Auctions: comic books 1955, graded by CGC

Crime Illustrated (1955) 1 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4378731002

Cover by Joe Orlando. Stories by Al Feldstein, Jack Oleck, John Larner, and Richard Smith. Art by Jack Kamen, Joe Orlando, Reed Crandall, and Johnny Craig. Part of EC's Picto-Fiction line, published in response to the Comics Code, featuring tales of law and outlaws in text stories copiously illustrated by EC's lineup of artists. A private eye investigating a woman's disappearance finds a vital clue in a mystery novel, but fails to notice the title, "Fall Guy For Murder," adapted from a story that originally appeared in Crime Suspenstories (1950-55 E.C. Comics) #18. In a noirish story, a chance encounter on the street gets Ben involved with the dangerous lives of Myra and her sister. Another historic moment occurs in Mother's Day (adapted from a story that originally appeared in Crime Suspenstories (1950-55 E.C. Comics) #21), when writer Al Feldstein uses the soon-to-be-famous moniker "Alfred E. Neuman." Vivid cover by Joe Orlando definitely would not have passed muster with the new Comics Code. Fall Guy For Murder; The Sisters; Fools Gold; Farewell To Arms; Mothers Day 8 1/2-in. x 11-in., 60 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.25.

Cutie Pie (1955) 1 CGC 3.5

Paper: Off white

Label #0170675005

Cover by Gene Fawcette. Stories and art by Gene Fawcette and Charlotte Kay. Adorable 5-year-old girl Cutie Pie knows nothing but mischief, in a series inspired by the success of Dennis the Menace. Cutie's dad suffers greatly when Cutie and her mother go to the store for a sale. Cutie's mom accidentally bakes her wedding ring into a cake for the bake sale, and comedy hijinks ensue. Under protest, Cutie's dad takes her to the golf course, and quickly regrets it. A La Mode; As Is; She Takes the Cake; Florence Nightingale: Angel of Mercy; Sitter's Sitter; A Slight Handicap; Round Trip; Disk Jockey; Yours Truly, Cutie Pie and Copy. 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Danger and Adventure (1955) 26 CGC 2.0

Paper: Brittle

Label #2107550001

Mike Danger in "Versailles Incident." Johnny Adventure in "The Burning Eye." Together they stars in "Allies of Hate!" Lance O'Casey stars in "The Pan American Bull Session!" Cover price $0.10.

Foxhole (1954) 3 CGC 5.0 Restored

Restored: C1

Paper: Off white to white

Restoration includes: cover reinforced.

Label #4388597003

Cover by Jack Kirby. Stories and art by Jack Kirby, Bob McCarty, Art Gates, Jo Albistur, and Jack Oleck. Gritty war comics "produced by veterans" (as the tagline proclaims) from Mainline, the publisher founded by comics legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, creators of Captain America. A US soldier in WWII gets a chance to see liberated Paris with an unlikely colleague. An injured fighter pilot has visions of a man he rescued from the Nazis. A soldier's-eye view of the Pacific theater from Pearl Harbor to Bataan. Chicken; Listen to Me, Sam; Joyride; Snow; The Face; G.I. Yaks; Office Upstairs. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Foxhole (1954) 4 CGC 6.5

Paper: White

Label #4388597004

Cover by Jack Kirby. Stories and art by Jack Kirby, Jo Albistur, Bob McCarty, Art Gates, Bill Draut, Ted Galindo, and Jack Oleck. Gritty war comics "produced by veterans" (as the tagline proclaims) from Mainline, the publisher founded by comics legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, creators of Captain America. An unarmed medic is the only defense against an Axis sniper. Axis POWs being transported to Australia manage to take over an Allied plane. A WWII submarine crew is assigned to take out a Japanese armada. Simple but eye-catching cover by Jack Kirby. First issue with the Comics Code seal on the cover. 30 Year Man; Suicide Run; Mayhem in the Sky; Coward; Find and Fire; Mess Sarge; Its Mutual; G.I. Yaks. Final issue published by Mainline; Charlton took over the series with issue #5. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Foxhole (1954) 5 CGC 5.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4388597005

