Author:
Title: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES No. 25
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: L. L. Publishing Co. Inc.]
Date Published: October-November, 1954
Description: CGC certified: Fine/VF (7.0). White pages. Grader notes: Light creasing to cover; light spine stress lines to cover; very light soiling on cover.

CGC Census: 106 graded copies (104 Universal, 2 Restored).

GPAnalysis: A 7.0 sold for $564 in 10/22; a 7.5 sold for $693 in 1/23.

Credits: Cover: Jack Kamen. Scripts: Lyle Stuart, Bill Gaines, Otto Binder, Jack Oleck, and Al Feldstein. Art: Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Reed Crandall, Al Feldstein, Bernie Krigstein, and George Evans. Includes the infamous "Are You a Red Dupe?" editorial.Gaines, Doped Up on Dex, Doubles Down on "Dupe": This ish contains the ill-fated editorial, "Are You a Red Dupe," written by Bill Gaines and his pot-stirring business manager Lyle Stuart, which facetiously claims that "THE GROUP MOST ANXIOUS TO DESTROY HORROR COMICS ARE THE COMMUNISTS!" Illustrated by Jack Davis in a style more akin to his MAD parodies than his horror yarns, the editorial was clearly tongue-in-cheek. But Gaines didn't reckon on the humorlessness of his critics, and "Red Dupe" was a public relations fiasco, generating more outrage than anything EC ever published, except for the cover to Crime SuspenStories #22 and Panic #1's "The Night Before Christmas."

"The Entertainment Comic Group [sic] of 225 Lafayette Street, New York, is among the worst offenders in a commercial group that makes money by selling immorality and vice to small children. [EC], who specialize in vampirism, adultery, and cannibalism, have now come out with what should go down in history as one of the really stupid propaganda efforts in modern history." – Hartford Courant editorial, March 30, 1954.

Gaines was grilled about "Red Dupe" when he appeared before the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency, and in his Dexedrine-addled state he bungled things bigtime, portraying "Dupe" as a serious editorial statement instead of a lampoon. "The editorial was pure spoofery and he should have said so. But the grilling had eroded his self-confidence, and the Dexedrine wearing off had made him woozy. He was tired, scared, and coudn't think straight and wound up creating the impression that he was some kind of Red-baiting, horror-sated McCarthyite." – Frank Jacobs, The MAD World of William M. Gaines. Lyle Stuart: 1972, p. 110.______________________________________________________________

A limited edition of ten hardcover catalogues is available, in addition to a few dozen softcovers. Fun reference, great keepsake, fully illustrated, chockablock with obscure facts, gags, bon mots. Softcovers are $40, deluxe hardcovers with dust jackets and limitation plates are $200. These books always go fast so don't delay. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's Summer 2024 Comic Book sale. Top prices for Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age, Silver Age, original art and ephemera. Find out why PBA is the new fan-fave of funnybook fiends. "This is some of the best commentary I've yet seen on the quality of the content of comic books... Priceless." – R. Crumb. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Coming Soon: The DC Universe Collection Part 3: The Golden Age (August 2024) and Weird Tales and Amazing Stories: The PBA Pulp Sale (September 2024). Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com to get on the notifications list.