Auctions: comic books 1956

Crime Illustrated (1955) 2 CGC 3.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4378731003

Cover by Reed Crandall. Stories by Al Feldstein, Jack Oleck, John Larner, and Maxwell Williams. Art by Jack Davis, Joe Orlando, Reed Crandall, Graham Ingels 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 movie stand-in plots to permanently replace a famous movie star, in a story adapted from "Cut!" which originally appeared in Crime Suspenstories (1950-55 E.C. Comics) #9. Condemned man Arnold tells the priest who's come for last rites why and how he murdered his wife. Norman and Sally conspire to kill Norman's wife in Pieces of Hate (adapted from "In Each and Every Package" in Crime Suspenstories (1950-55 E.C. Comics) #22, written by Al Feldstein using the soon-to-be-famous moniker "Alfred E. Neuman." Ax-wielding maniac cover by Reed Crandall is actually kind of tame for EC. Motive; Fair Trade; Clean Sweep; Screenplay For Murder; Pieces Of Hate. Final issue of the series; a third issue was planned, but not printed until the modern era, in EC Picto-Fiction HC Set (2006 Gemstone) #1. 8 1/2-in. x 11-in., 60 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.25.

Detective Comics (1937 1st Series) 234 FR 1.0

4" cumulative spine split. Cover detached and one staple and very loose at second.

Cover art by Sheldon Moldoff. Batman and Robin's Greatest Mystery, script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Stan Kaye. The Case of the Careless Camper! public service announcement starring Peter Porkchops, script by Jack Schiff, art by Win Mortimer. The Man Who Hid His Powers starring Roy Raymond TV Detective, art by Ruben Moreira. Cracking the Safe-Crackers article by Jack Miller. The Martian Convict starring John Jones Manhunter from Mars, art by Joe Certa. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Four Color (1942-1962 Dell 2nd Series) 697 CGC 7.0

Paper: White

File Copy

Label #2090675007

Indicia title is "Walter Lantz OSWALD THE RABBIT, No. 697." Cover art by John Carey. Photo of trophy and citation "for his continuing efforts in behalf of the betterment of American youth" given by the Civil Air Patrol to Dell publisher George T. Delacorte, Jr. Picture Problems; Oswald and the boys go into the mountains to try to take photographs of the Badluk Indians, who have a violent hatred of cameras and photographers. The Bashful Buccaneer; While on an ocean cruise, Oswald and the boys are kidnapped by a pirate operating out of a submarine. Oswald the Rabbit and the Caddy Kids; the boys caddy for Oswald when he goes golfing; Reddy Fox tries to catch the boys when they go hunting Oswald's errant shots in the rough. Shooting Stars; Oswald and the boys go to Uncle Roscoe's house on top of Arrowhead Peak to watch a meteor shower. All interior art by Fred Abranz. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Four Color (1942-1962 Dell 2nd Series) 723A CGC 6.0 Ad Back Cover

Paper: White

Label #4363427003

Version with ad on back cover. Indicia title is "SANTIAGO, No. 723. Cover photo of " Cal "Cash" Adams (as played by Alan Ladd). Intro with photos of Cal "Cash" Adams (as played by Alan Ladd), Clay Pike (as played by Lloyd Nolan), and Doña Isabella (as played by Roassana Podesta). Santiago, art by Everett Raymond Kinstler; In 1898, a court-martialed Army captain turned gun-runner has to share an old riverboat with a blood-thirsty rival gang as they take guns from Florida to Cuba to supply the rebel army. Adapted from the 1956 movie "Santiago." 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Four Color (1942-1962 Dell 2nd Series) 740A VG+ 4.5

Version with ad on back cover. Indicia title is "Walter Lantz CHILLY WILLY, No. 740." How to Draw Chilly Willy activity page. The Grounded Penguin, art by Fred Abranz; Chilly meets a pelican. Texas Bound, art by Fred Abranz; Chilly receives a package that he ordered: a horse! The Cold Crop, art by Fred Abranz; Chilly's new garden is threatened by the arrival of two gophers. The Big Catch, art by Frank McSavage; Chilly does some deep sea diving. The Hot Idea, art by Frank McSavage; Chilly decides to open a resort and call it Chilly Willy's Hot Springs. "Happy Cereal" Trix ad on back cover. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

House of Mystery (1951-1983 1st Series) 55 GD/VG 3.0

Staple rust.

First Silver Age issue. Cover by Leonard Starr. Featuring: 6 page story "I Turned Back Time" drawn by Jim McArdle; 6 page story "The Balloon Creatures" drawn by Bernard Baily; 5 page story "The Unknown Sentinel" drawn by Mort Meskin and George Roussos; 6 page story "The Amazing Cholly the Chimp" drawn by Leonard Starr. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Journey into Mystery (1952) 39 FR 1.0 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION. Color touch. 7.5" Cumulative spine split (taped at interior). Tape over cover tears and under staple holes. Water damage.

"Behind the Mask" (art by Paul Reinman), "The Forbidden Room!" (art by Dick Ayers), "I Lived Four Times," "At the Edge of Nowhere," "He Can't Resist!" (art by George Roussos), "The Executioner!" (art by Wally Wood), and a two-page text story, "Memory Mix." Bill Everett cover. 36 pages. Cover price $0.10.

