Auctions: comic books October 1953

Crime Suspenstories (1950-55 E.C. Comics) 19 CGC 4.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4386574004

Cover art by Al Feldstein. "The Killer," script and art by Reed Crandall; Jonathan worked hard at his work, never wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father. Then he met Elsie, whom he intended to marry after he had established himself; However, because Jonathan's father was not a member of a guild, Jonathan was denied his opportunity to make a living, and reluctantly accepted doing his father's line of work. "Wined-Up!", script by Bill Gaines (plot) and Albert B. Feldstein (plot, script), art by George Evans; Charles, in a wheelchair since an auto accident, learns that the accident was no accident at all, and that his wife Laura wanted to kill him because she was sick and tired of living with him; She now informs him that is going to try again by wheeling him out on a pier, attaching a wire to it so that she can pull the chair into the lake as she goes swimming. "Rendezvous!" text story, script by Albert B. Feldstein, art by Marie Severin. "Murder May Boomerang," script and art by Johnny Craig; Nearly inseparable, a father and son did everything in life together until that one day when a prisoner from a nearby penitentiary discovers the pair's cabin, where he steals clothing and nearly beats the father to death. "About Phase," script by Albert B. Feldstein, art by George Evans; 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Out of the Shadows (1952) 10 VG+ 4.5

Cover loose at one staple.

Cover art by George Roussos. Destroy My Enemy, art by Nick Cardy; Meek Elmer Grimes commands a murderous pirate-genie in a bottle; Fulfilling a death contract the genie turns on his master. 'Til Death Do Us Part, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Mike Peppe; The husband of a dominating wife is sent over to inquire about the rich neighbors. Harvest of Hate text story by Irving Werstein, pencils by John Celardo. Revenge of the Little People, inks by John Celardo; The circus midget "Major" Martin marries the lovely trapeze artist Lila, but is betrayed by her and killed for his money; Lila is haunted by apparitions of ghost midgets, who sabotage her act and let her drop to certain death. The Corpse That Lived!, pencils by Alex Toth, inks by Mike Peppe; A woman is buried with her jewels; When grave robbers open the coffin, the lady stirs again. She recovers and lives happily ever after. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Tales from the Crypt (1950 E.C. Comics) 38 CGC 5.0

Paper: Off white

Label #4405338002

Cover by Jack Davis. "Tight Grip!", script by Al Feldstein, art by Jack Davis; This story is narrated by a trunk and concerns the murder of a woman the trunk is fond of; When the murderer attempts to hide in the trunk, he panics and shoots holes through it. "Only Skin Deep!", script by Al Feldstein, art by Reed Crandall; A man marries a woman at Mardi Gras who wears a hag mask. "Big Fish!" text story. "Last Laugh," script by Al Feldstein, art by Will Elder; An obese practical joker with a stomach problem visits a doctor and relates a practical joke involving getting old clothes and bloody butchered chunks of horse flesh to take down to the train yard near where some children regularly play. "Mournin' Mess," script by Bill Gaines (co-plot) and Albert B. Feldstein (co-plot, script), art by Graham Ingels (as Ghastly); The Grateful Hoboes, Outcasts, and Unwanteds' Layaways Society is run by a man who read 'Midnight Mess' in Tales from the Crypt #35, and offers a pleasant burial for the penniless. 36 pgs., full color. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Two Fisted Tales (1950 EC) 35 VG+ 4.5

Special Civil War issue (Content Warning: Pro-Confederate narratives). Cover by Jack Davis. Stories by Harvey Kurtzman, Bill Gaines, and Al Feldstein. Art by Harvey Kurtzman, John Severin, Wally Wood, Reed Crandall, and Jack Davis. Harvey Kurtzman's legendary series enlisted top EC artists for gritty tales of war and adventure. General Robert E. Lee makes a desperate bid to stop the advancing Union army at Fredericksburg. At Memphis, the Confederate and Union Navies meet in battle on the Mississippi. Another Mississippi battle is for the city of New Orleans, with art by Wally Wood. Plus an illustrated map of the Civil War Battles of Fredericksburg, New Orleans, Memphis and Chancellorsville. Civil War Map; Robert E. Lee!; New Orleans!; Forrest!; Memphis!; Chancellorsville! 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Weird Fantasy (1951 E.C. Comics 2nd Series) 21 CGC 1.8

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4405338001

"My Home" (art by Joe Orlando), "Saved" (art by Al Williamson with Roy Krenkel), "Planely Possible" (art by Jack Kaman), and "The Million Year Picnic" (pencils by John Severin, inks by Will Elder; based on the story by Ray Bradbury). Letters to the editor from comics writer Archie Goodwin and Bradbury praising "King of the Gray Spaces" in issue 19. Classic cover by Williamson/Frank Frazetta. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.