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
Sold
0227: WANTED #24 * 5.0 * Krigstein 7-Pager * Mr. CRIME Swipe * From Here to EterniumEst. $80-$120
Sold
0231: WANTED COMICS #49 * 4.0 (PGX sez 6.5) * Zitty in PINK * Crook's Goose CookedEst. $100-$150
Sold
0234: WANTED COMICS #52 * CGC 4.0 * "Cult of Killers" OPIUM Story * John BUSCEMA CoverEst. $600-$900
Sold
0235: WAR FURY #1 * CGC 5.0 * Don Heck BULLET HOLE Cover * Horrific #3 PrecursorEst. $800-$1,200
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![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)
![The UNSEEN #7 * CGC 3.5 * Killer's Clock Gets Cleaned: Heading: Author: Title: The UNSEEN No. 7 Place Published: Publisher:Standard-Pines [Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: November, 1952 Description: CGC certified: VG- (3.5). Cream to off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621597_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The UNSEEN #9 * CGC 3.0 * Of Katz and Rats: Heading: Author: Title: The UNSEEN No. 9 Place Published: Publisher:Standard-Pines [Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: March, 1953 Description: CGC certified: G/VG (3.0). Cream to off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621598_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The UNSEEN #11 * 1.8 * Dances with WEREWOLVES: Heading: Author: Title: The UNSEEN No. 11 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1953 Description: Good- (1.8). Staples pulled but cover still](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621599_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The UNSEEN #11 * 3.5 * Bear Trap of TERROR * African REVENGE: Heading: Author: Title: The UNSEEN No. 11 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1953 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress, 1/8" split to top](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621600_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The UNSEEN #12 * 2.5 * Mole Man Seeks BLOOD * Poorly-Paid Pencil Pushers: Heading: Author: Title: The UNSEEN No. 12 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: November, 1953 Description: Good+ (2.5). Spine stress, bottom staple](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621601_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The UNSEEN #13 * 4.0 * Shanked Sternum * Toth Two-Pager: Heading: Author: Title: The UNSEEN No. 13 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1954 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress with loss of color](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621602_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The UNSEEN #14 * 5.0 * Highballs of HORROR * Pervy Panel Parade: Heading: Author: Title: The UNSEEN No. 14 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1954 Description: VG/Fine (5.0). Light wear to spine, edges and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621603_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![VAULT OF HORROR #28 * CGC 7.0 * Drunken Ingels Self-Caricature: Heading: Author: Title: VAULT OF HORROR No. 28 Place Published: Publisher:EC [Indicia: L.L. Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: December-January, 1953 Description: CGC certified: F/VF (7.0). Cream](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621604_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![VOODOO #19 * 1.5 * 3 Matt BAKER Stories * "Rarest in the Run" Request: Heading: Author: Title: VOODOO No. 19 Place Published: Publisher:Ajax-Farrell [Indicia: Four Star Publications, Inc.] Date Published: January-February, 1955 Description: Fair/Good (1.5). Spine split](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621605_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED #24 * 5.0 * Krigstein 7-Pager * Mr. CRIME Swipe * From Here to Eternium: Heading: Author: Title: WANTED COMICS No. 24 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Toytown Publications, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1950 Description: VG/Fine (5.0). A touch of spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621606_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED COMICS #30 * 3.5 * Hecklers Harass Honeys * Douchebags of DOOM: Heading: Author: Title: WANTED COMICS No. 30 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Toytown Publications, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1950 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress, small](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621607_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED COMICS 33 * 4.5 * Cool SPIDER-WEB Cover * Sex Toys & Savagery: Heading: Author: Title: WANTED COMICS No. 33 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Toytown Publications, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1951 Description: VG+ (4.5). Top spine bumped, a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621608_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED COMICS #34 * 4.5 * Desperado's DEAD END: Heading: Author: Title: WANTED COMICS No. 34 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Toytown Publications, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1951 Description: Fine- (5.5). Tiny nicks with](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621609_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED COMICS #49 * 4.0 (PGX sez 6.5) * Zitty in PINK * Crook's Goose Cooked: Heading: Zitty in Pink; or, Cover Inks Raise a StinkAuthor: Title: WANTED COMICS No. 49 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Orbit Publications, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1952](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621610_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED COMICS #50 * 6.0 * Surrealistic Buscema Cover * Dead Man Balking: Heading: Author: Title: WANTED COMICS No. 50 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Orbit Publications, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1952 Description: Fine- (5.5). Flat and crisp, no](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621611_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED COMICS #51 * 2.0 * Dope Fiend Story * HOLIDAY of HORROR: Heading: Author: Title: WANTED COMICS No. 51 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Toytown Publications, Inc.] Date Published: December, 1952 Description: Good (2.0). Spine nicked and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621612_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WANTED COMICS #52 * CGC 4.0 * "Cult of Killers" OPIUM Story * John BUSCEMA Cover: Heading: Author: Title: WANTED No. 52 Place Published: Publisher:Orbit-Wanted [Indicia: Orbit Publications, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1953 Description: CGC certified: VG (4.0). Off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621613_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WAR FURY #1 * CGC 5.0 * Don Heck BULLET HOLE Cover * Horrific #3 Precursor: Heading: Author: Title: WAR FURY No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Comic Media [Indicia: Allen Hardy Associates] Date Published: September, 1952 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine (5.0). Off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621614_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WAR FURY #'s 1, 2 & 3 * 4.0-5.0 * War is HECK: Heading: Author: Title: WAR FURY Nos. 2, 3 and 4 * Lot of Three Comics Place Published: Publisher:Comic Media [Indicia: Allen Hardy Associates, Inc.] Date Published: 1953-1954 Description: #2: VG](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621615_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WARTIME ROMANCES #16 * 4.5 * Matt BAKER Cover & Story * Archer & the OWI: Heading: Author: Title: WARTIME ROMANCES No. 16 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: July, 1953 Description: VG+ (4.5). Cover miscut with excess](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621616_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WARTIME ROMANCES #17 * 4.0 * Matt BAKER Cover * Blonde Babe Rolls Rubes: Heading: Author: Title: WARTIME ROMANCES No. 17 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: September, 1953 Description: VG (4.0). Spine stress, spine ends](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621617_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WARTIME ROMANCES #18 * 2.5 * Matt BAKER Cover and Story * Memory of SIN: Heading: Author: Title: WARTIME ROMANCES No. 18 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: November, 1953 Description: Good+ (2.5). Spine stress, 1/4"](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621618_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WEB OF EVIL #8 * 3.5 * COLE on a Roll * Radioactive REVENGE: Heading: Author: Title: WEB OF EVIL No. 8 Place Published: Publisher:Quality [Indicia: Comic Magazines] Date Published: November, 1953 Description: G/VG (3.0). Spine stress, staples quite pulled, a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621619_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
