CHAMBER of DARKNESS #4 (Apr1970) 7.5 VF- Jack Kirby! Pre-CONAN Barry Smith!

Item Specifics

Series Name

Chamber of Darkness

Issue Number

#4

Publisher

Marvel

Genre

Horror & Sci-Fi

Grade

7.5 VF-

Certification

Uncertified

Signed

No

Item Description

CHAMBER OF DARKNESS was a horror/fantasy anthology comic book published by Marvel Comics. Under this and a subsequent name, it ran from 1969 to 1974. It featured work by creators such as writer-editor Stan Lee, writers Gerry Conway, Archie Goodwin, and Roy Thomas, and artists John Buscema, Johnny Craig, Jack Kirby, Tom Sutton, Barry Windsor-Smith (as Barry Smith), and Bernie Wrightson. Stories were generally hosted by either of the characters Digger, a gravedigger, or Headstone P. Gravely, in undertaker garb, or by one of the artists or writers.

Designed to compete with DC Comics' successful launches of 'House of Mystery' and 'House of Secrets', CHAMBER OF DARKNESS, like its companion comic 'Tower of Shadows', sold poorly despite its select roster of creators from the end of the Silver Age. After its first few issues, the title, published bimonthly, began including reprints of "pre-superhero Marvel" monster stories and other SF/fantasy tales from Marvel's 1950s and early 1960s predecessor, Atlas Comics.

Here is the fourth issue, where inside the cover by Bill Everett and Marie Severin, you get "The Monster!", written and illustrated by Jack Kirby, that tells of a wealthy, ugly, and lonely man who is believed to be a monster by the ignorant people of his village.

Most surprising is the story "The Sword and the Sorcerers!" by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith that certainly seems to be a tryout of the whole genre that the same duo's CONAN would capture 6 months later! In this story, a writer who is selling barbarian stories of Starr the Slayer that come to him in dreams plans to kill off Starr in the next story because the dreams are putting too much of a strain upon his health. On his way to the office, Starr himself assaults the author out of an alley with accusations of assassin upon his lips. The writer is unbelieving, even to the point that Starr raises his sword and strikes him down. Starr wakes in his own world and relates a dream to his faithful minstrel wherein he struck down a grave threat to his life!

You also get Denny O'Neill and Tom Sutton's "The Man Who Owned the World!", wherein a greedy billionaire crashes the world economy to finance a scientist to send him into the future, where a horrible surprise awaits him!

Great tales from great creators!

This copy of CHAMBER OF DARKNESS is in tip-top condition with a strong binding, supple pages and great color. There is a very small area of dented damage at the top of the back cover that impacts several of the interior pages. We conservatively grade this a 7.5 VF-, for which Overstreet assigns a value of $49 We want you to enjoy this issue as much as we did and ask only $40 . . plus our incredibly L•O•W shipping!

And don't forget -- additional purchases on the same order SHIP FOR FREE!

Seller Information

Seller

bennettoons (910)

Registered Since

05/07/2005

Feedback

99.6%

Store

Benny's Comics Corner

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Item Location

California, United States

Ships To

United States

Shipping Instructions

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Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

We will happily send you a refund if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase -- just let us know the reason why, send it back to us in the same condition it was sold, and we'll refund your purchase price.

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