April Prime Auction

Cover by Neal Adams. Featuring: 11 page story "Dark City of Doom" written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Tony DeZuniga; 1 page Cain's Gargoyles filler drawn by Sergio Aragones; 1 page Room 13 activity by Sergio Aragones; 1 page Cain's Game Room filler drawn by John Albano; 8 page story "House of Madness!" drawn by Berni Wrightson. 36 Pages, Full Color.

Cover art by Neal Adams. "The Eagle's Talon!", pencils by Jerry Grandenetti, inks by Wally Wood; A dictator cuts the claw-like hand off a revolutionary who lays a curse on him that he will die in a cage; The dictator orders his guards to kill all the eagles in the land but dies anyway when he becomes trapped in his villa's elevator. "Please, Don't Cry, Johnny!", art by Sam Glanzman; A child born bald acts out in school so his teacher takes him home one day in order to speak with his father who appears to be Humpty Dumpty. "There Are Two of Me...and One Must Die!", art by Murphy Anderson; Marshall Perkins splits into two copies of himself--one good, one evil; It is up to his son to determine which is which. 36 Pages, Full Color.

Cover art by Bernie Wrightson. "Waiting... Waiting... Waiting...", script by Sheldon Mayer, art by Rico Rival; A gambler who gets involved with a scientific project to recreate Earth history in simulation hopes to view the winner of the next atomic war, but the lab is destroyed before he can learn of the victor. "No Bed of Roses," script by John Albano, art by Jack Sparling; A man frames another man so that he can marry his wife when he is sent to prison; In prison, the convicted man hangs himself and leaves a note that he hopes to reincarnate in order to seek revenge and get his wife back; He reincarnates into a gorilla and escapes the zoo to tear apart the man who married his wife. "The Village on the Edge of Forever," script by Steve Skeates, art by Alex Niño; After the radiation of a future war has destroyed humanity, a sole survivor builds lifelike robots for company; One of the machines, believing itself to be human, seeks out other humans and finds a girl under attack by mutants; He tries to save her and during the fight his arm is damaged and he realizes that he is a robot. Cain & Abel cartoon page by Sergio Aragonés. 36 Pages, Full Color.

Written by Steve Gerber. Art by Frank Brunner and Steve Leialoha. Cover by Frank Brunner. Howard the Barbarian; Legendary creators Steve Gerber and Frank Bruner present the audacious, quirky, downright filthy Howard the Duck in his own ongoing series!; Howards debut adventure guest stars a plethora of Marvel Heroes--Spider-Man, Conjurer, and many more; Howard is thinking of committing suicide and then finds himself involved in a bizarre adventure where he meets Beverly Switzler and Spider-Man for the first time, and faces off against Pro-Rata, the Financial Wizard. Continued from Giant-Size Man-Thing #5. 36 pgs., full color. $0.25.

Written by Steve Gerber. Art by Frank Brunner and Steve Leialoha. Cover by Frank Brunner. Howard the Barbarian; Legendary creators Steve Gerber and Frank Bruner present the audacious, quirky, downright filthy Howard the Duck in his own ongoing series!; Howards debut adventure guest stars a plethora of Marvel Heroes--Spider-Man, Conjurer, and many more; Howard is thinking of committing suicide and then finds himself involved in a bizarre adventure where he meets Beverly Switzler and Spider-Man for the first time, and faces off against Pro-Rata, the Financial Wizard. Continued from Giant-Size Man-Thing #5. 36 pgs., full color. $0.25.

"Death-Walk!" Written by Bill Mantlo. Art by Lee Elias. Guest-starring Spider-Man. Thrill to the death-defying adventures of the Human Fly! The Human Fly is a man that was severely injured in a car crash. After a reconstructive surgery laced 60% of his skeleton with by steel, making him highly resistant to injury, the Fly now performs daredevil stunts to benefit various charities, especially those helping children with disabilities. The Human Fly is accompanied by a close knit group of allies with varying skills that assist him in his stunts and his adventures. In this first exciting adventure, the Human Fly attempt to save a jet airliner from hijackers, while it's still in the skies over Texas. Luckily, the Amazing Spider-Man is on hand to lend a hand. 32 pages, FC. NOTE: The Human Fly character, created by Bill Mantlo, is based on real-life stuntman Rick Rojatt. 1st Human Fly.

