The Pre-Code Horror Index

[Yoc]

This list reports to contain all PRE-CODE HORROR comics published.
It appeared in Four Color Fear (2010) by co-editors Greg Sadowski and John Benson from Fantagraphics.
There might be arguments about some being more crime than horror but I'll stick to their list.

I'm going to note after each how many are on DCM in red.

The Pre-Code Horror Comics

ACE COMICS -97 issues
Baffling Mysteries #5 to 24 (Nov. 1951 - Jan. 1955) [25, 26 approved by CCA] (DCM has them ALL)
The Beyond #1 to 30 (Nov. 1950 -Jan. 1955) (DCM has them ALL)
Challenge of the Unknown #6 (Sep. 1950) (Got it)
Hand of Fate #8 to 25, 25a (Dec. 1951 - Mar. 1955) (ALL)
Web of Mystery #1 to 27 (Feb. 1951 - Nov. 1954) [28, 29 approved by CCA] (ALL)

AMERICAN COMICS GROUP -119 issues
Adventures into the Unknown #1 to 61 (Fall 1948 - Jan.-Feb. 1955) [62 to 174 approved by CCA] (ALL)
The Clutching Hand #1 (July - Aug. 1954) (Got it)
Forbidden Worlds #1 to 34 (July-Aug. 1951 - Oct.-Nov. 1954) [35 to 145 approved by CCA] (ALL)
Out of the Night #1 to 17 (Feb.-Mar. 1952 - Oct.-Nov. 1954) (ALL)
Skeleton Hand #1 to 6 (Sep.-Oct. 1952 - July-Aug. 1953) (ALL)

AJAX-FARRELL -62 issues
Fantastic Fears #7, 8; 3 to 9 (May 1953 - Sep.-Oct. 1954) (6)
Fantastic 10, 11 (Nov.-Dec. 1954 - Jan.-Feb. 1955) (1)
Haunted Thrills 1 to 18 (June 1952 - Nov.-Dec. 1954) (11)
Strange Fantasy 2 (1), 2 to 14 (Aug. 1952 - Oct.-Nov. 1954) (13)
Voodoo 1 to 18 (May 1952-Nov. - Dec. 1954) [19 has Seven Seas reprints and other non-horror fare] (13)
Voodoo Annual 1 (1952) (Got it)

ATLAS -389 issues ALL ARE NON-PD
Adventures into Terror #43, 44, 3 to 31 (Nov. 1950 - May 1954)
Adventures into Weird Worlds #1 to 30 (Jan. 1952 - June 1954)
Amazing Detective Cases #11 to 14 (Mar. 1952 - Sep. 1952) [1 to 10 feature crime stories]
Amazing Mysteries #32, 33 (May 1949 - July 1949) [34, 35 feature crime stories)
Astonishing #6 to 37 (Oct. 1951 - Feb. 1955)
[3 to 5 feature Marvel Boy; 6, listed here, has a straight horror cover with Marvel Boy still in the stories; 38 to 63 approved by CCA]
Captain America's Weird Tales #74, 75 (Oct. 1949 - Feb. 1950)
Journey into Mystery #1 to 22 (June 1952 - Feb. 1955) [23 to 125 approved by CCA]
Journey into Unknown Worlds #4 to 33 (Apr. 1951 - Feb. 1955)[1 to 3 feature s-f stories; 34 to 59 approved by CCA]
Marvel Tales #93 to 131 (Aug. 1949 - Feb. 1955)[132 to 159 approved by CCA]
Menace #1 to 11 (Mar. 1953 - May 1954)
Men's Adventures #21 to 26 (May 1953 - Mar. 1954)
[1 to 20 feature war and adventure stories; 21 to 26 feature horror with adventure overtones; 27, 28 feature The Human Torch]
Mystery Tales #1 to 26 (Mar. 1952 - Feb. 1955) [27 to 54 approved by CCA)
Mystic #1 to 36 (Mar. 1951 - Mar. 1955) [37 to 61 approved by CCAJ
Spellbound #1 to 23 (Mar. 1952 - June 1954) [24 to 34 approved by CCA]
Strange Tales #1 to 34 (June 1951 - Feb. 1955) [35 to 188 approved by CCA]
Suspense #3 to 29 (May 1950 - Apr. 1953) [1, 2 feature mystery-adventure stories; the title gradually morphed into a horror comic; the line "based on CBS radio television series" was carried on the cover through issue 11.]
Uncanny Tales #1 to 28 (June 1952 - Jan. 1955) [29 to 56 approved by CCA]
Venus #14 to 19 (June 1951 - Apr. 1952) [early issues feature romantic fantasy; with issue 10 the title becomes increasingly adventure with horror overtones; the last six (listed here) feature horror stories and the final three also have pure horror covers]

