Auctions: comic books April 1974

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 131 CGC 7.0

Paper: White

Label #4649142005

"My Uncle...My Enemy?" Part 2 of 2. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt (backgrounds). Cover by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. In an unbelievable development, Aunt May is about to marry Dr. Octopus! What?! The wondrous wall-crawler rushes to Westchester to crash the wedding! But that won't be necessary, because Hammerhead rends it asunder all by himself! In the chaos that ensues, Doc Ock and Aunt May flee via helicopter to a small Canadian island...that happens to be home to a nuclear power plant! Also, during the mêlée, the quick-thinking web-slinger hitches a ride on Hammerhead's chopper! Eventually all parties arrive north of the border and the final free-for-all begins...right next to the atomic reactor! Oh my, what a disastrous mix! How is the wall-crawler going to prevent a nuclear meltdown much less save his dear Aunt May? Cameo appearances by Mary Jane Watson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Joe Robertson, and J. Jonah Jameson. (Notes: Hammerhead and Dr. Octopus continue their vendetta against each other and the web-slinger in Amazing Spider-Man 157. The letters page includes Marvel Value Stamp series A #34 Mr. Fantastic by Jack Kirby. This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales 108.) 36 pages. 20 cent cover price. Cover price $0.20.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 122 VF 8.0

"Trapped in Outer Space!" Part 3 of 3. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Mike Esposito. Cover by Gil Kane and John Romita. Mere seconds ago Earth's Mightiest Heroes invaded Cornelius Van Lunt's New Jersey warehouse! But little did they realize the warehouse was actually a spaceship! And now five avengers and seven renegade zodiac are rocketing into outer space! Will the Avengers find their destiny written in the stars? Hopefully not like this! Fortunately though, another rebellious zodiac member, Libra, steals Taurus' star-cruiser and rescues both the heroes and the villains! And that sets the stage for one last free-for-all between the Avengers and the Zodiac! Can Thor, Shell-Head, T'Challa, Mantis, Wanda, and the Vision finally knock down the twelve houses of the Zodiac? Last 20¢ issue. (Notes: The cover to Avengers 122 is widely considered one of Gil Kane's best for Marvel. The Avengers on the cover are busting through pages from issue 120. The letters page contains a letter from comics artist Rick Hoberg. The letters page also contains Marvel Value Stamp Series A #81 The Vision by John Buscema.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Flashback 11: Plastic Man #1 (1943/1970) 11 FN 6.0

Staple rust.

The 11th issue of the Flashback reprint series presents Plastic Man # 1 originally published in 1941 by Vital Publications. Four Plastic Man stories. 68-pages, full color cardstock covers, 7-3/4-in. x 10-3/8-in. black-and-white interior on white paper stock, saddle-stitched binding. Cover price $3.00.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 173 CGC 9.2

Paper: White

Label #4664127001

Last 20-cent cover price. Cover inks by Ernie Chan. "Sacrifice Play," script by Len Wein, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Dick Giordano; To aid in his mission to try and find Loralee Tate, Brother Voodoo pays a visit to an old woman named Mama Limbo who apparently has clairvoyant abilities; Her visions tell him to go and seek out Desmond Drew, who she believes has a connection to the Cult of the Darklord; As Brother Voodoo goes to check out this lead, at the police station Samuel Tate and Pete Hawkins debate on what to do about Samuel's missing daughter; They finally decide that Brother Voodoo would hamper their efforts to find her themselves and put out an APB to have him arrested on sight. "Bait," art by Manny Stallman; Scientists on board a fishing boat haul up a creature from the bottom which threatens to expand to colossal size, but the captain of the boat cuts it up before this can happen to use as chum for better fishing. Final appearance of Brother Voodoo in this title; the story continues in Tales of the Zombie 6. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #45 (Mantis). Ad for Fantastic Four #145. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

Tomb of Dracula (1972 1st Series) 19 VG/FN 5.0

"Snowbound in Hell!" Written by Marv Wolfman. Art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. Blade cameo. Rachel Van Helsing has finally gotten the drop on the Lord of Vampires, but if she slays Dracula, she will surely perish. Marvel Presents a harrowing tale of survival. 32 pages, FC. NOTE: The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #26 (Mephisto by John Buscema). Gil Kane/Palmer cover. Cover price $0.20.