"Death-Walk!" Written by Bill Mantlo. Art by Lee Elias. Guest-starring Spider-Man. Thrill to the death-defying adventures of the Human Fly! The Human Fly is a man that was severely injured in a car crash. After a reconstructive surgery laced 60% of his skeleton with by steel, making him highly resistant to injury, the Fly now performs daredevil stunts to benefit various charities, especially those helping children with disabilities. The Human Fly is accompanied by a close knit group of allies with varying skills that assist him in his stunts and his adventures. In this first exciting adventure, the Human Fly attempt to save a jet airliner from hijackers, while it's still in the skies over Texas. Luckily, the Amazing Spider-Man is on hand to lend a hand. 32 pages, FC. NOTE: The Human Fly character, created by Bill Mantlo, is based on real-life stuntman Rick Rojatt. 1st Human Fly.

The first appearance and origin of the Incredible Hulk in "The Coming of the Hulk." Script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman. 1st app. Rick Jones, General Ross, and Betty Ross. It's the height of the Cold War and the government is about to test their new Gamma Bomb. Unfortunately, a carefree and oblivious teenager named Rick Jones wanders out onto the test area. Dr. Bruce Banner, the creator of the Gamma Bomb, rushes out to warn the young man away. However, the bomb explodes and as Banner pushes the teenager to safety he is caught in the heart of a Gamma maelstrom. The gamma-rays that bombard Banner's thin frame transform his physiology. Now, whenever Banner becomes angry he transforms into the man-brute known as the Incredible Hulk. Feared by the public and hunted by the army, the Hulk becomes one of the most tragic figures in Marvel's history. General "Thunderbolt" Ross will not rest until the Hulk is destroyed. The creature's only allies are Rick Jones and Betty Ross, Thunderbolt's daughter and Banner's one true love. Thus begins the epic saga of the world's mightiest mortal. NOTE: Notice that the Hulk was colored grey for the first few issues of his series. In an interview, Stan Lee (creator) said very simply that the reason for this was that grey was the easiest color for the copiers of the time to print. When the technology got better the Hulk became green, and according to Stan, for no better reason than they didn't have a green hero in their stable yet.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. First appearance of the green Hulk and the Toad Men in "The Terror of the Toad Men," script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko; The Toad Men are above Earth, in search of its brightest scientist; Rick and Bruce explore an underground cave where they hope to imprison Hulk each night; The Toad men capture Bruce Banner and bring him to their spaceship; Bruce Banner is found in a Toad Men crashed spaceship while their fleet arrives on Earth; Hulk escapes from his cell while General Ross forget about the Toad Men. Fantastic Four ad. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. "Beauty and the Beast!," script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Underground overlord Tyrannus kidnaps Betty and lures the Hulk into his subterranean kingdom, forcing the Hulk to do his bidding to keep Betty safe. "The Hordes of General Fang!," script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; The Hulk thwarts a would-be Genghis Khan conqueror named General Fang from taking over the Asian province of Llhasa, and he only has to dress up as the Abominable Snowman once to do it. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

Cover by Steve Ditko. Introduction of the Teen Brigade in "The Incredible Hulk vs The Metal Master!," script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; Finding his transformations more and more difficult using his gamma ray machine, the Hulk with Banner's brain also finds that he has Banner's features when he zaps himself to face the alien invading Metal Master and his head does not transform; The power of the Metal Master is too much for the Hulk and he is captured by Ross. Rick forms the Teen Brigade; Hulk breaks free of Ross's bunker and then pulls off one of the boldest victories against one of the most powerful aliens ever seen. 36 pgs., full color. The Hulk's solo adventures continue in the pages of Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) #59.