AVON -30 issues
City of the Living Dead (1952) (Got it)
The Dead Who Walk (1952) (Got it)
Diary of Horror #1 (Dec. 1952) (Got it)
Eerie #1 (Jan. 1947) (Got it)
Eerie #1 to 17 (May 1951 - Aug.-Sep. 1954) (ALL)
Night of Mystery (1953) (Got it)
Phantom Witch Doctor #1 (1952) (Got it)
Secret Diary of Eerie Adventures (1953)
Witchcraft #1 to 6 (Mar. 1952-Mar. 1953) (ALL)

CHARLTON -32 issues
Strange Suspense Stories #16 to 22 (Jan.-Feb. 1954 - Nov. 1954)
[23 to 26 do not exist; 27 to 77 approved by CCA] (ALL)
The Thing #1 to 17 (Feb. 1952 - Nov. 1954) (ALL)
This is Suspense #23 (Feb. 1955) [24 to 26 approved by CCA) (Got it)
This Magazine Is Haunted #15 to 21 (Mar. 1954 - Nov. 1954) (ALL)

COMIC MEDIA -27 (28?) issues
Horrific #1 to 13 (Sep. 1952 - Sep. 1954) Terrific 14 (Dec. 1954) (13)
[TERRIFIC #14 wasn't on their list but I believe it's a horror title - and we have it on DCM!]
Weird Terror #1 to 13 (Sep. 1952 - Sep. 1954) (12)

DC/NATIONAL -51 issues ALL ARE NON-PD
[NOTE - this was not on Fantagraphics list]
*House of Mystery 1 to 35 (Dec 1951 to Feb 1955; 36-321 CCA)
*Phantom Stranger 1 to 6 (supernatural; August-September 1952 - June-July 1953)
*Sensation Comics 107 to 109 (Dec 1951 to Jun 1952)
*Sensation Mystery 110 to 116 (July 1952 to Aug 1953)

DS/PL -3 issues
Weird Adventures #1 to 3 (May-June 1951 - Sep.-Oct. 1951) (ALL)

EC -91 issues ALL ARE NON-PD
Crypt of Terror #17 to 19 (Apr.—May 1950 — Aug.—Sep. 1950)
Haunt of Fear #15 to 17, 4 to 28 (May—June 1950 —Nov.—Dec. 1954)
Tales from the Crypt #20 to 46 (Oct.—Nov. 1950 —Feb.—Mar. 1955)
Tales of Terror Annual #1 to 3 (1951— 1953)
3D Tales from the Crypt of Terror
3D #2 (Spring 1954)
Vault of Horror #12 to 40 (Apr.—May 1950 —Dec. 1954—Jan. 1955)

FAWCETT -42 issues
Beware Terror Tales #1 to 8 (May 1952 — July 1953) (ALL)
Strange Stories from Another World #2 to 5 (Aug. 1952 — Feb.1953) (ALL)
Strange Suspense Stories #1 to 5 (June 1952 — Feb. 1953) (ALL)
This Magazine Is Haunted #1 to 14 (Oct. 1951 — Dec. 1953) (ALL)
Unknown World #1 (June 1952) (Got it)
Worlds Beyond #1 (Nov. 1951) (Got it)
Worlds of Fear #2 to 10 (Jan. 1952 — June 1953) (ALL)

FICTION HOUSE -13 issues
Ghost Comics #1 to 11 (1951 — 1954) (ALL)
The Monster #1, 2 (1953) (ALL)

FOX -1 issue
A Feature Presentation #5 (Black Tarantula) (Apr 1950) (Got it)
A Star Presentation #3 (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) (May 1950)

GILLMOR -12 issues
Weird Mysteries #1 to 12 (Oct. 1952 — Sep. 1954) (11)

