Heading:
Author:
Title: JOURNEY INTO FEAR No. 10
Place Published:
Publisher:Superior
Date Published: November, 1952
Description:

CGC certified: Fine- (5.5). Cream to off-white pages. Stories and art by Iger Shop talent, likely including writer/editor Ruth Roche, whose psychological approach to terror permeates "Crawling Evil."

"Beheading, hatchet murder, and nice lingerie panels worm the reader up for Superior's most notorious tale." -EC, MAD and Pre-Code HORROR Comics of the 1950s [Green Apple: 1997].

Strange psychosexual scenarios proliferate in pre-Code horror, but few achieve the heights of this issue's "Crawling Evil." It's about a beautiful, man-hating witch whose kiss turns men into worms with human heads. She then crushes her squirming beaux under her high heels ("Goodbye, Harry! - squish!"). The twist ending is inevitable - no spoilers, but let's just say the worm turns, along with the reader's stomach.

On the page facing the worm story's climax there's an ad for crucifixes and lenticular wall-hangings of Christ, Mary and the pope ("His Holiness pronounces the Papal Blessing with moving lips, eyes and expressive hand"). The juxtaposition of kitsch and schmata is jarring, producing in the sensitive reader a strange frisson. The uncanny mood continues when one notices that the address in the crucifix ad is the same as Superior's editorial address (2382 Dundas St. W., Ontario). What the hell was going on in those offices?

CGC census: Three copies graded 5.5; four copies graded higher (highest being the Edgar Church copy, 8.5). Top 7 copy. Comparable CGC sales: No sales in this grade in over 6 years. Few recent sales in any grade. Most recent sales: 2.0 sold for $220 (May 2019); 2.5 for $178 (Oct. 2018); 5.0 for $304 (July 2018).

Consignments Accepted for PBA's Next Comic Book Auction. Golden Age, Silver Age, Pre-Code, Original Art, Interesting Ephemera Sought. Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com for details.

PBA COMICS March 26th Comic Book Sale catalogues available. Supplies Limited. Softcover catalogue limited to 200 copies ($45 + $5 postage/handling). Hardcover limited to 26 lettered copies, dust jacket, special limitation plate ($150). Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com .