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Author:
Title: MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES No. 21
Place Published:
Publisher:Story [Indicia: Story Comics, Inc.]
Date Published: August, 1954
Description:

G/VG (3.0). Spine roll, spine stress, transverse tears to spine (one of which affects pages), staple rust, staples pulled, some rubbing and soiling to covers, "OK" marked in pencil nine times on front cover, 1st page has crimped right edge and the edges are quite tanned, faint rubberstamped distributor's mark ("MAY 23 1954") to top of "UR" in "ADVENTURES." Cream pages, light tan edges. Cover: Hy Fleishman? Art: Ross Andru? Bill Savage? Hy Fleishman? Dick Beck? Overstreet: "Bondage/beheading cover; extreme violence." GPAnalysis: A 3.0 sold for $480 in September 2021.

Lotsa rough stuff in this gonzo mag. On the cover, a Misfits-looking executioner prepares to give a blonde a pre-Code horror hair bob. Inside, there are several grotesque hanging panels to rival Johnny Craig's cover to Crime SuspenStories #20 (which is a likely source of inspiration, considering Story's penchant for EC knock-offs); some tasteless disembowelment action in a story tentatively credited to Bill Savage (with some possibly Bill Elder-inspired linework); a hot blonde makes out with an ape; and a hag shivs a hottie in the ribs with a giant knife. Queasy readers may find comfort in the last-page ad hawking rosaries filled with water from the fountain at Lourdes ("To help you gain special favors, graces, blessings... and bring you closer to our Blessed Mother! — Patent Pending").

Consignments welcome for PBA's Fall 2022 Comic Book sale. Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age and Silver Age comics, original art, vintage comic-related photos and ephemera sought. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.