Set Description:
Professor Coffin got me started on the Midnight Tales series. I must tell the truth and let it be known that I have a thing for Charlton comics. Some seller on eBay had all three issues of "Prof Coffin"(#19,20,21) up for sale saying they were from an old closed down durg store. He said they were NM. I liked the covers and was the winning bidder. It was a while before I found out the other 18 issues were Midnight Tales. By then the Coffins had been sent in, but for the #21 which had a small crease, and they came back as 9.4 and 9.6. With the Coffins coming back so high it was then that I knew the Midnight Tales would have to be collected to. This set was last updated in June of 2023 and I’ll continue to add newer pictures as time permits.
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 1 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0140921022
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Owner Comments
Okay, here we go with one of my favorite series. I love the Wayne Howard covers, lots of details and (more...)Okay, here we go with one of my favorite series. I love the Wayne Howard covers, lots of details and always a bit of humor thrown in. I’ll start each issue comment out with a little discussion about Arachne or that stupid clock on the covers and then a little history of how I ended up with the comic.
Okay, here we go. A couple of things pop right off this cover for me. Well, enough about Arachne. The clock, other then the fact that it seems to be on every cover just doesn’t seem like it should be in Frankensteins work area. Why does it always read 12 o’clock, would you be down there in the lab at midnight? The cover always reminds me of the stories you hear about hospitals taking out the wrong kidney or removing the wrong leg. Look at all the detail on this cover, the brick work, the details in the scientific equipment, and the clothing. That’s a bunch of line work.
COMICLINK:
Condition: CGC 9.8 NM/MT
Census Rank: Highest CGC Graded!
Page Quality: White Pages
Type of Holder: Universal
Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored
ComicLink Comments:
This pristine NM/Mint CGC 9.8 is the highest graded for this issue, and it is 1 of only 2 examples ever certified at this top tier. Additionally, with perfect White Pages this example is the best of the best!
Wayne Howard is best known for his 1970s work at Charlton Comics, where he became American comic books' first series creator known to be credited on covers, with the horror anthology Midnight Tales announcing "Created by Wayne Howard” on each issue (except for issue #2, see next listing), a declaration perhaps unique in the industry at the time"
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 3 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 3 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0908138027
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Owner Comments
What great detail we get on this issues cover. Love those boots Arachne. They seem a bit out of place (more...)What great detail we get on this issues cover. Love those boots Arachne. They seem a bit out of place for traveling to the Middle Ages. Yeah, that darn clock is still around. Now, getting back to Arachne, I’ve just noticed that she seems to be wearing a spider pin or brooch on the first 3 covers. I’ll be interested in seeing if she continues to wear it the entire series.
COMICLINK:
Condition: CGC 9.8 NM/MT
Census Rank: Highest Graded!
Page Quality: White Pages
Type of Holder: Universal
Degree Of Restoration: Unrestored
ComicLink Comments:
This pristine CGC 9.8 NM/MT is the highest graded example ever certified by CGC and is 1 of only 2 to ever earn this top ranking. Adding to its desirability, CGC has assigned its perfect page quality designation of White pages, making it the very best 9.8 attainable.
Well, as you see above, this was won in a ComicLink auction for $60. When it arrived I was surprised to see a price sticker on it for $199. I don’t know what comic shop had it for sale but that was some hopeful wishing seeing it only sold for $60.
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 4 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 4 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0752547001
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Owner Comments
Oh my, Arachne and the Professor don't look to happy that they got on the "L" train, ah, I mean the (more...)Oh my, Arachne and the Professor don't look to happy that they got on the "L" train, ah, I mean the Hell train. Take a closer look at that conductor and you’ll notice he has a nice little red tail and, oh yeah, a nice set of horns coming out of the forehead. Is he the devil or just a demon? The conductors arm patch reads Inferno Express and his belt buckle reads Abandon Hope. Right next to the orange creator box are a nice little pile of three bullets. Would someone please tell me what that darn clock is doing on a train. One other little note is the pack of cigarettes laying at the base of the clock. Wayne Howard was a very heavy smoker and most likely lead to his early death at 58. I don’t know if you noticed but the title logo has changed with this issues. The title Midnight Tales is now printed on a piece of parchment instead of floating letters. This was purchased on eBay as a group of 6 Midnight Tales issues and listed as from the Mass. Copy pedigree. When I asked for proof he told me his name and said I could ask anybody in the know and they would confirm that he was a big buyer of the Mass. Copy collection. I sent them to CGC with his email and they all came back as Mass. Copy Pedigree copies.
Tied with 2 others as highest graded.
