Heading:
Author:
Title: TOMB OF TERROR No. 15
Place Published:
Publisher:Harvey [Indicia: Harvey Publications, Inc.]
Date Published: May, 1954
Description:

CGC Certified: Fine (6.0). Cream to off-white pages. Cover: Lee Elias. Art: Bob Powell, Joe Certa, Jack Sparling, Howard Nostrand? GPAnalysis: No sales in this grade in 10 years. A 5.0 sold for $7186 in 4/21; a 4.5 sold for $5317 in 2/21; a 4.0 sold for $5880 in 11/21; a 3.5 sold for $6500 in 6/22; a 3.0 sold for $5100 in 11/22; an 8.0 (file copy) sold for $15,000 in 1/23.

"Classic exploding robot head cover by Lee Elias. Crazy!" – EC, MAD, and Pre-Code HORROR Comics of the 1950s. Green Apple Books: 1997, p. 7.

One of the most extreme covers of the pre-Code era. See the little gears and whirligigs flying from the guy's exploding kisser? That's Harvey's way of distancing themselves from their own ultraviolence – after all, who could get upset about a malfunctioning robot? It's the ultimate sleazy dodge, both ingenious and disingenuous, the funnybook equivalent of burlesque queens wearing flesh-colored pasties to circumvent decency laws.

Enjoying the Sale? Order a fully-illustrated softcover catalogue for 30 bucks. Only about 100 copies were printed and they're going fast. To reserve a copy, contact PBA's Director of Comics: ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consign to PBA Galleries. Our comic sales average a 98% sell-through rate, our prices realized are top-of-the-market, and our research-intensive catalogues are the best in the business. Seeking Silver Age Marvel, Golden Age superheroes, and pre-Code horror. Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.