Auctions: comic books February 1964

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 9 CGC 7.0

Paper: White

Label #4638124003

Cover art by Steve Ditko. First appearance of Electro in The Man Called Electro!, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; Electro decides to break some other criminals out of jail so they can help him with his crime spree; Spider-Man must balance taking care of Aunt May, who is in the hospital, and capturing Electro. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 6 and 146. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Batman (1940) 161 CGC 7.0

Paper: Off white

Slab: Chipped/broken bracket

Label #4542890006

Cover art by Sheldon Moldoff. "The New Crimes of the Mad Hatter," script by Dave Wood, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; The Mad Hatter pulls a string of robberies based on the professions of the jurors that sentenced him on his last arrest. Special Christmas Quiz -- "Christmas in Many Lands!" public service announcement, art by Ruben Moreira. "The Bat-Mite Hero," script by Dave Wood, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; Batman corners a wanted felon in a baseball stadium, but Bat-Mite appears and messes things up with his magical nonsense. Batman tells him to find another hero to pester, so Bat-Mite creates a series of heroes (the third a crook), but they fail miserably. Half-page Casey the Cop story by Henry Boltinoff. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Superman (1939 1st Series) 167 CGC 4.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4475103003

Cover pencils by Curt Swan, inks by George Klein. The Deadly Duo! [The Team of Luthor and Brainiac! part 1], script by Edmond Hamilton and Cary Bates (plot), pencils by Curt Swan, inks by George Klein; Lex Luthor escapes prison and discovers the existence of Brainiac. The Downfall of Superman! [The Team of Luthor and Brainiac! part 2]; Lex Luthor releases Brainiac from prison, re-programs him, and teams with him to shrink Superman; 1st appearance of Tharla, Lex Luthor's future wife. The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance! [The Team of Luthor and Brainiac! part 3]; With the help of the Kandorians, Superman turns the tables on Luthor and Brainiac. Letter to the editor from comics writer E. Nelson Bridwell. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 50 CGC 6.5

Paper: White

Label #4641361015

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos. The first appearance of the Mandarin is in the Iron Man story, "The Hands of the Mandarin!", script by Stan Lee, art by Don Heck; The Pentagon sends Iron Man into red China to get information on the Mandarin, an evil scientist feared even by the Communist regime; Iron Man struggles to overcome the Mandarin's powerful rings and martial arts, but he escapes his castle. "Them!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by George Roussos (as G. Bell); A man frantically tries to convince passersby that he is being chased by storybook characters; He is arrested by the police, but disappears from his jail cell, as he himself is a fictional character created by Larry Lieber. "Journey's End!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Sol Brodsky; A meek and lonely space pilot volunteers for a suicide mission to investigate a strange cosmic cloud; the cloud hides a utopian planet, whose inhabitants only want humans brave enough to face the unknown to visit them. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 52 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4646452011

Cover by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky. The Black Knight Strikes!, script by Stan Lee, art by Dick Ayers; After being arrested for treason by Giant-Man, Professor Garrett flees to Europe where he manipulate the genes of horses and eagles to create a winged horse. X-Men #3 ad, art by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky. Avengers #3 ad, art by Jack Kirby and Paul Reinman. Not What They Seem!, script by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, art by Larry Lieber and George Roussos [as G. Bell]; The Wasp tells the tale of prison escapees who try to avoid a planet with a trap, but are doomed when they take the wrong side in a battle of the sexes. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.