Author:
Title: WHO IS NEXT? No. 5 * 1st Issue
Place Published:
Publisher:Standard/Pines [Indicia: Standard Magazines, Inc.]
Date Published: January, 1953
Description: CGC certified: VG- (3.5). Off-white pages. Grader notes: Wear spine breaks color; multiple crease cover breaks color; pieces out to cover; tears to cover.

CGC Census: 35 graded copies (33 Universal, 2 Restored).

GPAnalysis: A 3.5 sold for $795 in 3/24.

Credits: Cover: George Roussos (and Mike Peppe?). Art: Alex Toth, Mike Sekowsky, Aldo Rubano?, Nick Cardy, Ross Andru.Numbers Racket: First and only ish of this offbeat crime mag (technically, it's not a one-shot, as the indicia indicates that it was intended for quarterly publication). So why does the numbering start with #5? As usual, pre-Code savant George Suarez has the answers:

"Standard was apparently concerned that with the glut of comics hitting the newsstands at the height of the pre-Code 'explosion,' new titles would be short-shrifted by newsstand vendors... In those days, #1 issues were frequently printed without a number on the cover so distributors, vendors and fans would NOT know that the title was new.... With the newsstands cluttered so badly that rack space was at a great premium, the general attitude seemed to be that if any title was going to be denied space, it should be a new, unproven comic book: i.e. a #1 issue." – Tales Too Terrible To Tell #7. NEC: 1992-93, p. 30.

The highlight of this mag is Alex Toth's "The Crushed Gardenia," about a loco ladykiller who ends up in the loony bin, which loosely corresponds to George Roussos's excellent cover illustration. "In 'The Cushed Gardenia' the artist reached a level of economy and expression unmatched in his Standard body of work, and it remains one of his landmark stories.... some of the most daring work of Toth's young career." – Greg Sadowski, Setting the Standard: Comics By Alex Toth, 1952-1954. Fantagraphics: 2011, p. 414.______________________________________________________________

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.