Auctions: comic books July 1974

Captain America (1968 1st Series) 175 FN/VF 7.0

"Before the Dawn!" Guest-starring the X-Men. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Vince Colletta. Cover by Sal Buscema (pencils & inks) and John Romita Sr. (layouts). This is it! Captain America's final battle vs. the Secret Empire! And the cataclysmic clashwill stretch from the Desert Southwest to the South Lawn of the White House! Fortunately, the star-spangled avenger has numerous allies to help him including Gabe Jones, Peggy Carter, the faithful Falcon, and the Uncanny X-Men! Will their combined might be enough to topple the Secret Empire?One thing for sure...the shocking ending will shake Captain America to his core...and all of Marveldom too! Appearances by Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Moonstone. Cameo appearances by the Viper, Quentin Harderman, Dum Dum Dugan, Professor X, Angel, Iceman, and the Beast. (Notes: The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #77 The Swordsman by Gene Colan. This issue was reprinted in 2005 in the trade paperback: Captain America and the Falcon Secret Empire.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.25.

Flashback 17: Captain Marvel Jr. 1 (1943/1974) 17 FN+ 6.5

Scuffing with color loss. Staple rust.

The 17th issue of the Flashback reprint series presents CAPTAIN MARVEL, JR. #1 originally published in 1943 by Fawcett Publications. Cover art by Mac Raboy. "The Origin of Captain Marvel, Jr. Retold," art by Al Carreno; While they are fishing, Freddy's grandfather rescues the nefarious Captain Nazi, who promptly kills the grandfather and severely injures Freddy Freeman; Captain Marvel rescues the young boy and takes him to see Shazam, who gives some of the Mighty Mortal's powers to the boy, who then becomes Captain Marvel Junior. "Wings Over Dazaggar!!", art by Al Carreno; Captain Marvel Jr. goes to Dazaggar in Africa to fight Captain Nazi and prevent him from moving plans ahead there to use gigantic "winged castles" to invade the Western Hemisphere. "The Shadow That Walked!", art by Al Carreno; Captain Marvel Jr. involves himself in a case where a criminal, known as The Walking Shadow, is causing a crime wave, threatening to become the King of Crime, a title he may well own if he can locate the Dumont Treasure. "The Bomb Proof Shirt!" starring Willie Wynn. "The Case of the Crippled Kidnappers," art by Al Carreno; Captain Marvel Jr. gets involved in a fake accident racket, in which young cripples were drugged, then used in certain fake accidents that would net the gang millions in blackmail payments. "The Cracked Safecracker," art by Al Carreno; Captain Marvel Jr. saves an older couple from being run over, and discovers that they are to be forced into living in a poorhouse unless their son can be found to help them out; But when he sees a picture of the son, Captain Marvel Jr. recognizes him as a noted safecracker. 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.

Giant Size Spider-Man (1974) 1 VG/FN 5.0

"Ship of Fiends!" Guest-starring Dracula. Script by Len Wein. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Don Heck. Cover by John Romita, Sr. Aunt May has been stricken by a deadly new strain of the flu for which there is not a vaccine available in the United States. However, a doctor is currently bringing the vaccine to America via ocean liner. Since Aunt May might not have enough time to wait for it, the wall-crawler borrows a skycraft from the Fantastic Four and heads out to sea to retrieve the vaccine. But other people want that vaccine too, namely the Maggia and Dracula! It's a great 3-way battle on-board the S.S. Wendell. Cameo appearances by Equinox and the Human Torch. One subplot from this issue continues in Marvel Team-Up 23. (Note: This story was reprinted in 1994 in Spider-Man vs. Dracula 1.) This issue contains a 2-page write-up from Roy Thomas describing the plans for the Giant-Size Spider-Man series. Back up story: "On the Trail of the Amazing Spider-Man!" Script by Stan Lee. Pencils by Jack Kirby. Inks by Steve Ditko. The Human Torch searches for Spider-Man. Very early appearance of Spider-Man. Reprinted from Strange Tales Annual 2. (Notes: This issue does not contain any art by John Byrne as mentioned in the Overstreet price guide. The Official Index to the Amazing Spider-Man issue 6 confirms that. This issue includes a full-page ad for Giant-Size Spider-Man 2 guest-starring Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu.) 64 pages. Cover price $0.50.

