WEIRD MYSTERIES Pre-code Horror and Sci-fi Comics Volume One – Part One
Weird Mysteries is a pre-code horror comic book published by Stanley Morris from 1952 to 1954. Watch the entire video.
On the back of this slipcover edition we see all six issues represented in this volume.
All covers were done by the awe-inspiring Bernard Bailey, a giant in the golden age of comics who co-created The Spectre in 1939 with Jerry Seigel. The inside cover artwork by Tony Mortellaro is fantastic as well as the story this goes with. A fine introduction by James Heath Lance gets the ball rolling. I was in correspondence with Mr. Lance and he sent me some more information on his background working with PS art books.
James Heath Lance Introduction
“I started out volunteering articles for various websites and fanzines. My first paid gig was an essay co-authored with legendary comic scribe Roy Thomas in Roy Thomas presents Captain Video published by PS art books in April of 2012. The summer of that year I wrote PS art books editor Peter Crowder to discuss Dell’s Outer Limits and Twilight Zone comics and asked if he needed something for any books they were working on. He asked if I’d be willing to write the introduction for pre-code Classics Weird Mysteries volume one I said yes and was then assigned the second volume and Roy Thomas presents Sheena Queen of the Jungle volume 3. I just love the title Weird Mysteries and felt it was right up my alley. The thing I loved most about working on Weird Mysteries was the freedom PS art books gave me.
I don’t recall being given any editorial direction, a word count, or anything like that.
I did the research, read the comics, started writing and tapped into the horror fan in me. Peter Crowther apparently liked what he read because the published version is pretty much what I sent him with typos corrected.”
Here is the introduction by James Heath Lance.
“I dare you to read this introduction! Perhaps dare I you to write this introduction should be the proper question. Strange creatures tormenting people severed heads a brain being removed from a corpse an insect with a human face exiting from the skill and those are just the covers drawn by basil Wolverton and Bernard Bailey.” It could also be every time my wife and I encounter our neighbors or my Christmas list, but I digress.”
Weird Mysteries Artists for Volume One
He continues talking about the various issues and of course the background including the controversy generated by the pre-code comics horror comics and crime comics and of course the Senate hearings and the comics code Authority.
Weird Mysteries number one October of 1952. Artists in this volume include Hy Fleischman, Frank Frollo, Loffredo, Bernard Baily, Mike Esposito, Basil Wolverton, and Tony Mortellaro.
Watch the entire Weird Mysteries Part One video.