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Suspense Comics

Continental // December 1943 - September 1946
Issue count: 12

Continental set the horror comic pace in the mid 40's with Suspense. Some of the earliest of the genre! Get an idea of what these obscure finds may be worth with Quality's free price guide.

Suspense Comics

Publishing was a very complicated game in the early 20th Century. Perhaps nobody knew this better than Frank Temerson. His was a long road to becoming a publisher of comic books.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, his family moved to the United States when he was only 2 years old. They settled in, of all places, Birmingham, Alabama. When Frank was of age, he attended law school in Tennessee. Although never passing the bar, he established a law practice in Birmingham for two years before relocating to Detroit. He was then drafted and served in WWI.

Upon his return he started a printing and distribution company with an old friend as his partner - this was when Pulp Magazines were really taking off.

In the 30’s, they relocated operations to New York City and established a small company, named Ultem, which produced mostly movie magazines. It started to become obvious to Frank that the comic book biz may be lucrative, and went about acquiring titles from the now-fabled Harry A. Chesler Studios. Ultem was bought out in 1939 by Centaur Publications.

Striking out on his own, he started Helnit Publications, which was responsible for releasing Green Hornet Comics, Captain Aero Comics and Cat-Man Comics.Then rival publisher Holyoke came along and bought those titles, of which they resumed publication until Temerson formed his NEW company, Et-Es-Go Publications, and re-acquired those titles from Holyoke, which he started putting out under the new name Continental Magazines.

During this period he decided to put out a few brand new titles, and in late 1943, Continental debuted Suspense Comics.

Suspense Comics was important for a couple of reasons. First, although only running for 12 issues through late 1946, this was one of the first titles to be solely dedicated to supernatural/horror stories from cover to cover. This was somewhat a case of trend-forecasting by Temerson, as this would become one of the dominant genres after the superhero boom of the early to mid 1940s.

Second, Temerson made the smart business decision of hiring gifted illustrator L.B. Cole as his Art-Director for the title. Cole had started his own freelance studio in 1942, and, in addition to contributing some amazingly eye-popping covers for Suspense, utilized many of his regular staffers to provide content for the title. Any given issue of Suspense may include interiors by gifted craftsmen as Charles Quinlan, Rudy Palais, John Giunta, Nina Albright, Bob Fujitani, Tony DiPreta, Don Rico, George Appel, Manny Stallman, Lou Ferstadt and Cole himself. Even legendary cover artist Alex Schomburg contributed one of the only covers not by Cole for Issue #3, which depicts a cult of hooded nazis performing a ritualistic human sacrifice of a lovely gal bound to a stake.

This kind of content was typical of Suspense Comics, which features female bondage quite liberally on more than half of its 12 issues’ covers. Images as these would become more and more popular towards the late 40’s and early-mid 50’s.

As suggested before, Suspense Comics was a bit of an anomaly at a time when Superman and Captain America ruled the newstands, making all 12 issues very valuable and scarce. Check what’s out there by following the links on Quality Comix’s online price guide!

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Issue #1

What's Suspense Comics #1 worth in 2024?

Suspense Comics #1 has no known mint condition value, although two copies have been assessed at a CGC 9.0 VF/NM. Of those two, a 9.0 Davis Crippen “D” Copy was sold for $9,560 in August 2006. The second-highest rated CGC edition was a Crowley Copy sold in December 2013 at an 8.5 VF+ for $5,300. More recently, a CGC 4.5 was sold in February 2019 for $3,000, making the first edition of Suspense Comics very valuable.

Why is this comic book valuable?

While traditionally considered a series from 1944, the first edition of Suspense Comics was actually published in December of 1943 by Continental with a $.10 cover price. Considered the first of its kind in the horror/suspense genre, this comic book series follows detectives as they solve crimes. The first edition featured the devil, as well as men in robes with a beautiful blonde in bondage.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$1,400 $2,750 $5,000 $1,000 $40,000 $9,560

Sell Suspense Comics #1

Issue #2

What's Suspense Comics #2 worth in 2024?