Cover by Jack Kirby. Stories and art by Jack Kirby, Carl Wessler, Jo Albistur, Bob McCarty, Art Gates, Bill Draut, Ted Galindo, and Jack Oleck. Charlton picks up the war series "produced by veterans," (as the tagline proclaims) created and originally published by comics legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. A soldier is lucky at cards and hopes his luck extends to the battlefield, in a story that may have been scripted by Jack Kirby. In an unusual story, a Kamikaze pilot flashes back on his life. A veteran WWII artillery specialist is disgusted with the task of launching propaganda leaflets in Korea. Glide Into Glory; Three Bagger; Soundin Off; Lucky Stiff; Kamikaze Joe; Masquerade; Fun in a Foxhole; "Hip Pockets" and the Paper Bullets; Morale!; Bell Bottom Bill. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Foxhole (1954) 6 CGC 4.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4388597006

Cover by Jack Kirby. Stories and art by Jack Kirby, Carl Wessler, Jo Albistur, Art Gates, Bill Draut, and Rocke Mastroserio. Gritty war comics "produced by veterans," (as the tagline proclaims) created and originally published by comics legends Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. A wounded American soldier hides out in a French house that is soon occupied by Nazis. An American and a Nazi soldier have a fateful encounter. A WAC caught in the Battle of the Bulge has a secret reason for her battlefield bravery, in a rare action-girl story for the era. Decision at Dieppe!; Hazard; Even Steven!; G.I. Laughs; Secret; Listen to the Boidie; The 50th Man; Dear Joan! 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Shock Illustrated (1955) 1 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4378731006

Painted cover by Jack Kamen. Stories by Daniel Keyes and Robert Bernstein. Art by Jack Kamen, Joe Orlando, Wally Wood, and Johnny Craig. Part of EC's Picto-Fiction line, published in response to the Comics Code, featuring slice-of-life tales in text stories copiously illustrated by EC's lineup of artists. This first issue focused on psychology-themed stories, similar to EC's 1955 comic Psychoanalysis. A key-swapping party for bored suburbanites results in a temporary split in Beth and Jim's marriage, and a trip to the psychiatrist. Teenage dope addict Peggy sees a psychiatrist after her life falls apart and she's jailed on multiple charges. A teen becomes a leather-jacked juvenile delinquent and murders a stranger with a switchblade, encompassing many of the fears of middle-class America of the 1950s. Featuring some stories by Daniel Keyes, later the author of the science fiction classic Flowers for Algernon. The Needle; Switch Party; The Jacket. 8 1/2-in. x 11-in., 60 pages, B&W with single-color accents. Cover price $0.25.

Superman (1939 1st Series) 94 CGC 4.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4358958010

Cover art by Win Mortimer. Three Dooms For Metropolis starring Superman and The Hermit, script by Bill Woolfolk, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye. Little Pete humor two-pager by Henry Boltinoff. The Men Without a World starring Superman and three Blanthians (aliens from Blanth), script by Jerry Coleman, art by Al Plastino. The Night Climbers text story. Clark Kent's Hillbilly Bride, script by Bill Woolfolk, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye; Clark is set to marry a mountain girl named Marybelle. 44 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Superman (1939 1st Series) 98 CGC 2.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4376221004

Cover art by Al Plastino. Superman's Secret Life starring Superman, Rags Stephens, and Harry Chadwick, script by France Herron, art by Al Plastino. Clark Kent, Outlaw, script by Bill Finger, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye; Superman battles The Big Guy. Club For Adventurers text story by Joe Mallon. The Amazing Superman Newsreel, art by Al Plastino. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Superman (1939 1st Series) 101 CGC 5.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4376221005

Cover art by Al Plastino. Luthor's Amazing Rebus starring Superman and Lex Luthor, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye. The Meek Man's Club starring Superman, art by Al Plastino. The Rainbow Doom, art by Al Plastino; Superman accidentally turns Lois Lane into glass. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Terror Illustrated (1955) 1 CGC 7.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4378731004

Cover by Reed Crandall. Stories by John Larner, Jack Oleck, and Al Feldstein (credited as Alfred E. Neuman). Art by Reed Crandall, Joe Orlando, George Evans, Graham Ingels, and Johnny Craig. Part of EC's Picto-Fiction line, published in response to the Comics Code, featuring horror tales in text stories copiously illustrated by EC's lineup of artists. A carnival barker plots to get away with murder by faking his own death, but he fakes it a little too well. Villagers learn the horrifying secret of the basket that Vincent always carries on his shoulder. A gorilla's paw purchased in a strange little shop grants wishes, but at a terrible price. Some stories are credited to Alfred E. Neuman, a name soon to be irrevocably connected to MAD Magazine. Lush cover by Reed Crandall. The Sucker; Sure-Fire Scheme; Rest In Peace; The Basket; The Gorillas Paw. 8 1/2-in. x 11-in., 60 pages, B&W with single-color accents. Cover price $0.25.