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 5 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 5 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0157685004
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Owner Comments
Okay, best thing about this issue is the centerfold pin-up of Arachne. She’s leaning up against her (more...) Okay, best thing about this issue is the centerfold pin-up of Arachne. She’s leaning up against her dresser in what must be her bedroom. There’s so many things to notice in this pinup I hope I don’t pass any up. First, how bout that feather duster hanging from the dresser, I’m getting tingles just writing about it. Oh my, that stocking hanging from the dresser drawer just makes me notice her long legs and that slit up the side of her skirt. Okay, enough of that. What the heck is she keeping in that dresser. Check out the top left with the octopus leg coming out, there I go again thinking about Arachnes legs. How about the nice spider mirror and the nice skull belt Arachne is wearing. There’s also a nice skull with a candle in it on the dresser. The bit of humor that Wayne has put in this pinup is in the mirror. Under Arachnes arm in the mirrors reflection, which would be leaning against her back, is a copy of Midnight Tales, with the spelling forward and not in reverse as would be the case here. One last little thing on the pinup is on the right hand side of the dresser is a blue jar with a pink label which has FUBAR Co. printed on it. Not really sure why Wayne would use the acronym FUBAR but it’s there. (less...)
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 7 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 7 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0752547002
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Owner Comments
WHAT!!! Hold it. Stop the presses!!! We forgot to put the grandfather clock on the cover! For the first (more...)WHAT!!! Hold it. Stop the presses!!! We forgot to put the grandfather clock on the cover! For the first time in the series there is no clock on the cover. What relief. What we do get is Arachne dressed in her best Indiana Jones outfit.
Once again no records to go along with this issue. I noticed with this issue the price jumped from 20 cents to a quarter. Inflation in the 70’s was the worst.
I’ve never read this issue. I think it’s about time I did. With the main story titled OOZE it has to be somewhat entertaining I would think. Wait a minute, bottom row, second from left, what’s that cave child pointing at?
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 9 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 9 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3771655001
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Owner Comments
Arachne just "pops" right off the page on this cover. Well, some parts of her do.
I haven't read all (more...)Arachne just "pops" right off the page on this cover. Well, some parts of her do.
I haven't read all the issues of this series yet so I don't know why that grandfather clock is on most of the covers but when I find out I'll let you know. A rather dark cover but there are a few interesting things to point out. There is a bag of cement laying next to Arachne with the brand name “Concreep”, on the shelf next to the Professor is what looks to be a box of breakfast cereal named “Zoo Babies” and above that a can of paint named “Daddy Cool Paint” by the “Bozo” brand of paint!, and last but not least there’s a comic book next to Arachnes foot titled “Kootie”. What? You want me to keep going. Okay, behind Arachne is a box that has “Mother’s Coats” written on it as well as another box with “Kootie” written across it. What? You want more? There’s a drum in the background that says “Old Junk” on it as well as two cans of “Insect Spray” with a dead spider shown on them. There are a few words on the Mother’s Coat box that I can’t make but for the word save at the bottom. May best guess is it says “Good for save”. What, come on, you want more. Okay, the last one. On the two bags of Concreep the bottom one has the acronym FUBAR on the side. This was part of my Mass. Copy pedigree buy off from eBay. Why this issue graded so low I don’t know, must be something on the inside. This new copy (4/24/21) is off from eBay for $36 and replaces the 8.5 from the Mass. Pedigree. Oh yeah, this 9.2 is also the highest graded copy so far. Oh no, here’s one last little thing, the logo “All New” has moved from the top edge to the side of the Midnight Tales logo. I swear this is last thing I’ll point out. Starting with this issue a single star has been added to the upper left of the Charlton Comics logo. (less...)
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 10 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 10 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0752547004
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Owner Comments
Sure, this cover has Arachne on it but this is one cover of the series that I dislike. Just looking (more...)Sure, this cover has Arachne on it but this is one cover of the series that I dislike. Just looking at the cover you know that both Coffin and Arachne were supposed to have word balloons and they don't. I want to know what they’re so upset about. Guess I’ll have to read it. This would be a great time to do one of those caption contest and see who could come up with the best word balloons to put on this cover. There's that clock again. It just sits there doing nothing. Give it a purpose, have a ghost in it or at least some spooky eyes starring out of it. Part of the 6 issue Mass. Copy pedigree purchase. Once again, like on the last issue, we see Wayne uses the “Zoo Baby” title. Okay, dislike may be a bit strong a word, I do like the concept that I think Wayne was going for, if the large puppets are controlling the small puppets whose controlling the large puppets, I mean they do have strings attached to then, somebody’s up there pulling the strings. This is the first issue that no longer has a “Featuring” logo box along the bottom edge which I always enjoyed. (less...)
