Halloween Special: A Gallery of 666 Pre-Code Horror Comic Covers!

Beware! This page contains images of torture, decapitation, bondage, murder, cannibalism, adultery, suicide, cult worship, sacrifice, witchcraft, revenge, war, sex and violence. Oh My!

The Comic Code Authority (CCA) was passed in 1954 largely due to the publication of a book called The Seduction of the Innocent by Fredric Wertham. The book spoke about the detrimental effects that comics had on young people, often resulting in behavioral problems such as violence, homosexuality (according to Wertham, Batman was gay and Wonder Woman was lesbian), and juvenile delinquency. Adherence to the CCA was voluntary, however many publishers refused to back comic titles that did not conform to the code.

So beginning in 1954, many comic creators adapted a more conservative stance by taming down the sex and violence. Comics published prior to 1954 were later dubbed “pre-code” comics. These comics have become highly collectable due to their controversial content and cover art, often selling for thousands of dollars (the highest selling on the list below sold for 456K and features a bondage cover).

NerdMelon.com has compiled a cover art gallery featuring 666 of the most terrifying, disturbing, and grotesque pre-code horror comic covers of all time (as well as a handful of fantastical “pulp” magazine covers and some post-code covers that refused to conform to the CCA). Get ready for ghosts, ghouls, zombies, devils, clowns, mummies, and skulls… lots and lots of skulls.