Unpopular Golden Age Opinions Thread!

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I like weird, ugly, corny, and over the top covers. They have historical significance in an era of censorship and prudishness. That is why I tend to not stray too far away from horror and sci fi. Many of the books mentioned on here are beautiful in my eyes but hideous to others.

Another disappointing reading experience was Harvey horror comics. Some admittedly nice artwork from Lee Elias, with his Caniff-influenced style, and Howard Nostrand doing an excellent Jack Davis imitation, or swipe. Gory covers, disguising much tamer interior material, and like ACG a complete bore most of the time.

 

Harvey were E.C. copyists, perhaps more than any other PCH publisher. I've read a fair amount of the stories, and some of them are pretty decent, but lacking E.C.'s edge.

 

But then again, there were some pretty impressive covers...

I have -not quite complete- runs of the four Harvey horror titles; Black Cat Mystery, Chamber of Chills, Tomb of Terror, & Witches Tales.

As opposite to some of the other PCH publishers, I've found the earlier issues of these books to contain better stories than the later ones, by and large. Along with ACG and most other PCH besides EC, there is usually one story to make the book worth keeping, at least, IMO. Often it seemed that the later Harvey horror issues simply had filler disguised as story material; real drek.

Of course, the covers had to be relatively eye-catching in order to sell the book in the first place, given 500 comic book titles competing for that silver dime in the early '50's.

I think Story Comics was the most blatant EC swiper.

This thread has been very useful as the heretics, philistines and factionists have revealed themselves. Mods have been notified and are preparing to take action.

Show trials begin next week.

This thread has been very useful as the heretics, philistines and factionists have revealed themselves. Mods have been notified and are preparing to take action.

 

Show trials begin next week.

I didn't mean it. I take it all back!

This thread has been very useful as the heretics, philistines and factionists have revealed themselves. Mods have been notified and are preparing to take action.

 

Show trials begin next week.

+1

Yup. They should play it safe, just like I do. No-one to blame but themselves.

I can’t stand Basil Wolverton's artwork, especially those ugly covers he seemed to specialise in.

A man with the poshest-sounding name in the history of comics.

This thread has been very useful as the heretics, philistines and factionists have revealed themselves. Mods have been notified and are preparing to take action.

 

Show trials begin next week.

Ich bin ein heretic.

This thread has been very useful as the heretics, philistines and factionists have revealed themselves. Mods have been notified and are preparing to take action.

 

Show trials begin next week.

 

 

I didn't mean it. I take it all back!

...perhaps it may have to go as far as the revocation of Merry Marvel Marching Society memberships GOD BLESS....

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

I'm a big PCH fan but think Mister Mystery 12 is waaay overated.

Just a roughly drawn oversized eye and a hot poker.

Not a big fan of this cover, sorry!

 

yeah, it's a cool cover, but not one of the all time PCH classics IMHO.

For me It's Crypt of Terror #17. I need this book for my EC collection and it can get pricey in higher grades. I know it's a key issue, but it is one of my least favorite EC covers.

I know I'm gonna get beat up for these top 9 nominations, but

Weird Tales of the Future #8 is a pretty silly amateur art cover

Weird Mysteries #5 is an even bigger mystery as to why such a cheesy cover is so popular.

Mask 1??? Why?? Mask 2 is by far the better, brighter more artistic cover

Mister Mystery 12 .. dumb

Mister Mystery 11 ..Just as dumb and it doesn't help have the mystery dude in a little circle on every book.

Dynamic #8 would actually be the best cover ever if it weren't for the name "DYNAMIC" at the top. It throws the whole book off

Black Cat #50 crappy art

Horrific #3 Really? Who drew the cover? a 9 year old?

And lastly (this will probably get me banned from the forum) Crime Suspenstories 22.. There are tons of cooler EC covers than that book. I dunno, maybe if it showed guts and nerve endings dangling from her bloody stump?? Then I'd probably dig it more

oh! We should start a poll of lamest GA cover books. That'd actually be neat

I know I'm gonna get beat up for these top 9 nominations, but

 

Horrific #3 Really? Who drew the cover? a 9 year old?

 

And lastly (this will probably get me banned from the forum) Crime Suspenstories 22.. There are tons of cooler EC covers than that book.

oh! We should start a poll of lamest GA cover books. That'd actually be neat

As a follow up, for Horrific 3, I agree. I don't get why book that is the image source is one and a half times less valuable than that rotated blown up image. I definately prefer War Fury 1.

There are a lot of PCH books that are overpriced and overhyped. Conversely, there are a TON that are underpriced and unappreciated (but some people are catching on...).

I know I'm gonna get beat up for these top 9 nominations, but

 

Weird Tales of the Future #8 is a pretty silly amateur art cover

 

Weird Mysteries #5 is an even bigger mystery as to why such a cheesy cover is so popular.

