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
0145: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #17 * 2.5 * Fright Wedding * Trash Rehash * Crass FassEst. $200-$300
Sold
0147: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #19 * CGC 6.0 * Carload of CORPSES * Bones for Big BenjisEst. $1,500-$2,500
Sold
0148: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #20 * 3.0 * Wertham's Upset Stomach * Horror d'oeuvresEst. $200-$300
0158: MYSTERIOUS STORIES #5 * 3.5 * Poor Man's Thor * Fear Fans Sore * Post-Code BoreEst. $100-$150Lot Passed
Sold
0164: The PERFECT CRIME #23 * CGC 6.0 * Wallpapered Room of DOOM * Eyck Swipe?Est. $3,000-$5,000
0166: Lot of 3 EC Pre-Trend PICTURE STORIES Mags * Bible * History * Science * GENESIS of ECEst. $100-$150Lot Passed
TOP



![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #17 * 2.5 * Fright Wedding * Trash Rehash * Crass Fass: Heading: Shite Wedding: Myron Fass's Trash RehashAuthor: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 17 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: December, 1953](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621524_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #18 * 3.5 * Used by SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE; EC Swipefest: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 18 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1954 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress, transverse](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621525_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #19 * CGC 6.0 * Carload of CORPSES * Bones for Big Benjis: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 19 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1954 Description: CGC certified: Fine (6.0). Cream to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621526_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #20 * 3.0 * Wertham's Upset Stomach * Horror d'oeuvres: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 20 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1954 Description: G/VG (3.0). Spine stress, spine roll,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621527_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #20 * 1.8 * Ghoulish Goulash: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 20 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1954 Description: Good- (1.8). Spine split halfway (from](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621528_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #21 * 3.0 * Beheadings, Disembowelment, Rosaries: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 21 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1954 Description: G/VG (3.0). Spine roll, spine stress,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621529_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #22 * 5.0 * Psychosexual Shenanigans: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 22 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1954 Description: VG/Fine (5.0). Slight spine roll, a bit](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621530_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #23 * 4.0 * Boneyard Belle Bests Beau: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 23 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: December, 1954 Description: VG (4.0). Spine a bit rolled and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621531_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES #24 * 4.0 * Heavenly Horror: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 24 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.]o Date Published: March, 1955 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress, 1/4" nicks to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621532_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)
![MYSTERIOUS STORIES #2 * 3.5 * 1st Ish * Woodbridge Cover: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS STORIES No. 2 * 1st Issue Place Published: Publisher:Premier [Indicia: Premier Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: December-January, 1955 Description: VG- (3.5).](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621534_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS STORIES #3 * 3.0 * Judgment Day for Czar Murphy: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS STORIES No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Premier [Indicia: Premier Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1955 Description: G/VG (3.0). Spine very lightly rolled](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621535_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS STORIES #4 * 4.0 * Post-Code Pablum: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS STORIES No. 4 Place Published: Publisher:Premier [Indicia: Premier Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: July, 1955 Description: VG (4.0). Spine stress, a scattering of](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621536_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MYSTERIOUS STORIES #5 * 3.5 * Poor Man's Thor * Fear Fans Sore * Post-Code Bore: Heading: Author: Title: MYSTERIOUS STORIES No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Premier [Indicia: Premier Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1955 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress, staples](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621537_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)
![OUT OF THE SHADOWS #7 * CGC 2.5 * Katz Craps Out: Heading: Author: Title: OUT OF THE SHADOWS No. 7 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1953 Description: CGC certified: Good+ (2.5). Cream to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621539_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![OUT OF THE SHADOWS #8 * CGC 5.0 * Pot-Head of DREAD: Heading: Author: Title: OUT OF THE SHADOWS No. 8 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1953 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine (5.0). Off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621540_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)
![OUT OF THE SHADOWS #14 * 3.0 * Decapitation Panel * Last Ish: Heading: Author: Title: OUT OF THE SHADOWS No. 14 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1954 Description: G/VG (3.0). Some color rubs and mild](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621542_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The PERFECT CRIME #23 * CGC 6.0 * Wallpapered Room of DOOM * Eyck Swipe?: Heading: Author: Title: PERFECT CRIME No. 23 * Third Highest-Graded Copy Place Published: Publisher:Cross [Indicia: Cross Publications, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1952 Description: CGC certified:](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621543_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![PHANTOM WITCH DOCTOR #1 * 1.0 * Whitewashed Witch: Heading: Author: Title: PHANTOM WITCH DOCTOR No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Avon [Indicia: Avon Periodicals, Inc.] Date Published: 1951 Description: Fair (1.0). Cover detached, spine roll,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621544_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)

![POLICE AGAINST CRIME #'s 1-5 * Average 3.5 * Crime and Rascality: Heading: Author: Title: POLICE AGAINST CRIME Nos. 1-5 * Lot of Four Comics Place Published: Publisher:Premier [Indicia: Premier Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: 1954 Description: #1: Fair/Good](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621546_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![POLICE AGAINST CRIME #'s 7-9 * Average 3.5 * Code-Approved Crime: Heading: Author: Title: POLICE AGAINST CRIME Nos. 7, 8 and 9 * Lot of Three Comics Place Published: Publisher:Premier [Indicia: Premier Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: 1955 Description: #7: VG-](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621547_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
