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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![TEEN-AGE ROMANCES #34 * 3.0 * Matt BAKER Cover & Story * Rare in Hi-Grade: Heading: Author: Title: TEEN-AGE ROMANCES No. 34 Place Published: Publisher:St. John [Indicia: St. John Publishing Co.] Date Published: November, 1953 Description: G/VG (3.0). Light spine stress,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621566_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The THING! #16 * 5.0 * Whip-Cracking Cuckold * Eyeballs Injured: Heading: Author: Title: The THING! No. 16 Place Published: Publisher:Charlton [Indicia: Capitol Stories, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1954 Description: VG/Fine (5.0). Light spine stress, a few](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621581_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)
![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)
![DARK MYSTERIES #14 * 5.5 * Alleged CRAIG Copycat: Heading: Author: Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 14 Place Published: Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1953 Description: Fine- (5.5). A few spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621443_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #8 * 2.5 * Shaft of DEATH: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME No. 8 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1952 Description: Good+ (2.5). Spine roll, staples pulled,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621463_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![OUT OF THE SHADOWS #6 * 4.0 * Standard's Nutty Numbering: Heading: Author: Title: OUT OF THE SHADOWS No. 6 * 2nd Issue Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1952 Description: VG (4.0). Light spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621538_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![SHOCK DETECTIVE CASES #20 * 3.5 * L.B. Cole Cover: Heading: Author: Title: SHOCK DETECTIVE CASES No. 20 Place Published: Publisher:Star [Indicia: Star Publications, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1952 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine roll, spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621553_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)
![JUMBO COMICS #164 * 4.5 * Maurice WHITMAN * Ghost Gallery: Heading: Author: Title: JUMBO COMICS No. 164 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Real Adventures Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: October, 1952 Description: VG+ (4.5). Touch of](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621495_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WEIRD MYSTERIES #2 * 3.0 * Basil WOLVERTON's "Robot Woman": Heading: Author: Title: WEIRD MYSTERIES No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Gillmor Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: December, 1952 Description: G/VG (3.0). Spine stress,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621629_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)
![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)
![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)
![WEIRD TERROR #4 * 3.0 * Satan Leaves His Mark on Witches' Privy Parts: Heading: Author: Title: WEIRD TERROR No. 4 Place Published: Publisher:Comic Media [Indicia: Allen Hardy Associates, Inc.] Date Published: March, 1953 Description: G/VG (3.0). Spine roll, spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621650_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BATTLE CRY #2 * 5.5 * Racial Rhetoric * Transfusion Confusion: Heading: Author: Title: BATTLE CRY No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Stanmor Publications, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1952 Description: Fine- (5.5). Light spine stress, a few](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621398_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![DARK MYSTERIES #11 * 3.5 * Eaten by RATS * Headless Horror: Heading: Author: Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 11 Place Published: Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.] Date Published: March-April, 1953 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine roll,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621439_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #9 * 3.5 * CRIMES of SUSPENSE from the TOMB of HORROR: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME No. 9 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1952 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stressed and rubbed,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621464_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #19 * 3.5 * SAVAGE Combo of CRAIG Capers: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME No. 19 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: May, 1954 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine roll, spine ends nicked,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621474_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![X-MEN #50 * CGC 8.0 * Classic STERANKO Polaris Cover * Steranko'd Right in the Face: Heading: Author: Title: X-MEN No. 50 Place Published: Publisher:Marvel [Indicia: Canam Publishers Sales Corp.] Date Published: November, 1968 Description: CGC certified: VF (8.0). Cream to off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621719_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652300271)
![WEB OF EVIL #s 15, 17, 18, 21 * Lot of 4 QUALITY Horror Mags: Heading: Author: Title: WEB OF EVIL Nos. 15, 17, 18, 21 * Lot of Four QUALITY Horror Comics Place Published: Publisher:Quality [Indicia: Comic Magazines] Date Published: 1954 Description: #15:](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621620_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![WITCHES TALES #19 * 3.5 * Classic DEVIL Cover: Heading: Author: Title: WITCHES TALES No. 19 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Witches Tales, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1953 Description: G/VG (3.0). Slight spine roll, spine stress,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621665_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)

![STAR WARS #1 * CGC 9.2 * Marvel * 1977 * 1st Printing: Heading: Author: Title: STAR WARS No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Marvel [Indicia: Marvel Comics Group] Date Published: July, 1977 Description: CGC certified: NM- (9.2). White pages. Cover: Howard](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621710_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
