Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: frank frazetta, pre-code horror

The Pre-Code Horror of Ribage Publishing's Crime Mysteries, at Auction

An obscure series that combined crime with horror, Ribage Publishing's Crime Mysteries had contributors ranging from Frazetta to Myron Fass.

Published Sun, 26 May 2024 17:07:09 -0500

by Mark Seifert

Last updated Sun, 26 May 2024 17:11:10 -0500

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Article Summary

Explore Ribage Publishing's Crime Mysteries with art ranging from Frazetta to Fass.
Discover the backstory of Ribage, linked to Trojan Publishing and more.
Series features crime blended with horror in scarce 15-issue run.

According to David Saunders, Ribage Publishing was named after a combination of the first names of publisher Stanley M. Estrow's cousins. The first two letters of each of the names Richard, Barbara, and Geraldine, "Ri" "Ba" and "Ge", combine to form the word "Ribage." The company itself was a division of Trojan Publishing, which had been formed by Estrow and DC Comics and Independent News financial partners Paul Sampliner and Harry Donenfeld. Ribage Publishing was one of a constellation of publishing companies in which Sampliner and Donenfeld had an interest. The company published the pulp Fiction Magazine and comic book titles Crime Mysteries, Secret Mysteries, and Youthful Romances. With a list of contributors ranging from the legendary Frank Frazetta to the eccentric Myron Fass, Crime Mysteries was a combination of crime and the supernatural with some stand-out covers, and there are an impressive ten issues of this tough 15-issue series up for auction in the 2022 July 3-4 Sunday & Monday Comic Books Select Auction #122227 from Heritage Auctions.

Crime Mysteries #15 (Ribage Publishing, 1954)

#1 (Ribage Publishing, 1952) Condition: GD. Bondage cover. Transvestism story. Ken Battefield art. Top staple disconnected, spine splitting, and piece missing front bottom cover. Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $271.

Crime Mysteries #4 (Ribage Publishing, 1952) Condition: GD. Classic blood-draining bondage/skull cover. Frank Frazetta art. Cover detached and numerous pieces of tape on cover interior. Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $450.

Crime Mysteries #5 (Ribage Publishing, 1953) Condition: GD/VG. Claws of the Green Girl cover/story. Gene Leslie and Newt Alfred art. Centerfold detached, spine split 1" from top, piece missing from bottom front cover. Overstreet 2023 GD 2.0 value = $54; VG 4.0 value = $108.

Crime Mysteries #7 (Ribage Publishing, 1953) Condition: GD. Sons of Satan uranium theft story. Last appearance of Sally the Sleuth. "Good girl" cover by Harry Harrison. Centerfold detached, spine split 2" from top, top staple detached, spine roll, and foxing. Overstreet 2023 GD 2.0 value = $54.

Crime Mysteries #8 (Ribage Publishing, 1953) Condition: GD. Bondage cover by William Zeller, an homage to Champion Comics #10. Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $50; VG 4.0 value = $100.

Crime Mysteries #9 (Ribage Publishing, 1953) Condition: GD+. Bullet-in-head cover, an homage to the November 1937 issue of Spicy Mystery Stories. Piece missing top front cover, and moisture damage. Overstreet 2021 GD 2.0 value = $54.

Crime Mysteries #11 (Ribage Publishing, 1954) Condition: VG-. A. C. Hollingsworth and H. C. Kiefer art. Overstreet 2021 VG 4.0 value = $100.

Crime Mysteries #12 (Ribage Publishing, 1954) Condition: GD-. Bondage cover and art by Al Hollingsworth. Myron Fass art. Water damage, staple rust, rust migration, chew damage, and foxing. Overstreet 2023 GD 2.0 value = $50.

Crime Mysteries #14 (Ribage Publishing, 1954) Condition: GD/VG. Al Hollingsworth skull cover and art. Foxing, top corner of spine missing, tanning, and stamp on back cover. Overstreet 2023 GD 2.0 value = $50; VG 4.0 value = $100.

Crime Mysteries #15 (Ribage Publishing, 1954) Condition: GD/VG. Acid-in-the-face cover. Last issue of the title. Al Hollingsworth art. Staining, heavy indentions, paper pull. Overstreet 2023 GD 2.0 value = $148; VG 4.0 value = $296.