Haunt of Horror (1974 Magazine) 2 VG+ 4.5

Cover by Earl Norem. Stories by Doug Moench and Gerry Conway. Art by Billy Graham, Gene Colan & Frank Chiaramonte, Pablo Marcos and Enrique Romero. Once, they called him Father and Priest. Until the day of his possession -- the day he lost a piece of his soul. But now he is free in the untitled Gabriel: Devil-Hunter story! Plus: Grandma was good to him -- she gave him things, made him feel better when he was sad. Then, she died...and the horror began in "Gran'ma Died Last Year"! Also: A cool night on Sunset Strip. The lingering fragrance of exotic perfume. And then, a scream! Satana is hunting this night, hunting those who exiled her on this dustbowl world, Earth! Read..."A Fire in Hell"! And: Her name is Satana, the Devil's Daughter. And she has come to the cave of the Winds to find her way home to Hell. To find, instead, treachery and, perhaps, death in "Bloody is the Path to Hell!" Plus: 2-page Satana and Gabriel: Devil Hunter illo by Pablo Marcos; 5-page article "Something Wicked!" by Chris Claremont on "The Exorcist Tapes" later on in this issue; 1-page article "The Hint of Horror" (artwork by Alfredo Alcala); and Chris Claremont, Gerry Conway, Steve Gerber, Carla Joseph, Don McGregor, Sandy McGregor, Glynis Wein, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman and Michele Wolfman discuss the movie The Exorcist in the 13-page text piece "The Exorcist Tapes" (continued next issue). 64 pages, B&W. Cover price $0.75.

Monsters Unleashed (1973) 7 FN- 5.5

Edited by Tony Isabella. Cover by Richard Hescox. A Tale of Two Monsters!, script by Doug Moench, art by Val Mayerik; James relates to the Frankenstein Monster the sad story of his life. The Monster In the Mist, art by Al Williamson; A ship briefly goes through a time warp to the year 1519 and return to the present day just in time to avoid being sunk by a sea monster. Bleeding Stones, script by Doug Moench, art by Vicente Alcazar. Madness Under a Midsummer Moon text story by Gerry Conway. Blind Man's Bluff, script by Gerry Conway, art by Carlos Freixas. 68 pgs., color. $0.75. Cover price $0.75.

Tales of the Zombie (1973) Magazine 6 FN 6.0

Simon Garth dies but is brought back to life as a zombie and doomed to walk the earth as one of the living dead. In "Child of Darkness," the voodoo priestess Layla tries to help the zombie but leads him to a deadly foe. Script by Steve Gerber and art by Pablos Marcos. Issue also has "The Plague of the Zombies" (Story by Gerry Boudreau), an article about the movie "Sugar Hill," "The Complete Voodoo Man" (Article by Chris Claremont), "End of a Legend" (Script by Doug Moench and Len Wein and art by Gene Colan and Frank Chiaramonte), and "The Voodoo Beat" (Article by Carla Joseph). All stories are in black and white. Cover price $0.75.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 225 CGC 9.6

Paper: Off white

Label #2108393004

Cover by John Buscema. First appearance of Firelord in "The Coming of the Firelord!", script by Gerry Conway, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott; Thor commands Mjolnir to return to him, and so it must; Hercules returns with the body of Holmes, and in drawing close, the spirit returns to his body; While Thor changes back to Blake to check on Krista, Firelord arrives on Earth, and at the selfsame hospital; Hercules and Firelord begin to battle, and Blake's cane is knocked out a window; Blake races to the ground and changes to Thor, and then he stops the battle, realizing who Firelord is - herald to Galactus; Firelord then summons Galactus, and Galactus plans to feast this day. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp #17 (Black Bolt by Jack Kirby). Bullpen Bulletins. 36 pgs., full color. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 225 VG/FN 5.0

Cover by John Buscema. First appearance of Firelord in "The Coming of the Firelord!", script by Gerry Conway, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott; Thor commands Mjolnir to return to him, and so it must; Hercules returns with the body of Holmes, and in drawing close, the spirit returns to his body; While Thor changes back to Blake to check on Krista, Firelord arrives on Earth, and at the selfsame hospital; Hercules and Firelord begin to battle, and Blake's cane is knocked out a window; Blake races to the ground and changes to Thor, and then he stops the battle, realizing who Firelord is - herald to Galactus; Firelord then summons Galactus, and Galactus plans to feast this day. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp #17 (Black Bolt by Jack Kirby). Bullpen Bulletins. 36 pgs., full color. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.

Tomb of Dracula (1972 1st Series) 22 FN 6.0

"In Death Do We Join!" Written by Marv Wolfman. Art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. Behind the Iron Curtain Dracula must face the macabre power of Gorna, Lord of the Living Lightning! 32 pages, FC. NOTE: The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A # 27 (the Black Widow by John Romita Sr.). Gil Kane/Palmer cover. Cover price $0.25.

Weird Western Tales (1972 1st Series) 23 CGC 9.6

Paper: Off white to white

Label #0700758001

Jonah Hex stars in "The Point Pyrrhus Massacre!" Script by Michael Fleisher, art by Tony DeZuniga. Luiz Dominguez cover. Cover price $0.20.

Werewolf by Night (1972 1st Series) 19 VF 8.0

Marvel Value Stamp. Cover pencils by Gil Kane and John Romita (faces of Werewolf and Dracula), inks by Tom Palmer. Vampires On The Moon!, script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Don Perlin, inks by Vince Colletta; Jack and Raymond, in their Werewolf forms, fight two vampires on a movie set. 36 pgs. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.