Pre-Code Crime, Horror and Romance

Highlights of Heritage Auctions' sale of the Roger Hill Collection from January 2025

Harvey May 1954

Chamber of Chills #23

Low
$1K
Mid
$3K
High
$10K
View on eBay
Cover art by Lee Elias, published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

FILE COPY 7.5 sold for $7,200 [$236 in 2004] +2,951%

Continental Jun 1944

Suspense Comics #4

Low
$1.8K
Mid
$6K
High
$18K
View on eBay
Bondage cover art by L.B. Cole

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

4.5 sold for $5,280 [$1,009 in 2012] +423%

Quality Aug 1941

Police Comics #1

Low
$3.5K
Mid
$11K
High
$35K
View on eBay
1st appearance of Plastic Man
1st appearance of the Human Bomb
1st appearance of Firebrand
1st appearance of Phantom Lady

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

1.5 sold for $3,840 [$777 in 2010] +394%

Timely Apr 1952

Venus #19

Low
$4.3K
Mid
$13K
High
$43K
View on eBay
Iconic horror cover art by Bill Everett published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

3.5 sold for $6,600 [$1,700 in 2014] +288%

Avon Jun 1951 Vol 2

Eerie #1

Low
$260
Mid
$780
High
$2.6K
View on eBay

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

6.5 sold for $1,260 [$355 in 2012] +255%

Harvey Jun 1954

Black Cat Comics #50

Low
$3.5K
Mid
$9.5K
High
$35K
View on eBay
Iconic horror cover art by Lee Elias, published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

2.5 sold for $11,500 [$3,840 in 2020] +199%

1.8 sold for $9,600 [No Previous Data]

Trans-World Publications Nov 1949

Mysterious Traveler Comics #1

Low
$200
Mid
$600
High
$2K
View on eBay
Comic book adaptation of the Mysterious Traveler radio series of stories in the sci-fi, fantasy, crime drama and mystery genres

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

4.5 sold for $780 [$273 in 2020] +186%

Low
$25
Mid
$75
High
$250
View on eBay
One-shot adaptation of the Sax Rhomer novel, with cover and art by Wallace Wood

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

5.5 sold for $564 [$230 in 2020] +145%

Lev Gleason Jun 1942

Boy Comics #4

Low
$330
Mid
$990
High
$3.3K
View on eBay

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

4.5 sold for $1,140 [$466 in 2014] +145%

Farrell Apr 1955

Vooda #20

Low
$200
Mid
$600
High
$2K
View on eBay

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

6.5 sold for $2,100 [$1,020 in 2023] +106%

Atlas Oct 1956

Yellow Claw #1

Low
$600
Mid
$1.8K
High
$6K
View on eBay
1st appearance and origin of Yellow Claw, a descendant of Genghis Khan and a crime lord
1st appearance of Jimmy Woo, a government operative who has worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., Agents of Atlas and other agencies
1st appearance of Jade Claw aka Suwan, the niece of Yellow Claw

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

3.5 sold for $2,040 [$1,000 in 2021] +104%

Chesler Dynamic Jul 1944

Punch Comics #9

Low
$850
Mid
$2.1K
High
$8.5K
View on eBay
Cover art depicting extreme violence, published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

6.0 sold for $15,000 [$9,600 in 2020] +56%

St. John Oct 1954

Amazing Ghost Stories #14

Low
$1.1K
Mid
$4.2K
High
$16K
View on eBay
Cover art by Matt Baker
Adaptation of 'The Pit and the Pendulum' by Edgar Allen Poe

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

5.5 sold for $3,120 [$2,100 in 2019] +49%

Ace Magazines Mar 1952

Baffling Mysteries #7

Low
$385
Mid
$1.2K
High
$3.9K
View on eBay
Published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

3.5 sold for $1,440 [$1,000 in 2022] +44%

Atlas Mar 1953

Menace #1

Low
$500
Mid
$1.5K
High
$5K
View on eBay
Cover art by Bill Everett

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

3.5 sold for $780 [$550 in 2020] +42%

Eastern Color Nov 1954

Famous Funnies #214

Low
$900
Mid
$3K
High
$9K
View on eBay
Cover art by Frank Frazetta featuring Buck Rogers

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

4.0 sold for $3,120 [$2,220 in 2020] +41%

Magazine Enterprises Jan 1952

Thun'da: King of the Congo #1

Low
$450
Mid
$1.2K
High
$4.5K
View on eBay
1st appearance and origin of Thun'da, a pilot forced to becomes a warrior after his plane crashed in the jungle
The only original comic book illustrated entirely by Frank Frazetta, from cover to cover

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

5.0 sold for $1,800 [$1,306 in 2023] +38%

Low
$125
Mid
$410
High
$1.2K
View on eBay
Published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

