Auctions: comic books December 1969

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 71 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4215252004

"Endgame!" Part 3 of 3. Guest-starring the Invaders (first appearance). Script by Roy Thomas. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Sam Grainger. Cover by Buscema and Grainger. The Avengers battle the Invaders in 1941 occupied France! Cameo appearances by Ravonna and the original 6th century Black Knight (aka Sir Percy). Notes: The plot of Avengers 71 overlaps with Invaders Annual 1 published eight years later in 1977. The last page is a pin-up featuring the Avengers. Kang returns in Incredible Hulk 135. This is the second appearance of the original Human Torch in Silver Age/Bronze Age continuity. This issue was reprinted in Marvel Super Action 32 and Giant Size (2008) Avengers Invaders. 32 pages. Cover price $0.15.

Incredible Hulk (1962 Marvel 1st Series) 122 VG+ 4.5

1/2" spine split from bottom. Water spotting.

Cover art by Herb Trimpe. The Hulk's Last Fight!, script by Roy Thomas, art by Herb Trimpe; Despairing after he turns into his human alter ego and finds that the Hulk has destroyed a train for no apparent reason, Bruce Banner finds a newspaper headline that asks him to come to New York as Mr. Fantastic believes that he has discovered a way to do away with the Hulk for good; Riding the rails to the Big Apple, Bruce tries to jot some notes of his own regarding Reed's process and secures them to his waist as he finds himself transforming once again into the Hulk to face down some pesky hoboes; By the time he makes it to the Baxter Building, our hero is once again in the form of Bruce Banner but an irate security guard makes his metabolism race and he changes into his monstrous alter ego; During Hulk's battle with the F.F., Sue notices as the pouch with Bruce's notes falls from the Hulk's waist and the Thing is called on to keep the jade giant occupied while Reed uses the new information to modify his weapon design in trying to banish the Hulk for good. 36 pgs. $0.15. Cover price $0.15.

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 20 FN+ 6.5

"Who Serves Lucifer?" Story by Archie Goodwin. Art by George Tuska and Joe Gaudioso. At the Stark Industries Long Island plant, a disenchanted security guard, Charlie Gray, is recruited by Lucifer to help the evil villain escape from his exile in a far off dimension. Lucifer transforms Charlie into a powerful being and sends him to lure Tony Stark into Lucifer's temporary lair on Earth. Lucifer seems to have a good plan...until Shell-head gets involved! (Note: Mike Esposito inked under the pseudonym Joe Gaudioso.) 32 pages Cover price $0.15.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 63 VG/FN 5.0

1st printing. Cover pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Tom Palmer. War in the World Below!, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Tom Palmer; The X-Men and Ka-Zar battle Magneto and his manufactured mutants in the Savage Land. 36 pgs. $0.15. NOTE: 1994 JC Penney reprint exists. Can be identified by having a Stridex ad on the back cover. Cover price $0.15.