Beast

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

First published as No. 37, “The Cry of the Wolfman”

The cover painting for issue 96 is modelled on Lon Chaney as the Wolfman

Lon Chaney as the Wolfman
Lon Chaney as the Wolfman

97 Insane With Terror

Pocket Chiller Library 97 - Insane with Terror

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Reprint of No. 38, “The Children of the Damned”

98 – Condemned Woman

Pocket Chiller Library 97 - Condemned Woman

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

First published as No. 39, “Daughter of Darkness”

99 – The Curse of Zilhaus

Pocket Chiller Library 99 - The Curse of Zilhaus

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

First published as No. 40, “Fear Has a Thousand Eyes”

100 – Powers of Darkness

Pocket Chiller Library 100 - Powers of Darkness

Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome

Reprint of No. 41, “Nightmare Curse”

Pocket Chiller Library – Main Feature

Checklists: Issues 1 – 49 | Issues 50 – 100 | Issues 101 – 137

Note that from Issue 86 onwards, the title went reprint

Additional information welcome! This feature and listing last updated 17th December 2021

For those of you trying to puzzle out the history of the many British pocket library titles and publishers, Steve Holland notes that just to add to the confusion, a lot of pocket libraries were packaged abroad and sold around Europe (France, Germany, Spain, etc.), so there is still a lot of questions about whether some pocket libraries were reprints – or were actually published here in the UK first!

Grand Comics Database – Pocket Chiller Library Listing and Covers

Nightmare Suspense Picture Library – Listing and Covers

With thanks to Dave Gibbons, Adrian Griffiths, Steve Holland, Rik Hoskin, Chris O’Leary, Douglas Noble, the much-missed Colin Noble, Steve Pini, David Roach, the indispensable Richard Sheaf, Dez Skinn and Jon Smit – and thanks also to the WordPictureWord Group for sending me down this rabbit hole!



Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics

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