Formerly Tales to Astonish. Cover pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Frank Giacoia. This World Not His Own!, script by Gary Friedrich, pencils by Marie Severin, inks by George Tuska and Syd Shores; Bruce Banner is falling down a bottomless pit back to Midgard when the Enchantress plucks him back to Asgard out of curiosity; The Warriors Three consult Oldar the Oracle and find out the origins of the Hulk; Captured by Enchantress and Executioner, Banner transforms into the Hulk which enrages the Executioner who has fought the jade giant before (back in TTA #77); Leaving the Hulk behind, the evil duo lead an army of trolls against Asgard and the Hulk arrives on the scene just in time to lend a hand in the victory of Odin's forces. House ad for Not Brand Echh #7 and Daredevil #38. 32 pgs. This issue picks up after the events of Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) #101.

Cover pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Frank Giacoia. Ring Around the Rhino!, script by Gary Friedrich, pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Frank Giacoia; The Rhino, finally out of prison after his last battle with Spider-Man, is contacted by the men who originally gave him his costume and they offer to give him a new suit with more power; Banner is in prison at Sing-Sing and as Ross is transferring him to a new location, the Rhino attacks and battle ensues; The Hulk is groggy from being sedated but still manages to beat the Rhino to (apparent) death; Looking for love in all the wrong places, the Hulk grabs Betty from her father and takes off. 36 pgs. $0.12.

Cover art by Herb Trimpe. The Eve of Annihilation, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Dan Adkins; With the Hulk in an unbreakable plastic prison of the Leader's design, things start to look a little fishy as the Leader moves his Giant Humanoid onto the missile base and begins to take over; Betty hears the Leader soliloquizing to himself about his plans for world domination and she convinces Talbot to try and free the Hulk; Once he escapes, the Hulk has to battle through the Super Humanoid to try and stop the Leader from starting a nuclear war. 36 pgs. $0.12.

Cover art by Herb Trimpe. His Name Is... Samson!, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by John Severin; Ross enlists the aid of Dr. Samson in siphoning off the Hulk's power to revert Betty from her crystal state and to rid Bruce of the Hulk forever; The experiment is a success, and Leonard uses more of the Hulk's energy to turn himself into a super hero; Watching Doc Samson trying to win Betty's affections, Bruce gets jealous and turns himself into the Hulk once more. House ad for Iron Man #39. 36 pgs. $0.15.

Cover art by Herb Trimpe. Holocaust At the Heart of the Atom!, script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Sal Trapani; Hulk arrives on Jarella's world with the mental acuity of Bruce Banner; He finds the city of K'ai in ruins and discovers that Jarella has been captured by the treacherous Lord Visis; Hulk rescues his lady love and leads her people in revolt; That is, until Visis teams up with master assassin Krylar who has a weapon that makes one battle one's darkest fears; The weapon is turned on the Hulk and Hulk with Banner's mind finds himself facing his old brutish self; Jarella's magicians counter by ending the spell that makes Hulk smart; Pym's serum wears off and Hulk grows back to normal size. 32 pgs. $0.20.

First appearance of Wolverine (cameo last panel). Cover art by Herb Trimpe. And the Wind Howls...Wendigo!, script by Len Wein, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Jack Abel; Hulk is in Canada looking for some peace and quiet when he is mysteriously drawn to a cave inhabited by the sister of the man who became the Wendigo; Marie and Georges plan on transferring the power of the Wendigo to the Hulk, thus restorin Paul Cartier to his normal life; Marie's magic isn't strong enough, however, and just as Wendigo shows up, the Hulk wakes up from his magical slumber and the two battle; The Canadian government gets involved and sends in their own agent to take care of a recent Hulk sighting, the mutant known as Wolverine. Marvel Value Stamp Series A (Cyclops). 36 pgs. $0.25.

First appearance of Wolverine (cameo last panel). Cover art by Herb Trimpe. And the Wind Howls...Wendigo!, script by Len Wein, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Jack Abel; Hulk is in Canada looking for some peace and quiet when he is mysteriously drawn to a cave inhabited by the sister of the man who became the Wendigo; Marie and Georges plan on transferring the power of the Wendigo to the Hulk, thus restorin Paul Cartier to his normal life; Marie's magic isn't strong enough, however, and just as Wendigo shows up, the Hulk wakes up from his magical slumber and the two battle; The Canadian government gets involved and sends in their own agent to take care of a recent Hulk sighting, the mutant known as Wolverine. Marvel Value Stamp Series A (Cyclops). 36 pgs. $0.25.

