CANDY CANE
Earth-9047

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Earth-9047) human

Occupation: Proprietor of the House of Misery

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Carol Merrill, Forbush-Man (Irving Forbush of Earth-665)

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The House of Misery

First Appearance: What The--?! I#16 (January, 1992)

Powers/Abilities: Candy Cane did not display any superhuman powers (unless being really tall counts) but he was a skilled manipulator, not above using candy to lure victims into the House of Misery.

    He was also quite bad with names.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 7'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 200 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(What The--?! I#16 /5 (fb) - BTS) - The proprietor of the mysterious House of Misery, Candy Cane placed a sign outside the House advertising lots of candy on Halloween.

(What The--?! I#16 / 5) - Candy Cane overheard a scream of terror from Earth-665's Forbush-Man and appeared at the doorway of the House of Misery to welcome Forbush-Man on the condition that the would-be hero was man enough to enter the House. Forbush-Man asked what was in it for him and when Candy Cane answered "Candy. Lots of it.," Forbush-Man readily exclaimed that he was man enough. Before continuing, Candy Cane warned that the sign outside the House of Misery was a bit misleading, as there was candy to be had there but only at great sacrifice to those who enter. Forbush-Man was a bit unsure whether to continue but when Candy Cane had his associate Carol Merrill revealed to Forbush the mountain of candy that awaited him, Forbush-Man agreed. Candy Cane then explained that all Forbush-Man had to do was spend one night at the House of Misery and live to tell the tale. Following urging from a crowd of people that had somehow entered the House of Misery, Forbush-Man agreed to spend a night at the House and Candy Cane quickly showed Forbush-Man to his room.

Comments: Created by Aaron Lopresti.

    Sure, the story featuring Forbush-Man and Candy Cane and the House of Misery occurs on Halloween but What The--?! I#16 is a dual Halloween/Christmas issue and there are several references in the House of Misery story to Christmas including an appearance of the Grinch, Forbush-Man being visited by three spirits, and the fact that red & white striped Candy Canes are a perennial Christmas candy. That counts, right?

    Candy Cane and the House of Misery was a fairly obvious parody of DC's Cain and the House of Mystery. Carol Merrill was a parody of TV horror hostess Elvira.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Earth-9047's Candy Cane should be distinguished from:

The House of Misery

The House of Misery was a spooky old mansion that seemingly housed several spirits and was ran by the enigmatic Candy Cane. Candy Cane would often lure victims into the House and offer them some sort of reward such as lots of candy in exchange for the victim staying one night in the House. When Candy Cane placed a large sign advertising candy in front of the House of Misery on Halloween, he lured the Earth-665 would-be hero Forbush-Man into the House, where he then offered Forbush-Man the candy in exchange for staying a single night and living to tell the tale. After much pressure, Forbush-Man agreed to stay and Candy Cane showed Forbush-Man his room. Overnight, Forbush-Man was visited by three spirits (the Ghost of Deadlines Past, the Specter of Early Cancellation and the Spirit of the Comics Code Authority) and Forbush-Man swore never to be in a comic book again with a scantily-clad woman. Following his vow, Forbush-Man was transported from the House of Misery back home, where he found a scantily-clad woman laying on his bed.

--What The--?! I#16
Carol Merrill

Carol Merrill was an associate of Candy Cane's who presented those who entered the House of Misery with their potential reward to coax them into staying at the House. When Earth-665's Forbush-Man was lured into the House of Misery, Candy Cane had Carol Merrill show Forbush-Man a mountain of candy that awaited him if he stayed a single night. Forbush-Man ultimately agreed to stay and when he stirred from bed in the middle of the night, Forbush-Man went to the door of his room thinking that perhaps Carol Merrill had shown up with a candy bar, only to be confronted by the first of three spirits to visit him that night: the Ghost of Deadlines Past.

--What The--?! I#16
images: (without ads)
What The--?! I#16, p24, splash page (Candy Cane, main image)
What The--?! I#16, p25, pan2 (Candy Cane, headshot)
What The--?! I#16, p23, pan1 (House of Misery)
What The--?! I#16, p25, pan6 (Carol Merrill)

Appearances:
What The--?! I#16 (January, 1992) - "Are You Man Enough to Enter the House of Misery?" story - Aaron Lopresti (writer, art), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)

First posted: 12/24/2024
Last updated: 12/24/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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