Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Vol. 4 Dark Horse 2010

🔍 Boris Karloff: Tales of Mystery, Volume Four by Gold Key Comics (1967-1968), collected and published by Dark Horse Books (2010) — a hardcover archive reprinting issues #17 through #22 and #24 of the original Boris Karloff horror anthology comic series. This copy is factory sealed and unread.

QUICK FACTS

• Host: Boris Karloff (1887–1969), legendary horror film actor
• Publisher: Dark Horse Books, Milwaukie, OR (original: Gold Key/Western Publishing)
• Year: 2010 (collecting 1967–1968 originals)
• Format: Hardcover, shrink-wrapped, new/unread
• Issues collected: #17–22 and #24 (note: issue #23 is omitted)
• Pages: 232 | Size: 6⅝” × 10 3/16″
• ISBN: 978-1-59582-614-5
• Condition: New, factory sealed

THE STORY

Boris Karloff hosted this anthology comic series for Gold Key Comics from 1962 to 1969, lending his name and likeness to a horror host format that ran for nearly 100 issues across two decades. This fourth volume collects issues #17 through #22 and #24, featuring tales of possessed children, tormented artists, vengeful specters, and hubristic explorers. The back cover promises “haunted nightmares and terrifying adventure” guided by “the master of horror.”

THIS EDITION

Dark Horse Comics reprinted the complete Boris Karloff series in their Archives format: oversized hardcover, high-quality paper, faithful to the original color separations. Volume Four features introductions by two literary giants — a foreword by Ray Bradbury and an introduction by film director, screenwriter, and actor Peter Bogdanovich. Original cover price was $49.99 U.S. The Dark Horse Archives editions are the only complete hardcover reprint of the series.

COVER ART / ILLUSTRATIONS

The front cover features the iconic “BORIS KARLOFF TALES OF MYSTERY” title in bold yellow distressed lettering against a dramatic painted illustration: a large deity-like figure with elaborate headdress dominates the composition, with smaller figures engaged in ritual or conflict below, one holding a flaming torch. A black-and-white portrait photograph of Boris Karloff in suit and tie appears in the upper right. The overall palette is warm — reds, oranges, and dark browns against fiery backgrounds. The back cover carries atmospheric horror artwork in dark blues and grays, with shadowy silhouetted figures in distress beneath the yellow title text, plus the ISBN (978-1-59582-614-5), Dark Horse Books logo, and barcode. Both covers are visible through the original shrink wrap.

WHY IT MATTERS

• The Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery series was the longest-running horror host comic in American publishing history, spanning nearly 100 issues from 1962 to 1980
• Gold Key Comics (an imprint of Western Publishing) was the only publisher to successfully license Karloff’s name and image for a comic series during his lifetime
• This volume features forewords by Ray Bradbury and Peter Bogdanovich — both deeply connected to the horror and mystery genres
• The Dark Horse Archives editions are the only complete hardcover reprint of the series in quality format — essential for collectors of both Karloff memorabilia and vintage horror comics

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? Dark Horse Archives Volume 4, published in 2010. It collects the original Gold Key issues #17–22 and #24, originally published March 1967 to December 1968. Note that issue #23 is not included in this volume.

What condition is it in? Factory sealed and unread. The shrink wrap is intact with minor handling creases typical of warehouse storage.

Is this a complete series? No — this is Volume 4 of a multi-volume set. The complete Boris Karloff series ran for nearly 100 issues; other volumes collect the remaining issues.

FOR COLLECTORS

This factory-sealed copy preserves a piece of horror comics history in mint condition — the only licensed Boris Karloff comic series, reprinted in archival quality with forewords by Ray Bradbury and Peter Bogdanovich that place the series in its proper literary and cinematic context.

Boris Karloff:
Tales of Mystery, Vol. 4

Dark Horse Comics Archives

Contains “Tales of Mystery” issues #17-22, & #24, originally published in 1967
and 1968
Introduction by Peter Bogdanovich
Forward by Ray Bradbury

Factory sealed, NEW, unopened, unread volume.

Will ship promptly upon receipt of payment, carefully packaged.

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