First full Wolverine story (cameo appearance in previous issue). Cover art by Herb Trimpe. And Now...The Wolverine!, script by Len Wein, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Jack Abel; Canadian super-agent Wolverine teams up with the Hulk to battle Wendigo; Once the monster is felled, however, Wolvie turns on the Hulk and the two battle; Marie goes ahead with her plans of trying to transfer the power of the Wendigo into the Hulk but when the guilt becomes too much for best friend Georges who feels responsible for Paul's monstrous condition, he works the change on himself; Paul Cartier is returned to human form and Georges becomes the Wendigo. Wendigos story continues in Monsters Unleashed 9.Marvel Value Stamp #54 (Shanna). Letter from Mary Jo Duffy. 36 pgs. $0.25.

First full Wolverine story (cameo appearance in previous issue). Cover art by Herb Trimpe. And Now...The Wolverine!, script by Len Wein, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Jack Abel; Canadian super-agent Wolverine teams up with the Hulk to battle Wendigo; Once the monster is felled, however, Wolvie turns on the Hulk and the two battle; Marie goes ahead with her plans of trying to transfer the power of the Wendigo into the Hulk but when the guilt becomes too much for best friend Georges who feels responsible for Paul's monstrous condition, he works the change on himself; Paul Cartier is returned to human form and Georges becomes the Wendigo. Wendigos story continues in Monsters Unleashed 9.Marvel Value Stamp #54 (Shanna). Letter from Mary Jo Duffy. 36 pgs. $0.25.

First full Wolverine story (cameo appearance in previous issue). Cover art by Herb Trimpe. And Now...The Wolverine!, script by Len Wein, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Jack Abel; Canadian super-agent Wolverine teams up with the Hulk to battle Wendigo; Once the monster is felled, however, Wolvie turns on the Hulk and the two battle; Marie goes ahead with her plans of trying to transfer the power of the Wendigo into the Hulk but when the guilt becomes too much for best friend Georges who feels responsible for Paul's monstrous condition, he works the change on himself; Paul Cartier is returned to human form and Georges becomes the Wendigo. Wendigos story continues in Monsters Unleashed 9.Marvel Value Stamp #54 (Shanna). Letter from Mary Jo Duffy. 36 pgs. $0.25.

Cover art by Herb Trimpe. First appearance of Hammer and Anvil in "Between Hammer and Anvil!," script by Len Wein, art by Herb Trimpe; The Canadian government reins agent Wolverine back in from his unaccomplished mission of destroying the Hulk; He reluctantly retreats, and they send their special-op commandos to take on the brute; When even that doesnt work, they detonate a huge sleeping gas bomb at him, which finally puts the Hulk out; When the Hulk comes to, he is flying high above the forest, carried by the agents in a steel cage; The Hulk angrily breaks free of his prison, and jumps away to safer pastures. Next Wolverine in Giant-Size X-Men #1. Marvel Value Stamp Series A: The Golem. 36 pages, full color.

"Prelude!" Part 1 of 3. Script by Roger Stern. Art by Sal Buscema (breakdowns) and Mike Esposito (finishes). Cover by Herb Trimpe. In the middle of the night in Northern California, the Hulk busts into a local tavern! And surprisingly, the Green Goliath makes a new friend -- who helps him escape from the police! Meanwhile, Senator Kligger Stivak and Senator Hawk travel to Gamma Base in New Mexico. The distinguished senators are there to meet with Doc Samson and Dr. Sofen to discuss the Hulk's whereabouts. During their meeting, Jim Wilson enters the room and says the Hulk has been spotted in California. So Senator Stivak (secretly of the Corporation), Moonstone, and Jim board the senator's plane for a west coast rendezvous -- with not only the Hulk -- but the star-spangled avenger too! Story continues in Captain America 230. First appearance of Fred Sloan. Cameo appearance by Clay Quartermain. (Note: The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Kurt Busiek.) 32 pages.

