Author:
Title: SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES No. 1
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: Tiny Tot Comics Inc.]
Date Published: February-March, 1952
Description: CGC certified: VG- (3.5). Qualified. 2nd wrap missing. Off-white pages. Grader notes: Missing interior part/page/wrap (QUALIFIED) 2nd wrap affects story; creasing to cover; staining to cover.

CGC Census: 192 graded copies (184 Universal, 1 Qualified, 5 Signature, 2 Restored).

GPAnalysis: No reported Qualified sales in any grade. A Universal 3.5 sold for $385 in 12/23.

Credits: Cover: Al Feldstein. Scripts: Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein. Art: Jack Kamen, Jack Davis, Joe Orlando, Graham Ingels. Spielberg Speaks: "In 1948, EC Comics launched western, romance, and crime comics, trying to improve sales by following current trends. Finally, in 1950, those books morphed into the first horror comics like Tales from the Crypt and the first intelligent sci-fi comics like Weird Science and Weird Fantasy. But perhaps the most interesting of all were the morality tales [Gaines] introduced in the title Shock SuspenStories. For the first time, Gaines attacked subjects like racial and religious prejudice with stories like 'The Guilty!' and 'Hate!' These hard-hitting stories were aimed at the young readers of comic books and confronted these controversial topics head-on. While most of the comic books were devoted to costumed superheroes, Archie, and Donald Duck, Bill Gaines was using the medium to educate his audience, like his father before him." – Steven Spielberg, "Foreword," The EC Archives: Shock SuspenStories Vol. 1. Gemstone: 2006, p. 7.______________________________________________________________

A limited edition of ten hardcover catalogues is available, in addition to a few dozen softcovers. Fun reference, great keepsake, fully illustrated, chockablock with obscure facts, gags, bon mots. Softcovers are $40, deluxe hardcovers with dust jackets and limitation plates are $200. These books always go fast so don't delay. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's Summer 2024 Comic Book sale. Top prices for Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age, Silver Age, original art and ephemera. Find out why PBA is the new fan-fave of funnybook fiends. "This is some of the best commentary I've yet seen on the quality of the content of comic books... Priceless." – R. Crumb. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Coming Soon: The DC Universe Collection Part 3: The Golden Age (August 2024) and Weird Tales and Amazing Stories: The PBA Pulp Sale (September 2024). Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com to get on the notifications list.