precodekeith Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 The cool thing about Atlas (other than good stories and art) is that they really aren't hard at all to put together in nice little runs IF you aren't a grade freak. They are all over the place in g/vg for $20 give or take. They had some of the best distribution of the times. The downside is that there were just such a GLUT of them out there that even in low grade you have quite a task if you are a completist like me, and it may take years and $$$ if you want them all. I'm not even close and I've been at 'em off and on for 11 years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfilosa Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 I'm with you on Atlas... There are just too many books. I'm sure that the stories are fine based on the quality artists that worked for them, but I can't say that I'm a fan of the Atlas cover designs. I prefer one large cover image instead of the tiered approached that Atlas used for most of their books. There are definitely TOO MANY. I started doing a list and gave up after 600 different issues (including the Pre-Hero). I don't mind the tier approach as long as the main cover is cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 22, 2004 Author Share Posted September 22, 2004 That's a sharp Spellbound.... Are you attempting to do complete Atlas runs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfilosa Posted September 22, 2004 Share Posted September 22, 2004 That's a sharp Spellbound.... Are you attempting to do complete Atlas runs? I would love to do a whole run of a title in CGC 8.0 or higher. It will take years so I'm pretty content buying a few issues every few months and trying to get small runs together (say 3-4 issues in a row). I also have been trying to stay away from some of the more boring covers unless priced very reasonably. Basically, the reserves on the Bethlehem books on Heritage have been guide plus grading fees. But what isn't taken into consideration is that some covers are more interesting then other. Think of it this way, should an issue #9 of a Pre-Code horror book be worth more then #11, if #11 has a great cover and #9 doesn't. The answer is no, but that's not guide will reflect. So I'll be glad to pay a higher percentage of guide for the #11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 22, 2004 Author Share Posted September 22, 2004 I would guess that it's difficult to find 8.0 Atlas books even though they are much more plentiful than other titles from the same time period. Most of the ones that I see are typical pre-code books: 2.0 - 5.0. I'm not attempting to complete any pre-code horror runs... it's difficult enough finding certain issues of titles that I like let alone having them in sequence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjpb Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 If I was looking to collect a high grade Atlas run, I'd look no further than MENACE. Only 11 issues and some excellent covers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrunkenhead Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Good choice rjpb, and yes some very nice covers in that run. Low numbered GA runs are very appealing. For that reason I've been considering a run of Fawcett's Beware! Terror Tales...only 8 issues in the set! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
precodekeith Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Go get 'em, Shrunk! Good choice! I love "the mummy!" Like I said, those Fawcetts can be found without searching for years upon years. They were quite a huge publisher in their day, until that damned DC/ Big Red Cheese fiasco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrunkenhead Posted September 25, 2004 Share Posted September 25, 2004 Thanks for the encouragement, keith! Ok, so this link is for Pov and others who are avidly searching out pre-code reprints. Came accross this book at a used book shop recently, was really great. Looks like Amazon has a few on sale at a decent price: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0944735770/qid=1096126727/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-3916957-8873727?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 Don't say I never did nothin' for ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrunkenhead Posted September 25, 2004 Share Posted September 25, 2004 Amazon also shows this one by the same editor, but I don't have a copy so can't vouch for it. I'll probly order one, though. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0944735452/qid=1096126851/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-3916957-8873727?v=glance&s=books Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 25, 2004 Author Share Posted September 25, 2004 (edited) Here's another recent pre-code purchase: Horrific #1 (Comic Media) in approximately 3.0 condition. Cover is glossy and flat, a couple of small tears on the cover and a couple of interior tears. Otherwise in nice shape. I find this to be a scarce book. Gerber lists this as a 5 in scarcity I believe, and I can't comment on how many copies are out there, but I can definitely say that this book is seen much less frequently than #4 and up, and some of those are given 6 scarcity by Gerber. #1-3 are really tough. We all know about Horrific #3, but have you ever seen a Horrific #2? I don't believe I've seen one for sale since I've been collecting pre-code books. Edited September 25, 2004 by paull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjpb Posted September 25, 2004 Share Posted September 25, 2004 Great book paull! Always thought that was an eye-catching cover - what are the stories like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 25, 2004 Author Share Posted September 25, 2004 (edited) Funny you should ask! Here's some interior shots... The text on the third page "Aye my brothers, he will come! But soon I know our waiting is to be ended!" sounds a lot like the Iger Studio Farrell cover voices used by skeletons and zombies. Edited September 25, 2004 by paull Ivan Ivanstein 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 25, 2004 Author Share Posted September 25, 2004 (edited) And another... Edited September 25, 2004 by paull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 25, 2004 Author Share Posted September 25, 2004 (edited) And this is the one that looks like Iger.... Edited September 25, 2004 by paull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 25, 2004 Author Share Posted September 25, 2004 (edited) I agree about the cover image.... I really like it a lot... it's got to be one of my favorite pre-code covers. There are a number of books that have a macabre "dance of death" theme... I can't remember issue numbers off the top of my head, but I know there are a couple Farrell books that used this theme on the cover, one of them with a witch prompting male and female marionettes to dance... "Move my puppets, this is the dance of death, you know!" or something like that. I normally don't buy books with interior defects, but this one is so seldom seen, and the price was right. I believe I paid $80 for it. Edited September 25, 2004 by paull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryw7 Posted September 25, 2004 Share Posted September 25, 2004 Sweet book and pages! I may have to find myself one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryw7 Posted September 25, 2004 Share Posted September 25, 2004 Ok, so this link is for Pov and others who are avidly searching out pre-code reprints. Came accross this book at a used book shop recently, was really great. Looks like Amazon has a few on sale at a decent price: That Amazon listing is amusing. These books were stamped out and considered harmful to the kiddies in the fifties, but they list the book like this: "Reading level: Ages 9-12 Edition: Paperback " And further down on the page we see this: "Search for books by subject: Children: Grades 3-4" This reminds me that the comic book shop on South Street in Philly used to put the EC reprints in the kiddie section with Archies. My, how times have changed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrooge Posted September 25, 2004 Share Posted September 25, 2004 (edited) Sweet book. Just recently used as cover for CBM 112. From the same vintage 1952, here's what the mailman brought me home today I love that man! (Please no jokes here) Scrooge Edited September 25, 2004 by Scrooge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*paull* Posted September 30, 2004 Author Share Posted September 30, 2004 How about what you consider to be the most underpriced pre-code horror book in the current OS guide? I've mentioned some in this thread, but I'm curious to hear what you guys think. I have a few of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