 

Mask 1??? Why?? Mask 2 is by far the better, brighter more artistic cover

 

Mister Mystery 12 .. dumb

 

Mister Mystery 11 ..Just as dumb and it doesn't help have the mystery dude in a little circle on every book.

 

Dynamic #8 would actually be the best cover ever if it weren't for the name "DYNAMIC" at the top. It throws the whole book off

 

Black Cat #50 crappy art

 

Horrific #3 Really? Who drew the cover? a 9 year old?

 

And lastly (this will probably get me banned from the forum) Crime Suspenstories 22.. There are tons of cooler EC covers than that book. I dunno, maybe if it showed guts and nerve endings dangling from her bloody stump?? Then I'd probably dig it more

oh! We should start a poll of lamest GA cover books. That'd actually be neat

I wouldn't argue with you on most points, but Black Cat 50 is really a great image, and CSS 22 has such a tremendous historical value as well as being over the top. Read "10 Cent Plague" and you'll realize how that cover in particular changed the entire history of comics.

I am just going to say it. I think Startling 49 is a way over rated book. The robot looks pretty lame. I am not sure if it is suppose to be a scary cover, funny cover, or just lame cover.

 

I think I'm going to agree with this one...

I agree. But since Heritage chose to put it on the front cover of their catalog, the Church copy will probably sell for a small fortune.

Of course, it will probably sell for half as much next time, but there is a definite bandwagon mentality prevalent among collectors, even long-time collectors who should know better.

I know I'm gonna get beat up for these top 9 nominations, but

 

Weird Tales of the Future #8 is a pretty silly amateur art cover

 

Weird Mysteries #5 is an even bigger mystery as to why such a cheesy cover is so popular.

 

Mask 1??? Why?? Mask 2 is by far the better, brighter more artistic cover

 

Mister Mystery 12 .. dumb

 

Mister Mystery 11 ..Just as dumb and it doesn't help have the mystery dude in a little circle on every book.

 

Dynamic #8 would actually be the best cover ever if it weren't for the name "DYNAMIC" at the top. It throws the whole book off

 

Black Cat #50 crappy art

 

Horrific #3 Really? Who drew the cover? a 9 year old?

 

And lastly (this will probably get me banned from the forum) Crime Suspenstories 22.. There are tons of cooler EC covers than that book. I dunno, maybe if it showed guts and nerve endings dangling from her bloody stump?? Then I'd probably dig it more

oh! We should start a poll of lamest GA cover books. That'd actually be neat

 

I wouldn't argue with you on most points, but Black Cat 50 is really a great image, and CSS 22 has such a tremendous historical value as well as being over the top. Read "10 Cent Plague" and you'll realize how that cover in particular changed the entire history of comics.

No argument on the historical impact of CSS 22, but I don't see what you're seeing if you think the cover Black Cat 50 is a great image. It looks very sloppy and amateurish to me.

I know I'm gonna get beat up for these top 9 nominations, but

 

Weird Tales of the Future #8 is a pretty silly amateur art cover

 

Weird Mysteries #5 is an even bigger mystery as to why such a cheesy cover is so popular.

 

Mask 1??? Why?? Mask 2 is by far the better, brighter more artistic cover

 

Mister Mystery 12 .. dumb

 

Mister Mystery 11 ..Just as dumb and it doesn't help have the mystery dude in a little circle on every book.

 

Dynamic #8 would actually be the best cover ever if it weren't for the name "DYNAMIC" at the top. It throws the whole book off

 

Black Cat #50 crappy art

 

Horrific #3 Really? Who drew the cover? a 9 year old?

 

And lastly (this will probably get me banned from the forum) Crime Suspenstories 22.. There are tons of cooler EC covers than that book. I dunno, maybe if it showed guts and nerve endings dangling from her bloody stump?? Then I'd probably dig it more

oh! We should start a poll of lamest GA cover books. That'd actually be neat

 

I wouldn't argue with you on most points, but Black Cat 50 is really a great image, and CSS 22 has such a tremendous historical value as well as being over the top. Read "10 Cent Plague" and you'll realize how that cover in particular changed the entire history of comics.

No argument on the historical impact of CSS 22, but I don't see what you're seeing if you think the cover Black Cat 50 is a great image. It looks very sloppy and amateurish to me.

Oh yeah? Well, that's like... your OPINION, man!

While I won't argue much about execution on the Black Cat 50 (I don't see anything wrong it personally), I believe that the idea / concept is great. No other covers like it before.

I like most of the golden age. Three exceptions are pre code horror, romance comics and Centaurs. With the exception of one or two issues from Centaur the rest are yawners to me.

Sure glad you didn't say Westerns.

As a Schomburg fan and collector I have to agree with most here. Terrific 5, Suspense 3, and Startling 49 are overrated. None of them would be in my top 10 Schomburgs.

I am so hoping I'm on the boards the day the Startling #49 fire sale takes place.