Author:
Title: WEIRD SCIENCE No. 19
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: Fables Publishing Co. Inc.]
Date Published: May-June, 1953
Description: CGC certified: Fine/VF (7.0). White pages. Grader notes: Light creasing to cover; light spine stress lines to cover; light tears to cover; very light cover tanning.

CGC Census: 68 graded copies (64 Universal, 1 Signature, 3 Restored).

GPAnalysis: A 7.0 sold for $104 in 11/02; a 6.5 sold for $551 in 1/23.

Credits: Cover: Wally Wood. Scripts: Bill Gaines, Al Feldstein, and Ray Bradbury. Art: Wally Wood, Al Williamson, Bill Elder, Joe Orlando. Overstreet: "Used in SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT."Hatpin of Horror: Used in Dr. Wertham's Seduction of the Innocent: "A young girl on her wedding night stabs her sleeping husband to death with a hatpin when she realizes that he comes from a distant planet and is a 'mammal.'" For Wertham, EC's combination of marriage and murder was an unpardonable offense against wholesome American institutions, and he probably thought the "mammal" bit was just plain weird.

"[Horror comics] targeted the American family, the good life, revered institutions. Framed by sardonic detective narrators or mocking Grand Guignol gatekeepers, their impact was deconstructive. Driven by a commercial 'hysteria' as they competed to attract buyers with increasingly atrocity-laden covers and stories, they both partook of and mocked the hysteria about them." – Tom Englehardt, The End of Victory Culture: Cold War America and the Disillusioning of a Generation. Basic: 1995, p. 137.______________________________________________________________

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.