Auctions: comic books December 1963

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 7 CGC 1.8

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4236420011

Cover art by Steve Ditko. The Return of the Vulture, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; Adrian Toomes breaks out of prison and goes on a crime spree, and ends up battling Spider-Man in the skies above New York. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 4 and # 144. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 21 GD+ 2.5

Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman. First appearance of the Hate-Monger in "The Hate-Monger!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos [as George Bell]; Nick Fury, now a colonel in the CIA, enlist the aid or the Fantastic Four against the Hate-Monger even though they are under the control of his Hate-Ray. First Sgt. Fury cross-over. Spider-Man cameo. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 115 CGC 5.5

Paper: White

Label #4641361011

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. Dr. Strange's 4th appearance finally provides his origin in "The Origin of Dr. Strange," script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Steve Ditko (co-plot, un-credited), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Stephen Strange, a top neurosurgeon, damages his hands in an accident and seeks out a mystic for help; He saves the seer from his treacherous student, becoming his pupil and finding a new purpose; First mentions of Dormammu and the All-Seeing Agamotto (though no actual appearances). Baron Mordo appearance. Second appearance (and brief origin) of the Sandman in "The Sandman Strikes!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; The Human Torch fights and defeats Spider-Mans old enemy Sandman. "Zero of Time" text story. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 115 GD 2.0

Centerfold loose at one staple. Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. Dr. Strange's 4th appearance finally provides his origin in "The Origin of Dr. Strange," script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Steve Ditko (co-plot, un-credited), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Stephen Strange, a top neurosurgeon, damages his hands in an accident and seeks out a mystic for help; He saves the seer from his treacherous student, becoming his pupil and finding a new purpose; First mentions of Dormammu and the All-Seeing Agamotto (though no actual appearances). Baron Mordo appearance. Second appearance (and brief origin) of the Sandman in "The Sandman Strikes!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; The Human Torch fights and defeats Spider-Mans old enemy Sandman. "Zero of Time" text story. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Superboy (1949-1979 1st Series DC) 109 CGC 6.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4558478002

Cover pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Sheldon Moldoff. "The Super-Youth of Brozz!", script by Jerry Siegel, art by George Papp; To cheer up timid orphan Fred Merrill, Superboy flies him to the planet Brozz, whose atmosphere gives super-powers to Fred and takes Superboy's away; Fred becomes the costumed Super-Youth, decides to remain there, saves Superboy's life, and sees him safely back to Earth. Batman comic ad. Casey the Cop humor page by Henry Boltinoff. "The Super-Dog That Replaced Krypto!", script by Jerry Siegel, art by George Papp; Jax-Ur, General Zod and the Phantom Zone criminals take mental control of the dog Swifty, direct him through a process that gives him super-powers again, and then direct him through an intelligence competition with Krypto; Then they use him to lure Krypto and Superboy into a deathtrap, but Krypto uses a Bizarro ray to create a Bizarro-Swifty who saves them and defeats the evil Swifty. Peg humor page by Henry Boltinoff. The Doom Patrol comic ad. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 48 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4644550001

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky. Iron Man gets a snazzy new costume in "The Mysterious Mr. Doll!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Steve Ditko, inks by Dick Ayers; Mister Doll uses magic dolls to take over whole companies; Iron Man stops him with the help of a new suit of armor. "The Pact," art by Joe Maneely; An historian writing about the trial and execution of his ancestor for witchcraft interviews the only remaining party concerned in the case: the Devil. "Kraddak," script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by George Roussos (as G. Bell); An alien tells a greedy mine owner that he will be killed in a fall; The mine owner hides at the lowest possible point in his mine. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 48 FR/GD 1.5

Archival tape on interior cover, heavy marker on back cover.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky. Iron Man gets a snazzy new costume in "The Mysterious Mr. Doll!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Steve Ditko, inks by Dick Ayers; Mister Doll uses magic dolls to take over whole companies; Iron Man stops him with the help of a new suit of armor. "The Pact," art by Joe Maneely; An historian writing about the trial and execution of his ancestor for witchcraft interviews the only remaining party concerned in the case: the Devil. "Kraddak," script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by George Roussos (as G. Bell); An alien tells a greedy mine owner that he will be killed in a fall; The mine owner hides at the lowest possible point in his mine. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 50 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4588493019

Cover by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky. The Human Top!, script by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirbym, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck; Henry Pym follows the crime spree of the Human Top in the newspapers but the Wasp convinces Henry to go after him as Giant-Man. Mystery Trip text story, art by Joe Maneely; Tommy's uncle returns from a space journey needing to re-learn how to walk on earth instead of floating. The Secret of Sagattus!, script by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, art by Larry Lieber and Matt Fox; A wise king listens only to the advice of a hunchback, causing the jealous nobles to murder the hunchback. No Ending!, script by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, art by Larry Lieber; A dictator is tormented by dreams of running on a treadmill suspended high in the sky. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 99 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4646447020

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos. First appearance of Mr. Hyde in "The Mysterious Mister Hyde!", script by Stan Lee, art by Don Heck; Having been refused a job by Doctor Blake, Calvin Zabo becomes Mister Hyde and attacks the doctor; Meanwhile, Odin has agreed to let Thor marry Jane Foster if she proves worthy. "The Thread" text story. "Stroom's Strange Solution!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Matt Fox; An alien world is dangerously overpopulated, so a scientist releases a gas that shrinks the entire population, making the same amount of space accommodate more people. Third "Tales of Asgard" installment, "Surtur the Fire Demon!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos; The Trolls ally with Surtur against Asgard, but Odin conquers them; Surtur travels to Earth to destroy it. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.