- "She knows all about him. All my aunts do. They call him The Man. But Aunt Carl says he's really the devil."
- ―Deirdre Mayfair
| "The Witching Hour" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Anne Rice's The Witching Hour | |
| Title: | "The Witching Hour" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 1 |
| Cover price: | $2.50 |
| Cover date: | 1992 |
| Publisher: | Millennium Comico |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Mark Ellis |
| Editorial director: | Melissa Martin |
| Writers: | Duncan Eagleson; Terry Collins |
| Pencilers: | Duncan Eagleson |
| Inkers: | Duncan Eagleson |
| Cover artists: | John Bolton |
| Cover inker: | John Bolton |
| Cover colorist: | John Bolton |
| Colorists: | Duncan Eagleson |
| Editors: | Paul Davis |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | — |
| Next: | The Witching Hour #2 |
"The Witching Hour" is the first issue of the five-part comic book limited series Anne Rice's The Witching Hour, which was co-published by Millennium Publications and Comico. It was written by Duncan Eagleson and Terry Collins with painted artwork by Duncan Eagleson. The cover art illustration was rendered by John Bolton. The story was edited by Paul Davis. This issue was released in 1992.
"The Witching Hour"[]
Physician Lawrence Petrie has a most unusual patient - Deirdre Mayfair of the mysterious Mayfair family of New Orleans. For reasons unknown, she exists in a catatonic state and spends her days sitting on the side porch of the family estate on First Street in the Garden District. Petrie is shocked by the amount of Thorazine levels she has administered daily. Speaking with the woman's elderly aunts who run the house, Petrie learns that Deirdre has had disturbing experiences with an ethereal being that the aunts refer to only as "The Man". After numerous visits, Petrie finally spots The Man himself. The haunting visage disturbs him greatly and it calls to mind his own forgotten experiences with this apparition. He overhears Deirdre speaking a single word that catches in her throat - "Lasher".
Sometime later, Petrie meets with an English scholar named Aaron Lightner. Lightner represents an organization that studies the occult known as the Talamasca. Lightner is well-versed in the history of the Mayfair family and the pages of time seem to circle backwards as reflections of Deirdre's tragic grandmother Stella and even more tragic mother Antha are brought to the surface.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in San Francisco, businessman Michael Curry spends his days numbing himself with copious amounts of alcohol. Curry gained tabloid recognition for a near death experience where he was rescued from a drowning incident by a mysterious woman. Since then, he has developed the power of psychometry - the ability to perceive information through tactile contact. To keep the flood of images at bay, Michael has taken to wearing black gloves all of the time. Michael reflects upon his own childhood, which has its roots in the Garden District of New Orleans. Michael's aunt Vivian tells him that nice man from England has come to pay a visit.
Sometime later, another figure enters the lives of the Mayfair family - Father Mattingly. His predecessor Father Lafferty and he have known the Mayfairs for some time. Lafferty knew the full history of the family line from the beginning of the 20th century, and Father Mattingly had once taken the confession of young Deirdre Mayfair. They are both aware that Deirdre had a daughter out of wedlock. Her aunt, Carlotta Mayfair, had arranged for the child to be taken out west where she would be raised by another aunt in secret. For reasons that neither the priests nor Doctor Petrie could not figure out, the child's existence was to remain a secret, and even Deirdre was to have no knowledge of her.
Now, some twenty-odd years later, Father Mattingly returns to the First Street house. Standing outside, he encounters Aaron Lightner, who asks him out to lunch. The two discuss the strange history of Deirdre Mayfair and her mysterious daughter.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
- Antha Mayfair (In flashback only)
- Dave Collins
- Ellie Mayfair (Referenced only)
- George H.W. Bush (In a photograph only)
- Harrison Ford (In a photograph only)
- Jenny Simpson (In flashback only)
- Lionel Mayfair (In flashback only)
- Michael Curry's mother
- Millie Mayfair
- Nancy Mayfair
- Rowan Mayfair (In flashback only)
- Stella Mayfair (In flashback only)
- Steven Spielberg (In a photograph only)
- Vivian Curry
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
-
- Liberty Street
-
-
- 1239 First Street
- St. Alphonsus Church
- Irish Channel (In flashback only)
-
Items
Vehicles
- Boat (In flashback only)
- Helicopter (In flashback only)
- Limousine (In flashback only)
Powers
Miscellaneous
- Christmas (In flashback only)
- Church (In flashback only)
- Dead animals (In flashback only)
- Dreams
- Drinking beer
- Drowning (In flashback only)
- Flashbacks
- Gunshot victims (In flashback only)
- Mental health facilities (In flashback only)
- Smoking
- Suicide (In flashback only)
Notes & Trivia[]
- This series is a comic book adaptation of the 1990 supernatural drama novel The Witching Hour by author Anne Rice.
- This series contains adult content and is suggested for mature readers.
- Melissa Martin is the art director on this series. She is also the co-founder of Millennium Publications.
- This issue gives special thanks to Deirdre De Lay.