Auctions: comic books July 1973

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 122 CBCS 5.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #18-156EDBE-003

Death of the Green Goblin (aka Norman Osborn) in "The Goblin's Last Stand!" Part 2 of 2. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Gil Kane. Inks by John Romita and Tony Mortellaro (backgrounds). Cover by John Romita. In unfathomable fashion atop the Brooklyn Bridge, Gwen Stacy perished at the hands of the Green Goblin. Spider-Man is devastated. And he furiously lashes out at the goblin, but the purple and green-clad killer gets away! However, a while later, the wall-crawler receives a tip from Joe Robertson about Norman Osborn's whereabouts. And in an abandoned and decrepit warehouse, the Amazing Spider-Man and the Green Goblin fight for the final time! At the end of their epic battle, Peter Parker painfully realizes that revenge is bittersweet. The passing of the goblin won't bring back Gwen. He must find a way to move forward with his life. Perhaps Mary Jane Watson will help. Cameo appearances by Harry Osborn and J. Jonah Jameson. (Notes: The stunning death scene of the Green Goblin inspired a similar moment in the2002 Spider-Man movie. This issue was reprinted in Marvel Tales #99 and again in issue 192.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 122 VG+ 4.5

Death of the Green Goblin (aka Norman Osborn) in "The Goblin's Last Stand!" Part 2 of 2. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Gil Kane. Inks by John Romita and Tony Mortellaro (backgrounds). Cover by John Romita. In unfathomable fashion atop the Brooklyn Bridge, Gwen Stacy perished at the hands of the Green Goblin. Spider-Man is devastated. And he furiously lashes out at the goblin, but the purple and green-clad killer gets away! However, a while later, the wall-crawler receives a tip from Joe Robertson about Norman Osborn's whereabouts. And in an abandoned and decrepit warehouse, the Amazing Spider-Man and the Green Goblin fight for the final time! At the end of their epic battle, Peter Parker painfully realizes that revenge is bittersweet. The passing of the goblin won't bring back Gwen. He must find a way to move forward with his life. Perhaps Mary Jane Watson will help. Cameo appearances by Harry Osborn and J. Jonah Jameson. (Notes: The stunning death scene of the Green Goblin inspired a similar moment in the2002 Spider-Man movie. This issue was reprinted in Marvel Tales #99 and again in issue 192.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 27 CGC 9.4

Paper: Off white

Label #1015581003

The Super-Skrull continues to pester Captain Marvel in "Trapped on Titan!" Script by Mike Friedrich, plot and pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Pablo Marcos. Meanwhile, Thanos seeks out the Cosmic Cube. Cameos by the Thing (of the Fantastic Four), the Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, the Scarlet Witch, the Vision, and the Black Panther), and Drax the Destroyer. This issue also contains a map of Titan. Cover price $0.20.

Detective Comics (1937 1st Series) 435 CGC 7.5

Paper: White

Label #4664159014

Cover by Dick Giordano. "The Spook Strikes Again!", script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; Batman learns the secrets of the Spooks escapes and captures him, only to find he has the fingerprints of a man who was executed for murder ten years ago. "Case of the Dead-On Target!", script and art by Frank Robbins; Jason Bard investigates the in-air murder of a skydiver. Letter to the editor from comics writer Mike Barr. 36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves (1967) 40 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4573079014

Cover by Steve Ditko. Stories and art by Steve Ditko, Warren Sattler, Joe Gill, Steve Morisi and Pete Morisi. Ghost hunter Dr. Graves presents, and sometimes participates in, tales of ghosts, monsters and the supernatural. A man is welcomed into his wife's new family, but he doesn't suspect their sinister secret. Hippies squatting in a "crash pad" learn the terrible secret that lurks upstairs, in a story with art by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko. Strangler on the Loose; Second Life; The Glowing Ghosts; Crash Pad! 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Feature (1971 1st Series) 10 CGC 9.6

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #1027467011

"Ant-Man No More!"  Guest-starring Ant-Man and the Wasp.  Script by Mike Friedrich.  Pencils by Craig Russell.  Inks by Frank Chiaramonte.  Cover by Craig Russell and Frank Giacoia.  Hank Pym has a brand new nemesis! Doctor Nemesis! After the good doctor saved Ant-Man and the Wasp from the ferocious feline last issue, it appeared that he might be a friend! But unfortunately he is definitely a foe! And now Dr. Nemesis wants Ant-Man to join him in a raid on Avengers Mansion! Or he will kill Janet! Left with no other options, Hank Pym infiltrates his old stomping ground with his devious blackmailer in tow! Is Doctor Nemesis setting a trap for the Avengers? Or is Ant-Man actually setting a trap for Doctor Nemesis? Cameo appearances by the Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man, and the Vision. Flashback cameos by Egghead and Whirlwind. First reprinted story: "The Itch" Art by Al Hartley. Originally published in Mystic 35 in 1955. Second reprinted story: "Hiding Place" Art by Tony DiPreta. Originally published in Mystic 14 in 1952. (Notes:  This issue completes the seven-issue run in the Marvel Feature title featuring Hank Pym as the Astonishing Ant-Man. The Wasp and Ant-Man appear next in Captain Marvel 35 & 37. They return to Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers 137.)  32 pages Cover price $0.20.

Monsters Unleashed (1973) 1 VG/FN 5.0

Glue on interior cover.

1st appearance Solomon Kane (Reese art) Cover price $0.75.

Weird Mystery Tales (1972) 6 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4742311023

"The Chosen One" with art by Rudy Nebres; "Even the Dead Shall Laugh" with script by George Kashdan, art by Alex Nino; and "Third Eye" with plot by John Jacobson, script by Bill Reilly, art by R. Yandoc. Cover price $0.20.