Auctions: comic books November 1995

Last Avengers Story (1995) 1 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #0052158002

"The Last Avengers Story" Part 1 of 2. Script by Peter David. Art by Ariel Olivetti. Painted cover by Ariel Olivetti. Time has marched on for Earth's Mightiest Heroes and many of the well-known avengers from the silver and bronze ages have moved into retirement or sadly fallen in battle. But many of the avengers' old villains are still around and in one fell swoop they destroy the current avengers with a nuclear weapon. After Ultron-59 threatens Hank Pym and the Wasp, Hank knows that he must try to round up the old avengers and any other available heroes for one final battle; even though most of them are no longer as powerful as they once were. Fortunately, Cannonball, the Human Torch, Bombshell, Hotshot, and She-Hulk's daughter answer Hank's call to muster; while Mockingbird declines, and Hawkeye and Mr. Fantastic cannot help due to permanent disabilities. However, before Hank is ready to engage Ultron, Kang, Oddball, and the Grim Reaper; he must add one more former avenger to his team...the Vision! Will a group of middle age heroes be able to recapture the magic and score a most improbable victory? (Notes: Two-issue miniseries. Squarebound binding with acetate cover over the painted cover. Marvel alterniverse logo in the upper left corner. No advertisements inside.) 48 pages Cover price $5.95.

Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe (1995 1st Printing) 1 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4659541018

Garth Ennis (1st writing for Marvel). Cover by Nick Percival. Art by Dougie Braithwaite, Robin Riggs, Michael Halbleib, Sean Hardy, Martin Griffith, Don Hudson and John Livesay. Writer Garth Ennis (his first story for Marvel) lets the Punisher loose on the unsuspecting heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe! THE STORY: In this WHAT IF? style adventure, the wife and children of Frank Castle were killed not in a mob shoot-out, but were instead caught in the crossfire of a super hero slugfest. Contacted by a mysterious group who have also suffered great loss, Castle is given a mission: kill those responsible for the death of his loved ones -- the superhumans whose daily battles callously endanger the lives of innocents. Armed with an arsenal of advanced weaponry, the former soldier hunts down Spider-Man, Magneto, Captain America, the Kingpin, Daredevil, Dr. Doom, the Hulk, Venom, Wolverine and more. One by one, group by group, mutant or monster, the one-man army means to kill them all. Pity the heroes... and fear the Punisher! Cover price $5.95.

Witchblade (1995) 1A VF+ 8.5

Wraparound cover art by Michael Turner. Untitled Witchblade story, script by David Wohl, Brian Haberlin (co-plot), and Michael Turner (co-plot), pencils by Michael Turner, inks by D-Tron. Police officer Sara Pezzini dresses to kill and engages in an unauthorized sting of a group of local drug dealers; she is chewed out by her boss for her antics and because she endangered her partner, Michael Yee, who was already undercover on the operation. During the interrogation of drug informant Drexler, Sara and Michael learn about something big going down at the old Rialto theatre on that very night, but on their way to the Rialto, Sara and Michael are called to a crime scene where the victim has literally been cooked from the inside out. Superstar businessman Kenneth Irons and his deadly bodyguard, Nottingham, begin their tournament by offering paying attendees a chance to try on a mystic gauntlet called the Witchblade. Sara has snuck in solo and watches in horror as mob boss, Cugliani, sticks his hand into the Witchblade and has it burned off; Irons' men catch Michael lurking about outside and prepare to execute him. 36 pgs. $2.50. Cover price $2.50.

X-O Manowar (1992 1st Series) 52 CBCS 8.0

Paper: White

Label #21-2498142-053

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They've taken a lot from X-O Manowar, and now they're ready to give some back! Crescendo's boys are back for Round Two, and now the fight is personal. It's armor vs. armor with a surprise ending that will blow X-O Manowar fans away! "A Blast from the Past" is written by Bart Sears, with art by Andy Smith and Randy Elliott. Cover by Andy Smith and Mark Pennington. Cover price $2.50.