Auctions: comic books January 1963

Atom (1962) 4 CGC 6.5

Paper: White

Label #2036857011

Cover pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson. "The Machine That Made 'Miracles'!", script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson; Traveling to Happy Harbor to give a speech to graduates at Snapper Carr's home, Ray witnesses as Snapper's boat suddenly goes from being an ordinary row-boat to a giant sail boat he wishes he has; Deciding to learn the cause of his mystery, Ray changes into the Atom and decides to secretly help Snapper, so that Snapper has a good story to share with his fellow Justice League members; When crooks realize that something around Happy Harbor is turning dreams into reality, they try to steal some dress jewels that have become real. "The Case of the Innocent Thief!", script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson; When a series of crimes are committed by people who have concrete alibis that put them far away from the robbery, Ray Palmer decides to figure it out as the Atom. Letter to the editor from MyComicShop owner Buddy Saunders. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Challengers of the Unknown (1958 DC 1st Series) 29 CGC 9.2

Paper: White

Label #4543086007

"Four Roads to Doomsday." The Challengers are tricked into disabling four machines that supposedly threaten the planet. "The War Between the Challenger Teams." Two teams of Challengers (Rocky and Prof vs. Ace and Red) unknowingly battle each other after getting mixed up in a conflict between fish men and lava men. Art and cover by Bob Brown. Superman stars in a one-page public service announcement, "Pennies for UNICEF!" Cover price $0.12.

Detective Comics (1937 1st Series) 311 VG- 3.5

Cover oxidation. Water spotting.

Cover art by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff. 1st appearance of Catman in "Challenge of the Cat-Man!" starring Batman, Robin, Cat-Man (intro), and Batwoman, script by Bill Finger, art by Jim Mooney; Tom Blake, a playboy and big-game hunter, is inspired by the memory of the Catwoman and his pet black panther to become the Cat-Man, a costumed thief, using cat-gimmicks and cat-motifs in his robberies; Batman, Robin, and Batwoman stand against Cat-Man and they confront the criminal on a couple of occasions until Batman is able to deduce Cat-Man's secret identity; When the Dynamic Duo find Cat-Man's lair, they fall into a trap, but Batman finds a way out after which Cat-Man tries to escape, but falls to a nearby river and is dragged away by the current. Strange Old Laws humor page by Henry Boltinoff. "The Invaders from the Space Warp" starring John Jones Manhunter from Mars, script by Jack Miller, art by Joe Certa; When alien criminals from another dimension escape to Earth, Manhunter rounds them all up, but they accidentally leave their pet Zook behind. Touchdown for Picasso! public service announcement, script by Jack Schiff, art by Sheldon Moldoff. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 10 VG 4.0

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. Doctor Doom returns in the appropriately-named "The Return of Doctor Doom!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Doctor Doom returns from his unwanted journey in space and visits Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in order to make them set a trap for the Fantastic Four. The Invisible Girl pinup by Kirby and Ayers. Part 2 "Back from the Dead!"; Doctor Doom tells how he managed to return to Earth with the help of the Ovoids and then he changes bodies with Mr. Fantastic using Ovoid technology. Part 3 "The End of Mr. Fantastic?"; Doctor Doom convinces the rest of the Fantastic Four that he is Mr Fantastic. Part 4 "No Place to Turn!"; Doctor Doom (as Mr. Fantastic) displays his new shrinking-ray and Mr. Fantastic (in Doom's body) escapes his captivity in Doom's castle. Part 5 "The Real Doctor Doom!" Cameos by the Mole Man, the Miracle Man, the Skrulls, the Sub-Mariner, the Ant-Man, the Hulk, and Thor. Letter to the editor from Rocket's Blast editor G.B. Love. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 104 CGC 5.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4641361009

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. First appearance of Paste-Pot Pete (later called the Trapster) in "Paste-Pot Pete!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Human Torch stops Paste-Pot Pete from stealing an experimental missile from the military. "Venus!" text story. "Markham's Magic Crayon!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Paul Reinman; A greedy factory owner fires a worker who claims to have made a magic crayon; He finds that the crayon really is magic, giving him the ability to draw fabulously. "The Frog-Man!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; An evil king is turned into a frog by a sorcerer; He hibernates for centuries hoping that the future will hold a cure, but Halloween costumes make him think that humans are now giant frogs and he goes to sleep forever. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 104 GD+ 2.5 (R)

Trimmed

TRIMMED. Cover oxidation. Staples added (not manufacturing).

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. First appearance of Paste-Pot Pete (later called the Trapster) in "Paste-Pot Pete!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Human Torch stops Paste-Pot Pete from stealing an experimental missile from the military. "Venus!" text story. "Markham's Magic Crayon!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Paul Reinman; A greedy factory owner fires a worker who claims to have made a magic crayon; He finds that the crayon really is magic, giving him the ability to draw fabulously. "The Frog-Man!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; An evil king is turned into a frog by a sorcerer; He hibernates for centuries hoping that the future will hold a cure, but Halloween costumes make him think that humans are now giant frogs and he goes to sleep forever. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 37 GD 2.0 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION. Color touch. 1" Spine split from bottom. Cover glued to first wrap. Centerfold detached at one staple.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. "Haag! Hunter of Helpless Humans!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Steve Ditko; An alien hunter named Haag comes to earth looking for new game to hunt and sets out to capture humans from around the world. "Muscle Man" text story. "A Voice in the Dark," script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Paul Reinman; A crook hides in a wax museum, but he is scared off by a phonogram record. The curator finds the record, but no one except the statues could have turned it on. "Behold - the Monster!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; A publicity agent has a large paper machete monster created to promote a new movie but is despondent when his boss criticizes him for public complaints the object is generating; Unknown to anyone on Earth, an alien invasion force is drawing near when its commander orders the viewscreen to display a typical Earth creature so they will know what to expect. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 37 GD 2.0

Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. "Haag! Hunter of Helpless Humans!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Steve Ditko; An alien hunter named Haag comes to earth looking for new game to hunt and sets out to capture humans from around the world. "Muscle Man" text story. "A Voice in the Dark," script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Paul Reinman; A crook hides in a wax museum, but he is scared off by a phonogram record. The curator finds the record, but no one except the statues could have turned it on. "Behold - the Monster!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; A publicity agent has a large paper machete monster created to promote a new movie but is despondent when his boss criticizes him for public complaints the object is generating; Unknown to anyone on Earth, an alien invasion force is drawing near when its commander orders the viewscreen to display a typical Earth creature so they will know what to expect. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Wonder Woman (1942 1st Series DC) 135 VG+ 4.5

1/2" Spine split from top. Water spotting.

Cover pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito. The Wonder Woman family (Wonder Woman, Wonder Queen, Wonder Tot, and Wonder Girl) star in an "impossible tale," "Attack of the Human Iceberg!", script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito; Wonder Woman fan Carol Sue wins a trip to Paradise Island in a contest, but gets more excitement than she bargained for: Multiple Man, the Amazons nemesis, chooses that time to return and attack the island. 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.