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
0025: BLACK CAT MYSTERY #33 * 4.0 * Parade of Pleasure * Slummer's Scorpion ScreedEst. $200-$300
Sold
0030: CAVE GIRL #11 (1st Ish) * 2.0 * Bob POWELL * Jungle Jane Steals Thun'da's ThunderEst. $80-$120
Sold
0044: CRIME MYSTERIES #10 * 4.0 (Looks 5.0) * Tee-Hee of TERROR * The Fass & the FuriousEst. $400-$600
Sold
0047: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES #22 * CGC 1.8 Purple Label * King of Pre-Code CoversEst. $1,500-$2,500
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![BLACK CAT MYSTERY #33 * 4.0 * Parade of Pleasure * Slummer's Scorpion Screed: Heading: Author: Title: BLACK CAT MYSTERY No. 33 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Home Comics, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1952 Description: VG (4.0). Spine roll, spine stress with](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621404_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BLACK CAT MYSTERY #37 * CGC 2.5 * Sleepwalking with Stiffs: Heading: Author: Title: BLACK CAT MYSTERY No. 37 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Home Comics, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1952 Description: CGC certified: Good+ (2.5). Cream to off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621405_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BLACK CAT MYSTERY #43 * 3.5 * Speared REAR Cover * Voodoo Taboo: Heading: Author: Title: BLACK CAT MYSTERY No. 43 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Home Comics, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1953 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine roll, 3/4" creased tear to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621406_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BLUE BOLT WEIRD TALES #111 * CGC 5.0 * Classic COLE Cover: Heading: Author: Title: BLUE BOLT WEIRD TALES OF TERROR No. 111 Place Published: Publisher:Star [Indicia: Star Publications, Inc.] Date Published: November, 1951 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621407_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)
![CAVE GIRL #11 (1st Ish) * 2.0 * Bob POWELL * Jungle Jane Steals Thun'da's Thunder: Heading: Author: Title: CAVE GIRL No. 11 (A-1 No. 82) * 1st Issue Place Published: Publisher:Magazine Enterprises [Indicia: Magazine Enterprises] Date Published: 1953 Description: Good (2.0). 1/2"](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621409_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CHAMBER OF CHILLS #13 * 4.0 * Executioner Earns Overtime * NOSTRAND Debuts: Heading: Author: Title: CHAMBER OF CHILLS No. 13 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Witches Tales, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1952 Description: VG (4.0). With the very slightest](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621410_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)
![CHAMBER OF CHILLS #23 * CGC 5.0 * Classic CORPSE KISSES CUTIE Cover: Heading: Author: Title: CHAMBER OF CHILLS No. 23 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Witches Tales, Inc.] Date Published: May, 1954 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine (5.0). White pages.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621412_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CHAMBER OF CHILLS #24 * 3.5 * Hand from the GRAVE: Heading: Author: Title: CHAMBER OF CHILLS No. 24 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Witches Tales, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1954 Description: G/VG (3.0). Slight spine roll, 1/8" split at](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621413_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CHAMBER OF CHILLS #25 * 2.0 * Robot Claws of DOOM: Heading: Author: Title: CHAMBER OF CHILLS No. 25 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Witches Tales, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1954 Description: Good (2.0). Spine roll, color flaking to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621414_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CHAMBER OF CHILLS #'s 23 (3rd Ish) & 16 * Lot of Two Horror Mags: Heading: Author: Title: CHAMBER OF CHILLS Nos. 23 (3rd Issue) and 16 * Lot of Two Comics Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Witches Tales, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1951 &](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621415_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CHILLING TALES #16 * CGC 3.5 * Skeletons, Lepers, and Rudyard Kipling: Heading: Author: Title: CHILLING TALES No. 16 Place Published: Publisher:Youthful [Indicia: Youthful Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1953 Description: CGC certified: VG- (3.5). Off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621416_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The CLUTCHING HAND #1 * 4.5 * ACG OVERKILL * Monkey Mangles Midget: Heading: Author: Title: CLUTCHING HAND No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:ACG [Indicia: Best Syndicated Features, Inc.] Date Published: July-August, 1954 Description: VG+ (4.5). Mild spine stress, a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621417_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CONFESSIONS OF LOVE #5 * CGC 4.0 * L.B. Cole Cover * Too Hot to Handle: Heading: Author: Title: CONFESSIONS OF LOVE No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Star [Indicia: Star Publications, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1953 Description: CGC certified: VG (4.0). Off-white pages.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621418_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CRIME AND JUSTICE #11 * CGC 3.0 * Kids Clobber GATOR MAN: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME AND JUSTICE No. 11 Place Published: Publisher:Charlton [Indicia: Capitol Stories, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1953 Description: CGC certified: G/VG (3.0). Cream to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621419_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CRIME DETECTOR #5 * 4.0 * Disgusting DISBROW Panel * Barf-Inducing Classic: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME DETECTOR No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Timor [Indicia: Timor Publications, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1954 Description: VG (4.0). A few small stress lines to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621420_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)
![CRIME MUST PAY THE PENALTY #3 * 4.5 * Rudy PALAIS * Sub-Gat's Rat-a-Tat-Tat: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME MUST PAY THE PENALTY No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Ace [Indicia: Junior Books, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1948 Description: VG+ (4.5). Slight spine curve but](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621422_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)
![CRIME MYSTERIES #14 * 3.5 * Painted in BLOOD * Bedwetting Grannies: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME MYSTERIES No. 14 Place Published: Publisher:Ribage [Indicia: Ribage Publishing Corp.] Date Published: July, 1954 Description: VG- (3.5). Touch of spine roll, cover](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621424_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)
![CRIME SUSPENSTORIES #22 * CGC 1.8 Purple Label * King of Pre-Code Covers: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES No. 22 Place Published: Publisher:EC [Indicia: L.L. Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: April-May, 1954 Description: CGC certified: Good- (1.8). Purple](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621426_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![CRIME SUSPENSTORIES #25 * CGC 5.0 * EC Fixation Fodder * Are You a RED DUPE?: Heading: Author: Title: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES No. 25 Place Published: Publisher:EC [Indicia: L.L. Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: October-November, 1954 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621427_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
