Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery (1963, Western)

Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery ran for 95 issues (1963–1980). Publishing format: was ongoing series. Early issues have a heavy stock cardboard cover. Issues #3-21 have the front cover illustration reproduced on the back (sans cover copy) as a pin-up. The series title change is because this series is no longer based on the "Thriller" TV series (as can be seen in the indicia, where the copyright owner has changed from Hubbell Robinson Productions [maker of the TV series] to Boris Karloff himself). Now, the series is based directly on Karloff's onscreen persona and the type of movies he made -- However, this makes little practical difference, as the TV series also used Karloff's persona. ******* 'Canadian' price variants of 1968 ******* Doug Sulipa, a comics dealer in Manitoba, Canada since 1970, has confirmed that about 90% of all 63 titles of Gold Key Canadian titles are confirmed to exist with cover dates from April 1968 through August 1968 for both 15 cent covers and 12 cent covers. Joe Torcivia, a comics collector and professional, has confirmed that at least several titles were sold in Flushing, Queens, New York with 15 cent covers while sold elsewhere with 12 cent covers. A few months later (September or November issues, depending on dating), ALL Gold Key Comics carried the 15-cent cover price and no further 12 cent issues were sold again. These issues do not have a currency qualifier on the covers, so it is not certain whether they were priced in Canadian or United States currency, or both. These issues appear to meet comics researcher John McClure's definition of Type 1a variants: “Cover Price Variants intended for foreign distribution with limited regional distribution, published simultaneously with standard or regular editions." However, in addition to foreign distribution, they appear to have also been sold as a test market for an impending price increase in the United States.