HARVEY -96 issues
Black Cat Mystery #30 to 53 (Aug. 1951 — Dec. 1954) (ALL)
Chamber of Chills #21 to 24, 5 to 26 (June 1951 — Dec. 1954) (ALL)
Thrills of Tomorrow #17, 18 (Oct. 1954 — Dec. 1954) (ALL)
Tomb of Terror #1 to 16 (June 1952 — July 1954) (ALL)
Witches Tales #1 to 28 (Jan. 1951 — Dec. 1954) (ALL)

HILLMAN -1 issue
Monster Crime Comics #1 (Oct. 1952)

KEY -3 issues
Weird Chills #1 to 3 (July 1954 — Nov. 1954) (All but #2)

MASTER 22 issues
Dark Mysteries #1 to 22 (June 1951 — Mar. 1955) [23, 24 approved by CCA] (All but #11 + 21)

PREMIER -2 issues
Horror from the Tomb #1 (Sep. 1954) (Got it)
Mysterious Stories #2 (Dec. 1954) [3 to 7 approved by CCA] (Got it)

PRIZE -53 issues
Black Magic #1 to 29, 34 to 41 (Oct.—Nov. 1950 — Nov.—Dec. 1954) [30-33 are not in the public domain][34 to 50 approved by CCAJ (ALL)
Frankenstein #18 to 33 (Mar. 1952 — Oct.—Nov. 1954) [1 to 17 are humour stories) (ALL)
Strange World of Your Dreams #1 to 4 (Aug. 1952 —Jan.—Feb. 1953) (ALL)

QUALITY -22 issues
Intrigue #1 (Jan. 1955) (Got it)
Web of Evil #1 to 21 (Nov. 1952 — Dec. 1954) (All but #01+14)

STANDARD -31 issues
Adventures into Darkness #5 to 14 (Aug. 1952 — June 1954) (ALL)
*Fantastic Worlds 5 to 7 (Sep 1952 to Jan-53) (ALL)
*Lost Worlds 5 to 6 (Oct. 1952 to Dec-52) (ALL)
Out of the Shadows #5 to 14 (July 1952 — Aug. 1954) (ALL)
The Unseen #5 to 15 (1952 — July 1954) (ALL)

STANLEY MORSE -27 issues
Mister Mystery #1 to 19 (Sep. 1951 — Oct. 1954) (All but #12)
Weird Tales of the Future #1 to 8 (Mar. 1952 — July 1953) (5)

STAR -36 issues
Blue Bolt Weird Tales #111 to 119 (Nov. 1951 — May-June 1953) (7)
Ghostly Weird Stories #120 to 124 (Sep. 1953 — Sep. 1954) (ALL)
*The Horrors #13 (of Mystery; Jun 1952; other issues devoted to war, crime) (Got it)
*Shocking Mystery 50 to 55 (September 1952 to July 1953; 56 to 60 are crime oriented) (4)
Spook #22 to 30 (Jan. 1953 — Oct. 1954) (7)
Startling Terror Tales #10 to 14, 4 to 11 (May 1952 — Nov. 1954) (9)

STERLING -2 issues
The Tormented #1, 2 (July 1954 — Sep. 1954) (Got #2)

STORY -36 issues
Fight Against Crime #9 to 21 (Sep. 1952 — Sep. 1954) (1 to 8 feature crime stories) (11)
Mysterious Adventures #1 to 23 (Mar. 1951 — Dec. 1954) [24, 25 approved by CCA] (All but #13)

ST. JOHN -25 issues
Amazing Ghost Stories #14 to 16 (Oct. 1954 — Feb. 1955) (ALL)
House of Terror #1 (Oct. 1953) (Got it)
Nightmare #3, 10 to 13 (Oct. 1953 — Aug. 1954) (ALL)
Strange Terrors #1 to 7 (June 1952 — Mar. 1953) (ALL)
Weird Horrors #1 to 9 (June 1952 — Oct. 1953) (ALL)

SUPERIOR -53 issues
Journey into Fear #1 to 21 (May 1951 — Sep. 1954) (All but #1)
Mysteries (Weird and Strange)] #1 to 11 (May 1953 —Jan. 1955) (ALL)
Strange Mysteries #1 to 21 (Sep. 1951 —Jan. 1955) (18)

TOBY -14 issues
*The Purple Claw 1 to 3 (January 1953 - May 1953) (ALL)
Tales of Horror #1 to 13 (June 1952 — Oct. 1954) (ALL)
Tales of Terror #1 (1952) (Got it)

