Early pre-code horror comics are valuable, and the reason for their lasting appeal is, no doubt, because the writers and artists who created them had the freedom to present tales that could disturb without having to self-censor. They inevitably brought forth macabre themes filled with occult references and provocative levels of gore.

The best Golden Age horror comics mixed elements of the super-natural, suspense, monsters and the occult. These Golden Age pre-code horror comics were also, for the most part, well written and beautifully illustrated. The best of them never talk down to their audience and as a result achieve some wonderful story telling and have lasting appeal. That is probably also the reason why, by around 1950, horror was the most popular comic book genre in the United States- eclipsing in sales numbers the Super-hero books. Horror comics are still around, but the last time they really had their finger on the pulse of the comic reading community was during the Bronze Age. At that point, by the early seventies, there was a relaxing of the Comics Code which led to a simultaneous renaissance in the horror genre.

Any discussion of horror comics (or crime and science fiction for that matter) will have to take into consideration the titles published by Entertaining Comics or EC. EC was, and for many still is, the standard bearer for the best horror comic books ever printed. This isn’t so surprising when we take into consideration that in the 1940s and early 1950s, Marvel comics didn’t really exist and DC published relatively few horror titles in their catalog.

In what follows I’ve chosen four titles that are worth checking out if you like spine-tingling comic book tales of horror:

New Fun #6 (1935) – First Doctor Occult

Here’s a Golden Age DC horror comic with story featuring a character developed by the creators of Superman. Yes that’s right Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster came up with Doctor Occult and premiered him in New Fun Comics #6. Also known as the Ghost Detective, Dr. Occult was a magic using private investigator who specialized in cases involving the Occult. He was later made a member of the Justice Society of America and has most recently appeared in the pages of Justice League Dark. New Fun #6 is a super-rare comic. I was unable to find any recorded sales, but any early Siegel and Shuster work is undoubtedly valuable.

Eerie #1 (January 1947) – First Eerie comic

With a story by Edward Bellin and Pencils by Joe Kubert and Fred Kida, this classic comic was published by Avon and is considered the comic that popularized the horror genre and led to the horror craze of the late 1940s early 1950s. The trend would be reversed with the Senate hearings on juvenile delinquency, but Eerie managed to publish 17 more issues before the establishment of the Comics Code. In the 1970s the title was resurrected as a magazine. A 9.2 copy of Eerie #1 sold for $9,560.00 in 2012 (Heritage Auction).

Tales from the Crypt #20 (October 1950) – First issue with new Title

Previously published under the title The Crypt of Terror, this is the first issues that featured the popular title “Tales from the Crypt”, probably known to many non-comic book readers due to its inspiration of the campy HBO television show produced in the early 1990s. Tales from the Crypt was straight-out EC horror goodness. Best returns in recent years are on 9.0 copies, an issue in this grade sold for $4,302.00 on the Heritage Auction website in November, 2017.

Haunt of Fear #17 (January 1953) – First Crypt Keeper

The peak years of Entertaining Comics (EC) activity was from 1950-1953, during which their comics would feature art from the talented hands of Graham Ingles, Johnny Craig, Jack Kamen, Jack Davis, George Evans, Bill Elder, Wally Wood, and Sid Check and stories from writers of the caliber of Al Feldstein and Ray Bradbury. Haunt of Fear #17 is the first appearance of famous figures such as the Crypt Keeper, the old Witch and the Vault Keeper. Best returns are on 5.0 mid-grade copies, an Ebay sale exactly one month ago records a sale price of $315.00