WEIRD FANTASY (1950-53) #13
CGC NM/M: 9.8
(Stock Image)
SOLD ON: Friday, 03/24/2017 1:13 PM
$8,600
Sold For
19
Bids
PUBLISHER: EC
COMMENTS: white pgs, w/ COA
Wally Wood/Jack Kamen art; Issue dated May-June '50 (Mad Scientist cover), although numbered 13, is actually 1st in the series. Issue dated May-June 52 (Red Planet cover) is actually #13 in the series.
Gaines File Copy
Highest Graded
Read Description ▼
Wally Wood/Jack Kamen art; Issue dated May-June '50 (Mad Scientist cover), although numbered 13, is actually 1st in the series. Issue dated May-June 52 (Red Planet cover) is actually #13 in the series.
Gaines File Copy
Highest Graded
DESCRIPTION
white pgs, w/ COA
Wally Wood/Jack Kamen art; Issue dated May-June '50 (Mad Scientist cover), although numbered 13, is actually 1st in the series. Issue dated May-June 52 (Red Planet cover) is actually #13 in the series.
Gaines File Copy
Highest GradedWhile EC publisher Bill Gaines wasn't a sci-fi nut himself, Wally Wood, an in-demand illustrator and good friend of EC writer/editor Henry Harrison, was a fanatic. Wood and Harrison convinced Gaines to take a chance on "real" sci-fi, rather than the serialized pulp action of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. Taking over numbering from a beautifully illustrated but low-selling romance title, this first issue was a like a blast across the bow of the comics industry, with sumptuous art gracing intelligent stories aiming to recapture the readership that kept the pulps afloat during the post-comic bust.
The cover may have played on audience's expectations of silly monster-mash B-movie craziness, but readers were astonished and delighted to find a whole new world of adult, wonderfully crafted storytelling. While the horror comics winked at readers with a campy, knowing snark, Weird Fantasy and its brethren were smart and respectful of both sci-fi fans and the great writers of the day. This influential debut issue helped to seal EC's almost immediate ascension to the top of magazine stands and distributors' sales charts, and the comic business would look very, very different indeed without its existence.From the personal collection of William Gaines as part of the revered Gaines File Copy pedigree, this is the highest-graded copy of this important issue, catnip for EC fan-addicts. ECs have once again exploded in value and demand in recent years, with rabid collectors hurling their wallets at
high-grade pedigree copies when they come to market. We still, believe it or not, feel these comics are somewhat undervalued, as their cultural significance and crossover appeal cannot be understated.
Overstreet Guide 2016 NM- (9.2) value = $3,900.
Artists Information
Wally Wood is an American comic book artist/ writer who is also one of the founding artist for Mad comics. In addition to penciling numerous comic book pages, Wally also ventured into product illustration, music album covers, and trading cards. Wally's most notable works include the aforementioned Mad comics, Marvel's Daredevil, and Weird-Science Fantasy for EC comics.
Harvey Kurtzman was an American cartoonist and editor. His best-known work includes writing and editing the parodic comic book Mad from 1952 until 1956, and illustrating the Little Annie Fanny strips in Playboy from 1962 until 1988.
Jack Kamen was an American illustrator for books, magazines, comic books and advertising, known for his work illustrating crime, horror, humor, suspense and science fiction stories for EC Comics, for his work in advertising, and for the onscreen artwork he contributed to the 1982 horror anthology film Creepshow.
Wally Wood/Jack Kamen art; Issue dated May-June '50 (Mad Scientist cover), although numbered 13, is actually 1st in the series. Issue dated May-June 52 (Red Planet cover) is actually #13 in the series.
Gaines File Copy
Highest GradedWhile EC publisher Bill Gaines wasn't a sci-fi nut himself, Wally Wood, an in-demand illustrator and good friend of EC writer/editor Henry Harrison, was a fanatic. Wood and Harrison convinced Gaines to take a chance on "real" sci-fi, rather than the serialized pulp action of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. Taking over numbering from a beautifully illustrated but low-selling romance title, this first issue was a like a blast across the bow of the comics industry, with sumptuous art gracing intelligent stories aiming to recapture the readership that kept the pulps afloat during the post-comic bust.
The cover may have played on audience's expectations of silly monster-mash B-movie craziness, but readers were astonished and delighted to find a whole new world of adult, wonderfully crafted storytelling. While the horror comics winked at readers with a campy, knowing snark, Weird Fantasy and its brethren were smart and respectful of both sci-fi fans and the great writers of the day. This influential debut issue helped to seal EC's almost immediate ascension to the top of magazine stands and distributors' sales charts, and the comic business would look very, very different indeed without its existence.From the personal collection of William Gaines as part of the revered Gaines File Copy pedigree, this is the highest-graded copy of this important issue, catnip for EC fan-addicts. ECs have once again exploded in value and demand in recent years, with rabid collectors hurling their wallets at
high-grade pedigree copies when they come to market. We still, believe it or not, feel these comics are somewhat undervalued, as their cultural significance and crossover appeal cannot be understated.
Overstreet Guide 2016 NM- (9.2) value = $3,900.
Artists Information
Wally Wood is an American comic book artist/ writer who is also one of the founding artist for Mad comics. In addition to penciling numerous comic book pages, Wally also ventured into product illustration, music album covers, and trading cards. Wally's most notable works include the aforementioned Mad comics, Marvel's Daredevil, and Weird-Science Fantasy for EC comics.
Harvey Kurtzman was an American cartoonist and editor. His best-known work includes writing and editing the parodic comic book Mad from 1952 until 1956, and illustrating the Little Annie Fanny strips in Playboy from 1962 until 1988.
Jack Kamen was an American illustrator for books, magazines, comic books and advertising, known for his work illustrating crime, horror, humor, suspense and science fiction stories for EC Comics, for his work in advertising, and for the onscreen artwork he contributed to the 1982 horror anthology film Creepshow.