Crime SuspenStories #22 Gaines File Pedigree 12/12 (EC, 1954)...

Crime SuspenStories #22 Gaines File Pedigree 12/12 (EC, 1954) CGC NM- 9.2 Off-white to white pages. One of the most infamous of all of EC's gory images, this classic Johnny Craig ax decapitation cover was used in the Senate Investigations on Juvenile Delinquency and lead to that event's foremost sound bite. When asked by Senator Estes Kefauver if he thought this cover was in good taste, publisher Bill Gaines responded, "Yes, sir: I do. For the cover of a horror comic." Good taste or not, this copy is in excellent condition, and is the second highest-graded copy we have ever offered, and the only higher-graded copy we've ever seen was another Gaines file copy, way back in 2001. Great cover colors and an excellent cut combine to make this an extremely attractive and desirable copy. Currently tied for the #1 spot on Overstreet's Top Ten Crime Comics list. Overstreet 2022 NM- 9.2 value = $20,000. CGC census 3/23: 1 in 9.2, 3 higher. HID09710052018 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved