In these entries, we look back at through Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #1-26 from 1985 to 1987. Similar to our Marvel-based BOOK OF THE DEAD feature, we’ll take a look back at each character featured in the series, go over where they were at the time and see how they’ve evolved into new versions over the years, every time the DC Universe has started over! These entries aren’t designed to list every appearance of each character, but rather to expand on the events mentioned in the Who’s Who profiles and see where the character appeared next.
See our WHO’S WHO: SURVIVING THE DC UNIVERSE INDEX for more!
We begin the series with custodian of the fabled House of Mystery! It’s also worth noting that both Cain and Abel receive another entry in Who’ Who in the DC Universe #1 (1990).
1st APPEARANCE (BIBLICAL VERSION): Picture Stories from the Bible #3 (1943)
1st DCU APPEARANCE: DC Special #4 (1969) – listed in Who’s Who as House of Secrets #81 (1969)
Abel is one of the sons of the biblical Adam & Eve (Picture Stories from the Bible #3, 1943), though his Who’s Who listing refers to Eve as his cousin. Able accepts of job as caretaker to the House of Secrets even after a ‘realty agent’ tells him its origins. The House was built in Kentucky by Senator Sandsfield, but the Senator left the House when his wife committed suicide there. It then scared off another three non-Kentuckian owners before killing the last owner who tried to take it over the state line. The agent turns out to be part of the House itself. Abel shares some stories with his brother Caine whose own House of Mystery which is situated nearby (House of Secrets #81, 1969). Cain is officially introduced as the keeper of the House of Secrets when he and Abel join the Hecatae, Judge Gallows, the Mad Mod Witch and the Phantom Stranger in telling disturbing stories to a group of kids. He reveals Tom Harris was originally due to be the House’s caretaker (DC Special #4, 1969). Abel continues to share tales from the House of Secrets even as the series ends (House of Secrets #154, 1979). Abel continues to share his tales from the House of Secrets (The Unexpected #189-222, 1979-1982), though he still gets to tell one last tale (Ghosts #112, 1982). Abby Cable finds herself in the Dreaming where she encounters Abel and his brother Cain; Abby chooses to enter the House of Secrets and learn the origin of the Swamp Thing from Cain before he’s bludgeoned to ‘death’ by Abel. Alan Moore’s treatment of Abel is quite different – particularly his relationship with the Three Witches – and this version of the character continues to be the basis for future stories, carrying on past the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ (Swamp Thing #33, 1985).
This takes us up to his profile in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #1, 1985.
Abel only makes a few more appearances before the Crisis, including turning up alive again in the House of Weirdness (Blue Devil #20, 1986), watching the Swamp Thing and his allies battle the Great Darkness during A MURDER OF CROWS (Swamp Thing #49-50, 1986) before making a brief final appearance, saving Professor SW Kirschtorte from a prank (Blue Devil #29, 1986).
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS creates an opportunity for a continuity refresh for the DC Universe as of 1987 on New Earth, though some of the previous continuity remains.
1ST APPEARANCE: Secret Origins #24 (1988)
Abel makes his post-Crisis debut telling the origin of the Blue Devil (Secret Origins #24, 1988). Both Cain and Abel tend to the weakened Morpheus when he returns to the Dreaming and shows up at the House of Mystery. The House of Secrets also appears briefly. Abel’s pet gargoyle Goldie makes his debut (Sandman #2, 1989). Abel is permanently murdered by the Kindly Ones (Sandman #66, 1995) but is resurrected by the new Dream upon Cain’s desperate request (Sandman #70, 1995). Abel and his brother become recurring characters in a Sandman spin-off in which Goldie flees the Dreaming due to Cain’s constant abuse of Abel (The Dreaming #1, 1996), Cain and Abel’s brother Seth is introduced (The Dreaming #8, 1997), Abel accuses Cain of repeatedly murdering him and brings his issues before Judge Gallows (The Dreaming Special #1, 1998). The Phantom Stranger and Resurrection Man pass through the House of Secrets by accident, requiring Cain and Abel’s assistance to escape shadow beings (Resurrection Man #17, 1998). Abel avoids death at the hands of Echo as the series ends (The Dreaming #60, 2001). The Secret Six begin using the House of Secrets as a base of operation, though Abel isn’t present. This may be a completely different House of Secrets (Secret Six #1, 2006). Cain continues to sporadically murder Abel, but the House of Mystery disappears one day while he does so (House of Mystery #1, 2008). Abel makes a final appearance when Gabriel and Lucifer pass through the Dreaming (Lucifer #3, 2016).
The face of the DC Universe changes once more with the FLASHPOINT event, with DC Universe continuity starting over once more on Prime Earth…
1ST APPEARANCE: Justice League United #16 (2016)
The House of Secrets makes its debut, though Abel isn’t present. Instead, the House is owned by Doctor Occult who allows himself to be murdered so that it can be passed to its new owner Nick Necro during WAR FOR THE BOOKS OF MAGIC (Justice League Dark #12-13, 2012). The House of Secrets combines with the House of Mystery to become the House of Wonders, though they’re separated by the Justice League Dark as they pose a threat to all minds on Earth during LOST IN FOREVER (Justice League Dark Annual #2, 2014). Justice League United investigate the arrival of the House of Secrets in Connecticut and meet its strange custodian Abel (Justice League United #16, 2016). Abel is seen among the Council of the Immortals during DARK NIGHTS: METAL (Dark Nights: Metal #2, 2016). He’s revealed to have resumed his role in the Dreaming – like his New Earth counterpart – during PATHWAYS AND EMANATIONS (Sandman Universe #1, 2018). Abel was most-recently seen during LAZARUS PLANET when Batman enters the House of Secrets, though he’s soon murdered by his brother Cain again (Batman vs Robin #2, 2022).
Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #1 (1985) – Abel
Art: Joe Orlando
Who’s Who in the DC Universe #1 (1990) – Cain & Abel
Art: Kelley Jones
The Dreaming #3 (2019)
Art: Jae Lee & June Chung
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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