Though there is no known value for a mint-condition copy, we estimate Suspense Comics #2 could sell for well over $10,000. The highest CGC rated copy, an Edgar Church (Mile High) edition, was sold in May 2006 as a CGC 9.4 NM for $9,560. Later that year a Davis Crippen “D” Copy, rated at a CGC 9.2, sold for the price of $6,573. More recently an unretouched CGC 6.5 sold for $1,554 in August of 2016.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Debuting in February 1944, and published by Continental, this rare comic is valued for its esoteric quality. The Mask is first introduced in “Death in the Fourth Dimension.”

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$400 $800 $1,600 $3,200 $12,500 $9,560

Sell Suspense Comics #2

Issue #3

What's Suspense Comics #3 worth in 2024?

The highest CGC rating for Suspense Comics #3 is only an 8.0 VF, but we estimate a mint condition would be worth well over $50,000 if it were ever available for sale at auction. The highest-rated CGC copy ever sold was an 8.0 Davis Crippen “D” Copy, which went for $47,800 in August 2006. More recently, an unrestored Crowley Copy rated at a 7.0 sold for the price of $34,944 in June 2013, while an edited version rated at an 8.0 sold for $14,938 in August 2016.

Why is this comic book valuable?

The third installment of Suspense Comics was released in April 1944 by Continental. This comic is recognized for its classic bondage cover, which was rare in the comic genre at the time. Perhaps the best-known cover of the “Golden Age,” this Alex Schomburg cover features a hooded Nazi, a spear-toting hero, and a pretty woman bound. This particular cover was based on a real-life depiction of a KKK meeting.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$10,000 $20,000 $40,000 $75,000 $300,000 $47,800

Sell Suspense Comics #3

Issue #4

What's Suspense Comics #4 worth in 2024?

The CGC has only rated 13 unretouched copies of Suspense Comics #4, making a mint condition copy both rare and valuable. The CGC has only given a 7.5 VF-, which sold for $3,100 in June of 2009. An unretouched CGC 1.8 sold for $995 in March 2018, making this a comic that holds its value long-term.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Published in June 1944 by short-lived publishing company Continental, this particular issue is rare in that Mr. Nobody is featured on the cover, but does not actually debut in a storyline until #5. Suspense Comics #4 features a superhero story (Grey Mask); a western-frontier; a crime-horror; multiple typeset stories; and even a humor story starring Worthless Wiggins.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$1,000 $2,000 $4,000 $8,000 $32,000 $3,107

Sell Suspense Comics #4

Issue #5

What's Suspense Comics #5 worth in 2024?

There is no mint condition value for Suspense Comics #5, but the highest-rated CGC value is a 9.2 Near Mint-. One of those, an Edgar Church (Mile High) copy sold for $2,988 in November 2009. A CGC .5 copy rated as unretouched but incomplete sold for $71 in October 2019. There are only 12 copies that have been CGC Universal unretouched rated.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Printed by Continental in August 1944, Suspense Comics #5 features the first story art of superhero Mr. Nobody. Notable in this edition is an appearance by Satan himself, as the King of the Racketeers.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$250 $500 $1,000 $2,000 $8,000 $6,900

Sell Suspense Comics #5

Issue #6

What's Suspense Comics #6 worth in 2024?

Suspense Comics #6 does not have a known mint condition value. The CGC has only given an 8.0 Very Fine, an Edgar Church (Mile High) edition, which sold for $2,211 in August 2014. A 7.0 sold for $1,400 in October 2018, and a CGC 1.5 sold for $240 in July 2019, making a mint condition price hard to pin down.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Notable for the lingerie panel, this October 1944 copy of Suspense Comics #6 from Continental starts out with a fatal mugging depicted on the cover. Follow the stories of Nat Greene, Satan, Sherry the Girl Detective, The Grey Mask, and Mr. Nobody.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$275 $550 $1,100 $2,200 $8,800 $2,211

Sell Suspense Comics #6

Issue #7

What's Suspense Comics #7 worth in 2024?

The highest-rated CGC copy of Suspense Comics #7 is a 9.4, which sold for $5,060 in October 2005. While there is no known mint condition value, more recently an 8.5 Davis Crippen “D” Copy sold for $2,640 in February 2019. A live auction in November 2019 had a CGC 2.5 Good+ for sale at a starting price of $133, with an estimate to sell for around $500.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Suspense Comics #7 was released by Continental in December 1944, and featured a GGA Wartime skeleton by legendary illustrator L.B. Cole. The cover did not have a direct-related storyline, instead switching to Mr. Nobody in “Bedlam.”

