Auctions: comic books December 1973

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 127 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4649142004

"The Dark Wings of Death!" Part 1 of 2. First appearance of the third Vulture. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt. Cover by John Romita. Outside her apartment window, Mary Jane Watson witnesses a murder! And she thinks the killer is the Vulture! However MJ is reluctant to go to the police in fear of retaliation -- despite Peter's recommendation to do so. The next day at Empire State University, Mary Jane's worst fear is realized...when the Vulture grabs her! But the ESU campus is the stomping ground of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. And the next great fight between the web-slinger and the Vulture begins! First appearance of Dr. Clifton Shallot. Cameo appearances by the Human Torch, Professor Miles Warren, Flash Thompson, and Harry Osborn. (Note: This issue was reprinted in Marvel Tales 104.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 127 FN 6.0

"The Dark Wings of Death!" Part 1 of 2. First appearance of the third Vulture. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt. Cover by John Romita. Outside her apartment window, Mary Jane Watson witnesses a murder! And she thinks the killer is the Vulture! However MJ is reluctant to go to the police in fear of retaliation -- despite Peter's recommendation to do so. The next day at Empire State University, Mary Jane's worst fear is realized...when the Vulture grabs her! But the ESU campus is the stomping ground of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. And the next great fight between the web-slinger and the Vulture begins! First appearance of Dr. Clifton Shallot. Cameo appearances by the Human Torch, Professor Miles Warren, Flash Thompson, and Harry Osborn. (Note: This issue was reprinted in Marvel Tales 104.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Defenders (1972 1st Series) 11 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4555675015

The Avengers/Defenders crossover continues with "A Dark and Stormy Knight." Script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Frank Bolle. Cover by John Romita. Story continues from Avengers 118. The epic battle vs. Dormammu is over and Earth has survived! But there's one more mission remaining for the Defenders! Return the Black Knight's stone body back to flesh and blood. To that end six defenders along with the Evil Eye travel back in time to the 12th century and find Dane Whitman smack dab in the middle of the Crusades! The super-heroes from the 20th century get a medieval history lesson as all the famous combatants are present: Prince John, Mordred the Evil, Chandu, Prester John, and Richard the Lionheart! Can the Dynamic Defenders save the King (and the Black Knight)? Cameo appearances by the Avengers, Nick Fury, and Loki. Defenders Lineup: Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, and Valkyrie. (Notes: Prester John previously appeared in Fantastic Four (1st series) 54. The 20th century stone statue of the Black Knight comes to life in Avengers 157. The 12th century Black Knight (aka Dane Whitman) and the Evil Eye return in Avengers 225 & 226.) 36 pgs. Cover price $0.20.

Fear (1970 Marvel) 19 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4655339010

1st appearance of Howard the Duck - Cover pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Ernie Chan. "The Enchanter's Apprentice!", script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Val Mayerik, inks by Sal Trapani; As an improbable battle rages on below the castle, Man-Thing is picked up by Jennifer Kale, with the savage Korrek following from behind; Korrek catches up with Kale and the Man-Thing and attacks the two of them; Jennifer suddenly awakens screaming, and as her brother and grandfather burst into the room to reassure her it's all a dream; However, Joshua Kale has his doubts that his granddaughters nightmares being just dreams; His suspicions are validated when Korrek is transported to Earth's dimension through a jar of peanut butter and resumes his attack on Jennifer; However, when Joshua and Andy burst into the room, Korrek believes himself surrounded and flees into the swamp; The Kales are soon visited by Dahkim the Mystic who has come to tell the Kales about the disruption in the Nexus of Realities caused by the construction being done in the swamp; Korrek is visited by Howard the Duck, who has also found himself transported to Earth's dimension as well. Man-Thing stories continue in Man-Thing #1. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

Ghost Rider (1973 1st Series) 3 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4645615005

"Wheels on Fire!" Guest-starring Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan). Story by Gary Friedrich. Art by Jim Mooney and John Tartaglione. Cover by John Romita, Sr. It had to happen, the fateful final showdown with Big Daddy Dawson! Plus, in this issue, Ghost Rider learns how to summon forth his mystical motorcycle! 32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.20.

Special Marvel Edition (1971) 15 FN 6.0

Written by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. Art and cover by Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom. Shang Chi, making his first appearance, is a master of martial arts and the son of Fu Manchu, a Chinese mandarin and scientist. Fu Manchu sends Shang Chi to England in order to assassinate the evil Dr. Petrie for the common good. Shang Chi reluctantly agrees, but after the deed is done he is confronted by Sir Denis Nayland Smith, a former British intelligence officer who tells him the truth about Fu Manchu; that he is a nearly immortal evil mastermind. Shang Chi travels back to his father's secret lair in New York and renounces him. Text articles by Roy Thomas and Englehart about the creation of Shang-Chi. Ad for Astonishing Tales #21. A brief obituary for Syd Shores. Ad for the Marvel fan club FOOM (Friends of Ol' Marvel). 36 pages, full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Strange Sports Stories (1973) 2 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4668524004

Cover by Nick Cardy. "Karate on the Moon!", script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; a Karate match starts on Earth and shifts to the moon. "Volley of Death," script by Frank Robbins, art by Dick Giordano; a man has to play tennis using a live grenade as the ball. Behind the Scenes at the DC Comic World. "Tall in the Saddle!", script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Murphy Anderson; a dinosaur runs in a modern day horse race. Letter to the editor from comic editor Bob Rozakis. 36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Supernatural Thrillers (1972) 7 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4555675016

Cover inks by John Romita. The Return of the Living Mummy!, script by Steve Gerber, art by Val Mayerik; The Mummy awakes in New York City and tries to discover what he has become and where he is at. He is then attacked by the police. He Came from Nowhere!, script by Larry Lieber and Stan Lee, pencils by George Tuska, inks by Joe Sinnott; An escaped convict meets a man from the future who describes the wonders of his world and offers to switch places. 32 pgs. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 85 VG/FN 5.0

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, Don Heck, John Romita, and John Verpoorten (alterations), inks by George Roussos, John Romita, and John Verpoorten. We, the Jury, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Don Heck; the X-Men battle the Factor Three in Europe; the Mutant-Master holds Professor X and Banshee captive; Juggernaut cameo; reprinted from issue 37. 36 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Wonder Woman (1942 1st Series DC) 209 VF+ 8.5

Cover by Ric Estrada. "The Planet of Plunder!", script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Vince Colletta; Wonder Woman must rescue the women of an underwater city from Solo and his Neptunian army; The story is a re-written and re-drawn version of "The Planet of Plunder" from Wonder Woman #31. "Attack of the Sky Demons," script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Vince Colletta; On Princess Diana's seventh birthday, the Sky Riders of Nebulosta invade Paradise Island, and only the young Wonder Girl can save her mother; Rehash of Wonder Woman #23, "Wonder Woman and the Coming of the Kangas" (the first Wonder Girl story). 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.