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 12 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 12 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4258555001
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Owner Comments
Only one graded for this issue and therefore highest graded. This comic was in a CBCS slab at 9.6 but (more...)Only one graded for this issue and therefore highest graded. This comic was in a CBCS slab at 9.6 but when I had a few other comics to submit I had this one crossed over knowing it would must likely come back a grade lower. My set is now complete including the Prof. Coffin issues in both Newstand and Direct editions. Oh yeah, I also have a reading copy for each issue. Oh no, if I have both editions for the Prof. Coffin issues I guess I would need both Newstand and Direct editions for Midnight Tales too. Let’s see, that would be issues #15 to the end of the series at #18. Let’s talk about this cover now. I bit of a nonevent full cover other than Arachne got her spider back and the grandfather clock has once again disappeared. Wayne Howard was known for his lookalike style of Wally Wood and to me this cover shows that. While we’re talking about great artists, Steve Ditko did the pencils and ink on the second story in this issue, The Red Army, has to do with red ants. (less...)
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 15 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 15 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0154900002
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Owner Comments
Another of those black covers which make it hard to land a high grade, I guess I did okay on this one (more...)Another of those black covers which make it hard to land a high grade, I guess I did okay on this one as it’s the highest graded. Arachne has a nice pair of glasses on her forehead and she looks a bit younger than on other covers. It seems that the professor and her are house hunting and that may explain why the grandfather clock looks different.
I own a Jeep and seeing this splash page inside was a delight. A neat collection would be to get all the Jeep Comics issues and any other comics that have Jeeps on the covers and then show them at Jeep dealers showrooms, for which they would pay you a small fee. This is one of three books that I sent in as explained in #13 comments. With this issue I kind of think all people involved with the series kind of knew it may be coming to its end. The covers are much simpler with no little humor hidden about the scene, and as mentioned before Arachne looks more like a teenager than she was in earlier issues. Also, Wayne Howard did all the work by himself, story, cover, and art. Makes me think that maybe his usual staff may have been put to work on more popular titles. This is also the first issue with a barcode on it. The next 3 issues all have the same barcode on them so it may have been to identify the title in house and not for a Newstand edition.
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 16 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 16 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0154900003
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Owner Comments
Well, we get Arachne in fishnet stockings again and, yes, the grandfather clock is on the cover. It (more...)Well, we get Arachne in fishnet stockings again and, yes, the grandfather clock is on the cover. It can barely be seen along the right edge. Inside we get a bit of “Good Girl” art. It’s always nice to see a Frankenstein-ish cover on comics. I at one time was thinking about collecting any comic issue with a Frankenstein type cover on it. I started looking into it and soon realized there were just to many to be practical. Once again this copy is from the 3 book buy off eBay as explained in #13’s comments. On this cover I noticed that Arachne no looks like she has become even younger, like 12 or 13. See also has shrunk a bit. Last issue she’s absolutely taller than the Professor and this issue she like a foot shorter. Wayne did all the work on this issue too. (less...)
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 17 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 17 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0154900004
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Owner Comments
One of my favorite covers from this series. It looks like Arachen has had a little work done. Looks (more...)One of my favorite covers from this series. It looks like Arachen has had a little work done. Looks like they took about 10 years off her face. No grandfather clock but then they are underwater. I picked this off ebay for $6 where it was listed as a 9.4. I sent it to CGC thinking I would get at least a 9.2. When it came back there was a big bend and ding to the back cover that wasn't there when sent in. Don't think it happened in the mail as the other comics sent in were okay. My guess it happened in the unpacking of my package where it slipped out of someone’s hands and landed on the corner. Oh well, stuff happens. Oh yeah, one and only graded copy. STOP THE PRESS, STOP THE PRESS!!! What the heck, call the printing room and ask why they forgot to put the “Created By Wayne Howard” logo on the cover. I can’t believe Wayne would have forgotten to add that as he must’ve been more than proud to have the only comic being printed with a “Created By” logo on it in the entire industry. (less...)
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| Slot: |
Midnight Tales 18 |
| Item: |
Midnight Tales 18 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0752547005
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Owner Comments
Well, here we are with the last issue of the Midnight Tales title, the series carried on for three more (more...)Well, here we are with the last issue of the Midnight Tales title, the series carried on for three more issues under the title of Prof. Coffin. The art work suffers a bit on this issue as there seems to be a lot of small detail mIssing compared to other issues. Arachne seems to have kept her younger appearance on this cover and if Howard would have put a little blue and a star on that dress she could have been an all American girl. Now, you would have thought Wayne would have put that grandfather clock on the last issue, but no, it’s missing and as much as I detested that clock I now seem to miss it. There’s a new logo on the bottom right announcing Charlton Publication as the parent company. I should also mention the the price went to 30 cents on this final issue. This was part of my Mass. Pedigree purchase from eBay. As mentioned above the series continued for 3 more issues 10 years later under the title “Prof. Coffin” with all the same characters and used the same covers from the first three issues of Midnight Tales but in mirror images with different colors. (less...)
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