CGC-certified Pre-Code Horror Comics Offer Thrills and Chills in Heritage Sale

No tricks here! Heritage Auctions has a real treat for fans of pre-code horror comics: an auction with hundreds of books from that era certified by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®). Bidding is already underway for the Pre-Code Horror & Crime Comics Showcase Auction on October 24-25, 2024.

In the 1950s, crime and horror comics surged in popularity, captivating readers with their gritty realism and macabre tales. These genres, exemplified by titles like “Tales from the Crypt” and “Crime Does Not Pay,” featured shocking stories of murder, betrayal and supernatural terror. Their appeal was driven by a post-war fascination with darker themes and a growing appetite for content that pushed the boundaries of traditional storytelling.

These comics attracted a dedicated fanbase but also faced growing public concern about their content. In 1954, Dr. Fredric Wertham published his book "Seduction of the Innocent," in which he argued that comic books, particularly horror and crime comics, were corrupting the minds of young readers and contributing to juvenile delinquency. Growing public concerns culminated in the Senate hearings on comic books, aiming to investigate the alleged negative impact of comic books on youth, and these hearings led to the creation of the Comics Code Authority. This self-regulatory body imposed strict guidelines on comic book content, effectively curbing the graphic and provocative storytelling.

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Included in this auction is a Journey Into Mystery #6 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 81286). The CGC Census lists 53 copies of this book, but only two have a higher grade than this example. The Journey Into Mystery series by Atlas Comics (later known as Marvel Comics) debuted in 1952 as a horror and mystery comic, featuring eerie tales of the supernatural, suspense and strange creatures. However, in 1962, as horror comics were struggling and superheroes once again dominated the market, Journey into Mystery shifted its focus with the introduction of Thor, the God of Thunder, in issue #83.

Other CGC-certified horror comics in this auction include:

• a Black Cat Mystery Comics #37 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81043)
• a Crime Does Not Pay #24 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81077)
• an Eerie Comics #1 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81161)
• a Fight Against Crime #20 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 81209)
• a Haunted Thrills #6 graded CGC 5.5 (lot 81241)
• a Haunted Thrills #10 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81245)
• a Mister Mystery #6 graded CGC 4.0 (lot 81337)
• a This Magazine is Haunted #16 graded CGC 9.2 (lot 81482)
• a Venus #18 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 40272)
• a Venus #19 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81491)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media, including Betamax tapes, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.