Done
Berkeley, CA, United States
Auction Details
Comic Books: Pre-Code Horror & Other Comics
PBA Galleries
Greetings, gang, and welcome to PBA?s fifth comic book sale. Fright fans will be pleased to see that once again our focus is on the seedy underbelly of the comics world: the ?terrifying, shocking, sensational, appalling, forbidden? but simply wonderful? pre-Code horror comic books of the 1950s. As usual, we?ve tried to delve beneath the surface of this fascinating category with our signature blend of research and commentary. Despite the surge in interest in pre-Code horror, we feel that these books have yet to receive their proper due ? they?ve become very attractive as investment collectibles, to be sure, but we think they?re even more valuable for the insights that they yield to careful observers. In his influential anti-comics opus Seduction of the Innocent, Dr. Fredric Wertham claimed to detect hidden content embedded in these lurid pamphlets: ?In ordinary comic books, there are pictures within pictures for children who know how to look.? Granted that Wertham was a bit of a plonker, but we?re not unsympathetic to this particular claim of his ? indeed, we believe that a hidden psychosexual portrait of midcentury America is buried in the pulpy pages of old horror comics, and we?ve made it our business to try and bring this shadowy portrait to light, one pre-Code mag at a time. We hope that you?ll find our efforts diverting.
Sale highlights include a complete run of Stanley Morse?s WEIRD MYSTERIES, including another copy of #5, a gruesome classic that?s become PBA?s pre-Code calling card (we?ve offered copies in three of our four previous outings); a near-complete run of MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES and its sister title FIGHT AGAINST CRIME, including a 6.5 copy of FAC #20 (infamous severed head cover); Avon?s EERIE #1, the first true horror comic; a rare and possibly unique misprint copy of DARK MYSTERIES #19, with the inside covers not only printed upside-down, but with another company?s name in the indicia; a Yankee version of CHAMBER OF CHILLS #23, featuring one of th
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![The TORMENTED #2 * 3.0 * Trapeze of TERROR * Horror Takes the Cake: Heading: Author: Title: The TORMENTED No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Sterling [Indicia: Sterling Comics, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1954 Description: G/VG (3.0). Cover and pages miscut at a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621590_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES #23 * 4.5 * Matt BAKER Cover: Heading: Author: Title: AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES No. 23 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: November, 1952 Description: VG+ (4.5). Light spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621396_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CHAMBER OF CHILLS #18 * 3.5 * Atom Bomb Blast * Grave and a Haircut: Heading: Author: Title: CHAMBER OF CHILLS No. 18 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Witches Tales, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1953 Description: G/VG (3.0). Super slight spine roll, three](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621411_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CRIME DOES NOT PAY #42 * 2.0 * Classic ELECTRIC CHAIR Cover * No Restraint: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME DOES NOT PAY No. 42 Place Published: Publisher:Lev Gleason [Indicia: Comic House, Inc.] Date Published: November, 1945 Description: Good (2.0). Several small chips and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621421_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![DARK MYSTERIES #9 * 3.5 * Satanic Snake Charmer * Voodoo Ghouls: Heading: Author: Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 9 Place Published: Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.] Date Published: October-November, 1952 Description: VG- (3.5). 1" split](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621436_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MAD #1 * 1.0 * Humor in a Jugular Vein: Heading: Author: Title: MAD No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:EC [Indicia: Educational Comics, Inc.] Date Published: October-November, 1952 Description: Fair (1.0). Spine roll; staples pulled with](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621496_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![OUT OF THE SHADOWS #13 * 2.5 * Cannibal Killer * Puppet Master of Peril: Heading: Author: Title: OUT OF THE SHADOWS No. 13 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: May, 1954 Description: Good+ (2.5). Spine stress, small chip at](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621541_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![UNITED STATES MARINES #3 * Octo-Tojo Fricaseed * FLAMETHROWER Cover: Heading: Author: Title: UNITED STATES MARINES No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Magazine Enterprises [Indicia: Magazine Enterprises] Date Published: 1944 Description: Good- (1.8). Front cover](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621596_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WEIRD MYSTERIES #4 * CGC 4.0 Purple Label * Bizarre SKULL Cover by BAILY: Heading: Author: Title: WEIRD MYSTERIES No. 4 