TALES FROM THE CRYPT No. 20 * 1st Issue Publisher: EC [Indicia: I.C. Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: October-November 1950 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine (5.0). Off-white pages. Cover: Johnny Craig Plots and scripts: Bill Gaines, Al Feldstein Johnny Craig Art: Al Feldstein Jack Kamen Graham Ingels Johnny Craig First issue published under the title "Tales from the Crypt" (formerly "Crypt of Terror"). GPAnalysis: A 5.0 sold for $1525 in 12/21; a 4.5 sold for $2750 in 3/23; a lowly 1.5 sold for $1250 in 2/23 — this ish is rapidly trending upwards. With Crypt of Terror's fourth issue, a serendipitous name change results in the most iconic pre-Code horror title of them all. "They changed the title of The Crypt of Terror to Tales from the Crypt three issues later, after 'the wholesalers made some noise,' according to Gaines." — Grant Geissman, The History of EC Comics. Taschen: 2020, p. 147. Curiously, the squeamish wholesalers apparently had no objection to Vault of Horror, which leads one to wonder why the condition of horror should be considered more acceptable than the state of terror? According to scare scholar Lincoln Michel, "Terror is the feeling of dread and apprehension at the possibility of something frightening, while horror is the shock and repulsion of seeing the frightening thing. Terror is the sound of unknown creatures scratching at the door; horror is seeing your roommate eaten alive by giant rats. Terror is the feeling a stranger may be hiding behind the door; horror is the squirt of blood as the stranger’s knife sinks in." — "Horror vs Terror: The Vocabulary of Fear," Themastersreview.com, Oct. 17, 2022. According to this taxonomy of terror, it seems that for EC's critics, even the gruesomest fate was preferable to the uncertainty of not knowing. 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 Fall 2023 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, featuring over 40,000 comics, comprising every comic book published by DC for retail sale between 1934 and 2014. Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com to get on the notifications list. Item#: 352193 Headline: TALES FROM THE CRYPT #20 * CGC 5.0 * 1st Ish of TFTC * Taxonomy of Terror
TALES FROM THE CRYPT No. 20 * 1st Issue Publisher: EC [Indicia: I.C. Publishing Co., Inc.] Date Published: October-November 1950 Description: CGC certified: VG/Fine (5.0). Off-white pages. Cover: Johnny Craig Plots and scripts: Bill Gaines, Al Feldstein Johnny Craig Art: Al Feldstein Jack Kamen Graham Ingels Johnny Craig First issue published under the title "Tales from the Crypt" (formerly "Crypt of Terror"). GPAnalysis: A 5.0 sold for $1525 in 12/21; a 4.5 sold for $2750 in 3/23; a lowly 1.5 sold for $1250 in 2/23 — this ish is rapidly trending upwards. With Crypt of Terror's fourth issue, a serendipitous name change results in the most iconic pre-Code horror title of them all. "They changed the title of The Crypt of Terror to Tales from the Crypt three issues later, after 'the wholesalers made some noise,' according to Gaines." — Grant Geissman, The History of EC Comics. Taschen: 2020, p. 147. Curiously, the squeamish wholesalers apparently had no objection to Vault of Horror, which leads one to wonder why the condition of horror should be considered more acceptable than the state of terror? According to scare scholar Lincoln Michel, "Terror is the feeling of dread and apprehension at the possibility of something frightening, while horror is the shock and repulsion of seeing the frightening thing. Terror is the sound of unknown creatures scratching at the door; horror is seeing your roommate eaten alive by giant rats. Terror is the feeling a stranger may be hiding behind the door; horror is the squirt of blood as the stranger’s knife sinks in." — "Horror vs Terror: The Vocabulary of Fear," Themastersreview.com, Oct. 17, 2022. According to this taxonomy of terror, it seems that for EC's critics, even the gruesomest fate was preferable to the uncertainty of not knowing. 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 Fall 2023 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, featuring over 40,000 comics, comprising every comic book published by DC for retail sale between 1934 and 2014. Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com to get on the notifications list. Item#: 352193 Headline: TALES FROM THE CRYPT #20 * CGC 5.0 * 1st Ish of TFTC * Taxonomy of Terror
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
