RareHighGrade

Now all you need to do is get the Reilly (San Francisco) copy for a clean sweep. Beautiful book; I have always really liked that cover.

Jon, if you wouldn't mind posting it, I would love to see your Comstock copy. I hardly ever see Comstock books.

I am reminded of the line by the Caribbean woman at the end of the movie "Trading Places," who, when asked by Coleman whether she wants the lobster or the cracked crab for lunch, replied, "Can't we have both?" Okay, I'll post a couple more of the humor covers since Centaurman is posting so many Flessels. Here is New Comics #10:

My mistake. Here is the Church Weird no. 1 by Tuska:

Here is Weird Comics #4 (Church copy), which is attributed to Simon: The art is very similar to the Mystery Men #7.

except he ripped Fine off.....as did many artists...... That doesn't change the fact that Scoop #2 is a great cover. Any artist can do a cover swipe. Few artists can do one that is as beautifully rendered as Sultan's Scoop #2 and other covers. He was a first-rate comic book artist whose work can hold its own against most others. By the way Jon, do you have Dynamic #3? That is another well drawn cover by Sultan, showing two gracefully drawn adversaries locked in combat.

That has been a definite point of contention in the past. There was a thread about it somewhere in this section. If I remember correctly, the final consensus was that it was indeed Flessel. I will see if I can dig up the thread. It was in the "Tribute to Flessel" thread. GCD, Timely, and other experts all weighed in to say that the cover to #37 (and Double Action #2) was done by Flessel.

I can't believe this thread isn't getting more traffic. Have you looked at these covers folks? The first one posted by Adamstrange is a classic that can hold up to Lou Fine's Hit #5 any day. Maybe they are so uncommon that they just haven't hit anyone's radar yet.

I am reminded of the line by the Caribbean woman at the end of the movie "Trading Places," who, when asked by Coleman whether she wants the lobster or the cracked crab for lunch, replied, "Can't we have both?" Also, do you have a #40? I bet it'll be dwarfed by RHG's #40, but here's mine: One of my few slabbed books. Blue label 5.0. Centaurman, that is one beautiful book, and it won't be eclipsed by my copy since I don't own one. Back when I was actively looking for a #40, I couldn't find one in the grade I wanted. Now, the book has become so valuable in high grade that it is cost prohibitive to buy one. RHG

If folks want to see more of the New Comics humor covers, let me know (I have most of them). Otherwise, I will move on to some of the Flessel covers. Here is Flessel's first cover for the Adventure line, which precedes his earliest More Fun cover by almost a year. New Adventure #15 (Church copy):

Actually, there were two Church copies of New Adventure #14, a fine and a NM+. I own the latter. Unfortunately, I do not own the Church #13. My comment on its grade is based on the grade Ernie Gerber gave it when he was selling it in the 90's, which was vf-, IIRC.

There is a Church copy of #13, which is around vf condition. The only other pedigree copy of New Adventure #13 is the Lost Valley copy, which was graded by CGC (somewhat liberally) as a 7.0. Jon Berk has a nice copy, but I don't believe that it is a pedigree.

Thanks Weird Paper. You've got to love that cover.

Here is the Church copy of no. 14:

And speaking of Paul Gattuso, here is his other "bare-breasted" cover, Dynamic #20:

The Punch 20 cover was done by an artist named Paul Gattuso, who drew some really wild covers. For example, the gory cover to Punch 19 is one of Gattuso's more gruesome works. It depicts huge, blood-drenched claws poised above piles of corpses that are laying in pools of their own blood. I don't have a copy, but if anyone else does, please post it. RHG

The deep colors and gloss on that book are amazing.

OK, OK - here's the most unworthy FOURTH best known copy (grumble, grumble) of the classic WonderWorld 8: (just kidding - I love this book) STEVE Got Larson? (nope, sold it - but Nova Scotia is always nice to visit) Very nice looking copy Steve. But where is the telltale "M" that is usually found on NS books?

Yes, it's the Church copy.

Beautiful book jkrk -- top of the census.

Awesome book Adam! Sultan is one of the best Golden Age cover artists. Because he did not work for any of the well known publishers, his work is relatively unknown and underappreciated. The condition of your high grade copy is really something. Here is my favorite Chesler cover, Punch Comics # 20. It is a GGA masterpiece: from the anatomically detailed lines of Rocket Girl, to the screaming women dangling from the claws of the monstrous bird (a la Silver Streak 6), some of whom are bare-breasted! I cannot imagine how they got away with this for a children's comic book.

Those deep, rich reds and yellows could only be from the Church copy.

What impresses me about this New 5 is that the few other copies I've seen have discoloration fade on the front cover (as if it is unstable). Peter, to your knowledge is that true for this title - first 6 issues - or maybe just this particular issue? STEVE Got Larson? The first six issues of New Comics, like the first few issues of More/New Fun, are on unglossed paper stock. Therefore, they all have a greater tendency to fade. It is rare to find one with rich colors like your More Fun #7. For some reason, the #5 experiences more fading/discoloring than any other issue. I don't know why.

Here is another of the early New Comics, no. 5. Admittedly, these covers pale in comparison to the Flessels.

Win that is a beautiful #24. The pages look bone white. Is it a pedigree?