Auctions: comic books published by Charlton Comics Group

Billy the Kid (1956 Charlton) 30 FR/GD 1.5

Cover by Dick Giordano. Stories and art by Pete Morisi, Sal Trapani, Charles Nicholas, Bill Molno and Vince Alascia. A Western adventure comic that turns the notorious real-life outlaw into a folk hero of the Old West. Billy crosses the border to rescue a friend who has joined a Mexican bandit gang. Billy is elected town marshal to unseat the previous marshal, a bully who rules by force. When an outlaw gang sets out to free their leader from jail, the Masked Raider decides to intervene. The Chihuahua Chieftain; The Tough Guy; The Hopeless Ones; Masked Raider: The Escape; Trouble Called. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Billy the Kid (1956 Charlton) 49 GD+ 2.5

Staple rust/migration.

Cover by Dick Giordano. Stories and art by Bill Molno, Jon D'Agostino, Charles Nicholas and Vince Alascia. A Western adventure comic that turns the notorious real-life outlaw into a folk hero of the Old West. Billy pursues a stolen herd of cattle into Mexico and encounters Seguro and his band of Native rebels. A Texas Ranger goes undercover as a clerk to catch outlaws, but when they escape prison, they're looking for him. And a comics biography of Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. Death Rides the Southwind; Black Bart the Highwayman; A Bad Habit; The Marshal and the Prisoner; Crazy Horse; Marshal with a Mask. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Black Jack (1957) 26 0.3

Steve Ditko art on two "Rocky Lane's Black Jack" features. In order of appearance: "Rocky Lane's Black Jack, The Phantom Spring" art by Steve Ditko, reprinted in Steve Ditko Archives HC (2009-2016 Fantagraphics) #6-1ST; "Rocky Lane's Black Jack, For a Good Purpose" art by Rocco A. "Rocke" Mastroserio; "Rocky Lane's Black Jack, The Merciless Mesa" art by Steve Ditko, reprinted in Steve Ditko Archives HC (2009-2016 Fantagraphics) #6-1ST; "Bullet Toll"; and "Rocky Lane's Black Jack, Drygulcher's Decoy" art by Ernest Huntley Hart. Indicia states: "ROCKY LANE'S BLACK JACK". 36 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.10.

Danger and Adventure (1955) 26 CGC 2.0

Paper: Brittle

Label #2107550001

Mike Danger in "Versailles Incident." Johnny Adventure in "The Burning Eye." Together they stars in "Allies of Hate!" Lance O'Casey stars in "The Pan American Bull Session!" Cover price $0.10.

I Love You (1955-80 Charlton) 27 FR/GD 1.5

Signed by artist Joe Sinnott (interior). Certification not included. 6" cumulative spine split. Writing and coloring on interior pages.

Cover by Joe Sinnott and Vince Colletta. Stories and art by Joe Sinnott, Vince Alascia, and Vince Colletta. Charlton's long-running romance title showcased the fashions and relationship ideals of its rapidly changing eras. Brenda isn't sure how to tell her boyfriend Al that her dad will disown her if he knows she's dating a Big Band musician. Lisa can't believe her luck when her favorite movie star is shooting a movie in her hometown. Tim is a shabby dresser and too easygoing for her tastes, but she can't help falling for him anyway, in a story with early art by future Fantastic Four legend Joe Sinnott. Music in His Soul; Cary Kissed Me; Wisdom of the Heart; Flower Girl; The Truth About Walt. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Romantic Story (1949 Charlton) 49 GD 2.0 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION. Staple replaced. Signed by artist Joe Sinnott (splash). Certification not included. Water damage. Tape under staples.

Cover by Joe Sinnott and Vince Colletta. Stories and art by Joe Sinnott, Vince Colletta, Charles Nicholas, and Sal Trapani. Tales of secret love, heartbreak, unrequited love, and reconciliation. Farm girl Alice thinks she's stuck with boorish, abusive Leo, but then handsome Gabe takes a wrong turn onto her road. Sad, jilted Pat falls for the handsome artist who sketches her in the park, in one of two stories with art (and cover) by future Fantastic Four legend Joe Sinnott. Laurie is bored with her steady boyfriend, and then she meets handsome Dan, in a story with some good-girl art. Marriage Meant Misery; Model Wife; Love in Limbo; For the Last Time; Too Much in Love. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sick (1961) 5 GD 2.0

Water damage.

Painted cover by Leo Morey. Stories and art by Bob Powell and Leo Morey. Sometimes listed as Vol. 1 No. 5. One of the more successful MAD mimics, created by comics legend Joe Simon, featuring an array of comedic talent. Crestwood/Feature was the first of several publishers. If Sherlock Holmes worked in 1961. A Sick look at the Congo, then known as the Belgian Congo. An evening in performance with Adolph Hitler. Parodies of Hollywood and drill instructors. Sickiatry; Chimps Work in Factory; Job Interview; Comebacks, Inc.; Minute Movies; Albums Without Music; Drill Instructor; Captain of Industry; Sick, Sick World; State News; The Motivation Man; An Evening with Adolph Hitler; Sal Mineo Goes to War; Geography Lesson: The Belgian Congo; Sherlock Holmes Today; Sick Dissects Hollywood; Sick Award; How to Start a Riot. 8 1/2-in. x 11-in., 48 pages, B&W. Cover price $0.25.

