Auctions: comic books December 1968

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 59 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4646443006

First appearance of Yellowjacket (aka Henry Pym) in "The Name is Yellowjacket!" Part 1 of 2. Script by Roy Thomas. Pencils by John Buscema. Inks by George Klein. Cover by John Buscema and George Klein. A new crime-fighter bursts onto the scene in New York City! And the Daily Bugle loves him already! The brash Yellowjacket barges into Avengers Mansion and boasts about killing Goliath! Shocked by the news; Hawkeye, T'Challa, and the Vision charge forward! But the mysterious Yellowjacket fights them off and absconds with the Wasp! Fearing that Jan is in serious danger, the Avengers pursue Yellowjacket across town! But when Earth's Mightiest Heroes locate their new foe, the Wasp asks them to leave Yellowjacket alone! Wow, why would Jan do that? Because she wants to marry him that's why! Wedding bells ring next issue! Cameo appearances by J. Jonah Jameson, Spider-Man, Jarvis, Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, and the Black Widow. Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Hawkeye, Wasp, Yellowjacket, and the Vision. (Notes: The letters page includes a letter from Elfquest co-creator Wendy Fletcher (Pini). This two-part story was reprinted in Marvel Super Action 20 & 21.) 36 pages. 12 cent cover price. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 81 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4666014025

"Enter – the Exquisite Elemental!" Script by Stan Lee. Pencils by Jack Kirby. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott. After the wonderful events of Fantastic Four Annual 6, the FF are in need of a replacement for the Invisible Girl (as she adjusts to life as a new mother)! And auspiciously Crystal is eager to join! But Reed isn't so sure the young elemental is ready! However, when the Wingless Wizard boldly attacks, Crystal goes into battle alongside Reed, Ben, and Johnny! The Wizard's new wonder gloves knock Mr. Fantastic, the Thing, and the torch back on their heels! But not the young lady that controls water, wind, earth, and fire! Is Crystal's debut going to be a fantastic success? (Notes: The Wizard returns in Fantastic Four 94. Crystal wears the blue FF uniform for the first time.) 36 pages Cover price $0.12.

Incredible Hulk (1962 Marvel 1st Series) 110 VG+ 4.5

Water spotting.

Cover pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by John Severin. Umbu, the Unliving!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by John Severin; Ka-Zar and the Hulk battle as the jungle lord tries to figure out a way to get him to turn back into Bruce Banner in time to stop an alien machine from destroying the earth using deadly weather patterns; Ka-Zar is captured and taken by the Swamp Men to be a human sacrifice for the giant creature known as Umbu; Hulk fights Umbu but transforms back into Banner thanks to a fortuitous gas attack; Banner races to stop the mysterious earth destroying machine with Umbu close on his tail and trying to stop him; Banner succeeds but is killed in achieving his victory. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 8 CGC 9.2

Paper: Off white

Label #4602548017

Gladiator and Count Nefaria appearance. "A Duel Must End!" Part 2 of 2. Script by Archie Goodwin. Pencils by George Tuska. Inks by Johnny Craig. Cover by George Tuska. The battles are raging on two fronts as Iron Man slugs it out with the Gladiator in an abandoned factory, while Big M and her Maggia henchmen raid SI's weapons factory on Long Island! After Shell-head fights the wrist-bladed villain to a standstill and rescues Janice Cord, he hurries to SI to help Jasper Sitwell stop Big M! And then battle the Gladiator one more time! Origin of Whitney Frost (aka Big M). Cameo flashback appearance by Count Nefaria. 32 pages Cover price $0.12.

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 8 CGC 7.0

Paper: Off white

Label #4646432023

Gladiator and Count Nefaria appearance. "A Duel Must End!" Part 2 of 2. Script by Archie Goodwin. Pencils by George Tuska. Inks by Johnny Craig. Cover by George Tuska. The battles are raging on two fronts as Iron Man slugs it out with the Gladiator in an abandoned factory, while Big M and her Maggia henchmen raid SI's weapons factory on Long Island! After Shell-head fights the wrist-bladed villain to a standstill and rescues Janice Cord, he hurries to SI to help Jasper Sitwell stop Big M! And then battle the Gladiator one more time! Origin of Whitney Frost (aka Big M). Cameo flashback appearance by Count Nefaria. 32 pages Cover price $0.12.

Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD (1968 1st Series) 7 CGC 8.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4646437024

Cover by Jim Steranko (his final for the series). "Hours of Madness, Day of Death," script by Archie Goodwin (plot, dialogue) and Frank Springer (plot), art by Frank Springer; Nick gets into a fight at an unnamed foreign embassy, and winds up being injected with a drug that will cause hallucinations, "hyper-intense paranoia", and death after 6 hours; He wanders the streets of NYC, hoping to reach a set rendezvous point for a scheduled pick-up via the Heli-Carrier's vortex beam. However, he's mistaken by a cop as a drunk, and when his felow agents show up, the drug causes him to see them as 3 of his worst enemies!; Jimmy Woo comments that other agents have been going berzerk, which was what Nick was investigating in the first place; Nick is found by Sister Angela, who offers to help get him to the pick-up point; However, they're intercepted by 2 of the spies, who tie them up and send their car racing downhill on a dangerous mouontain road!; Dum Dum, Jimmy & Gabe, who've been following in their van, almost crash head-on, when suddenly the vortex beam picks up both vehicles! 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Sub-Mariner (1968 1st Series) 8 VG 4.0

Staple rust.

1st Printing. "In the Rage of Battle!" Guest-starring the Thing. Written by Roy Thomas. Art by John Buscema and Dan Adkins. It's the heavyweight bout for the championship as the Savage Sub-Mariner clashes with the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing! 36 pages, full color. NOTE: 1994 JC Penney reprint exists. Can be identified by having a Stridex ad on the back cover. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 159 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4641472008

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta and John Romita (alterations to Thor's arm). Thor's origin is expanded upon in "The Answer At Last!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta; Odin reveals that he created the identity of Dr. Don Blake when he exiled Thor to Midgard years ago. Appearances by Balder, Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg. Cameos by Heimdall and Loki. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 51 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4646452022

Cover art by Jim Steranko. The Devil Had a Daughter!, script by Arnold Drake, pencils by Jim Steranko, inks by John Tartaglione; the X-Men battle, Magneto, Mesmero, and company; Magneto tells everyone that Lorna Dane is his daughter. The Lure of the Beast-Nappers!--The Origins of the Uncanny X-Men, script by Arnold Drake, pencils by Werner Roth, inks by John Tartaglione; Beast's origin continues. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.