Daryl’s Bat Castle 🦇 💀 :: Horror art 🧟‍♂️ ⚰️ 👻

Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #8 frontis splash by Michael Kaluta - 1st appearance of Madame Xanadu

Artist: Michael Kaluta (All)

7 Comments - 985 Views - 11 Likes

Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #8 frontis splash by Michael Kaluta - 1st appearance of Madame Xanadu Comic Art

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

1st Madame Xanadu

published page

Previous Item:
Jennifer Blood Annual #1 p. 4 by Igor Vitorino

Next Item:
Lanciostory Please Don't Bury Me 1979 #45 p. 3 by Enrique Alcatena

Artwork Details

Title:	Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #8 frontis splash by Michael Kaluta - 1st appearance of Madame Xanadu
Artist:	Michael Kaluta (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Splash Page
For Sale Status:
Views:	985
Likes on CAF:	11 12
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	3/26/2021
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion #8 p. 1 indicia splash page by Michael Kaluta.

Nice prime era Kaluta page from 1972. This is pre-Shadow Kaluta!

Very first appearance of Madame Xanadu! Much like Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella, House of Mystery, and other horror titles of the era, "Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion" had a host (or hostess) to introduce each issue. The hostess for this issue happens to be the first appearance of Madame Xanadu.

Madame Xanadu was never named or credited until she later appeared in "Doorway to Nightmare" #1 in 1978. She remained an unnamed hostess throughout her run in "Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion" and only appeared on the indicia page of each issue.

How do I know this is Madame Xanadu's first appearance? Because Michael Kaluta told me so! Michael created the character for this particular issue and this is the first time he drew her.

From Wikipedia:
"The character debuted in Doorway to Nightmare #1 (February 1978). The character was designed by cover artist Michael William Kaluta at the request of Joe Orlando (editor), based on Kaluta's unnamed host character (later known as Charity in the pages of Starman) from the DC Comics mystery title Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion (seen only on that title's indicia page) and the person of Cathy Ann Thiele."

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Daryl R ( 7 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	June 2015
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	vegascomicninja
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Daryl's Classifieds Daryl's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About DarylR

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Nash of the Titans
Member Since 2020

2 - Posted on 3/26/2021

Awesome! If Michael really told you that, then congrats on this thick slice of tasty history you own!

F M
Member Since 2005

2 - Posted on 3/27/2021

Such mood...perfection.

Tommy Kohlmaier
Member Since 2008

2 - Posted on 3/28/2021

Superb and eerie art in the best Wrighson "House of.." tradition from those glorious days of macabre DC horror !

Bill J
Member Since 2009

2 - Posted on 3/28/2021

Moody, mysterious and marvelous!

Keith Becker
Member Since 2018

2 - Posted on 3/31/2021

Fantastic! This is a great piece of comic horror! congrats Daryl!

Hobby Halbert
Member Since 2022

1 - Posted on 8/17/2022

Very dreary splash page, but I love it!

Matt Moore
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 5/14/2023

Such a cool atmospheric piece! Congrats!

All
	Alan E 9/6/2025 10:32:00 PM
	Jason Baccus 9/6/2025 10:23:00 PM
	kelly b 9/6/2025 10:23:00 PM
	Mike Sig Slayer 9/6/2025 9:57:00 PM
	David H 9/6/2025 9:51:00 PM
View All


	Kom S 9/6/2025 9:23:00 PM
	James Posey 9/6/2025 8:51:00 PM
	Troy Rubizovsky 9/6/2025 8:38:00 PM
	Michael Hosey 9/6/2025 7:55:00 PM
	Timothy L. 9/6/2025 7:42:00 PM