New story: the Hulk battles the Inhumans in "A Refuge Divided!" Script by Gary Friedrich, pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Syd Shores (and others). Jim Steranko cover (with the head redrawn by Severin). 64 pages, full color.

New story: the Hulk battles the Inhumans in "A Refuge Divided!" Script by Gary Friedrich, pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Syd Shores (and others). Jim Steranko cover (with the head redrawn by Severin). 64 pages, full color.

"A Duel of Iron!" Guest-starring Iron Man and Misty Knight. Story by Chris Claremont. Art by John Byrne and Al Williams. Story continued from Marvel Premiere #25. Daniel Rand was reborn in the fires of a dragon's heart in the mystical land of K'un Lun. Now, he is the living weapon known as Iron Fist, finally in his own series. Hot on the trail of Colleen Wing's kidnappers, Iron Fist has come to Stark International seeking answers. Wanted by the police for a murder he did not commit, Danny comes face-to-face with the Invincible Iron Man, and Shell Head is in no mood to give a wanted man the benefit of the doubt. It's the Golden Avenger vs. the Living Weapon. Marvel Value Stamp.

1st appearance of Sabretooth - next appearance is in Power Man and Iron Fist # 66. "Snowfire!" Guest-starring Colleen Wing. Story by Chris Claremont. Art by John Byrne and Dan Green. Cover by Dave Cockrum, and Al Milgrom. Lost and wounded somewhere in the Canadian wilderness, Iron Fist must summon all his energy and skills to survive an encounter with the deadly man called Sabretooth. 36 pages, full color.

Cover pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Mike Esposito. "Alone Against AIM," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; Iron Man is captured by A.I.M using a suction beam and trapped in a submarine by orders of Mordius; Meanwhile A.I.M. soldiers are gloating about how they have sunk The Maggias gambling ship and destroyed their leadership; The Golden Avenger is knocked out by gas while back on the sinking Maggia ship Jasper Sitwell is evacuating the passengers; Sitwell stumbles upon Whitney Frost whom he recognises from Stark Industries as one of Tonys admirers; Sitwell rescues Frost and they are taken aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicopter where Nick Fury awaits; When alone Frost reveals herself to be The Big M, leader of The Maggia, and her plan to use Sitwell to learn the secrets of Stark Industries. Continued between Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 and Avengers #51. "The Origin of Iron Man," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; An abridged retelling of Iron Man's origin from Tales of Suspense #39. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

Cover pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Mike Esposito. "Alone Against AIM," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; Iron Man is captured by A.I.M using a suction beam and trapped in a submarine by orders of Mordius; Meanwhile A.I.M. soldiers are gloating about how they have sunk The Maggias gambling ship and destroyed their leadership; The Golden Avenger is knocked out by gas while back on the sinking Maggia ship Jasper Sitwell is evacuating the passengers; Sitwell stumbles upon Whitney Frost whom he recognises from Stark Industries as one of Tonys admirers; Sitwell rescues Frost and they are taken aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicopter where Nick Fury awaits; When alone Frost reveals herself to be The Big M, leader of The Maggia, and her plan to use Sitwell to learn the secrets of Stark Industries. Continued between Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 and Avengers #51. "The Origin of Iron Man," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; An abridged retelling of Iron Man's origin from Tales of Suspense #39. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

Cover pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Mike Esposito. "Alone Against AIM," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; Iron Man is captured by A.I.M using a suction beam and trapped in a submarine by orders of Mordius; Meanwhile A.I.M. soldiers are gloating about how they have sunk The Maggias gambling ship and destroyed their leadership; The Golden Avenger is knocked out by gas while back on the sinking Maggia ship Jasper Sitwell is evacuating the passengers; Sitwell stumbles upon Whitney Frost whom he recognises from Stark Industries as one of Tonys admirers; Sitwell rescues Frost and they are taken aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicopter where Nick Fury awaits; When alone Frost reveals herself to be The Big M, leader of The Maggia, and her plan to use Sitwell to learn the secrets of Stark Industries. Continued between Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 and Avengers #51. "The Origin of Iron Man," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; An abridged retelling of Iron Man's origin from Tales of Suspense #39. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

