Auctions: comic books December 1953

Archie (1943 Archie Comics) 65 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4745072008

Black Magic (1950-1961 Prize/Crestwood) Vol. 4 #3 VG 4.0

Cover by Jack Kirby. Art by Steve Ditko, Harry Lazarus, Bob McCarty, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Captain America creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby present their own contribution to the horror comics trend of the 1950s, featuring tales of ghosts and the paranormal. Issue # 27 on cover; listed as Vol. 4, issue #3 in indicia. A man encounters transforming Cat People, similar to but less subtle than the earlier film of that title. A visiting American hears ghostly bagpipes and sees spectral dancers in an old Scottish castle. A strange skull sends three people into the distant past, in one of the first published stories by comics legend Steve Ditko (and completed by fellow legend Jack Kirby). The Cat People; A Hole in His Head; The Nightmare; The Merry Ghosts of Campbell Castle; Ghost Pictures; Murder?; Don't Call on the Dead! 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Pogo Possum (1949-1954 Dell) 14 VG- 3.5

Cover coming detached at one staple. Cover oxidation with chipping.

Cover art by Walt Kelly. Scripts and art by Walt Kelly. "The Hoodoo Man and the Nearsighted Duck" text story. "Cocky Doodle Dandy"; Pogo and Albert discuss whose mother had the highest intentions for them; Albert decides to spy on Pogo dressed as a spy queen. "The Hippocritical Oaf"; Howland's attempts at being a doctor quickly get misdirected into a false fire alarm, with the fire department burning up the fire station on the last page. "Ol' Albert Decides Yuletide and Time Waits For No 'Gator"; Albert tricks the alligator children into thinking that Santa Claus is dead and eats the presents Pogo and Bumbazine hide in his house. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Strange Fantasy (1952) 9 CGC 5.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4476284001

Stories and art by Bruce Hamilton and Steve Ditko. Offbeat pre-Code horror stories from Ajax-Farrell, with art by the Iger Shop staff. A man's long hair comes to life, in a truly bizarre escalating series of events partially illustrated by future Marvel legend Steve Ditko. An artist tries and fails to maintain the balance between madness and genius. Luther is cursed with the ability to know who is going to die. Dream of Horror; Hair Yee-eeee; Magic Formula; Portrait of Doom; Mirror of Death. 32 pages, Full Color. NOTE: In addition to the regular issue, some copies of no. 9 were manufactured with different interiors from other comics. Please see title Strange Fantasy (1952) #9 Variant Interiors. Cover price $0.10.