Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: Black Cat Mystery, Harvey Comics, pre-code horror

Warren Kremer's Harvey Horror in Black Cat Mystery #37, up for Auction

Black Cat Mystery #37 from Harvey in 1952 features stand-out work by Richie Rich creator Warner Kremer and Moon Knight co-creator Don Perlin.

Published Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:40:10 -0500

by Mark Seifert

Last updated Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:50:18 -0500

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"A gasp… a shriek… a grinning, savage face… eyes that light the night with horror… it's the Black Cat! But, tonight, the Black Cat purrs. Why? What could cause a transformation such as this? The ghastly creature of ebony has prepared stories so chilling, so weird, so wild — that it purrs with the satisfaction of a job well done!" Such was the introduction to the letters column of Black Cat Mystery #37, which unusually enough appeared on the first page of the comic for this series. Readers seemed enthusiastic about the title, and publisher Harvey Comics wanted to ensure that a casual newsstand browser was well aware of that fact. But with this underappreciated classic cover which channels that horror-staple combination of spooky and inviting, they needn't have worried. Harvey Comics regular Warren Kremer had them well-covered on this one, and that helps make this Black Cat Mystery #37 (Harvey, 1952) Condition: GD+ a Pre-Code Horror gem. It's well worth your attention in the 2023 July 13 – 14 Pre-Code Horror & Crime Comics Showcase Auction #40227 at Heritage Auctions.

Cover artist Warren Kremer also had a well-executed interior tale called The Moth in this issue, but the story behind his captivatingly creepy cover for this issue was drawn by Don Perlin — the co-creator of Moon Knight and an artist on Marvel horror titles like Werewolf by Night and Ghost Rider, among others. In this crafty little supernatural thriller, a young woman is separated from her lover by a treacherous murder — only for him to call to her from the grave to avenge his death. Of course, Kremer himself would go on to create Harvey icons like Richie Rich and Hot Stuff the Little Devil, and have a hand in developing numerous other Harvey characters.

The title had recently shifted from bi-monthly to monthly by the time of this issue, and one letter writer in this issue was eager to see it weekly! It's easy to see why readers loved this 1952 Pre-Code Horror classic Black Cat Mystery #37 (Harvey, 1952) Condition: GD+ available in the 2023 July 13 – 14 Pre-Code Horror & Crime Comics Showcase Auction #40227 at Heritage Auctions.