Heading:
Author:
Title: EXCITING WAR No. 6
Place Published:
Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Better Publications, Inc.]
Date Published: November, 1952
Description:

VG- (3.5). Light spine and edge wear, 1" tear to top edge of front cover with tape repair on inside cover, 1cm internal rip to front cover (affecting tank on soldier's back), staples pulled, 4" bindery wrinkle to bottom front cover. Cover: John Celardo. Art: Jack Katz, Rocco Mastroserio, John Celardo. Overstreet: "Flame thrower/burning body cover." GPAnalysis: A 3.5 sold for $360 in July 2020.

Flamethrower covers on war mags spread like proverbial wildfire during the pre-Code era. There are three other examples of flamethrower covers in this sale alone (Battle Cry #1, War Fury #1, and U.S. Marines #3). It seems that funnybook fans of the '50s had no qualms about American soldiers roasting Reds alive. Yet, a decade later, during the Vietnam War, flamethrowers would become emblematic of battlefield barbarity, and although no international treaty bans them, the Defense Department issued a directive in 1978 prohibiting their tactical use. See "The Horrific Effectiveness of Flamethrowers" by Paul Huard for more info about flamethrowers, "a device with as much psychological impact as lethality."

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.