Auctions: comic books February 1973

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 117 CBCS 7.5

Paper: Off white

Label #19-333D6E6-003

"The Deadly Designs of the Disruptor" continues reprinting pages from "Lo, This Monster" in Spectacular Spider-Man #1 (1968)--see comments on Amazing Spider-Man 116 for details. However, there is quite a bit of new material here by scripter Gerry Conway, penciller John Romita Sr., and inkers Romita, Jim Mooney, and Tony Mortellaro. New cover by Romita. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 117. Cover price $0.20.

Conan the Barbarian (1970 Marvel) 23 GD+ 2.5

Cover art by Gil Kane. First appearance of Red Sonja in The Shadow of the Vulture, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Barry Windsor-Wmith, inks by Sal Buscema, Dan Adkins, and Chic Stone; setting: Pah-Dishah, Makkalet; Conan delivers message from Makkalet to Pah-Disha; Red Sonja saves Conan's life twice; Conan kills Mikhal Oglu (vulture) and sends his head to Yezdigerd; adapted from the non-Conan story by Robert E. Howard featuring a female warrior, Red Sonya. 32 pgs. Cover price $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Ghosts (1971-1982 DC) 11 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4416308016

"The Devil's Lake" (art by E.R. Cruz), "Next Stop is Nowhere," "The Specter Who Stalked Cellblock 13," and "The Instrument of Death!" Cover price $0.20.

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 55 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4384438002

"Beware the Blood Brothers!" First appearance of Thanos. Story by Jim Starlin. Art by Jim Starlin and Mike Esposito. Cover by Jim Starlin and Joe Sinnott. One of the landmark Marvel issues of the Bronze Age. Drax the Destroyer is a prisoner of Thanos at the evil Titan's Earth-fortress. In an effort to escape, Drax telepathically reaches out to Tony Stark for assistance; but before Iron Man can come to the rescue, Shell-Head is ambushed by the Blood Brothers! Can Drax and the golden avenger defeat the Blood Brothers and Thanos? Also first appearances of Drax the Destroyer, Starfox (in a flashback), and Mentor. (Note: Iron Man 55 was reprinted as a Marvel Milestone Edition in 1992.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Superman (1939 1st Series) 261 CGC 8.0

Paper: White

Label #4419899022

Cover art by Nick Cardy. Slave of Star Sapphire!, script by Cary Bates, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Murphy Anderson; Carol Ferris thinks Superman is attacking Green Lantern, so she becomes Star Sapphire to fight him. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.