Author:
Title: VAULT OF HORROR No. 38
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: L.L. Publishing Co. Inc.]
Date Published: August-September, 1954
Description: CGC certified: Fine- (5.5). White pages. Grader notes: Light spine stress lines to cover; moderate creasing to cover; very light soiling on cover; very light tears to cover.

CGC Census: 96 graded copies (90 Universal, 6 Restored).

GPAnalysis: A 5.5 sold for $400 in 11/21.

Credits: Cover: Johnny Craig. Scripts: Lyle Stuart, Bill Gaines, and Carl Wessler. Art: Jack Davis, Johnny Craig, Bernie Krigstein, Graham Ingels.Of Catacombs and Concubines: Johnny Craig's cover depicts two men navigating a maze of the dead by eerie lamplight. Craig's skillful chiaroscuro prepares the reader for Krigstein's "The Catacombs," about which EC scholar Bill Mason says: "There can be no question that 'The Catacombs' fulfills Krigstein's stated ambition to raise comic book art to the level of Goya." Meanwhile, the Vault Keeper drools over his latest acquisition, Drusilla, as she sits, seemingly catatonic, in his squalid den of iniquity.

Drusilla's sultry mystique has made her a cult favorite among modern Fan-Addicts. A recent EC Fan-Addict Club online thread discussed Vault Keeper's relationship with his vault-mate ("So were these two a couple? I find it very disturbing to think of the Vault Keeper having regular sex"). A volley of wiseguy quips ensued ("Oh, I doubt there was anything 'regular' about it"), but perhaps the most insightful response came from Nicholas Gazin:

"I get the feeling that the Vault Keeper is not a sexual being. He delights in tormenting us with his ghoulish tales. Drusilla is a display of his power and he's controlling this woman to torment the adolescent boys reading the comic. 'Don't you wish you could control the minds and emotions of pin-up girls?' But he's looking at us, not her."______________________________________________________________

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.