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Gillmor Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1953 Description: CGC certified: VG (4.0). Purple](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621631_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WILD BOY #10 * 3.0 * Seduction of the INNOCENT * Loincloth Lament: Heading: Author: Title: WILD BOY No. 10 * 1st Issue Place Published: Publisher:Ziff-Davis [Indicia: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: 1950 Description: G/VG (3.0). Spine stress,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621661_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS #s 6 & 7 * Groping Ghosts and Beatnik Killers: Heading: Author: Title: ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS Nos. 6 and 7 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: 1952 Description: #6: Fair (1.0). Spine split and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621388_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BRENDA STARR #4 * 2.0 * SEDUCTION of the INNOCENT * Under the KNIFE: Heading: Author: Title: BRENDA STARR No. 4 Place Published: Publisher:Superior [Indicia: Superior Comics Limited] Date Published: September, 1948 Description: Good (2.0). 1" split at bottom spine,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621408_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CRIME MYSTERIES #10 * 4.0 (Looks 5.0) * Tee-Hee of TERROR * The Fass & the Furious: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME MYSTERIES No. 10 Place Published: Publisher:Ribage [Indicia: Ribage Publishing Corp.] Date Published: November, 1953 Description: VG (4.0). Light spine stress, faint](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621423_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![DARK MYSTERIES #10 * CGC .5 * Terror of the BURNING WITCH: Heading: Author: Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 10 Place Published: Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.] Date Published: December-January, 1953 Description: CGC certified:](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621438_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #2 * 4.5 * Copper Filled with Lead: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1951 Description: VG+ (4.5). Spine stress, mild spine roll,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621458_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #11 * 3.5 * Seduction of the INNOCENT * Crippen Copy: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 11 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: December, 1952 Description: VG- (3.5). Sun shadow to top edge of](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621518_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #25 * 4.0 * Last Ish * No Slabbed Copies: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 25 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.]o Date Published: August, 1955 Description: VG (4.0). Spine stress, color rubs to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621533_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![STRANGE WORLDS #2 * CGC 1.5 * Wally WOOD: Heading: Author: Title: STRANGE WORLDS No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Avon [Indicia: Avon Periodicals, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1952 Description: CGC certified: Fair/Good (1.5). Cream to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621563_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![THRILLING CRIME CASES #44 * 3.5 * L.B. Cole Cover & Story: Heading: Author: Title: THRILLING CRIME CASES No. 44 Place Published: Publisher:Star [Indicia: Star Publications, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1951 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine roll, transverse](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621583_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![X-MEN #6 * CGC 5.5 * Sub-Mariner Joins MAGNETO: Heading: Author: Title: X-MEN No. 6 Place Published: Publisher:Marvel [Indicia: Canam Publishers Sales Corp.] Date Published: July, 1964 Description: CGC certified: Fine- (5.5). Off-white pages.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621718_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![X-MEN #'s 45 & 47 * 7.5 & 8.0 * Lot of 2 Mags * Cyclops Vs Quicksilver: Heading: Author: Title: X-MEN Nos. 45 and 47 * Two Comics Place Published: Publisher:Marvel [Indicia: Canam Publishers Sales Corp.] Date Published: 1968 Description: #45: VF (8.0). Smallest](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621723_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)

![ALL-TRUE DETECTIVE STORIES #3 * 2.5 * Avon Crime Mag * Kinstler Cover: Heading: Author: Title: ALL-TRUE DETECTIVE STORIES No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Avon [Indicia: Avon Periodicals, Inc.] Date Published: June-July, 1954 Description: Good+ (2.5). 2" split to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621390_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CRIME MYSTERIES #15 * 3.0 * Acid-in-Face Cover * Sans Bedpans: Heading: Sans Bedpans: Hardboiled Yegg Mauled by MollAuthor: Title: CRIME MYSTERIES No. 15 Place Published: Publisher:Ribage [Indicia: Ribage Publishing Corp.] Date Published: September, 1954](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621425_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