Cover by Johnny Craig. "The Day of the Demolisher," script by Archie Goodwin, art by Johnny Craig; One of Tony Starks many competitors seek to put an end to the Iron Man's fame; To prove that the Iron Man suit is nothing but a pile of mechanical junk, Drexel Cord will build a bigger and more destructive suit! Enter the Demolisher! Cont'd from AVENGERS #52. Letter from comics writer Bob Gale. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

"My Friend, My Foe...The Freak!" Script by Archie Goodwin. Art by Johnny Craig. Cover by Johnny Craig. After rescuing a work crew at the Stark Industries Long Island rocket construction site, Iron Man experiences chest pains when his armor runs out of power. To repair and rebuild his armor Tony needs help from his close friend Happy Hogan. Unfortunately part of the repair procedure involves Happy operating the Cobalt Bombarder...and that step leads to the return of the Freak! It's another showdown between the golden avenger and the Freak...with Pepper Hogan caught in the middle! Cameo appearance by Whitney Frost. (Note: The letters page includes a letter from comics writer and artist Walt Simonson.)

"Captives of the Controller!" Part 2 of 2. Script by Archie Goodwin. Pencils by George Tuska. Inks by Johnny Craig. Cover by George Tuska. It's an awesome cover to cover slugfest between the Controller and the Invincible Iron Man! The Controller has hijacked a train and is headed for New York City to enslave the population! Can Shell-head stop the runaway locomotive and also rescue Janice Cord? Cameo appearance by Nick Fury. 32 pages

"From This Conflict...Death!" Story by Archie Goodwin. Art by George Tuska and Joe Gaudioso. It's an epic clash of the titans as the golden avenger finds himself in a desperate three-way battle against the Crimson Dynamo and the Titanium Man! Unfortunately, Janice Cord is caught in the crossfire of the fight at the Cord Manufacturing Plant. Can the Invincible Iron Man defeat his two armored adversaries and save Janice? Or will his victory be a pyrrhic one? (Notes: The tragic events of this issue will pit Iron Man against the Crimson Dynamo for years to come. Their next confrontation takes place in Avengers 130.) 32 pages

"Their Mission: Destroy Stark Industries!" First appearance of Spymaster. Story by Allyn Brodsky. Art by Don Heck and Joe Gaudioso. Cover by Sal Buscema. Spymaster and his Espionage Elite are planning to infiltrate and destroy Stark Industries! Despite the best efforts of Tony Stark and his security personnel, the industrial spies quickly take over the SI complex, and they even capture Tony! Cameo appearance by Nick Fury. (Note: The letters page contains a half page ad for Avengers 83 featuring the Lady Liberators.) 32 pages

"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

"The Spy Who Killed Me!" Plot by David Michelinie and Bob Layton. Script by David Michelinie. Art by John Romita Jr. (breakdowns) and Bob Layton (finishes). Cover by John Romita Jr. and Bob McLeod. After the tumultuous events of last issue, the last thing Tony Stark needs is a spy at Stark International! Or perhaps more specifically...a Spymaster! But the armored avenger's plan for R&R is shattered when Spymaster assassinates the Tony Stark LMD! In quick response Iron Man chases the Spymaster across S.I.'s Long Island headquarters and finally catches him near the airfield! Will Shell-Head show his adversary who is the true master? First appearance of Bethany Cabe. Cameo appearance by Nick Fury. (Note: The golden avenger previously clashed with the Spymaster in Iron Man 35-36.) 32 pages.