Space Adventures (1952 1st series) 7 CGC 4.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4006900009

Cover art by Dick Giordano. "Transformation," art by Dick Giordano; Anticipating nuclear war that would leave Earth barren of life, Lars Kranston convinces his colleagues to go to Mars; His paramour Betty Stone insists that she go as well; The ship crashes on Mars. "The Doomed Civilization," script by Carl Memling, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia; Commander Krait's crew begins receiving transmissions from an inhabitable planet called X-3-Z; Dr. Triple interprets the message; The message states society living there faces immanent destruction through war; Krait sends ships to stop the senseless destruction. "Simtone Saves the Space Officers" text story. "Homecoming," art by Stan Campbell; In the summer of 1953, Edmund Cranston presents his designs for a rocket ship to Dr. Corning at a large aircraft corporation; Cranston's only request is to be on the spacecraft maiden voyage to the moon. "Fateful Fluid," art by Art Cappello; When a professor perfects an elixir to transmute all it touches into gold, Kryn uses a "paralyzo ray" to freeze the professor; Kryn takes the potion for his own purposes. "Eternity in Space," art by Art Cappello; The Earth-Moon space station is a city floating between the Earth and the Moon; The city is constructed on an artificial wheel; Dr. Tero and Dr. Orso create two synthetic children; One is named Nors, the other Gri. Lars works on a fuel for spaceships; Both plan to win a contest for amazing feats. "Invasion" one-page story, art by Tony Tallarico. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Space Adventures (1952 1st series) 40 CGC 5.0

Paper: White

Label #4375737007

Cover by Steve Ditko. Stories and art by Steve Ditko, Bill Molno, Vince Alascia, Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio and Joe Gill. Sci-fi and super-heroics from Charlton Comics. Atomic-powered superhero Captain Atom tries to escort a dignitary to a peace conference, in a story with early art by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko. In another Ditko story, Captain Atom learns he can cure radiation sickness. A man visits New York City, capital of the world in the far future year of 1995. Captain Atom: The Crisis; The Friendly Planet; The Stolen Hero; Captain Atom: The Boy and the Stars. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Thunderbolt (1966 Charlton) 53 CBCS 8.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #23-1FB313A-004

Cover by Pete Morisi. Stories and art by Pete Morisi and Frank McLaughlin. Trained from birth by Tibetan monks to attain physical and mental perfection, Peter Cannon becomes Thunderbolt, one of Charlton's most significant contributions to the superhero genre. T-Bolt goes after the mysterious underworld gang/cult known as The Tong. He wants to find out what they're doing with that gigantic drill. Plus a guide to atomic power from Captain Atom himself. Enter…The Tong; Captain Atoms Secret. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

True Life Secrets (1951 Capitol Publications Inc.) 23 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4278554019

Stories and art by Leon Winik and Ray Osrin. Early romance comics that include noirish tales of melodrama, scandal and deceit. Lola is contemptuous of her friends' make-do marriage plans, and sets out to find a wealthy husband. Nurse Ginny falls for Carl, the handsome doctor she works for, but hypochondriac Sandra wants Carl's attention for herself. Helen enjoys walking in the rain and brooding over her loneliness, but that's how she meets handsome Tod, who comes to her aid when she twists her ankle. Plus a romantic poem by Robert Louis Stevenson in comics form. Fast Track for Love; A Savage in Love; Romance; The Price I Paid; None But the Lonely. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Zoo Funnies (1945 1st Series Charlton/Childrens) 2 CGC 7.0

Paper: Off white

Label #4181578003

Cover by Ellis Chambers. Stories and art by Ellis Chambers, Gus Jud, Herman C. Browner, Morris Weiss (credited as Pat Simon), Harry Lazarus, and A. W. Nugent. An early comics anthology featuring humor and funny-animal stories from Charlton, published under the imprint Children Comics Publishing. Rabbit-son Crusoe is stranded on a desert island with a turtle named Friday and it looks desperate, but then a chest washes up on shore. Bloodhound Sherlock Sniff, better known as Detecto, and his giraffe sidekick Billy Longneck investigate when priceless jewelry vanishes from locked rooms in wealthy Snob Hill. In an offbeat take on fairy tales, a servant sets out to find Old King Cole's Fiddlers Three, but winds up searching for the Cat and the Fiddle. Plus puzzle and activity pages, and fun facts about animals. Circus Elephant Forgot to Remember; Detecto the Bloodhound; Smarty; Little Leo; Animal Quiz: Indian Elephant; Bugsy Bear; The Low-Down on Mother Goose: The Riddle of the Fiddle; Rabbit-Son Crusoe; Join the Dots Little Tots; Cut-Out Stunts; Tommy and Dodo; Bojo the Monk; The Mischievous Ant. 52 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Zoo Funnies (1945 1st Series Charlton/Childrens) 3 CGC 8.0

Paper: Off white

Slab: Minor side/edge crack(s)

Label #4181578004

Stories and art by Harry Lazarus, Ellis Chambers, Gus Jud, Herman C. Browner, Morris Weiss, A.W. Nugent, and Bernie Krigstein. An early comics anthology featuring humor and funny-animal stories from Charlton, published under the imprint Children Comics Publishing. Rabbit-son Crusoe and Friday the turtle, stranded on a desert island, find the wreckage of Crusoe's ship. A coyote family hunts prairie dogs , in a story with early art by future EC legend Bernie Krigstein. How the bear got a short tail. Plus puzzle and activity pages, and fun facts about penguins and lungfish. Monkey Visiting the Zoo Sees Zoot Suit Donkey; Smarty; Little Leo; Animal Quiz: Lungfish; Rudy Rabbit; They Say; Rabbit-Son Crusoe; A Visit to the Zoo; Fun for Little Artists; Tommy and Dodo; Bojo and Tony; Coyote Family Hunts Prairie Dogs; Popsy Penguin. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.