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
0107: Ghostly Weird Stories #124 * CGC 4.0 * L.B. COLE Cover * Terrors of the JungleEst. $400-$600
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)
![FIGHT AGAINST THE GUILTY #23 * 4.5 * Killed by the CODE: Heading: Author: Title: FIGHT AGAINST THE GUILTY No. 23 Place Published: Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.] Date Published: March, 1955 Description: VG+ (4.5). Tiny nicks at spine ends,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621477_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)
![FRONTLINE COMBAT #10 * CGC 8.0 * White Mountain Pedigree * Baby (ka-)BOOM: Heading: Author: Title: FRONTLINE COMBAT No. 10 * White Mountain Pedigree Place Published: Publisher:EC [Indicia: Tiny Tot Comics, Inc.] Date Published: January-February, 1953 Description: CGC](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621479_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![GANGSTERS CAN'T WIN #1 * 2.5 * Pistol Pack'n Dames Sans Dishpan Hands: Heading: Author: Title: GANGSTERS CAN'T WIN No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:D.S. [Indicia: D.S.Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: February-March, 1948 Description: Good+ (2.5). Spine ends](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621480_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![GHOST BREAKERS #2 * 2.0 * Bob POWELL * Joe MANEELY * Zangerle's Culture Stew: Heading: Author: Title: GHOST BREAKERS No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Street and Smith [Indicia: Street & Smith Publications, Inc.] Date Published: December, 1948 Description: Good (2.0). Cover](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621481_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![GHOST COMICS #1 * CGC 5.0 * Classic WHITMAN Cover * Boner Groaner: Heading: Author: Title: GHOST COMICS No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Fiction House Inc.] Date Published: 1951 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine (5.0). Off-white to white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621482_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652300271)
![GHOST COMICS #3 * xx * Whitman Cover * Headlights Flashlight: Heading: Author: Title: GHOST COMICS No. 3 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Fiction House Inc.] Date Published: 1952 Description: Fair (1.0). Spine of cover completely split, chips](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621483_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![GHOST COMICS #8 * CGC 7.0 * Maurice WHITMAN * Bayou BLONDE: Heading: Author: Title: GHOST COMICS No. 8 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Fiction House Inc.] Date Published: 1953 Description: CGC certified: F/VF (7.0). Off-white to white](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621484_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![GHOST COMICS #9 * 4.5 * Nightcrawlers, Acne Aids and Buffalo Shamans: Heading: Author: Title: GHOST COMICS No. 9 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Fiction House Inc.] Date Published: Winter, 1953 Description: VG+ (4.5). Spine slightly rolled, color](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621485_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![Ghostly Weird Stories #124 * CGC 4.0 * L.B. COLE Cover * Terrors of the Jungle: Heading: Author: Title: GHOSTLY WEIRD TALES No. 124 Place Published: Publisher:Star [Indicia: Star Publications, Inc.] Date Published: September, 1954 Description: CGC certified: VG (4.0). Cream to](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621486_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![HAUNTED THRILLS #2 * 1.5 * Tentacled TERROR * Close Call with SUSPOOKS: Heading: Author: Title: HAUNTED THRILLS No. 2 Place Published: Publisher:Ajax-Farrell [Indicia: Farrell Comics, Inc.] Date Published: August, 1952 Description: Fair/Good (1.5). Cover loose from](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621487_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![HEADLINE COMICS #37 * 4.0 * Jack KIRBY Photo Cover * Deliver Us from DELIVERANCE: Heading: Author: Title: HEADLINE COMICS No. 37 Place Published: Publisher:Prize [Indicia: Headline Publications, Inc.] Date Published: September-October, 1949 Description: VG (4.0). Slight spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621488_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)
![IDEAL ROMANCE #4 & TENDER ROMANCE #'s 1 & 2 * Morse Romance Mags * Hag Bag: Heading: Author: Title: IDEAL ROMANCE No. 4 [and] TENDER ROMANCE Nos. 1 and 2 * Lot of Three Romance Comics Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Key Publications] Date Published:](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621490_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![JOURNEY INTO UNKNOWN WORLDS #14 * 4.5 * Basil WOLVERTON * Bill EVERETT: Heading: Author: Title: JOURNEY INTO UNKNOWN WORLDS No. 14 Place Published: Publisher:Atlas [Indicia: Western Fiction Publishing Co.] Date Published: December, 1952 Description: VG+ (4.5). Spine](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621491_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![JUMBO COMICS #161 * 4.5 w/ Color Touch * Maurice WHITMAN: Heading: Author: Title: JUMBO COMICS No. 161 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Real Adventures Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: July, 1952 Description: VG+ (4.5). Looks great,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621492_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![JUMBO COMICS #162 * 5.0 * Maurice WHITMAN * Bob WEBB: Heading: Author: Title: JUMBO COMICS No. 162 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Real Adventures Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: August, 1952 Description: VG/Fine (5.0). Mild](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621493_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
![JUMBO COMICS #163 * 6.5 * Maurice WHITMAN * Werewolf Terror: Heading: Author: Title: JUMBO COMICS No. 163 Place Published: Publisher:Fiction House [Indicia: Real Adventures Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: September, 1952 Description: Fine+ (6.5). A few](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621494_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)
![MAD #1 * 1.0 * Humor in a Jugular Vein: Heading: Author: Title: MAD No. 1 Place Published: Publisher:EC [Indicia: Educational Comics, Inc.] Date Published: October-November, 1952 Description: Fair (1.0). Spine roll; staples pulled with](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621496_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)
![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)
![MISTER MYSTERY #5 * 3.5 * Boudoir of TERROR: Heading: Author: Title: MISTER MYSTERY No. 5 Place Published: Publisher:Stanley Morse [Indicia: Media Publications, Inc.] Date Published: May, 1952 Description: VG- (3.5). Spine stress, ΒΌ" split at](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/642/247983/128621499_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1652296444)
