I'd like to read some pre-code, non-EC horror. In short, pre-code trash with little, if any, redeeming qualities. Does anyone know if any collections or reprints of such material exists?
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Marvel is reprinting a number of Atlas horror/suspense books in their "Masterworks" format, some of which began before the code. Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Menace Vol. 1 collects all 11 issues of that title, all of which appeared before the code. The first two volumes of Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Journey Into Mystery run through issue #20, December 1954. The first two volumes of Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Strange Tales run through issue #20, July 1953.
I'm not aware of any of the trashier publishers being collected, like Victor Fox or Lev Gleason. But a Google search for Crime Does Not Pay and some other trashy titles led me to some sites that sell PDF downloads of Golden Age books.
There is a series of "Mammoth Book of X Comics" (where X is a genre), and they did one volume of horror, including some non-EC pre-code material.
There is also a series of books called Crypt of horror that the latest issue 's solicitation reads, "Classic reprints of the grisliest 1950's pre-Code comic book stories, including "River of Blood," "The Vampire Legion," "The Painted Beast," "The Last Man", and a dozen more, from masters of the macabre including Bob Powell, Wally Wood, Harry Harrison, Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko, Jack Kamen, and more!"
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -Groucho Marx
Check out theSecret Headquarters(my store) website! It's a pretty lame website, but I did it myself, so tough noogies
Listen toWOXY.com, it's the future of rock-n-roll!
Fantagraphics recently published Strange Suspense: The Steve Ditko Archives Vol. 1, featuring a variety of genres from a variety of publishers (mostly Charlton) published in 1953 and 1954 (plus one humor story from 1955). You'll even get an example of why the word "flick" would be banned under the CCA as "Andor's lips pressed hotly against Kyt's, and love flickered, then burned brightly."
Oh, wait. You wanted "pre-code trash with little, if any, redeeming qualities."
For complete issues, I'd start here. I erred in calling the downloads pdfs.
For individual stories, I'd start here, and take advantage of the link list. (Sites which post individual stories often don't take care to only post stories that aren't under copyright. As I've said before, I believe we should avoid reading material we know to be under copyright.)
Also, back in the early '90s New England Comics published 11 issues of Tales Too Terrible to Tell reprinting pre-code horror in black and white with color cardstock covers. If you can find them, these are exactly what you're looking for.
While I'm here, I'll also tell you about Ditko's vampire version of Cinderella reprinted in that volume of Stange Suspense I discussued above. Prince Charming takes the three (vampire) stepsisters into a room one at a time to try on the glass slipper. When he finally ushers Cinderella's stepmother into the room, all that's left of her daughters are three bloody legs suspended from the ceiling, the rest of their bodies having been burned away by a ray of sunshine. Oh, by the way [SPOILER ALERT], Prince Charming ends up being a vampire, too.
In a 1959 letter, Steve Ditko wrote, "Today's efforts are a far-cry from those Golden Years of comics -- before the code and when EC was setting the standards."
Tales Too Terrible to Tell sounds like a good lead too. As soon as I get paid, it's eBay time. And Luke, that site was a good suggestion, although I was immediately distracted from horror by a Dennis the menace comic!
Brad! You should try Four Color Fear: Forgotten Horror Comics of the 1950s (which shipped today). I will no doubt be writing more about this anthology in the near future.
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I'm not aware of any of the trashier publishers being collected, like Victor Fox or Lev Gleason. But a Google search for Crime Does Not Pay and some other trashy titles led me to some sites that sell PDF downloads of Golden Age books.
Hope that helps!
There is also a series of books called Crypt of horror that the latest issue 's solicitation reads, "Classic reprints of the grisliest 1950's pre-Code comic book stories, including "River of Blood," "The Vampire Legion," "The Painted Beast," "The Last Man", and a dozen more, from masters of the macabre including Bob Powell, Wally Wood, Harry Harrison, Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko, Jack Kamen, and more!"
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -Groucho Marx
Check out the Secret Headquarters (my store) website! It's a pretty lame website, but I did it myself, so tough noogies
Listen to WOXY.com, it's the future of rock-n-roll!
Oh, wait. You wanted "pre-code trash with little, if any, redeeming qualities."
Never mind.
For individual stories, I'd start here, and take advantage of the link list. (Sites which post individual stories often don't take care to only post stories that aren't under copyright. As I've said before, I believe we should avoid reading material we know to be under copyright.)
While I'm here, I'll also tell you about Ditko's vampire version of Cinderella reprinted in that volume of Stange Suspense I discussued above. Prince Charming takes the three (vampire) stepsisters into a room one at a time to try on the glass slipper. When he finally ushers Cinderella's stepmother into the room, all that's left of her daughters are three bloody legs suspended from the ceiling, the rest of their bodies having been burned away by a ray of sunshine. Oh, by the way [SPOILER ALERT], Prince Charming ends up being a vampire, too.
In a 1959 letter, Steve Ditko wrote, "Today's efforts are a far-cry from those Golden Years of comics -- before the code and when EC was setting the standards."
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