What are the "key" horror and science fiction 1950s comics?

[Comicfollower101-migration]

Thanx for the advice every body I will hopefully buy my first one in a week or two, I will start with EC ( I'm thinking of weird science 9) and make my way thru other publishers. My first horror I will buy hopefully when I arrive in New York in 2 weeks and a half

 

[mrmyst]

Here are a few of my faves,

[mrmyst]

A few more

[Comicfollower101-migration]

I REALLY like that mysterious adventures 13, if I may ask, we're did u buy it?

[Artboy99]

I also really liked that Mysterious Adventures 13 and picked up a copy because of this posting. Thanks! I had never seen it before, and it became a must have.

[Flex Mentallo]

"Key" PCH/SF 1950s books aren't necessarily going to be first issues, and very rarely because they feature a first appearance like the first appearance of Marvel's Zombie in Menace #5.

 

Some covers have by universal acclaim become "keys" because they are extreme, or rare, or feature a great artist who is in vogue. Some will be considered keys because of content - again more likely because of the artist, but occasionally because of a classic story.

 

Every year, a few more issues break out from the pack that were not recognized as anything much previously.

 

The question that raises is, why does one want a given book? Because you like it, or because everyone else does?

 

Is it a keeper, or an investment? (The two aspects are not mutually exclusive.)

 

Often the book that breaks out does so before one can acquire it. Which means one may pay top dollar for a book that has already peaked.

 

Anyway here are a few books that for one reason or another might be regarded as keys, starting with some Bill Everett covers...

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

LB Cole did some classic covers in both sci fi and horror

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Some are prized as much for their scarcity as what is on the cover.

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Whitman covers are admired

 

[Flex Mentallo]

..and of course Wally Wood...

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Atomic explosions sort of bridge the gap between sci fi and horror... well, arguably!

 

[Flex Mentallo]

[Flex Mentallo]

But there are always books that fly under the radar

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Or are arguably more interesting on the inside...

 

[lb jefferies]

[Comicfollower101-migration]

Wow these books are amazing

[The-Collector]

Weird Chills 1 was a great choice!

[mrmyst]

Some are prized as much for their scarcity as what is on the cover.

 

 

 

I want that!

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Some are prized as much for their scarcity as what is on the cover.

 

 

 

I want that!

 

 

In order to acquire this issue you fist have to journey to Tibet and live among the lamas, while meditating for 6 months on a diet of fomented yak curd.

 

That's what I did!

[Flex Mentallo]

Or are arguably more interesting on the inside...

 

 

Assuming that is you find this type of thing interesting!