Auctions: comic books February 1974

Adventure Comics (1938 1st Series) 431 FN+ 6.5

Cover art by Jim Aparo. The Wrath of... the Spectre, script by Michael Fleisher and Russell Carley, art by Jim Aparo; Jim Corrigan arrives on the scene of a crime in which an armored car has been held up and the guards shot to death; When he learns that even a member of the gang was shot to death by his own men, it is the Spectre who decides to track down the gang members one by one and exact justice. Is a Snerl Human?, script by Sheldon Mayer, art by Alex Toth. Letter to the editor from Mike Tiefenbacher. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 129 CGC 8.5 SS John Romita

Paper: Off white to white

Signed by John Romita on 4/22/21.

Label #2640365002

First appearances of the Punisher and the Jackal in "The Punisher Strikes Twice!" Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt (backgrounds). Cover by Gil Kane and John Romita. One of the landmark issues of the bronze age! The Punisher, the legendary gun-toting vigilante, makes his first appearance in the Marvel Universe! And his first target...is none other than your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! But before Frank Castle can locate the web-slinger, he needs directions from a mysterious new super-villain called the Jackal! Once the dastardly Jackal tells the sharpshooting anti-hero where to find the wall-crawler, the inaugural battle between the Punisher and the Amazing Spider-Man erupts! The first of many classic confrontations! Cameo appearances by Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, Betty Brant, Joe Robertson, and J. Jonah Jameson. (Notes: The Punisher appears next in Amazing Spider-Man 134 (cameo) and 135. The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Ralph Macchio. This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales 106 and again in Marvel Tales 209.) 32 pages. 20 cent cover price. Cover price $0.20.

Batman (1940) 254 CGC 8.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4389449009

100-page giant. This issue features Batman tales from the forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies. Cover by Nick Cardy. "King of the Gotham Jungle!", script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; The recent rash of unsolved robberies in Gotham City spurs Man-Bat to come out of retirement. "The Witch and the Manuscript of Doom," script by Bill Finger, pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Bob Kane and George Roussos (backgrounds); The Batman and Robin must track down The Witch, a mysterious figure responsible for the murder of Erik Dorne and the theft of a manuscript he wrote. "The Bullet-Hole Club!", script by Bill Finger, pencils by Dick Sprang (as Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; A private detective petitions Batman and the other members of the prestigious "Bullet Hole Club" to become a member---even if he has to purposely put himself in the way of bodily harm to do it! Shazam Awards Behind the Scenes at the DC Comic World article, pencils by Ross Andru and Bernie Wrightson, inks by Bernie Wrightson. "The Man Who Stole from Batman" (from Detective Comics #334), script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), inks by Joe Giella; A new and unusual villain makes him presence known by stealing from the Batman: his Batmobile, Bat-a-Rang, and Bat-Boat, yet Batman cannot figure out WHY he would do such a thing. "The Phenomenal Memory of Luke Graham!", script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Dick Dillin, inks by Murphy Anderson; Luke Graham needs the help of Robin the Teen Wonder to convince his college professor that a report he prepared on the Chinese iron industry was not plagiarized. "The Son of the Joker" (from Batman #145), script by Bill Finger, art by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane); In this imaginary story, penned by Alfred, trusted butler of Bruce Wayne, the Second Batman & Robin team run up against the Son of the Joker! Bat-Maze activity page. "The Guardian of the Bat-Signal!" (from Batman #85), script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Charles Paris; A long-time veteran of the Gotham City Police Department is about to be retired, when Batman suggests that he be put in charge of the Bat-Signal. 100 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.50.

Captain America (1968 1st Series) 170 CGC 9.4

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4183013005

"J'Accuse!" Guest-starring the Black Panther. Plot by Steve Englehart. Script by Mike Friedrich. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Vince Colletta. Cover by Gil Kane (pencils) and John Romita Sr. (inks). In a stunning development, the Tumbler somehow died during his fight against Captain America. And now the star-spangled avenger is being accused of murder! Cap wants to clear his name, so he runs from the police...and runs right into a new super-villain called Moonstone! In the meantime in Wakanda, Sam Wilson and Leila Taylor tour T'Challa's state-of-the-art laboratory. Will the Black Panther give flight to the Falcon? First (full) appearance of Moonstone (aka Lloyd Bloch). Origin of Moonstone. First (cameo) appearance of the Falcon's new costume with wings. Cameo appearances by Quentin Harderman, Stoneface, and the Tumbler. 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Fear (1970 Marvel) 20 CGC 9.2

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4389562001

Morbius stories begin: "Morbius the Living Vampire!" Script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Paul Gulacy, inks by Jack Abel. Cameos by Spider-Man and the Human Torch. Brief X-Men appearance. Reprint back-up story: "Midnight in the Wax Museum!" with art by Richard Doxsee. Gil Kane cover pencils. Cover price $0.20.

Fear (1970 Marvel) 20 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4067230013

Morbius stories begin: "Morbius the Living Vampire!" Script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Paul Gulacy, inks by Jack Abel. Cameos by Spider-Man and the Human Torch. Brief X-Men appearance. Reprint back-up story: "Midnight in the Wax Museum!" with art by Richard Doxsee. Gil Kane cover pencils. Cover price $0.20.

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 66 VG/FN 5.0

1/2" Spine split from top.

It's Avenger vs. Avenger in "Night of the Thunder God!" Guest-starring Thor and Doctor Spectrum. Story by Mike Friedrich. Art by George Tuska and Mike Esposito. Iron Man's body is under the thrall of the Skrull outcast Krimonn. The villainous alien is using Shell-Head's own power to wreak havoc on the innocent citizens of Detroit. That is until the Mighty Thor arrives on the scene. Can Tony get back control of his body before his teammate batters it senseless? 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Special Marvel Edition (1971) 16 CGC 9.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4375680003

Final issue of the series. Story continues in Master of Kung Fu. Cover art by Jim Starlin. Midnight Brings Dark Death! starring Master of Kung Fu, script by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin (co-plot), pencils by Jim Starlin (layouts, credited as "artist"), Al Milgrom (finished art, credited as "co-artist"), inks by Al Milgrom; Chi finds himself fighting against his father, and his father's thugs and dacoits. 36 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Strange Sports Stories (1973) 3 CGC 8.0

Paper: White

Label #1261895014

Cover by Nick Cardy. "Gridiron Knightmare!", script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Dick Giordano; an armored knight plays in a football game. "Man Who Leaped over the Earth!", script by Elliot Maggin, art by Dick Giordano; a man pole vaults over the Earth. 36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 86 CGC 8.0

Paper: White

Label #4067230023

Cover art by Dan Adkins. The Sinister Shadow of Doomsday, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Don Heck, inks by George Roussos; Mutant Master tells the Changeling about his plans to initiate the human in a third world war; Marvel Girl, Beast and Angel go to Europe; Iceman and Cyclops go to Washington; reprinted from issue 38. The Spirit of Swami River, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Steve Ditko; reprinted from Amazing Adult Fantasy #9. Cover price $0.20.