CGC-graded Horror and Crime Comics Offered in Upcoming Heritage Sale
Posted on 6/23/2023
An assortment of frighteningly good comics dating back to the 1940s and ’50s, graded by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®), are available now in Heritage Auctions’ Horror and Crime Comics Showcase, scheduled for July 13-14. 2023.
The auction includes classic horror comics such as Crimes by Women #8 Davis Crippen “D Copy” graded CGC 7.0 (lot 81121) published by Fox Features Syndicate in 1949, and a Mister Mystery #11 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81312) published by Aragon Publications in 1953. “Pre-Comics Code” horror comic books refer to a specific era in the history of American comic books that pre-dates the implementation of the Comics Code Authority (CCA).
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During the late 1940s and early 1950s, horror comic books became increasingly popular, capturing the attention of readers with their dark and often gruesome themes, exploring elements of the supernatural, crime and suspenseful storytelling. These comics featured various horror subgenres, including monsters, vampires, zombies, ghosts and other supernatural beings. They were characterized by their graphic and explicit imagery, violent content and often disturbing storylines.
However, the rising popularity of horror comics also led to concerns about their potential negative influence on young readers. Driven by public outcry and the fear of moral degradation, the comic book industry established the Comics Code Authority in 1954. The CCA imposed strict guidelines on the content of comic books. As a result, publishers had to tone down the violence, sexuality and horror elements in their stories to conform to the new regulations.
The code remained in effect until it was disbanded entirely in 2011.
Other CGC-graded comics in this auction include:
- an Astonishing #30 graded CGC 4.0 (lot 81019)
- a Daredevil Comics #11 graded CGC 5.5 (lot 81132)
- a Dark Mysteries #19 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 81145)
- a Punch Comics #19 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81376)
- a Secret Diary of Eerie Adventures graded CGC 3.0 (lot 81397)
- a Terrors of the Jungle #4 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81513)
- a Tomb of Terror #15 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 81539)
- a Tomb of Terror #16 with a Northford pedigree graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81540)
- a Voodoo Annual #1 graded CGC 5.0 (lot 81564)
- a Weird Mysteries #5 graded CGC 2.0 (lot 81594)
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for many other types of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes.
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