Popular Post *paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Popular Post Posted September 9, 2004 I'm pumped up about three books that I bought recently. Sorry for the lame pictures.... I don't have a scanner. These aren't super high-grade like many of the museum pieces that I've seen here recently on the boards, but for what they are, Farrell pre-code horror, the condition is stellar. They all belonged to a single collector who spent many, many years putting togeter an Ajax/Farrell collection. One reason I am very excited to have these books is that they are in very similar condition with vibrant colors and good page quality. Each has a cover crease, but not much in the way of edge tears, chipping or chunks. It's very difficult to put together a nice run, and unless you're a multi-millionaire, you have to go for books that are less than NM to do so. And that means finding books with similar defects and appeal. The collector of these books did an admirable job. The first book is Haunted Thrills #5 with what I consider to be a classic skull cover. I love this one... The Lions Den, mysterio, Forbush-Man and 11 others 13 1
Popular Post *paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Popular Post Posted September 9, 2004 (edited) Here's Haunted Thrills #8 with a beautiful cover... Someone should tell me why Ajax/Farrell books get such a bad rap... The green color gradation below the logo is really great... Edited September 9, 2004 by paull Artifiction, mysterio, Chief1332 and 5 others 8
Popular Post *paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Popular Post Posted September 9, 2004 (edited) And here's Haunted Thrills #10. Even though I typically don't like word balloons on covers, this one was too good to pass up. I just fell in love with that eggplant purple cover background... Farrell had some great colorist(s)... The interiors were uniquely colored as well. Edited September 9, 2004 by paull pmpknface, SOLAR BOY, mysterio and 5 others 8
*paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Posted September 9, 2004 (edited) Here's an interior page to HT #5 Edited September 9, 2004 by paull pmpknface, mysterio, ThothAmon and 1 other 4
*paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Posted September 9, 2004 (edited) Here'a another splash page for a story in HT #5. Note the interesting and unusual color pallete. The Iger colorists did a great job with these books.... Edited September 9, 2004 by paull The Lions Den, pmpknface, mysterio and 1 other 4
*paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Posted September 9, 2004 Thanks, POV. I have to be honest.... I had other targets in mind in pre-code horror books when I first saw these. Seeing them up close made me realize that I had to have them for my collection. There was something about not only the condition of the books, but the production values, quality covers, and cover coloring that swayed me. As for the interior pages, I wish I could show them all, but my fingers would fall off by then... I do nothing all day but sit in front of a computer. I wish others would show more interior pages. Sometimes it's as if the covers (or is it the CGC label?) are the only thing that matters...
precodekeith Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 Bravo! Simply awesome books! I don't think the Iger shop gets enough respect. A/F put out some really kooky/kool pre-code horror books. Gotta luv 'em! Rude into terror 1
*paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Posted September 9, 2004 Thanks, Keith! By the way, that is a killer copy of Witches Tales #25. I need a copy like that for my collection. Nice job, POV! Thanks for sharing
shrunkenhead Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 Wow, great Ajax books! Very nice going indeed. I love that apocalyptic horseman cover, very Pat Roberston. And Pov, may I say that your pre-code checklist is invaluable, wonderful stuff? I made a printout, I'm sure I'll use it often as I try to capture 9.8's of every book on there, hahaha! I didn't see the Bobby Benson horror cover on your list? I can't remember the issue # offhand, but it's the one with the mad scientist and the hanging heads on the wall. I know BB is a cheeze western title, but it's kinda a classic campy horror cover, doncha think?
*paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Posted September 9, 2004 I'm definitely going to get the TTTTT set.... thanks for the recommendation a while back. Right.... early L.B. Cole covers come to mind.... Suspense Comics #8-#11, Mask Comics #1-2, etc. they had great horror covers but usually had crime-related interiors.
precodekeith Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 Right.... early L.B. Cole covers come to mind.... Suspense Comics #8-#11, Mask Comics #1-2, etc. they had great horror covers but usually had crime-related interiors. No doubt about it. The Star publications in particular had some classic Cole "horror" covers, but the interiors were usually some stinky crime, jungle, etc. material. As an avid "reader" of horror comics, I have to shy sadly away from them for now. My skinny pocketbook demands I buy books I can read for enjoyment alone.....
rjpb Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 Between that Skull cover and that "Fatal Scalpel" splash, I might have to add HT#5 to my want list. Nice books by the way.
*paull* Posted September 9, 2004 Author Posted September 9, 2004 (edited) Keith, some of the non-reprint Star interiors are great. I really like the work that Jay Disbrow did for those titles. Even if you don't like the interiors, so many of those Cole covers are just unbelievable. rjpb, I find that the Farrell books are pretty tough to find in grades higher than 6.0 - 7.0 or so. I know Vinny has a HT #5 pedigree up for sale, but you might as well hand over your next mortage payment to him if you want it. Edited September 9, 2004 by paull
shrunkenhead Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 I've seen that #5 on Metro's site, it's like $1600 or something like that! I think my fav pre-codes are Black Magic and Dark Mysteries. Black Magic is an especially underrated title, I feel, because it got so crappy when it continued post-code. I love how the Black Magic covers are loaded with dialogue balloons. You get a little story on every cover!
shrunkenhead Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 Oh, and yep, I've got the TTTT set, although at the time I didn't know you could get it for $25 in one shot and instead put the set together myself at about $50. Ah well, one could blow money in worse ways! Great set to own. I saw an ad once for another reprint title called Extinct...anybody know about that one? I've yet to track it down.
rjpb Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 I don't actively look for Ajax/Farrell books (except for Fantastic Fears #6 - which I never see), but it has seemed that they are more likely than some other pre-code publishers to be low grade based on my casual obsevance. As for my own collecting preferences, I used to pick up higher grade pre-code books now and then, if they were the first copy I found, back when they were still pretty cheap, but these days when I buy them they're usually in the 2.0 to 5.0 range. If I own a GA or Atom Age book in 4.0 or better, I don't feel any urge to upgrade, and I can't resist lower grade when the price is right.
shrunkenhead Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 I typically look for GA in the 6.0-8.0 range, although I'll go in for a VG if it's a classic cover or key. Higher than an 8.0 is getting too damn expensive, but there are such wonderful deals to be had in the mid-grade zone. I've picked up a few mid grade CGC copies at under guide prices (pre code horror under guide!?!) on ebay, thanks to the 9.4 craze. Once people start to snap out of their stupor and realize that you can't find certain books anywhere in anything higher than a F/VF, I expect prices to shoot up again.
Bonds25 Posted September 9, 2004 Posted September 9, 2004 The first book is Haunted Thrills #5 with what I consider to be a classic skull cover. I love this one... Great cover - I'd never seen it before!
