![Pocket Chiller Library Montage](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-Montage-1024x494.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-51-Epitaph-to-a-Madman.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-52.jpeg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-53-The-Devil-Worshippers.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Silver-Surfer-03-Mephisto-679x1024.jpg)
54 – Shadow on the Mind
![Pocket Chiller Library 54 - Shadow on the Mind](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-54-Shadow.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
Later reprinted as No. 113, “Mangled Mind”
55 – The Strangler
![Pocket Chiller Library 55 - The Strangler](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-55-The-Strangler.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
Later 55 reprinted as No. 114, “The Strangler”
56 – The Rope
![Pocket Chiller Library 56 - The Rope](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-56-The-Rope-W.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-57.jpeg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-58-Suffer-a-Witch.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-59.jpeg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Pocket-Chiller-Library-60-The-Bat.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Ian Gibson
Later reprinted as No. 119, “The Bat”
61 – The Skull
![Pocket Chiller Library 61 - The Skull](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-61-The-Skull.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-62-Face-in-the-Fog.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-63-The-Hangman.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-64-Cactus.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-65-Unseen-Master.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
Later reprinted as No. 124, “Unseen Master”
66 – Dark Vengeance
![Pocket Chiller Library 66 - Dark Vengeance](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-66-Dark-Vengeance.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
Later reprinted as No. 125, “Dark Vengeance”
67 – Trip Fantastic
![Pocket Chiller Library 67 - Trip Fantastic](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-67-Trip-Fantastic.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
Later 67 reprinted as No. 126, “Trip Fantastic”
68 – The Spider
![Pocket Chiller Library 68 - The Spider](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-68-The-Spider.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-69-Born-to-be-Evil.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-70-Hands-of-Death.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-71-Return.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-72-The-Kolby-Curse-W.jpg)
![Interior art by Ian Gibson on Pocket Chiller Library 72 - The Kolby Curse](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-72-Montage.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/E1A11F54-CA00-4A0F-8F58-9F518E07B2E4.jpeg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-74-Fear-of-Night.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
Later reprinted as No. 133, “Fear of Night”
75 – Exterminate
![Pocket Chiller Library 75 - Exterminate](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-75-Exterminate.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-76-Tomb.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-77-Dead-Mans-Eyes.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
78 – Immortal Armour
![Pocket Chiller library 78 - Immortal armour](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-78-Immortal-Armour.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/4F93CD31-CB5A-451E-80F1-9D17CED10221.jpeg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
80 – The Curse of Suicide
![Pocket Chiller Library 80 - The Curse of Suicide](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-80-Curse-of-Suicide.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
81 – Execution of Sinners
![Pocket Chiller library 81 - Execution of sinners](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-81-Execution-Sinners.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
82 – The Devil’s Servant
![Pocket Chiller Library 82 - The Devil’s Servant](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-82-Devils-Servant.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
83 – Terror in Wax
![Pocket Chiller Library 83 - Terror in Wax](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-83-Terror-in-Wax.jpg)
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"](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-83-INS-The-Legend-of-Hell-House-795x1024.png)
84 – Brutes of Hell
![Pocket Chiller library 84 - Brutes of Hell](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-84-Brutes.jpg)
Cover: Information Welcome
Interior Art: Information Welcome
85 – When Cats Purr
![Pocket Chiller Library 85 - When Cats Purr?](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-85-When-Cats-Purr.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-86-Harridans.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-87-Gibbet.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-88-Blade-of-Death-768x1024.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-89-Creature.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-90-Blood-of-Venom-768x1024.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-91-Beastmen.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-92-Evil-Waters-768x1024.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-93-Brides-of-Death.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-94-Half-Human.jpg)
![Pocket Chiller Library 94 - Half Human](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6657-1024x768.jpeg)
![Pocket Chiller Library 94 - Half Human](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6658.jpeg)
![Pocket Chiller Library 94 - Half Human](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_6659.jpeg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-95-Decayed-Dead-768x1024.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-96-Man-Beast-768x1024.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-96-INS-Lon-Chaney-914x1024.png)
97 Insane With Terror
![Pocket Chiller Library 97 - Insane with Terror](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-97-733x1024.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-098-737x1024.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-99-Zulhaus.jpg)
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](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pocket-Chiller-Library-100-Power-707x1024.jpg)
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!
WEB LINKS
• 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!
![](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/John-Freeman-150x150.jpg)
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics