Auctions: comic books June 1974

Astonishing Tales (1970) 24 VG/FN 5.0

First 25-cent cover price. Cover pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Frank Giacoia. Five Claws of Death!, script by Tony Isabella, pencils by Dick Ayers, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby (reprinted material), and Gil Kane (reprinted material), inks by Vince Colletta, Dick Ayers (reprinted material), and Mike Esposito (reprinted material); Fin Fang Foom is again controlled by Dr. Vault and he attacks It forcing him to slip away before he is defeated; Bob O'Bryan then sends his mind back to his body where he wakes up before they can perform an autopsy on him. Advertisement for three official Marvel Solid-Bronze Collectors Medallion-Coins. Stan Lee's Soapbox. Promo for Crazy Magazine #4 and Savage Tales #4. 32 pgs. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 124 CBCS 1.8

Paper: Off white to white

Marvel Value Stamp Missing From 10th Page, Does Not Affect Story. INCOMPLETE.

Label #21-3B8C92F-016

"Beware the Star-Stalker!" Part 2 of 2. Script by Steve Englehart. Art by John Buscema (breakdowns) and Dave Cockrum (finishes). Cover by John Romita and Frank Giacoia. The monster inside the Priests of Pama's temple stands revealed! It's the Star-Stalker! The ion-fueled creature from beyond the stars thrashes Earth's Mightiest Heroes and sends them running from the temple! The Avengers and Libra know they need more firepower, so the Black Panther arranges for Taurus' star-blaster to be flown to Vietnam! But when the Star-Stalker emerges from his cocoon, he crushes the powerful weapon and gets back to pounding the Avengers! Does this awesome beast have any weaknesses? If so, Mantis and the Vision better find it fast! Cameo appearance by Cornelius Van Lunt. Flashback cameo by the Zodiac and the Supreme Intelligence. (Notes: The letters page includes an essay from Stan Lee and Roy Thomas explaining the recent cover price increase to 25¢. The letters page also contains Marvel Value Stamp Series A #81 Rhino.) 36 pages Cover price $0.25.

Doctor Strange (1974 2nd Series) 1 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4263663021

First appearance of the Silver Dagger in the beginning of a classic Dr. Strange storyline, Through an Orb Darkly!, script by Steve Englehart (co-plot, script) and Frank Brunner (co-plot), pencils by Frank Brunner, inks by Dick Giordano; Silver Dagger infiltrates the Sanctum Sanctorum, throws silver dagger into Strange's back, and takes the Eye of Agamotto amulet and Clea; Strange is pulled into necromantic Orb of Agamotto and cryptic hookah-smoking caterpillar (first appearance); continued from Marvel Premiere 14. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #23 (Sgt. Fury). Cover price $0.25.

Doctor Strange (1974 2nd Series) 1 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4641328021

First appearance of the Silver Dagger in the beginning of a classic Dr. Strange storyline, Through an Orb Darkly!, script by Steve Englehart (co-plot, script) and Frank Brunner (co-plot), pencils by Frank Brunner, inks by Dick Giordano; Silver Dagger infiltrates the Sanctum Sanctorum, throws silver dagger into Strange's back, and takes the Eye of Agamotto amulet and Clea; Strange is pulled into necromantic Orb of Agamotto and cryptic hookah-smoking caterpillar (first appearance); continued from Marvel Premiere 14. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #23 (Sgt. Fury). Cover price $0.25.

Giant Size Super Heroes Featuring Spider-Man (1974) 1 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4667957003

48-page giant. "Man-Wolf At Midnight!" Guest-starring Spider-Man. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Gil Kane. Inks by Mike Esposito. Cover by Gil Kane and John Romita. Morbius the Living Vampire in stalking Manhattan again! His first target is John Jameson, the Man-Wolf; and his second one ? the Amazing Spider-Man! Once Morbius reattaches the moonstone to John Jameson's neck, the Man-Wolf becomes his to command! Now under the cover of darkness, the deadly duo heads to Empire State University to break into the research laboratory, but the ever-present web-slinger intercepts them along the way! Can Spider-Man defeat these two creatures of the night? This issue includes a 1-page write-up from Roy Thomas describing the updated plans for Marvel's various Giant-Size series. This issue also contains a full-page Spider-Man pin-up by John Romita and a 6-page rogues' gallery of famous web-slinger foes drawn by Steve Ditko (reprinted from Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1). Back up feature: "How Stan and Steve Create(d) Spider-Man!" 3-page story also reprinted from Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1. (Note: The last panel of the main story indicates that there would be another issue of Giant-Size Super-Heroes; however, a second issue was never published.) Cover price $0.35.

Giant Size Super Heroes Featuring Spider-Man (1974) 1 VG 4.0

48-page giant. "Man-Wolf At Midnight!" Guest-starring Spider-Man. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Gil Kane. Inks by Mike Esposito. Cover by Gil Kane and John Romita. Morbius the Living Vampire in stalking Manhattan again! His first target is John Jameson, the Man-Wolf; and his second one ? the Amazing Spider-Man! Once Morbius reattaches the moonstone to John Jameson's neck, the Man-Wolf becomes his to command! Now under the cover of darkness, the deadly duo heads to Empire State University to break into the research laboratory, but the ever-present web-slinger intercepts them along the way! Can Spider-Man defeat these two creatures of the night? This issue includes a 1-page write-up from Roy Thomas describing the updated plans for Marvel's various Giant-Size series. This issue also contains a full-page Spider-Man pin-up by John Romita and a 6-page rogues' gallery of famous web-slinger foes drawn by Steve Ditko (reprinted from Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1). Back up feature: "How Stan and Steve Create(d) Spider-Man!" 3-page story also reprinted from Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1. (Note: The last panel of the main story indicates that there would be another issue of Giant-Size Super-Heroes; however, a second issue was never published.) Cover price $0.35.

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 68 CGC 9.2

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4644275005

Iron Man's origin retold in this issue. "Night of the Rising Sun!" Guest-starring Sunfire. First 25¢ cover price issue. Story by Mike Friedrich. Art by George Tuska and Mike Esposito. Cover by Jim Starlin. Tony Stark follows Roxanne Gilbert to Vietnam in an attempt to find Eddie March's brother, who is listed as MIA after the war. But instead Iron Man finds Sunfire, the Mandarin, and the Unicorn! First, Sunfire attacks Iron Man, and then the Mandarin abducts Sunfire! What is going on? The story features a 1-page retelling of Iron Man's origin. (Notes: The letters page includes a letter from comics writer and artist Jerry Ordway. The letters page also contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #29 Baron Mordo.) 32 pages Cover price $0.25.

Man-Thing (1974 1st Series) 6 CGC 9.0

Paper: White

Label #4644275010

"And When I Die...!" Written by Steve Gerber. Art by Mike Ploog and Frank Chiaramonte. Don't miss the macabre drama as the Man-Thing and his companions must survive the ghostly assault of a fiend from beyond the grave! Includes Marvel Value Stamp. 32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.25.

Tarzan Il Re Della Giungla (Italian 1968 Editrice Cenisio) 94 GD- 1.8

Italian Reprint Series. Stories include "Tarzan - La Donna Pantera" and "Korak - Il Nemico Occulto". Squarebound. 6" X 8 3/4". 68 pages. Partial Color, Partial B&W.

Tomb of Dracula (1972 1st Series) 21 CGC 9.0

Paper: White

Label #3743678010

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"Deathknell!" Written by Marv Wolfman. Art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. The diabolical scheme of Doctor Sun revealed! Plus, vampire battle vampire in a sinister duel of the unliving! Brief Blade appearance. 32 pages, FC. NOTE: Letters to the editor from comics writer Ralph Macchio. The letters page also contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #96 (Doctor Octopus by Steve Ditko). Cover price $0.25.

Vault of Evil (1973-1975 Marvel) 11 FN+ 6.5

Cover by Bill Everett and John Romita. Burton's Blood!, script by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett; A vampire sleeps for years after gorging on all the blood available to him in the atomic war of 1998. The Tomb, art by Gene Colan; A wealthy miser pretends to be dead so that he can dash the expectations of his nephew when he confronts him, but when he finally does reveal himself they ignore him and he realizes that the drug he took to simulate death was too much for his heart and he is now a ghost. The Sinister Stone, art by Ed Winiarski; A thief steals a ruby dedicated to the god of rain and heavy rains follow him wherever he goes until he decides to return the ruby. Return of the Genie!, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; A genie emerges when a man uncorks his muddy bottle from the swamp and discards it because he cannot see the genie inside. 36 pgs., full color. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.