Auctions: comic books October 1971

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 101 CGC 2.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4041976002

First appearance of Morbius the Living Vampire in "A Monster Called Morbius!" Script by Roy Thomas. Pencils by Gil Kane. Inks by Frank Giacoia. Cover by Gil Kane and John Romita. The first 100 issues of the Amazing Spider-Man title are in the books! And the next chapter in the web-slinger's anthology kicks off with the debut of Marvel's first bronze age vampire: Morbius! However at the moment Peter Parker has a much bigger problem on his (six) hands. After drinking the special potion he developed, Aunt May's nephew grew four additional arms! Oh my goodness! Peter is desperate to find a way to remove the arms, so he calls Dr. Curt Connors for help. Dr. Connors has a summer house and laboratory in Southampton on Long Island...and he gives Spider-Man permission to stay there and work on a cure. Meanwhile, a strange, pale, and bloodthirsty man is the sole survivor of a shipwreck near Southampton. And he's looking for a quiet place to rest. Oh no. Is the six-armed Spider-Man on a collision course with a living vampire? Oh yes! Cameo appearances by Gwen Stacy, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, and the Lizard. Last 15¢ cover price. (Notes: This is the first issue of the Amazing Spider-Man series not written by Stan Lee. There exists a second printing of this issue published in 1992 with a silver background cover. Marvel also published a facsimile edition of Amazing Spider-Man 101 in 2021.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.15.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 101 GD 2.0

First appearance of Morbius the Living Vampire in "A Monster Called Morbius!" Script by Roy Thomas. Pencils by Gil Kane. Inks by Frank Giacoia. Cover by Gil Kane and John Romita. The first 100 issues of the Amazing Spider-Man title are in the books! And the next chapter in the web-slinger's anthology kicks off with the debut of Marvel's first bronze age vampire: Morbius! However at the moment Peter Parker has a much bigger problem on his (six) hands. After drinking the special potion he developed, Aunt May's nephew grew four additional arms! Oh my goodness! Peter is desperate to find a way to remove the arms, so he calls Dr. Curt Connors for help. Dr. Connors has a summer house and laboratory in Southampton on Long Island...and he gives Spider-Man permission to stay there and work on a cure. Meanwhile, a strange, pale, and bloodthirsty man is the sole survivor of a shipwreck near Southampton. And he's looking for a quiet place to rest. Oh no. Is the six-armed Spider-Man on a collision course with a living vampire? Oh yes! Cameo appearances by Gwen Stacy, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, and the Lizard. Last 15¢ cover price. (Notes: This is the first issue of the Amazing Spider-Man series not written by Stan Lee. There exists a second printing of this issue published in 1992 with a silver background cover. Marvel also published a facsimile edition of Amazing Spider-Man 101 in 2021.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.15.

Detective Comics (1937 1st Series) 416 VG 4.0

52-page giant issue. Cover art by Neal Adams. "Man-Bat Madness!", script and art by Frank Robbins; A series of chance occurrences leads Kirk Langstrom to relapse into his Man-Bat identity after marrying Francine Lee, and the Batman must capture him and restore him to normalcy. "The Deadly Go-Between!", script by Frank Robbins, art by Don Heck; Commissioner Gordon's friend, officer Jim McClean, has been murdered, and the Commissioner has vowed to catch his friend's killer; This prompts Barbara Gordon to do her own investigation as Batgirl. "Rex - Circus Detective!", script by Bob Kanigher, pencils by Alex Toth, inks by Sy Barry, reprinted from The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #3. "The Case of the Gold Dust Death!", art by Ramona Fradon, originally printed in Gang Busters #30. Letter from author/artist Frank Robbins, who explains that the inspiration for the Man-Bat story came from fan Anthony Kowalik. 52 pgs., full color. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.

Mister Miracle (1971 1st Series) 4 FN/VF 7.0

"The Closing Jaws of Death." Yet another action packed, whiz bang adventure, this issue finds Mister Miracle trying to escape from a trap by Dr. Bedlam. Features the first appearance of Big Barda. Back-up Boy Commandos reprints begin in this issue. Script, pencils, and cover by Jack Kirby. Inks by Vince Colletta. Cover price $0.25.