Comic Title: House of Secrets #54
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May/Jun 1962
On Sale Date: March 20, 1962 Newsstand Date March 20, 1962
Source: House Ad, Rip Hunter... Time Master #8, Page 20

Copyright Date March 20, 1962
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1962

Newsstand Date March 20, 1962
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V17 #2

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "Volunteer for Disaster"
Pages: 9

Feature(s):
Mark Merlin (of Earth-1)

Penciller: Mort Meskin
Inker: George Roussos

Feature Character(s)

• Mark Merlin (last appearance in House of Secrets #53; next appearance in House of Secrets #55)

Supporting Character(s)

• Elsa Magusson (last appearance in House of Secrets #53; next appearance in House of Secrets #55)

Villain(s)

• A gang of Sluvian marauders (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• A group of Sluvian security officers (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Mark Merlin and Elsa investigate strange occurrances near a movie set of ancient Pompeii. Elsa witnesses an alien use a weapon against Mark, but he somehow possesses super powers and is immune. Mark chases the alien and his comrades off the planet.

Elsa then sees Mark cornered by another group of aliens. She attempts to help him, then learns that this group of aliens are friendly. Mark explains that the first group of aliens were crooks testing new weapons. This group of aliens gave him super powers to trick the aliens and stop them from invading.

The alien marauders return after realizing how they had been tricked. They have Mark, Elsa, and the friendly aliens trapped, but Mark uses the special effects on the movie set to make it appear as if a nearby volcano is erupting. The marauders are forced to surrender in order to retreat.