Auctions: comic books in 'Charlton Comics Group'

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.

Ghost Manor (1968 Charlton) 1st Series 3 CGC 7.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #3859732012

Cover by Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio. Stories and art by Mo Marcus, Sal Trapani, Joe Gill and Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio. A horror anthology from Charlton, with a stable of artists that included Steve Ditko. After World War I, Barnabus builds a cliff house that hates people. An amusement park contains a very unusual wax museum. Oswald breaks into the zoo, but now the problem is getting out again. Won't You Come In?; The House That Hated People; The Witch of Wambusi; The Hands of Franz; The Owner's Room!; The Elephant Laughed! 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds (1956 Charlton) 26 GD 2.0 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION: Tape under staples.

Cover by Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio. Stories and art by Steve Ditko, Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio, Vince Alascia and Bill Molno. Charlton's popular series features tales of science fiction and fantasy with twist endings. A financier claims to be raising money for nuclear power plants, in a story with art by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko. An African "witch doctor" brings Byron back from the dead after a plane crash, but soon the bill comes due. George doesn't want anything to do with the Cursed Cottage, but Lola thinks it'll be fine with a little fixing up... and that's her mistake. The Witch Doctor's Fee; The Cursed Cottage; Mix-Up; Automation; Believe No Evil. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Phantom (1962 Gold Key/King/Charlton) 25 FN/VF 7.0

Cover by Sy Barry. Stories by Giovanni Fiorentini and Raymond Marais. Art by Senio Pratesi and Jeff Jones. These comic-book adventures of the seemingly immortal crime-fighter were published by comic-strip syndicate King Features itself. This issue features translated Phantom stories from Italy's Avventure Americane-L'Uomo Mascherato. The Phantom takes on deadly diamond hunters that have invaded the Bengali Jungle seeking its riches. Plus a comics history of the first battle of the Civil War, featuring early art by fantasy-art legend Jeffrey Catherine Jones. The Cold Fire Worshippers; Ghosts: Illusions or Reality; Fort Sumter: Where Burst the Flames of War!! 32 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

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.

Space War (1959) 6 GD/VG 3.0

Cover detached at one staple.

Cover by Steve Ditko. Stories and art by Steve Ditko, Bill Molno, Vince Alascia, and Rocco "Rocke" Mastroserio. Science-fiction tales with twist endings from the dawn of the Space Age. A comic-book artist's tale of invading aliens comes eerily to life, in a story (and cover) with art by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko. (Ditko inserts art of Charlton characters Captain Atom and the Mysterious Traveler in the background of the artist's studio.) A Martian tyrant tries to convince his advisors to invade the next planet over, Earth. Professor Barnes creates the ultimate weapon, and is then captured by Jupiterians who want to use it to conquer Earth. Planet of Violence; The Implosion Bomb; NRL Rockets; The Monstrous Deception; The Blue Men of Bantro. 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.

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.