Auctions: comic books published by St. John, graded by CGC

Pictorial Romances (1950) 11 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4366163016

Cover by Matt Baker. Stories and art by Matt Baker, Joe Kubert, Hy Rosen, Robert Bernstein and Dana Dutch. Beautiful covers and art by legendary good-girl artist Matt Baker elevate St. John's 1950s romance comic above the norm. Department-store clerk Margery dates three men who could help her career, but is in trouble when they find out about each other, in a cautionary tale with art by Baker. In another Baker story, Anne marries handsome farmer Ned after moving to a small town, but soon tires of the life of a farmer's wife. Janet is determined to be a star, but that leaves boyfriend Jed feeling left out, in a story featuring early art by future comics legend Joe Kubert. Cover by Baker. My Rival and Her Weakness; The Worst Mistake a Wife Can Make; I Learned by Trial and Error; Crazy for Love; Playgirl at Work. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Three Stooges (1953 St. John) 1 CGC 7.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #3747544024

Cover by Norman Maurer. Stories and art by Joe Kubert, Norman Maurer and Sandy Woolf. St. John, a pioneer of celebrity comics, puts Moe, Larry and Shemp on the four-color page. The world's biggest swindler sells the Stooges a firecracker factory, and it's only a matter of time until everything blows sky-high. The Stooges go treasure hunting in the East River. Action girl Jeanie finds trouble on the set when a jealous actress tries to have her eliminated, in a story with early art by comics legend Joe Kubert. Bogus Takes a Beating; Bumps for the Umps; Big Brush Off; Jeanie Steele, Hollywood Stunt-Girl; Bell Bent for Treasure. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.