YOUTHFUL/TROJAN -22 issues
Beware #10 to 16, 5 to 14 (June 1952 — Mar. 1955) [15 approved by CCA] (ALL)
Chilling Tales #13 to 17 (Dec. 1952 — Oct. 1953) (All but #14)

ZIFF-DAVIS -8 issues
Eerie Adventures #1 (Winter 1951) (Got it)
Nightmare #1, 2 (Summer 1952 — Fall 1952) (ALL)
Weird Thrillers #1 to 5 (Sep. 1951 — Oct.—Nov. 1952) (ALL)

As you can see we've got almost all of them listed.
If you know of any titles that were missed let us know.

[Updated - Nov. 22, 2018]

[Jean-Luc]

A gazillion thanks for this list! Very useful!

[tilliban]

Great work indeed, Yoc!

Listing all DCM pre-code horror books.
As you may know, PCH is my field of expertise.
I run a (German!) website about the topic:
www.fifties-horror.de

In spring there will be a new (English!) website online covering all of ACEs horror books.
Working on it!
I'm planning to tackle all of STANDARDs horror next (Jim has the missing books).

Forgive me for pointing out a popular counting error:
ACE published 101 horror books, the 97 are just the precoders. Add 4 code approved issues.

[Yoc]

Hi T,
If one adds POST code horror books the list becomes very incomplete T.
I believe the cut-off date is the start of CCA.

Looking forward to your continued work on scanning these books for everyone.

[narfstar]

Amazing the number of books here and how much complete.

[Yoc]

Yep.  Superior and Youthful are our biggest holes atm.
A Wonderful job by all scanners!

[Whale]

what's the difference between (got it) and (all)?

[josemas]

what's the difference between (got it) and (all)?

Ii looks like to me that all of the "Got its" are one shots while all of the "ALLs" are titles that ran more than one issue.

Best

Joe

[Yoc]

Ii looks like to me that all of the "Got its" are one shots while all of the "ALLs" are titles that ran more than one issue.

Exactly so Joe.

[Drusilla lives!]

This list reports to contain all PRE-CODE HORROR comics published.
It appeared in Four Color Fear (2010) by co-editors Greg Sadowski and John Benson from Fantagraphics.
There might be arguments about some being more crime than horror but I'll stick to their list. ...

Whoa! 

That was some typing job Yoc!  Thanks for taking the time to post it.  The info goes a long way in adding weight to a few long standing theories/opinions I have regarding EC, Gaines and the issues surrounding the coming of the code.

Btw, I was considering picking up those Sadowski/Benson "Fear" books... but I took a pass on them.  To be honest with you, beyond the EC material (all of which I already have), I'm not really that interested in all that other horror stuff from the period.       

[Yoc]

Glad to share it DL.  I didn't type much though as it came from a quote from the book mentioned.
I did add some titles (with stars) that weren't included in the original.

What the list does show is what an amazing job DCM scanners have done finding a very large percentage of them.

And sure, it's hard to beat a good EC for art and story but seeing the others you can see the lengths they went for shock value and once in a while even find a not bad story mixed in too.

Take care,
-Yoc

[josemas]

And sure, it's hard to beat a good EC for art and story but seeing the others you see the lengths they went for shock value and once in a while even find a not bad story mixed in too.

Take care,
-Yoc

I think there is some really good stuff scattered among the other pre-code horror publishers that, at times, is the equal of EC in both story and art.  It's just that EC had consistently top-notch art while it was a bit hit and miss with the other publishers.

Best

Joe

[John C]

(Hated to do it, but I removed Tim's post.  Tim, while I have no objection to linking to a torrent of public domain material, you were pointing people towards a large number of properties owned by Marvel.)

[Yoc]

Thanks John, I missed that.
Tim, for the safety of the site we can't allow non-PD links to be shared here.  I hope you aren't upset by it, I'm sure it was a big job to collect them all.

[Yoc]

Here is a link to an excellent blog.
This entry is on the history of horror comics -

HAUNTS OF HORROR OR TOMBS OF TORTURE ?
AMERICAN COMIC BOOKS AND THE HORROR GENRE 1939 - 1955
http://www.panelology.info/HauntsOfHorror.html

A fun read with lots of covers members here might recognize from the site.

Enjoy!
-Yoc