6.0 sold for $504 [$371 in Mar] +36%

DOUBLE COVER / 6.5 sold for $720 [No Previous Data]

Ace Magazines Jul 1954

Beyond, The #27

Low
$265
Mid
$875
High
$2.6K
View on eBay
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: immoral violence for the sake of entertainment - a doctor drinks an elixir, turns into a monster and proceeds to go on a murder spree

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

4.5 sold for $1,440 [$1,140 in 2022] +26%

Ribage Jul 1952

Crime Mysteries #2

Low
$510
Mid
$1.5K
High
$5.1K
View on eBay
Cover art by Al Hollingsworth inspired by Strange Mysteries #1

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

6.0 sold for $1,680 [$1,380 in Oct] +22%

Harvey Apr 1952

Chamber of Chills #7

Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1K
View on eBay
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: morbid fantasies - a man's wife is killed by a giant crab, he then turns into a crab himself and devours her corpse

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

7.0 sold for $660 [$595 in 2023] +11%

Youthful Dec 1952

Chilling Tales #13

Low
$400
Mid
$1.2K
High
$4K
View on eBay
Cover art by Matt Fox, published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

3.5 sold for $1,320 [$1,199 in 2023] +10%

Marvel Jun 1952

Journey Into Mystery #1

Low
$1.5K
Mid
$5K
High
$15K
View on eBay
Premiere issue of Marvel horror series
Interior panels depict hanging

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

3.5 sold for $5,760 [No Previous Data]

Harvey Jul 1954

Tomb of Terror #16

Low
$350
Mid
$1.1K
High
$3.5K
View on eBay
Final issue titled Tomb of Terror, numbering continues with Thrills of Tomorrow #17 after the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

FILE COPY / 7.0 sold for $4,080 [No Previous Data]

Avon Jan 1947

Eerie #1

Low
$1.6K
Mid
$5.5K
High
$16K
View on eBay
First comic book title dedicated to the horror genre

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

PG 20-24 MISSING / INCOMPLETE / 0.5 sold for $2,760 [No Previous Data]

Marvel May 1949

Amazing Mysteries #32

Low
$1K
Mid
$3K
High
$10K
View on eBay
Premiere issue of the first Marvel horror title
Title numbering continues from Sub-Mariner Comics #31

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

5.5 sold for $2,400 [No Previous Data]

St. John Aug 1949

Giant Comics Editions #7

Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$395
View on eBay

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

4.0 sold for $2,040 [No Previous Data]

Rated a 9 ('may not exist') in Gerber's guide to comics, this is considered to be one of the rarest romance books of the 1950s

Quality Oct 1952

G.I. Combat #1

Low
$300
Mid
$1K
High
$3K
View on eBay
Premiere issue of long-running war series acquired by DC beginning with issue #44

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

6.0 sold for $1,800 [No Previous Data]

Comic Media Jan 1953

Weird Terror #3

Low
$210
Mid
$815
High
$2.1K
View on eBay
Cover art by Don Heck, published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

6.0 sold for $1,560 [No Previous Data]

Essankay Aug 1948

Law Against Crime #3

Low
$120
Mid
$400
High
$1.2K
View on eBay
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: a couple is shown with bullet holes in their heads and stab wounds in their chests

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

7.0 sold for $1,320 [No Previous Data]

Fox Oct 1948

Crimes By Women #3

Low
$300
Mid
$1K
High
$3K
View on eBay
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: cover art depicting women engaged in a gunfight with police

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

5.5 sold for $1,140 [No Previous Data]

Fawcett May 1953

Beware! Terror Tales #7

Low
$100
Mid
$300
High
$1K
View on eBay
Published prior to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

7.0 sold for $960 [No Previous Data]

Charlton Aug 1961

Reptilicus #1

Low
$40
Mid
$125
High
$420
View on eBay
Based on the 1961 Cinemagic feature film, part of a short-lived rush to capitalize on the fame of Godzilla

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

8.5 sold for $840 [No Previous Data]

Ribage Nov 1952

Crime Mysteries #4

Low
$750
Mid
$1.9K
High
$7.5K
View on eBay
Bondage cover
One-page interior artwork by Frank Frazetta on a public service announcement titled 'Prayer Works Wonders'

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

2.5 sold for $552 [No Previous Data]

Quality Nov 1952

Web of Evil #1

Low
$230
Mid
$925
High
$2.3K
View on eBay
Referenced in Seduction of the Innocent, led to establishing the Comics Code Authority
Reason: the famous death scene in Shakespeare's Hamlet is rewritten

📣 Signature Auction: New High [Previous High]

INCOMPLETE / 1.0 sold for $480 [No Previous Data]

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