Heading:
Author:
Title: STRANGE TALES No. 19
Place Published:
Publisher:Atlas [Indicia: Chipiden Publishing Corp.]
Date Published: 19391
Description:

CGC certified: VF- (7.5). Cream to off-white pages. Cover: Russ Heath. Art: Larry Woromay, Fred Kida, Joe Certa, Bob Fujitani, George Tuska. GPAnalysis: A 7.5 (Dave Crippen Pedigree) sold for $191 in 2007; a 6.0 sold for $400 in 3/23; an 8.5 sold for $4560 in 8/18.

In "The Farmer Takes a Life," a poultry farmer chops off chickens' heads for laughs, until the hens return the favor. Atlas ace Doc Vassallo says the story is "possibly inspired by Fritz Freleng's 1949 Warner Brothers short 'Each Day I Crow,'" and praises Bob Fujitani's artwork as "stark and visually expressive." Meanwhile, in "The Rag Doll," a child abuser is killed by his victim's vengeful doll. The plot anticipates Graham Ingels' classic "Shoe-Button Eyes" published the following year in Vault of Horror #35 (Feb.-March, 1954). Yet another instance of Feldstein and Gaines aping (and vastly improving upon) an Atlas yarn? See Adventures into Terror #17, Spellbound #10, and Strange Tales #14 for more instances of EC swiping from Atlas.

A limited edition of ten hardcover catalogues is available, in addition to a few dozen softcovers. Fun reference, great keepsake, fully illustrated, chockablock with obscure facts, gags, bon mots. Softcovers are $40, deluxe hardcovers with dust jackets and limitation plates are $200. These books always go fast so don't delay. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

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