Auctions: comic books August 1966

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 39 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #3717970004

Cover art by John Romita. How Green Was My Goblin!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita (who begins as regular penciler), inks by Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] and John Romita (touch-ups); Peter heads to the doctor with the sniffles and learns that Aunt May's health is very fragile; Spidey is roped into tangling with a bunch of goons who zap him with a mysterious gas; Not realizing that the gas has weakened his spider sense, he changes into Peter Parker under the watchful gaze of the Green Goblin; The Goblin confronts Spidey outside of his home and captures him as Peter is worried that Aunt May might be overcome by the commotion; Trussed up in the Goblin's lair, Peter is shocked when the Goblin takes off his mask and reveals himself to be Norman Osborn. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 178. According to Les Daniels in "Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics" (Abrams, 1991), artist Steve Ditko resigned because of a disagreement over the Goblin's identity. Ditko wanted it to be someone anonymous--a new, unknown guy; Lee wanted it to be a familiar character that would startle readers. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 39 CGC 8.0 SS Esposito/Stan Lee/Romita

Paper: Off white

Signed by Mike Esposito on 7/11/10, Stan Lee on 7/22/10 & John Romita on 8/27/10.

Label #1013332001

Cover art by John Romita. How Green Was My Goblin!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita (who begins as regular penciler), inks by Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] and John Romita (touch-ups); Peter heads to the doctor with the sniffles and learns that Aunt May's health is very fragile; Spidey is roped into tangling with a bunch of goons who zap him with a mysterious gas; Not realizing that the gas has weakened his spider sense, he changes into Peter Parker under the watchful gaze of the Green Goblin; The Goblin confronts Spidey outside of his home and captures him as Peter is worried that Aunt May might be overcome by the commotion; Trussed up in the Goblin's lair, Peter is shocked when the Goblin takes off his mask and reveals himself to be Norman Osborn. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 178. According to Les Daniels in "Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics" (Abrams, 1991), artist Steve Ditko resigned because of a disagreement over the Goblin's identity. Ditko wanted it to be someone anonymous--a new, unknown guy; Lee wanted it to be a familiar character that would startle readers. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 19 CGC 8.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4551037010

Cover pencils by John Romita, inks by Frank Giacoia. Alone--Against the Underworld!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita, inks by Frank Giacoia; The Masked Marauder busts Gladiator out of jail and the two fight over the privilege of taking Foggy Nelson, a.k.a. Daredevil, down; Everything is going as planned until the real DD shows up to save Foggy's chubby butt; cameos by Dr. Strange, Captain America, and Dr. Doom (as costumes in the Gladiator's costume shop). Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 53 GD 2.0

Water damage. Staple rust with migration.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott. Second appearance of the Black Panther in The Way It Began..!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott; The Black Panther tells the story of Klaw's first attack on Wakanda; Klaw attacks the Black Panther and the FF. First appearance of Klaw, T'Chaka, and vibranium. Letter to the editor from comics writer Dennis O'Neil. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.