Auctions: comic books published by St. John

Abbott and Costello (1948 St. John) 15 FN- 5.5

Extra staples (manufacturing). Staple rust.

Cover by Eric Peters. Art by Eric Peters and others. The classic comedy duo of TV, radio and film starred in this comic at the height of their careers. Stranded in India after they run out of money, vacationing Bud and Lou run afoul of a rogue elephant. The boys fall in with an amnesiac gangster who's looking for his loot, while his gang is looking for him, causing confusion for all. A psychiatrist tells Lou that his psychotic boss is the root of his issues. Abbott and Costello in India; Look Before You Leap!; Private Eyes in Public; The Model Male; Quips and Queries; Throwing the Bull. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Diary Secrets (1950) 14 FR 1.0

Complete spine split.

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Cover by Matt Baker. Stories and art by Matt Baker and Dana Dutch. Tales of teen angst and amour, often featuring art and covers by celebrated good-girl artist Matt Baker. Actress Elaine is torn between fellow actor Bruce and Dr. Rogers, the only surgeon who can save Bruce's voice, in a story with art by Baker. In another Matt Baker story, Anita gets suspicious after she sees her boyfriend Ted with Helen in the front seat of their roomy Woodie sedan. Top This; Love Challenge; The Risk I Had to Take; Breaking All the Rules; Foolhardy and Headstrong; Fun Time. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

House of Terror (1953 3-D) 1N VG- 3.5 Without 3D Glasses

Cover detached at one staple. Staple rust.

Does not include original 3-D glasses. Cover by Joe Kubert. Stories and art by Joe Kubert, Les Zakarin and Enrico Bagnoli. Pre-Code horror from St. John featuring nice art by comics legend Joe Kubert and Enrico Bagnoli. St. John was a pioneer in 3-D comics during the original 3-D craze of the 1950s. Aspiring painter Henry makes a deal with the devil after he purchases a cursed painting, in a story with early art by comics legend Joe Kubert. In another Kubert story, robbers commit murder while fleeing police, then are pursued by the murdered man's spirit. A violinist falls under the spell of a cursed Stradivarius. Picture of Evil; The Violin of Death; The Curse of Khar; The Devil's Chair. 32 pages, B/W with 3-D effects. Cover price $0.25.

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.

Secret Missions (1950) 1 VG+ 4.5

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Cover by Joe Kubert. Stories and art by Frank Thorne and others. Pre-James Bond secret-agent intrigue from St. John. The full title, according to the cover, is "Admiral Zacharias' Secret Missions, All True and Authentic." A transplanted American gangster gets in too deep when dealing in stolen US ships in China. International assassins seek a bounty on Yugoslavian leader Marshal Tito, in a story featuring early art by Frank Thorne. An American secret agent gets involved in Cold War covert ops, in a story that opens with the hero leaping from a speeding train. Cover by comics legend Joe Kubert. Tragedy for Traitors; The Island of Death!; Death Dates a Blonde Informer. 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.

Three Stooges (1953 St. John) 6 CGC 5.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4339879017

Cover by Norman Maurer. Stories and art by Norman Maurer and Joe Kubert. St. John, a pioneer of celebrity comics, puts Moe, Larry and Shemp on the four-color page. The Stooges are hired to run a creepy old mansion, but hillbilly squatters decide to scare them out of the house by dressing like ghosts. A parody of the comic strip Bringing Up Father features a script by comics legend Joe Kubert. Con man Benedict Bogus somehow gets roped into getting married for real, and only the Stooges can get him out of it. The Stooges go to work at a barber shop, and hair hilarity ensues. And an ad for the "Scholart Institute," one of Kubert's first attempts at comics art instruction, preceding the Joe Kubert School by two decades. Fluke Spook; Saggy and Figgs: Bringin' Up Mamma; Bogus Takes a Bride; The Three Stooges. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.