CRYPT OF TERROR #17 * CGC 3.5 Restored * Small Glue Touch * 1st Ish

Author:
Title: CRYPT OF TERROR No. 17 * 1st Issue
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: I. C. Publishing Co. Inc.]
Date Published: April-May, 1950
Description: CGC certified: VG- (3.5). Purple label: Restored (C-1). Off-white pages. Grader notes: Multiple crease cover breaks color; small amount of glue on 2 center wrap; small spine split top of spine; spine roll; staining to cover; tears to cover.

CGC Census: 90 graded copies (75 Universal, 15 Restored).

GPAnalysis: No Restored copies in this grade. A Restored 3.0 (A, trimmed) sold for $1750 in 3/23. A Universal 3.5 sold for $460 in 2/10; a Universal 4.0 sold for $3500 in 9/23.

Credits: Cover: Johnny Craig. Scripts: Al Feldstein, Gardner Fox, and Johnny Craig. Art: Al Feldstein, Bill Fraccio, George Roussos, Johnny Craig. 1st issue, numbering continued from Crime Patrol #16.Crypt Chronology: Bill Gaines brought artist Al Feldstein on board in 1948, and soon the energetic Feldstein was functioning as artist-writer-editor for EC's struggling line of comics. By 1949, Gaines and Feldstein were tired of chasing trends, from romance to heroic fantasy to crime, and wanted to stake out their own publishing territory. "Why don't we make them follow us?," Feldstein asked Gaines. "Let's start our own trend." Both men had fond memories of the spooky radio dramas they loved listening to as kids, such as Inner Sanctum, The Witch's Tale and Lights Out. Feldstein pushed Gaines to try horror stories in comics form, and Gaines gave the idea the green light. Thus was spawned EC's first foray into horror: an "Illustrated Terror-Tale from the CRYPT of TERROR" published in the penultimate issue of Crime Patrol. Gaines liked the experiment, and more horror yarns followed in the final issues of Crime Patrol and War Against Crime!

According to Grant Geissman's The History of EC Comics, "Gaines and Feldstein liked doing these stories, and it did seem like they were onto something. Back then the wholesalers employed 'road men,' guys who checked the newsstands to see how things were selling. When they sent back the 'ten-day check-ups' indicating strong sales for the experimental issues of Crime Patrol and War Against Crime!, Gaines and Feldstein went all in for horror. And a New Trend was ushered in at EC."

Pre-Code historian George Suarez says that "Crypt of Terror marks the birth of EC horror, an event of transcendent importance as far as serious fans of comics are concerned. EC's legendary reputation among comic readers is well-deserved. This company published more quality work in the all-too-brief four years of its reign as the premier comic publisher of the era than much larger companies came close to generating over decades of production." – Tales Too Terrible To Tell #1.

This title's numbering carried over from its previous incarnation as Crime Patrol, and thus the debut issue of Crypt was numbered "17." The wholesalers were uncomfortable with the word "TERROR" printed in big letters on the cover, and so, with the fourth issue (#20), the title was changed to the more familiar Tales from the Crypt.______________________________________________________________

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.