Plastic Man (1943 Vital/Quality) 64 GD+ 2.5

Centerfold coming loose at one staple. Lateral spine tear. Tape on interior cover. Cover oxidation.

Final issue of the series. Plastic Man in "The Expander Device," "The Invisible Invaders," and an untitled story. Woozy back-up. Cover price $0.10.

Shock Illustrated (1955) 2 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4378731001

Painted cover by Rudy Nappi. Stories by Daniel Keyes, Jack Oleck, and Al Feldstein. Art by Reed Crandall, George Evans, Al Williamson, and Graham Ingels. Part of EC's Picto-Fiction line, published in response to the Comics Code, featuring crime tales in text stories copiously illustrated by EC's lineup of artists. Cops capture "The Lipstick Killer" after a murder spree, and psychoanalysis reveals his accidental first murder when he was a toddler. A macabre bet between two med-school students leads to a man being buried alive, but the truth is worse still. A sheriff seeks the truth about a woman's death. Featuring some stories by Daniel Keyes, later the author of the science fiction classic Flowers for Algernon. The Lipstick Killer; My Brothers Keeper; A Question of Time; Dead Right. 8 1/2-in. x 11-in., 60 pages, B&W with single-color accents. Cover price $0.25.

Strange Adventures (1950 1st Series) 70 GD 2.0

3" spine split from bottom. Centerfold loose at one staple. Cover oxidation.

"The Triple Life of Dr. Pluto," "Earth's Secret Weapon" (pencils by Gil Kane, 6 pages), "The Mechanical Mastermind" (art by Carmine Infantino), and "Menace of the Martian Bubble!" 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Superman (1939 1st Series) 105 CGC 3.0

Paper: Light tan to off white

Label #4376221006

Cover art by Al Plastino. Superman's Three Mistakes starring Superman and Jonathan and Martha Kent, script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye. Mr. Mxyztplk's Secret Identity, art by Al Plastino. Superman, Slave, art by Al Plastino; Eldric forces Superman to do his bidding. Superman stars in a one-page public service announcement, Get Your Ticket to the Treasury of Books! 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Superman (1939 1st Series) 105 GD+ 2.5

1" spine split through top and all wraps. Cover loose at one staple. Cover and interior oxidation.

Cover art by Al Plastino. Superman's Three Mistakes starring Superman and Jonathan and Martha Kent, script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye. Mr. Mxyztplk's Secret Identity, art by Al Plastino. Superman, Slave, art by Al Plastino; Eldric forces Superman to do his bidding. Superman stars in a one-page public service announcement, Get Your Ticket to the Treasury of Books! 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Terror Illustrated (1955) 2 CGC 5.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4378731005

Cover by Reed Crandall. Stories by John Larner, Jack Oleck, and Al Feldstein (credited as Alfred E. Neuman). Art by Graham Ingels, Charles Sultan, Jack Davis, George Evans, Johnny Craig, and Joe Orlando. 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. Members of a carnival freak show get ironic revenge on the cruel owner after he blinds the knife-thrower. A man who survived an auto accident doesn't understand why everyone flees in terror at the sight of him. A town turns against the local constable after a series of decapitation murders, but the truth is more horrifying still. Some stories are credited to Alfred E. Neuman, a name soon to be irrevocably connected to MAD Magazine. Classic cover by Reed Crandall. Horror in the Freak Tent; Requiem; Mother Love; Head Man; Reflection of Death. Final issue of the series. 8 1/2-in. x 11-in., 60 pages, B&W with single-color accents. Cover price $0.25.

Wonder Woman (1942 1st Series DC) 80 GD+ 2.5

Interior tearing. Water damage.

Cover pencils by Irwin Hasen, inks by Bernard Sachs. "The Mask of Mystery!", script by Robert Kanigher, art by Harry G. Peter; It's a race against time as Wonder Woman attempts to remove an impenetrable time-bomb mask affixed to her face while she was sleeping. "The Origin of the Amazon Plane!", script by Robert Kanigher, art by Harry G. Peter; Wonder Woman recounts the three trials she completed to win her Robot Plane. The World's Most Famous Valentines! article. "SOS-Saturn!", script by Robert Kanigher, art by Harry G. Peter; Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor help repel an attack on Saturn from Titan, one of its moons. 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

World's Finest (1941) 84 GD+ 2.5

Cover pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Stan Kaye. The Super-Mystery of Metropolis!, script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Curt Swan (splash) and Dick Sprang, inks by Stan Kaye; Superman believes that Thad Linnis knows his secret identity, so when Thad demands he leave Metropolis, Superman does; Superman reveals to Batman and Robin a tale of his youth in Smallville, and discovers that the young boy that he thinks may have discovered his identity was actually a young Bruce Wayne. The Mystery of 1,000 Masks starring Green Arrow, script by Dave Wood, art by George Papp. The Big Dance! public service announcement, script by Jack Schiff. The Frontier Braggart starring Tomahawk, script by Dave Wood, art by Bob Brown. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.