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
0097: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #21 * 4.5 * Last Ish * Handicapped Horror * Petard CanardEst. $200-$300
Sold
0172: RADIANT LOVE #6 * CGC 8.0 * Highest-Graded Copy * Weird Mysteries #12 PrecursorEst. $1,000-$1,500
TOP



![FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #21 * 4.5 * Last Ish * Handicapped Horror * Petard Canard: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME No. 21 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1954 Description: VG+ (4.5). Mild spine stress, fine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621476_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MISTER MYSTERY #8 * CGC 3.5 * Bizarre PORTHOLE Cover * Man Eaten by RAT: Heading: Author: Title: MISTER MYSTERY No. 8 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Aragon Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: November, 1952 Description: CGC certified: VG- (3.5).](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621501_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![RADIANT LOVE #6 * CGC 8.0 * Highest-Graded Copy * Weird Mysteries #12 Precursor: Heading: Author: Title: RADIANT LOVE No. 6 * Highest-Graded Copy Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Gillmor Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1954 Description: CGC certified:](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621551_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![SPACE ACTION #1 * CGC 6.5 * Clobbered Spaceman Sees STARS: Heading: Author: Title: SPACE ACTION No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Ace [Indicia: Junior Books, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1952 Description: CGC certified: Fine+ (6.5). Off-white pages. Cover:](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621556_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The THING! #3 * 5.0 * Dope Story * Strangulation by Spider: Heading: Author: Title: The THING! No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Charlton [Indicia: Outstanding Comics, Inc.] Date Published: June, 1952 Description: VG/Fine (5.0). Small rub to front cover above](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621571_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)
![WEIRD TALES OF THE FUTURE #1 * 3.5 * Alien Abduction Claims Blamed on COMICS: Heading: Author: Title: WEIRD TALES OF THE FUTURE No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: S.P.M. Publications, Inc.] Date Published: March, 1952 Description: VG- (3.5). Light spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621641_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![BEWARE! TERROR TALES #5 * 4.0 * Bernard BAILY * Hell of HORROR: Heading: Author: Title: BEWARE! TERROR TALES No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Fawcett [Indicia: Fawcett Publications, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1953 Description: VG (4.0). Cover detached at](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621403_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #13 * 4.0 * Cuckold's REVENGE * Hemingway HORROR: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME No. 13 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: May, 1953 Description: VG (4.0). Spine stress, top spine lightly](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621468_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![FIGHTING WAR STORIES #1 * CGC 3.5 * The Big AIEEEEE * Only 3 Slabbed Copies: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHTING WAR STORIES No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Story Comics [Mens Publications, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1952 Description: CGC certified: VG- (3.5). Off-white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621478_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MISTER MYSTERY #2 * 4.0 * Crude But FUNCTIONAL * Nonsensical Ramblings: Heading: Author: Title: MISTER MYSTERY No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Media Publications, Inc.] Date Published: November, 1951 Description: VG (4.0). Spine roll, some spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621498_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![TOMB OF TERROR #4 * 3.5 * Heart Ripped Out * Hypodermic Panel: Heading: Author: Title: TOMB OF TERROR No. 4 Place Published: Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Harvey Publications, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1952 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress with color](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621588_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![TRUE LIFE SECRETS #23 * 5.0 * Classic SEXUAL INNUENDO Cover: Heading: Author: Title: TRUE LIFE SECRETS No. 23 Place Published: Publisher:Charlton [Indicia: Charlton Comics Group] Date Published: November-December, 1954 Description: VG/Fine (5.0). Moderate](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621593_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)

![DARK MYSTERIES #16 * 3.5 * A Corpse is a Corpse of Course of Course: Heading: Author: Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 16 Place Published: Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.] Date Published: February, 1954 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621445_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)

![ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS #9 * 3.5 * Classic TOTH Story * Eaten by CRAYFISH: Heading: Author: Title: ADVENTURES INTO DARKNESS No. 9 Place Published: Publisher:Standard [Indicia: Visual Editions, Inc.] Date Published: April, 1953 Description: VG- (3.5). Small nick to spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621387_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![FIGHT AGAINST CRIME #7 * 2.0 * Severed Head Panel: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST CRIME No. 7 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: May, 1952 Description: Good (2.0). Spine stress, 1/4" chipped split](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621462_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![MAD #'s 19 & 21 and PANIC #'s 7 & 9 * 1.0 to 3.0 * Wood * Davis * Elder: Heading: Author: Title: MAD Nos. 19 and 21 [and] PANIC Nos. 7 and 9 * Lot of Four Comics Place Published: Publisher:EC [Indicia: Educational Comics, Inc. & Tiny Tot Comics, Inc.] Date Published:](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621497_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)
![STRANGE TALES #1 * CGC 1.8 * Primo Atlas Horror: Heading: Author: Title: STRANGE TALES No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Atlas [Indicia: Chipiden Publishing Corp.] Date Published: June, 1951 Description: CGC certified: Good- (1.8). Off-white pages.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621562_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![DARK MYSTERIES #20 * 3.5 * Evil Nazis and Octopus Girls: Heading: Author: Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 20 Place Published: Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.] Date Published: October, 1954 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine roll,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621449_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![HORROR FROM THE TOMB #1 * CGC 3.0 * Angelo TORRES Speaks: Heading: Author: Title: HORROR FROM THE TOMB No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Premiere [Indicia: Premiere Magazines, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1954 Description: CGC certified: G/VG (3.0).](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621489_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![The THING! #6 * 3.5 * Shrunken Heads and Tiny Nudes: Heading: Author: Title: The THING! No. 6 Place Published: Publisher:Charlton [Indicia: Outstanding Comics, Inc.] Date Published: January, 1953 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress, staples pulled,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621574_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
