Auctions: comic books in 'Thanos: The Final Threat', graded by CGC

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 55 CGC 3.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #0249482004

"Beware the Blood Brothers!" First appearance of Thanos. Story by Jim Starlin. Art by Jim Starlin and Mike Esposito. Cover by Jim Starlin and Joe Sinnott. One of the landmark Marvel issues of the Bronze Age. Drax the Destroyer is a prisoner of Thanos at the evil Titan's Earth-fortress. In an effort to escape, Drax telepathically reaches out to Tony Stark for assistance; but before Iron Man can come to the rescue, Shell-Head is ambushed by the Blood Brothers! Can Drax and the golden avenger defeat the Blood Brothers and Thanos? Also first appearances of Drax the Destroyer, Starfox (in a flashback), and Mentor. (Note: Iron Man 55 was reprinted as a Marvel Milestone Edition in 1992.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 27 CGC 9.4

Paper: Off white

Label #1015581003

The Super-Skrull continues to pester Captain Marvel in "Trapped on Titan!" Script by Mike Friedrich, plot and pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Pablo Marcos. Meanwhile, Thanos seeks out the Cosmic Cube. Cameos by the Thing (of the Fantastic Four), the Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, the Scarlet Witch, the Vision, and the Black Panther), and Drax the Destroyer. This issue also contains a map of Titan. Cover price $0.20.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 28 CGC 7.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4745258007

Thanos defeats Drax the Destroyer and obtains the Cosmic Cube--and that can't be a good thing! The Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, the Scarlet Witch, the Vision, and the Black Panther) guest star in "When Titans Collide!" Plot, pencils, and script (chapter 2) by Jim Starlin, script (chapters 1 and 3) by Mike Friedrich, inks by Dan Green. (Splash page art retouches by John Romita Sr.). Captain Marvel battles the Controller. Drax the Destroyer appearance. Starlin cover pencils. Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Feature (1971 1st Series) 12 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #0992445016

"The Bite of the Blood Brothers!" Guest-starring the Thing and Iron Man. Script by Mike Friedrich. Pencils by Jim Starlin. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by Jim Starlin and John Romita. Ben Grimm is stranded in the Arizona desert after his battle against the Leader last issue! And looking for anyone or anything that can help him return home! In a stroke of luck, the golden avenger streaks overhead! But Shell-Head doesn't stop for Ben, he flies on to an abandoned military base! In a matter of minutes though, Iron Man will regret not stopping to pick up the strongest member of the Fantastic Four! Because far across the universe on Titan, Thanos commands the Blood Brothers to ambush the golden avenger! And just like that…the twin galactic vampires pounce on the unsuspecting Shell-Head! Fortunately for Tony Stark's alter-ego, the Thing eventually reaches Thanos' old base…and the rock'em sock'em battle erupts! The Invincible Iron Man and the blue-eyed idol of millions vs. the savage Blood Brothers! It's clobberin' time! Cameo appearances by Eros, Mentor, and Death. Flashback cameos by Drax the Destroyer and the Controller. (Notes: This issue is part of the classic Thanos storyline that ran though Captain Marvel 25-33. From a continuity standpoint, this story fits in and around Captain Marvel 30. The Blood Brothers previously appeared in the landmark Iron Man 55. The bloodthirsty brothers return in Iron Man 88. The Avengers visit Thanos' Arizona installation years later in Avengers 252. This is the final issue of the Marvel Feature 1st series. The letters page indicates that there was going to be a 13th issue featuring the Thing and the Man-Thing, but that story actually became the 1st issue of the Marvel Two-in-One series. This issue was reprinted in the Life of Captain Marvel limited series published in 1985.) 32 pages Cover price $0.20.