Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: blackstone, ec comics, golden age, marvel, william gibson

Blackstone the Magician's Tricky Comic Book Series, Up for Auction.

Harry Blackstone Sr. (1885-1965) was one of the most famous and successful magicians of his or any era. His career spanned more than four decades, during which he toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada. Blackstone was known for his grandiose stage shows, which often featured elaborate illusions and large-scale productions. He helped to popularize magic as an entertainment form in the twentieth century, and he was very effective at marketing himself with the help of Shadow creator Walter Gibson among others.  A magician himself, Gibson wrote extensively about magic, including ghost-writing articles for Harry Houdini and Blackstone, and writing comics and a radio show based on the fictional adventures of Blackstone.  There are several issues of the various incarnations of the Blackstone series up for auction in the 2022 June 5-6 Sunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction #122223 from Heritage Auctions.

Blackstone debuted in comic books in 1941 as the headliner of Street & Smith's Super-Magician Comics.  This lasted until the March 1946 cover-dated issue, when a magician called Nigel Elliman was abruptly created to replace Blackstone in the series. Per a 1972 letter, Gibson states that he had a contract dispute with Street & Smith at that time and "quit and went on the road with Blackstone the Magician for that season and part of the next," which seems a likely reason for Blackstone's exit from that publisher. The very next month, Blackstone, Master Magician Comics debuted from publisher Vital Publications.  The series lasted only three issues, and was written by Gibson with artwork Elmer C. Stoner.  Vital Publications was run by Julien J. Proskauer, who was a magician himself best known for debunking fraudulent claims of mediums, and also the president of printing and publishing giant William C. Popper & Co.

Like Gibson, Proskauer seems to have had multiple ties to Blackstone.  There exists a signed contract between the three men for a proposed Blackstone's Magic publication.  It also appears that William C. Popper & Co. published the 1945 Blackstone tour souvenir program book with a cover by legendary Captain Marvel comic book artist C.C. Beck. the 1946 tour program book and how-to guide called Blackstone, World's Master Magician, and the 1947 (also the 1948?) program book, these last two with covers drawn by Elmer C. Stoner, the artist of the Vital Publications comic series.

But the Vital Publications comic book series didn't last very long, despite Proskauer's ongoing connections with both Blackstone and Gibson.  Blackstone comic books next turn up with Blackstone, the Magician Detective #1 from EC Comics. This series lasted only one issue under EC, with the series numbering continuing with a Marvel/Timely series for three additional issues. It has been suggested that the EC Comics series was cut short by the death of founder M.C. Gaines that year. This seems possible and perhaps likely, because of course, that wouldn't have been the only course change made at EC Comics during this period.  Perhaps on point, the indicia of this issue names Gaines personally as the licensor, and not the publishing company.

Notably, Proskauer had somewhat unusual business ties with both Street & Smith and Timely, which might possibly suggest that he had some hand in the fate of the comic title throughout the period.  Beyond the 1946 Vital Publications comic series and the William C. Popper & Co.-published items, Vital Publications published at least two Blackstone comic book giveaways, in 1948 and 1949, one of which also includes Timely-published material.  Proskauer was in the Blackstone publishing business throughout this entire period.

Overall, Blackstone's history in comics takes some fascinating twists and turns, and includes contributions from important creators in Gibson and Stoner, among others.  An overlooked part of the comics of the Golden Age, there are several issues of the various incarnations of the Blackstone series up for auction in the 2022 June 5-6 Sunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction #122223 from Heritage Auctions.

Blackstone, Master Magician Comics #3 (Vital Publications, 1946) Condition: FN/VF. E. C. Stoner covers and art. Last issue of the title. Overstreet 2021 FN 6.0 value = $72; VF 8.0 value = $142.

Blackstone, the Magician Detective #1 (EC, 1947) Condition: VG/FN. First appearance of the Happy Houlihans. Don Cameron art. Small piece missing on spine. Overstreet 2021 VG 4.0 value = $130; FN 6.0 value = $195.

Blackstone, the Magician #3 (Timely, 1948) Condition: VG-. Features the Blonde Phantom by Mike Sekowsky. Small tape seal on inside front cover and moisture stains. Overstreet 2021 VG 4.0 value = $114.

Blackstone, the Magician #4 (Timely, 1948) Condition: VG. Blonde Phantom backup feature. Overstreet 2021 VG 4.0 value = $114.

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