Auctions: comic books December 1953

Archie (1943 Archie Comics) 65 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4745072008

Black Magic (1950-1961 Prize/Crestwood) Vol. 4 #3 VG 4.0

Cover by Jack Kirby. Art by Steve Ditko, Harry Lazarus, Bob McCarty, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Captain America creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby present their own contribution to the horror comics trend of the 1950s, featuring tales of ghosts and the paranormal. Issue # 27 on cover; listed as Vol. 4, issue #3 in indicia. A man encounters transforming Cat People, similar to but less subtle than the earlier film of that title. A visiting American hears ghostly bagpipes and sees spectral dancers in an old Scottish castle. A strange skull sends three people into the distant past, in one of the first published stories by comics legend Steve Ditko (and completed by fellow legend Jack Kirby). The Cat People; A Hole in His Head; The Nightmare; The Merry Ghosts of Campbell Castle; Ghost Pictures; Murder?; Don't Call on the Dead! 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Dell Giant Western Roundup (1952-1959 Dell) 4 VG+ 4.5

Photo cover with Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Johnny Mack Brown, Bill Elliott, and Rex Allen. Portrait shot of Roy Rogers. The Disappearing Boulder starring Gene Autry, art by Nicholas Firfires; Gene intestigates the robbery of an armored car. Champion Ropes a Killer starring Champion, art by Nicholas Firfires. Guns and Gunfighters of the Frontier West text story, art by August Lenox. The Pussy-Footin' Prowlers starring Roy Rogers, art by Mike Arens. Trap a Trickster starring Trigger and Bullet. Johnny Mack Brown Corners a Killer, art by Tony Sgroi. Short essay about Hernando Cortez. Short essay about the cossacks. 100 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.25.

Journey into Unknown Worlds (1951 2nd Series) 23 CGC 3.0

Paper: Light tan to off white

Label #4585538007

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Cover pencils by Carl Burgos, inks by Sol Brodsky. The Vampire's Fangs, art by Paul Reinman; A stowaway on a freighter is bitten by a vampire bat and transforms into a bat; After draining one of the crew of his blood, he hides in a casket that is being shipped over the ocean. The First Time Machine text story. The Men from Earth, art by Mac Pakula. The World's End, art by Gene Colan; An astronomical disaster means the destruction of human civilization; Our story's protagonist is despondent over this state of affairs until he encounters a group of time travelers who are present to record the last days of humanity. Weather Balloons, art by Jack Abel. Crashing Through the Time Barrier, art by Russ Heath. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Pogo Possum (1949-1954 Dell) 14 VG- 3.5

Cover coming detached at one staple. Cover oxidation with chipping.

Cover art by Walt Kelly. Scripts and art by Walt Kelly. "The Hoodoo Man and the Nearsighted Duck" text story. "Cocky Doodle Dandy"; Pogo and Albert discuss whose mother had the highest intentions for them; Albert decides to spy on Pogo dressed as a spy queen. "The Hippocritical Oaf"; Howland's attempts at being a doctor quickly get misdirected into a false fire alarm, with the fire department burning up the fire station on the last page. "Ol' Albert Decides Yuletide and Time Waits For No 'Gator"; Albert tricks the alligator children into thinking that Santa Claus is dead and eats the presents Pogo and Bumbazine hide in his house. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Strange Fantasy (1952) 9 CGC 5.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4476284001

Stories and art by Bruce Hamilton and Steve Ditko. Offbeat pre-Code horror stories from Ajax-Farrell, with art by the Iger Shop staff. A man's long hair comes to life, in a truly bizarre escalating series of events partially illustrated by future Marvel legend Steve Ditko. An artist tries and fails to maintain the balance between madness and genius. Luther is cursed with the ability to know who is going to die. Dream of Horror; Hair Yee-eeee; Magic Formula; Portrait of Doom; Mirror of Death. 32 pages, Full Color. NOTE: In addition to the regular issue, some copies of no. 9 were manufactured with different interiors from other comics. Please see title Strange Fantasy (1952) #9 Variant Interiors. Cover price $0.10.