The Unexpected #135

Published by DC Comics in 1972, The Unexpected #135 arrived during a transitional period for the publisher's long-running anthology series. Originally established in 1956, the title focused on suspense and supernatural tales that leaned heavily into the horror and gothic mystery tropes prevalent in the Silver and Bronze Ages of comics. By the early 1970s, the series served as a showcase for editorial experimentation and short-form storytelling, providing a platform for artists and writers to explore psychological dread and uncanny narratives within the constraints of the Comics Code Authority.

The issue features artwork and storytelling characteristic of the era's house style, blending eerie atmospheric visuals with the punchy, twist-heavy endings that defined DC's mystery line. Like many titles of the period, the production team often rotated, prioritizing the anthology format's ability to offer a variety of creators space to hone their craft. While it remains a staple for fans of 1970s horror anthologies, the issue is remembered primarily as a representative fragment of a broader cultural moment when comics began shifting toward more cynical and sophisticated themes of the occult and the macabre.