HORRIFIC #2 * CGC 3.0 * Putrid PUPPET-MASTERS Cover

Heading:
Author:
Title: HORRIFIC No. 2
Place Published:
Publisher:Comic Media [Allen Hardy Associates, Inc.]
Date Published: November, 1952
Description:

CGC certified: G/VG (3.0). Cream to off-white pages. Cover, stories and art by Iger Studio talent (one story possibly drawn by Ken Battefield). Edited by Ruth Roche. The cover is an homage to the cover to Bomber Comics #3 (Fall 1944), also edited by Ms. Roche. CGC census: 21 Blue Label copies. GPAnalysis: A 1.8 sold for $403 in Oct. 2020; a 4.5 sold for $1000 in Jan. 2021, and a 3.0 sold for an atypically low $496 in July 2021.

A rotting ghoul and his hideous honey play puppetmaster with hapless humanity. The crudely-rendered cover art packs a visceral punch that might have eluded a more polished illustration. Indeed, the Iger Shop's slapdash production was its greatest strength: harried creators hacked this stuff out, under sweatshop conditions, with little time or inclination for self-censorship or second-guessing. This factory-like production process led to some wonderfully unfiltered weirdness — the lowbrow equivalent of Allen Ginsberg's literary dictum, "first thought, best thought."

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.