Auctions: comic books in 'Avengers', graded by CBCS

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 131 CBCS 8.5 SS Roy Thomas

Paper: Off white to white

Witnessed Signature: Roy Thomas on 6/17/2023.

Label #23-211DCD8-006

"A Quiet Half-Hour in Saigon!" Script by Steve Englehart. Art by Sal Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Staton (finishes). Cover by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. The Avengers search for clues about Mantis' origin in the streets of Saigon. However, their quest for answers continues to come up empty. Meanwhile in timeless limbo, a strange three-way battle among Kang, Immortus, and Rama-Tut concludes. Unfortunately for Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Conqueror emerges victorious! With Immortus' time machine at his disposal, Kang plucks six deceased villains from the time stream to form the unearthly Legion on the Unliving! Frankenstein's Monster, Wonder Man, the Flying Dutchman (aka the Ghost), Midnight, Baron Zemo, and the original (golden age) Human Torch. Wow, an all-star assemblage from the annals of Marvel! And with a spectacular bolt from the blue, Kang interrupts the Avengers' quiet day in Vietnam and transports the heroes to the labyrinths of limbo! Where a blockbuster battle looms next issue…between the quick and the dead! Cameo appearances by Nomad (aka Steve Rogers), Libra, and the Cotati (as the green-hued Swordsman). Avengers Lineup: Iron Man, Hawkeye, Mantis, Thor, and the Vision. (Notes: The build-up of suspense between issues 131 and 132 was tremendous, since most of the resurrected villains had not appeared in almost a decade. Wonder Man, Baron Zemo, and Immortus previously appeared in Avengers (1st series) 9, 15, and 16, respectively. This issue is the third appearance of the original Human Torch in silver age/bronze age continuity. The first is Fantastic Four Annual 4 published in 1966. The second is Avengers 71 published in 1969. The letters page includes a letter from comics artist Ken Meyer, Jr. The letters page also contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #70 Super Skrull by Jack Kirby.) Cover price $0.25.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 158 CBCS 9.0 SS Jim Shooter

Paper: White

Witnessed Signature: Jim Shooter on 6/17/2023. Newsstand Edition.

Label #23-211DCD8-011

1st appearance of Graviton

"When Avengers Clash! Part 1 of 2. Script by Jim Shooter. Art by Sal Buscema (breakdowns) and Pablo Marcos (finishes). Cover by Jack Kirby and Dan Adkins. Ever since Simon Williams' amazing return from the dead six issues ago, tension has been building between Wonder Man and the Vision. And now things finally boil over in a big way! A horrified Scarlet Witch looks on as the two titans clash inside Avengers Mansion! It's a fight that neither man can win. And after it's over, the Avengers' morale sinks to a new low. Meanwhile north of the border, a brand new villain has seized control of a town in the Canadian Rockies. The Avengers need a big challenge to shake them out of the doldrums; and Graviton is poised to provide it! First appearance of Graviton. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wasp, Wonder Man, and Yellowjacket. 32 pages Cover price $0.30.

Avengers West Coast (1985) 45 CBCS 5.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Newsstand Edition.

Label #21-2156CE3-115

Vision Quest Part 4 of 4. "New Faces" Script by John Byrne. Pencils by John Byrne. Inks by Mike Machlan. Cover by John Byrne. The Vision has been reassembled thanks to the brilliance and hard work of Hank Pym. But complications remain. First, the Vision's appearance has changed due to the trauma his bio-synthetic skin suffered during his disassembly. And second, while Hank has restored the Vision's memories, he can't recreate the emotional attachment to them. For that the brain patterns of Simon Williams are needed. But when Wanda finds Simon and asks him to cooperate, he refuses. Then Wonder Man faces the wrath of the Scarlet Witch! Wow, the West Coast Avengers are approaching rock bottom. And the recent addition of the U.S. Agent is not helping. (Notes: The cover to this issue is an homage to John Buscema and George Klein's classic cover to Avengers (1st series) #57 -- the first appearance of the silver age Vision. The white Vision debuted in the MCU in the final episode of the WandaVision Disney+ series. The Vision Quest storyline was a distressing read for long-time fans of the Avengers. Several years later during the Gatherers saga, the Vision regains his red-hued body. [See Avengers 360.] The letters page contains a statement of ownership: average print run 306,775; average paid circulation 178,125.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.75.

Marvel Two-in-One (1974 1st Series) Annual 2 CBCS 9.8

Paper: White

Newsstand Edition.

Label #21-1CE019B-006

"Death Watch!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Thing, Captain Marvel, and the Avengers. Script by Jim Starlin. Art by Jim Starlin (breakdowns) and Joe Rubinstein (finishes). Cover by Jim Starlin. Story continues from Avengers Annual 7. After Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and Thor destroyed Thanos' synthetic power gem, victory appeared close at hand for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But the evil genius' back up plan has worked to perfection and knocked out the Avengers! Before succumbing to unconsciousness though, Moondragon sends a desperate plea for help back to Earth, specifically to Peter Parker! The web-slinger knows that cosmic battles in outer space are not his specialty, so he swings by the Baxter Building to scoop up a friend. After a quick pow-wow, the blue-eyed idol of millions and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man blast off to save the galaxy! It's an epic encounter onboard the mad Titan's space ark as the Thing, Thor, Spider-Man, and finally Adam Warlock test their mettle vs. Thanos! Simply a fantastic annual! First appearances of Master Order and Lord Chaos. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. (Note: Besides a surreal appearance in the Death of Captain Marvel Graphic Novel (1982), Thanos does not appear again until Silver Surfer (2nd series) #34 thirteen years later.) 48 pages Cover price $0.60.

New Avengers (2005 1st Series) 1A CBCS 9.6 Finch

Paper: White

Label #20-457994F-032

Written by Brian Michael Bendis Pencils & cover by David Finch "NEW AVENGERS" PART 1 (OF 5) After the Devasting destruction of the orginal Avengers just what sort of threat to the world could persuade Captain America to assemble an all-new team? And after the events of AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, who could possibly be on this team? How does Cap, Iron Man, Spider-Man & Wolverine sound? Get ready for the first of a proposed 500-issue run that signals an all-new era, as Bendis & Finch joins with you, the fervent faithful, for the launch of the all-new ongoing Avengers series! 32 PGS. NOTE: This issue holds key clues to the Secret Invasion. Cover price $2.25.