EC (Indicia: "L.L. Publishing Co., Inc."). April-May, 1952. Good+ (2.5). Soft and pulpy, moderate surface wear, 1/3" tear to spine foot, nicks and edgewear (particularly to right edge of front cover), two short tears to back cover. Ownership rubberstamp to bottom margin of inside front cover and first page, with name effected with Sharpie. Off-white pages. Johnny Craig cover. Plots and scripts by Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein. Johnny Craig script. Art by Johnny Craig, Jack Kamen, Jack Davis and Graham Ingels. Artist biography: Al Feldstein ("Al is especially famous for his S-F covers... easily the finest in the comics field!").

A brain surgeon stashes a stolen diamond in his patient's cranium in the wonderfully-named "Rocks In His Head!" by Craig. A slumlord who exploits soldiers is eaten alive by rats in Ingels's "Friend To 'Our Boys'!" "Despite their gleeful show of blood and guts, [EC] comics had a moralistic streak a mile wide, in the best tradition of Jonathan Edwards, or the medieval mural painters who inspired Holbein." – David Skal, The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror.

A limited edition of 100 softcover and 15 hardcover catalogues are available. Over 200 pages, fully illustrated. Fun reference, great keepsake. Softcovers $40, dust-jacketed hardcover with limitation plate $200. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com or call 415-989-2665

R. Crumb says, "I found [PBA's catalogue] so interesting that I am saving it for the texts that accompany the comics which were put up for auction. This is some of the best commentary I've yet seen on the quality of the content of comic books. I especially enjoyed the reviews of the post-war horror comics. Great. Priceless."

Consignments welcome for PBA's Spring 2021 Comic Book sale. Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age and Silver Age comics, original art and ephemera sought. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com or call 415-989-2665