How in the world they have ever become lovable - every last parent-murdering, wax-image-sticking, potion-brewing one of them - is a mystery known only to Charles Addams and countless thousands of his fans. They are, most of them, cartoons that have appeared already in The New Yorker, but were never published before in book form. There are six that no one has ever seen. And all of them will make you giggle and shutter deliciously.

    Six full issues and 24 complete stories are collected in this full-color, deluxe volume.

    

    Created by Albert Kanter, the series began publication in 1941 and finished its first run in 1971, producing 169 issues. Following the series' demise, various companies reprinted its titles.The first five titles were published irregularly under the banner "Classic Comics Presents" while issues six and seven were published under the banner "Classic Comics Library" with a ten-cent cover price. Arabian Nights (issue 8), illustrated by Lillian Chestney, is the first issue to use the "Classics Comics" banner.With the fourth issue, The Last of the Mohicans, in 1942, Kanter moved the operation to different offices and the corporate identity was changed to the Gilberton Company, Inc.. Reprints of previous titles began in 1943. Wartime paper shortages forced Kanter to reduce the 64-page format to 56 pages.

    Stories include "Ride Fast for Wyoming," "Calamity Jane," "A Kiss for Captain Lobo," "Halfway House," and "Beneath the Outlaw Moon."

    No writer/artist credit given:"I Was Too 'Fast for Love""I Wanted Too Much Love""I Played with Fire""My First Mistake""My Rival Hid Her Weakness" (short fiction)