Pre-Code Classics: Strange Mysteries #1

This handsome PS Artbooks hardcover collects Strange Mysteries issues 1 through 5 (September 1951–May 1952), bringing together some of the most gleefully unsettling horror comics of the pre-Code era in one generous volume. The reproduced cover art sets the tone perfectly: a wide-eyed blonde woman in a red dress recoils in terror as a monstrous green hand reaches toward her, with story titles promising "Hands of Death," "Ghouls Unmasked," "Terror's Prisoner," and "Rat Men of Paris." If you've been looking for an accessible, well-presented way to explore the wild, anything-goes spirit of early 1950s horror comics, this 2022 collection is a compelling place to start.