Auctions: comic books in 'Chronological Appearances of Spider-Man's Black Costume'

Amazing Heroes (1981) 35 FN/VF 7.0

In this issue: Hero History of the Inferior Five; Bill Mantlo discusses Marvel's Jack of Hearts; interview with Dan Jurgens, Warlord's new artist. Plus: Editorial; Star Wars comic strip by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson continues; Newsflashes; Coming Comics; Comics in Review - Thor, Mars, Amazing Spider-Man, Wonder Woman; Amazing Readers; Potpourri by Jim Korkis. Cover by Kevin Nowlan. NOTE: This issue features the 2nd preview of Spider-Man's Black Costume (before its debut in The Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) #252). See Comics Journal (1977) #85 for the 1st preview. Cover price $1.95.

Amazing Heroes (1981) 39 VG+ 4.5

In this issue: Special 1984 Preview Section. Plus: Skyborne novella by Dwight Decker; Comics in Review by R.A. Jones; Amazing Readers (including the return of the Pink Protector). Cover has American Flagg!, Vanity, Blue Devil, Doctor Doom, Judge Dredd, She-Hulk, the Rocketeer and Dalgoda. NOTE: This issue features the 5th preview of Spider-Man's Black Costume (before its debut in The Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) #252). Cover price $3.50.

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984) 8N CBCS 9.8 Newsstand Variant

Paper: White

Newsstand Edition. Left Side Edge has gapping, inner well and book are unaffected.

Label #18-0E30B76-002

Newsstand Edition. "Invasion!" Part 8 of 12. Story by Jim Shooter. Art by Mike Zeck, John Beatty, Jack Abel, and Mike Esposito. Tired of being the villains' punching bags, the heroes take the fight to their deadly foes' own doorstep. What follows is one of the most titanic super hero/villain tussles of all time. Plus, Spidey gets a new costume. 1st in continuity appearance of Spider-Man's black costume. See Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #252, Marvel Team-Up #141, & Spectacular Spider-Man #90 for the first appearances from 7 months earlier. NOTE: This costume turns out to be an alien symbiote that will later bond with Eddie Brock and become the tenacious Spidey villain known as Venom. See Amazing Spider-Man #300. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.75.

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984) 8N FN+ 6.5 Newsstand Variant

Newsstand Edition. "Invasion!" Part 8 of 12. Story by Jim Shooter. Art by Mike Zeck, John Beatty, Jack Abel, and Mike Esposito. Tired of being the villains' punching bags, the heroes take the fight to their deadly foes' own doorstep. What follows is one of the most titanic super hero/villain tussles of all time. Plus, Spidey gets a new costume. 1st in continuity appearance of Spider-Man's black costume. See Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #252, Marvel Team-Up #141, & Spectacular Spider-Man #90 for the first appearances from 7 months earlier. NOTE: This costume turns out to be an alien symbiote that will later bond with Eddie Brock and become the tenacious Spidey villain known as Venom. See Amazing Spider-Man #300. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.75.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 252N CGC 9.6 Newsstand Variant

Paper: White

Newsstand Edition.

Label #4662996001

Newsstand Edition. First appearance of Spider-Man's new black (alien symbiote) costume in "Homecoming!" Plot by Roger Stern. Script by Tom DeFalco. Pencils by Ron Frenz (breakdowns) and Brett Breeding (finishes). Cover by Ron Frenz and Klaus Janson. One of the landmark issues of the Amazing Spider-Man! With a brilliant flash of light in Central Park, the wondrous wall-crawler is back! And he looks a whole lot different! Wow, a new costume! What happened during the Secret Wars on the Beyonder's world? The ominous truth will be revealed to both the readers and the web-slinger in the days and weeks ahead! Cameo appearances by the Black Cat, Dr. Curt Connors, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson , Aunt May, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, and the Wasp. (Notes: Marvel Age 12 contained sketches of the new costume two months prior to the publication of this issue. Spidey's new costume was also unveiled in Marvel Team-Up 141 and Spectacular Spider-Man 90. The first issue of the (1984) Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Limited Series was published the same month as Amazing Spider-Man 252. The web-slinger discovers his new costume in issue 8 of the limited series. The Frenz-Janson cover is a tribute to the iconic cover of Amazing Fantasy 15. This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales 266. The letters page contains a statement of ownership: average print run 470,527; average paid circulation: 241,762. 36 pgs. Cover price $0.60.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 252N FN/VF 7.0 Newsstand Variant

Newsstand Edition. First appearance of Spider-Man's new black (alien symbiote) costume in "Homecoming!" Plot by Roger Stern. Script by Tom DeFalco. Pencils by Ron Frenz (breakdowns) and Brett Breeding (finishes). Cover by Ron Frenz and Klaus Janson. One of the landmark issues of the Amazing Spider-Man! With a brilliant flash of light in Central Park, the wondrous wall-crawler is back! And he looks a whole lot different! Wow, a new costume! What happened during the Secret Wars on the Beyonder's world? The ominous truth will be revealed to both the readers and the web-slinger in the days and weeks ahead! Cameo appearances by the Black Cat, Dr. Curt Connors, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson , Aunt May, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, and the Wasp. (Notes: Marvel Age 12 contained sketches of the new costume two months prior to the publication of this issue. Spidey's new costume was also unveiled in Marvel Team-Up 141 and Spectacular Spider-Man 90. The first issue of the (1984) Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Limited Series was published the same month as Amazing Spider-Man 252. The web-slinger discovers his new costume in issue 8 of the limited series. The Frenz-Janson cover is a tribute to the iconic cover of Amazing Fantasy 15. This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales 266. The letters page contains a statement of ownership: average print run 470,527; average paid circulation: 241,762. 36 pgs. Cover price $0.60.

Marvel Team-Up (1972 1st Series) 141 VF 8.0

Direct Edition. "Blind Justice!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Black Widow, and Daredevil. Plot by Tom DeFalco. Script by Jim Owsley. Art by Greg LaRocque (breakdowns) and Mike Esposito (finishes). Cover by Art Adams and Mike Mignola. Spider-Man is missing! What has happened to the spectacular one? Regardless, Daredevil and the Black Widow must keep working on the pawnbroker murder case in order to prevent an innocent man from going up the river! The Man Without Fear and Natasha just about have the case solved, when the web-slinger suddenly reappears...in a brand new costume! They'll be glad to have Spidey's help to finish this caper...or will they? Daredevil's deal with the Kingpin may not go over too well with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Cameo appearances by the Kingpin, the Arranger, and Dr. Curt Connors. (Notes: Spider-Man's new costume debuted this month in Amazing Spider-Man 252, Spectacular Spider-Man 90, and this issue. The letters page includes a letter from Marvel creator Stan Lee.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.60.

Spectacular Spider-Man (1976 1st Series) 90D VF 8.0

Direct Edition. "Where, Oh Where Has My Spider-Man Gone?" Script and Pencils by Al Milgrom. Inks by Jim Mooney. Cover by Al Milgrom. The Spectacular Spider-Man is missing! Where is he? The Black Cat is looking everywhere! She checks with everyone including Mrs. Muggins, Captain DeWolff, J. Jonah Jameson, Aunt May, and the Avengers! When the web-slinger finally reappears on the final page, he's wearing his new black costume! Cameo appearances by the Vision and the Scarlet Witch. (Notes: Spider-Man's new costume debuted this month in Amazing Spider-Man 252, Marvel Team-Up 141, and this issue. The letters page includes a statement of ownership: average print run 351,448; average paid circulation 172,290.) 32 pages Cover price $0.60.