Full Confession
I fell down the Pre-Code Horror rabbit hole. As I was researching some other blogs for Halloween (coming soon!) I started coming across some really strange and weird Golden Age horror covers. There were enough that I just had to share them. Hope you enjoy!
Death by Elephant
Jim McLaughlin drew the cover for The Hand of Fate #20 which features a man’s torso caved in by an elephant’s footprint. Ouch! I love the woman’s nonchalant attitude about the whole thing; she’s not at all freaked out by the fact that the man died in a horrific fashion.
There are 12 graded copies and the most recent sale was a 5.0 going for $129 in a February 13 Heritage auction.
What the Heck is That?
You never forget your first lady/panther hybrid. I know I won’t after viewing the cover for Adventures Into the Unknown #44 by Ken Bald. There are seven graded copies and the last sale of a Universal copy was in an April 2021 eBay auction when a 7.5 went for $250.
It was hard to pick just one cover from Adventures Into the Unknown as there are many bizarre ones. For even more fun, check out the American Comics Group sister title, Forbidden Worlds.
Marionette Zombie
I have no idea what’s going on in the Iger Shop drawn cover for Strange Fantasy #10. It looks like an undead marionette is being held over a piano keyboard while a skeletal hand attempts a sonata.
What type of story this is supposed to represent can only be left to the imagination. There are 12 graded copies, none above 7.5. The highest price paid was $1,140 for a 6.0 in a July 2022 Heritage auction.
Those are Some Teeth!
Sy Moskowitz illustrated an impressive set of choppers on the cover for This Magazine is Haunted #20. Not only are they the biggest set of teeth I think I’ve ever seen, but not one of them looks particularly sharp.
That victim is going to be a long time suffering as he’s gnawed to death. There are 21 graded copies and the most recent sale was a 5.5 going in the April 11 Heritage auction for $288.
Imp Torture
This one’s got it all – eye injury, mouth injury, head injury, sharp instruments, blunt instruments, and a gaggle of imps engaged in punishing hijinks. Bernard Baily – one of the Pre-Code Horror cover masters - drew the cover for Weird Chills #2.
There are 81 graded copies thanks to Baily’s popularity. Prices are high as well, as evidenced by the $1,200 sale of a 5.0 in the August 15 Heritage auction.
Talk About Snot Rockets!
Did Chuck Cuidera sneeze when he drew the cover for Web of Evil #20? I can’t imagine what else would cause him to illustrate such impressive snot rockets.
There are 12 graded copies of this Quality Comic and it’s been a while since a Universal graded CGC copy last sold. A 7.0 went for $252 in a March 2020 Heritage Auction.
Ouch
Compared to the dull choppers we saw earlier Don Heck drew a mighty impressive set of fangs on the cover of Weird Terror #3. At least death will be quick for this poor soul.
There are 36 graded copies. A top grade 7.5 sold for a whopping $4,080 in a January 15 Heritage auction. Believe it or not, that’s down $780 from the top sale in in a November 2021 Heritage auction.
Do Not Let Your Kids on This Ride
Norman Saunders wins the prize for most bizarre concept with this painted cover for Strange Stories From Another World #2. This action-packed ride looks like it isn’t for the faint of heart.
There are 25 graded copies. The most recent sale occurred in a July 23 eBay auction when a 6.5 sold for $355.
Stupid Peeping Tom
This pervert deserves everything he has coming to him. The twisted cover for Voodoo #5 sports another gem from Iger Shop. There are 23 graded copies, and the top sale was a 5.0 going for $1,050 in a January 2022 Heritage auction.
It’s been more than two decades since one of only two top-graded 9.0 copies last sold in a 2003 Heritage auction for $633. Would love to see the price it could fetch in an upcoming auction.
An Inspirational Classic
Ken Bald wins the top prize in this American Comics Group treasure. At least now we know that Dave Manak was using Out of the Night #5 as inspiration when he drew the cover for Alf #48. Quite a conquest for Skeletor, here. There are 30 graded copies.
The top price paid was $1,650 in an August 2017 fixed-price eBay sale, so you know someone really wanted this one. The most recent sale was a 5.5 selling for $437 in a March 17 ComicConnect auction.
Hope you liked this trip down the Pre-Code Horror rabbit hole with me. Do you have any weird Pre-Code Horror covers you’d like to share? Let us know below. And stay tuned for more horrific fun throughout October!
