Heads Turn for Pre-code Horror Comics, Certified by CGC and Offered by Heritage

While comics are often associated with capes and cowls, the 1950s saw an explosion of creeps and howls as crime and horror titles surged in popularity. Long relegated to the margins of comic book history, these once-controversial books have now risen from the grave, with many ghoulish grails, graded by CGC®, set to cross the block in Heritage Auctions’ Horror Comics Showcase Auction on March 13, 2026.

In the 1950s, crime and horror comics surged in popularity, captivating readers with their gritty realism and macabre tales. These books featured shocking stories of murder, betrayal and supernatural terror, which attracted a dedicated fanbase, but also faced growing public concern about their content. In 1954, Dr. Fredric Wertham published his book "Seduction of the Innocent," in which he argued that comic books, particularly horror and crime comics, were corrupting the minds of young readers and contributing to juvenile delinquency.

Growing public concern culminated in Senate hearings on comic books, aiming to investigate the alleged negative impact of comic books on youth, and these hearings led to the creation of the Comics Code Authority. This self-regulatory body imposed strict guidelines on comic book content, effectively curbing the graphic and provocative storytelling.

But many classic horror comics survived and frequently haunt auctions — such as this Witches Tales #25 File Copy graded CGC 9.2 (lot 83116). The series was a black-and-white anthology comic series published by Harvey Publications in the early era of pre-Code horror comics. Each installment collected a handful of short supernatural and suspense stories, often framed by a cackling witch host who ushered readers from one eerie vignette to the next. It was part of Harvey’s push into the booming horror market of the early ’50s, and it showcased work by artists such as Bob Powell and Lee Elias.

If you enjoy Witches Tales, there are plenty more in this auction, including:

• a Witches Tales #1 File Copy graded CGC 8.5 (lot 83091)
• a Witches Tales #8 File Copy graded CGC 8.5 (lot 83098)
• a Witches Tales #12 File Copy graded CGC 8.5 (lot 83103)
• a Witches Tales #20 File Copy graded CGC 8.5 (lot 83111)
• a Witches Tales #22 File Copy graded CGC 8.5 (lot 83113)

Also found in this action is one of the most iconic pre-Code horror comics, Crime SuspenStories #22 graded CGC 3.5 (lot 83011), which features a graphic image of decapitation that became symbolic of EC’s brand. Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, the cover of Crime SuspenStories #22 has become a symbol of the struggles between creative expression and censorship. Collectors and historians often reference this cover when discussing the impact of the Comics Code and the evolution of the comic book industry.

Other CGC-certified comics in this sale include:

• a Black Cat Mystery Comics #37 graded CGC 7.5 (lot 83005)
• a Chilling Tales #16 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 83008)
• a Crime SuspenStories #3 graded CGC 8.5 (lot 83009)
• a Dark Mysteries #10 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 83015)
• a Dead Who Walk #nn graded CGC 7.5 (lot 83017)
• a Haunt of Fear #18 signed by Ray Bradbury graded CGC Signature Series 4.5 (lot 83036)
• a Tales from the Crypt #28 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 83066)
• a Tales from the Crypt #41 graded CGC 6.0 (lot 83069)
• a Vault of Horror #17 graded CGC 8.0 (lot 83077)
• a Vault of Horror #30 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 83084)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs 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. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.

CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 100 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs and stamps.