DARK MYSTERIES #3 * CGC 2.0 * The Unwilling Witch

Heading:
Author:
Title: DARK MYSTERIES No. 3
Place Published:
Publisher:Story, aka Master/Merit [Indicia: Master Comics, Inc.]
Date Published: October-November, 1951
Description:

CGC certified: Good (2.0). Cream to off-white pages. Cover: Harry Harrison? Art: Edward Goldfarb, Vince Napoli, Bill Molno?, Pierce Rice? GPAnalysis: No reported sales in this grade. A 3.0 sold for $175 in May 2018.

This issue's uncredited cover appears to be the handiwork of Harry Harrison, onetime partner of Wally Wood. The cover is unsigned, which may reflect future sci-fi scribe Harrison's desire to distance himself from an artform he disdained:

"With several hundred horror stories comic out each month, quality was not always the prime consideration for many of the smaller publishers. Harry Harrison, a 1950s comic book writer and artist, recalled the horror boom years: 'There was a big run on artists with the horror comics when you could work if you could draw your name. Anything went. They'd package the stuff with real nice covers, garbage inside.'" — Mike Benson, Horror Comics: The Illustrated History. Taylor: 1991, p. 25.

A limited edition of 150 softcover and 15 hardcover catalogues is available. 400 lots, fully illustrated. Fun reference, great keepsake. Softcover $30, deluxe hardcover with dust jacket and limitation plate $200. Ten of the 15 hardcovers are pre-ordered and the rest will go quickly, so reserve yours now. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's December 2021 Comic Book sale. Top prices for Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age, Silver Age, original art and ephemera. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.