Auctions: comic books July 1963

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 110 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white

Label #0262872001

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. Doctor Strange makes his landmark first appearance in this issue in "Dr. Strange Master of Black Magic!", a 5-page back-up story, script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (script), art by Steve Ditko; Doctor Strange is called on by a man having bad dreams, and confronts Nightmare; The mans dreams reveal that he is guilty of fraud and Strange makes him confess; First appearances of Nightmare, the Ancient One, and Wong. The Human Torch is cover featured in "The Human Torch vs. the Wizard and Paste-Pot Pete!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Ernie Hart [as H.E. Huntley] (script), art by Dick Ayers; Johnny practices on his obstacle course, then thinks back on his adventures with The Wizard and Paste-Pot Pete; By a wild coincidence, Pete breaks The Wizard out of jail and the two join forces. "Silent Stranger" text story. "We Search the Stars!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Matt Fox; A space expedition discovers what they believe is a savage human-like species and flee, not suspecting that they are an advanced psychic race able to meet all their needs through thought. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) Annual 2 CGC 5.0

Paper: White

Label #4646452007

New 18-page Human Torch versus Spider-Man (4th appearance) story , "On the Trail of the Amazing Spider-Man!" Script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. Sue Storm appearance. The rest of the issue contains reprints: "I Was the Invisible Man!" Script by Lee, pencils by Kirby, inks perhaps by Paul Reinman (from Strange Tales 67); "I Was a Prisoner on the Planet of Plunder!" Art by Don Heck (from Strange Worlds 2); "I Am Robot!" Art by Joe Sinnott (from SW 1); "Worlds Within Worlds" (from World of Fantasy 16); "I Was the Man Who Lived Twice!" Art by John Buscema (from SW 3); "I Fly to the Stars!" Script by Lee, pencils by Kirby, inks perhaps by Dick Ayers (from SW 3); "Prisoner 2000 A.D." Script by Lee, pencils by Kirby, inks perhaps by Ayers (WOF 16); "I Am the Scourge of Atlantis!" Art by Ayers (from SW 2); "Nightmare Planet!" Art by Sinnott (from WOF 16); and "I Captured the Abominable Snowman!" Script by Lee, art by Ditko (from SW 1). Kirby/Ditko cover. 76 pages, full color. Cover price $0.25.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 43 CGC 5.0

Paper: Off white

Label #4137723009

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. "Kala, Queen of the Netherworld!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Robert Bernstein (script) (as R Berns), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Don Heck; Tony Stark is abducted by the queen of an underground kingdom to help her invade the surface; As Iron Man, Stark shows her that she would rapidly age on the surface, convincing her to call off the invasion. "The Journey" text story. "You Can't Change the Past!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; A scientist creates a time machine just to prove that it can be done, but never plans to use it, since he knows that it would be too dangerous to attempt to alter the past. "I Was A Victim of Venus!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Matt Fox; A criminal steals a valuable diamond from Venus, but it is irradiated and makes him sick; He needs to steal the money to pay a doctor. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 43 VG 4.0

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. "Kala, Queen of the Netherworld!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Robert Bernstein (script) (as R Berns), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Don Heck; Tony Stark is abducted by the queen of an underground kingdom to help her invade the surface; As Iron Man, Stark shows her that she would rapidly age on the surface, convincing her to call off the invasion. "The Journey" text story. "You Can't Change the Past!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; A scientist creates a time machine just to prove that it can be done, but never plans to use it, since he knows that it would be too dangerous to attempt to alter the past. "I Was A Victim of Venus!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Matt Fox; A criminal steals a valuable diamond from Venus, but it is irradiated and makes him sick; He needs to steal the money to pay a doctor. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.