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$250 $425 $800 $1,600 $6,400 $5,060

Sell Suspense Comics #7

Issue #8

What's Suspense Comics #8 worth in 2024?

Suspense Comics #8 has no known mint condition value. No. 8 is unique in that there are 52 CGC Universal rated copies, with a majority in the 3.0 to 7 range, and three rated at a CGC 7.5 VF-. Only one CGC 7.5 has been sold unretouched, which had a price of $2,551 and sold in July 2012. More recently, a 4.0 sold for $1,499 in August 2019, and a 5.5 went up for auction in November 2019. The CGC 5.5 had an estimated sale price of just under $5,000.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Following a long hiatus, this eighth edition of Suspense Comics from Continental was finally released in June of 1945. This ultra-scarce cover features a sinister spider from L.B. Cole. Satan stars in this issue, fitting into the overall sinister theme.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$750 $1,500 $2,750 $5,000 $20,000 $3,107

Sell Suspense Comics #8

Issue #9

What's Suspense Comics #9 worth in 2024?

While there is no known mint condition value for Suspense Comics #9, the highest-rated CGC copy was rated at a 9.4 NM. That Edgar Church (Mile High) copy sold for $3,884 in November 2009. More recently, an 8.0 sold for $3,120 in April 2019. The CGC has rated 36 total copies, with 32 Universal, one Qualified, and three Restored.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Suspense Comics #9 was released in August 1945 by Continental featuring a horror-suspense theme throughout. A creepy eye looks upon a screaming crowd on the cover. Superhero Mr. Nobody is the main hero of this issue.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$350 $700 $1,400 $3,125 $12,000 $6,573

Sell Suspense Comics #9

Issue #10

What's Suspense Comics #10 worth in 2024?

Suspense Comics #10 has no mint-condition value, as the highest-rated CGC evaluated copy is a 9.2 NM-. That Edgar Church (Mile High) copy sold for $6,300 in June 2015. An 8.5 CGC VF+ sold for $4,095 in September 2018.

Why is this comic book valuable?

Suspense Comics #10 was the last issue printed in 1945 by Continental. L.B. Cole created the Mr. Nobody cover, in a one-page excerpt of the story titled “The Emerald of Pashko.” Legendary illustrator Nina Albright is credited for Mr. Nobody in “The Doublecrossing Coffin.” A unique and rare Baby Ruth ad was featured in a full-page advertisement.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$250 $500 $1,000 $2,000 $8,000 $0

Sell Suspense Comics #10

Issue #11

What's Suspense Comics #11 worth in 2024?

There is no known mint condition value for Suspense Comics #11, but the high-rated CGC rated copy was a 9.4 NM. Of the 62 copies that have been CGC rated, 59 are considered Universal, with the most in the 5.0 VG/F range. This comic has held its value well over the years, as a 9.4 sold for $9,560 in November 2009. In March 2018 an unretouched 9.0 sold for $4,800. Later that year, an unretouched 7.5 sold for $4,800.

Why is this comic book valuable?

After a 7-month break, Continental released Suspense Comics #11 in June 1946. The comic featured a horror-suspense genre, and an oversized Satan on the cover. The cover doesn’t quite depict the story within, however - in a rare appearance, Satan uses his power for good when he acts more like a superhero to settle a debt.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$675 $1,350 $2,625 $4,750 $18,000 $10,925

Sell Suspense Comics #11

Issue #12

What's Suspense Comics #12 worth in 2024?

Suspense Comics #12 was the final entry to the series, and has no known mint-condition value. The CGC has only given a value of 9.2 NM- to one copy, which sold for $2,400 in July 2006. In August 2014 an Edgar Church (Mile High) CGC 9.0 sold for the price of $3,346. Most recently, an unretouched 5.5 sold for $2,049 in March 2019.

Why is this comic book valuable?

The final edition of Continental’s series Suspense Comics was released in September of 1946. This L.B. Cole cover featured a man hanging from a clock. This issue wrapped up the storylines of Satan, Sherry Flippe, and The Grey Mask.

Price Guide Report

GD 2.0 VG 4.0 FN 6.0 VF 8.0 NM 9.4 RECORD SALE!
$350 $700 $1,400 $2,800 $11,000 $3,346

Sell Suspense Comics #12