Auctions: comic books January 1964

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 3 CGC 4.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #3773926004

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman. The Avengers Meet... Sub-Mariner!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman; After he left them, the Avengers feel responsible for the damages that the Hulk may cause; They start a search for him and find him. When they start to battle, the Sub-Mariner joins the Hulk. Roster includes: Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp, and Iron Man. Guest appearances by the Hulk, Rick Jones, the Sub-Mariner, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the original X-Men, Odin, and miscellaneous Asgardians. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 22 VG- 3.5 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION. Color touch. Cover coming loose at one staple. Water spotting.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. The Return of the Mole Man!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos [as G. Bell]; The Mole Man arranges for the neighbors of the Fantastic Four to complain about their activities so they will be interested when they receive an ad for an island that is for sale; When they visit the island, the Mole Man is waiting for them. Letters to the editor from comics writer Roy Thomas, comics artist Dave Cockrum, Wayne Howard (the comics artist?), and Steve Erickson (the writer?). 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Sgt. Rock's Prize Battle Tales (1964) 1 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4388597015

Joe Kubert and Russ Heath reprints; 80-page giant with 25c cover price. NOTE: In 2000 a replica edition was issued which has a $5.95 cover price. Cover price $0.25.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 51 GD+ 2.5

Water damage. Cover oxidation.

Cover by Jack Kirby and George Roussos. Showdown With the Human Top!, script by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers; Human Top steals civil defense plans and wants to sell them to the Communists. The Sorcerer text story, art by Joe Maneely; A man who has travelled the world and seen wonders performed by hermits in India returns home to find that his young nephew creates magic with only belief. No Place to Turn!, script by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, art by Larry Lieber and Matt Fox; Aliens transform a spy into a human, but because they can only receive black-and-white images from Earth they leave him green and he is discovered. Somewhere Waits a Wobbow!, script by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, art by Larry Lieber and George Roussos [as G. Bell]; The Wasp tells the tale of future mercenary pilot Rack Morgan who disobeys the rules once too many. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 100 VG+ 4.5 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION. Color touch. Water spotting.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky. "The Master Plan of Mr. Hyde!", script by Stan Lee, art by Don Heck; Mister Hyde kidnaps Don Blake and Jane Foster and then tries to steal a submarine using Jane as a hostage; Jane stops Thor from catching Hyde because she thinks that Don is still in danger; The police realize that Hyde framed Thor for the bank robbery, but Jane's actions convince Odin that she is unworthy of immortality. "Tricky Travel" text story. "The Unreal!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Matt Fox; A man recounts a dream to a psychiatrist, in which he meets and fights an alien on an expedition; The psychiatrist dismisses the importance of the dream, since the alien "human" that he describes couldn't exist. Fourth "Tales of Asgard" installment, "The Storm Giants!", script by Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman; This is the first "Boyhood of Thor" story; Thor and Loki (as children) defeat three Storm Giants and return the Golden Apples of Iduna. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 3 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white

Slab: Scuffing to inner well of case

Label #3814603002

First appearance of the Blob. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby. Beware of the Blob!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman; Professor X detects a new mutant and sends the X-Men to investigate; They arrive at a carnival and encounter the Blob, a very fat sideshow attraction who can bounce bullets off of his malleable hide as well as anchor himself to the earth and become immovable; The X-Men bring him back to the mansion as a potential member but the Blob spurns their invitation and returns to the carnival; Realizing that the Blob knows their secret, the X-Men lure him back to the mansion where Xavier wipes his memory. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Wonder Woman (1942 1st Series DC) 143 VG/FN 5.0

Cover pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito. "The Terror Trees of Forbidden Island," script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito; When alien invaders attack Paradise Island, the Amazons at first repel them with the dazzling power of the Sun Sword, which has incredible power for one year; But the weapon peters out in the attack, the years charge being used up; Queen Hippolyte sends Wonder Woman to Forbidden Island, to wrest another Sun Sword from within one of the Trees of Vengeance. "The Amazon Mouse Trap," script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito; Mouse-Man escapes from prison and takes Wonder Woman captive with her own lasso. 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.