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Author:
Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 22
Place Published:
Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.]
Date Published: March, 1954
Description:

G/VG (3.0). Spine stress, 1/8" split to bottom spine, crease marks to front cover parallel to spine, scratch to top right corner of front cover, handling creases to covers, back cover edges toned, bottom corner of back cover creased, staple rust with rust migration to centerfold, centerfold a bit pulled from staples but still fully attached. Light tan pages. Not a bad copy; might slab at 3.5 on a good day. Cover: Tony Tallarico? Art: Dick Beck? Bill Fraccio? Tony Tallarico. CGC Census: Only six graded copies, three of which are 3.0 or lower. GPAnalysis: No reported sales in this grade; only two reported sales in any grade. A 5.0 sold for $115 in 2016, and a 6.5 sold for $108 in 2012.

Last pre-Code ish. As the anti-comics crusade reaches its crescendo and Dark Mysteries shuffles towards the grave, gone are the eerie covers featuring menacing skeletons and women in bondage. Perhaps the publisher was fearful of distributors and retailers rejecting such fare outright — in any case, Story "pussed out" with a cover depicting a guy being attacked by kitty cats.

"While Dark Mysteries #22 isn't Code-approved, the title is clearly headed in that direction... In fact, the obligatory helpless victim is being hassled by... ordinary black cats. It looks like they're licking him to death... I should note that these late issues are quite scarce, especially in high grade." — George Suarez, Tales To Terrible To Tell #5. NEC: 1992, p. 34.

Consignments welcome for PBA's Fall 2022 Comic Book sale. Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age and Silver Age comics, original art, vintage comic-related photos and ephemera sought. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.

A limited edition of 100 softcover and 6 hardcover catalogues are available. 140 pages, fully illustrated. Fun reference, great keepsake. Softcovers $40, dust-jacketed hardcover with limitation plate $200. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's Fall 2022 Comic Book sale. Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age and Silver Age comics, original art, vintage comic-related photos and ephemera sought. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.