"The Hammer Strikes!" Part 4 of 5. Script by David Michelinie. Art by John Romita Jr. (breakdowns) and Bob Layton (finishes). Cover by John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton. At last Tony Stark comes face-to-face with Justin Hammer! However the circumstances of their first meeting are not favorable to the CEO of Stark International! Tony is a prisoner on Hammer's floating Mediterranean fortress! And his only chance of escape lies in locating his briefcase that contains his backup suit of armor! As shown on the intense cover, the golden avenger indeed finds what he's looking for and successfully suits up! But Justin Hammer has an army of super-villains waiting for him! The battle royal is coming next issue! Cameo appearances by Jim Rhodes, Bethany Cabe, Ling McPherson, the Blizzard, Beetle, Constrictor, Discus, Leap-Frog, Man-Killer, Melter, Porcupine, Spymaster, Stiletto, Water Wizard, and Whiplash. Flashback cameos by Ant-Man and the Avengers. 32 pages.

Newsstand Edition. "Demon in a Bottle" Plot by David Michelinie and Bob Layton. Script by David Michelinie. Art by John Romita Jr. (breakdowns) and Bob Layton (finishes). Cover by Bob Layton. One of the most critically acclaimed Iron Man stories, "Demon in a Bottle" explores the flaws of the man behind the helmet. Tony Stark's struggle with alcoholism comes to a head in this pull-no-punches look at his problem. Appearances by Bethany Cabe and Jarvis. (Note: This issue was reprinted in 2006 in the trade paperback: Iron Man Demon in a Bottle; and again in 2008 in the hardcover: Iron Man Demon in a Bottle.) 32 pages.

Cover pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Bill Everett. "The Torrent Without - The Tumult Within!," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; Iron Man escapes from the trap set up by Whiplash and the Big M when a cadre of AIM agents attacks the Maggia's gambling ship. "Call Him Destiny... or Call Him Death!," script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Frank Giacoia; As Namor battles Destiny, the villain recounts his past connection to Namor's father. Pre-dates both Iron Man #1 and Sub-Mariner #1; Iron Man story continues in Iron Man #1, while the Sub-Mariner story continues in Sub-Mariner #1. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

Cover pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Bill Everett. "The Torrent Without - The Tumult Within!," script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Johnny Craig; Iron Man escapes from the trap set up by Whiplash and the Big M when a cadre of AIM agents attacks the Maggia's gambling ship. "Call Him Destiny... or Call Him Death!," script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Frank Giacoia; As Namor battles Destiny, the villain recounts his past connection to Namor's father. Pre-dates both Iron Man #1 and Sub-Mariner #1; Iron Man story continues in Iron Man #1, while the Sub-Mariner story continues in Sub-Mariner #1. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12.

Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian novels, John Carter Warlord of Mars ran for 28 issues. "Air Pirates of Mars, Part 1" finds John Carter rescuing Dejah Thoris from an army of Tharks and uncovering a plot to destroy his beloved Barsoom. Includes Welcome Back, Carter text editorial. Script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Dave Cockrum. Cover by Kane and Cockrum.

Cover by Dick Giordano. "The Joker's Double Jeopardy!," script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; When a new criminal breaks Two-Face out of Arkham Asylum, claiming that he has need of "a truly master criminal", the Joker is incensed; Soon, the Clown Prince of Crime stages his own breakout and tracks down Two-Face, determined to show just who Gotham's number-one criminal truly is. Article on the creation of the Joker. Hostess Twinkies ad with Batman. 36 pgs., full color. $0.25.

Final issue. Cover art by Ernie Chan (as Ernie Chua). "The Cat and the Clown!," script by Elliot Maggin, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Tex Blaisdell; Catwoman and Joker mix it up when each plots to kidnap the same movie star. 36 pgs., full color. $0.30.

New Black Panther stories begin. Cover pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Frank Giacoia. The "Panther's Rage" saga starts here in Panther's Rage, script by Don McGregor, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Klaus Janson; On his return to Wakanda, the Panther learns that one of the mountain villages is in revolt, led by a man calling himself Erik Killmonger (first appearance); The Panther confronts Killmonger at Warrior Falls, where the Panther is defeated and thrown from the top of the falls. Map of the Land of the Wakanda by Don McGregor. Double Danger! (reprinted from Lorna, the Jungle Girl 6, March 1954), script by Don Rico, art by Werner Roth; Lorna is impersonated by an imposter. Ad for FOOM! Friends of Ol' Marvel. 36 pgs., full color.

New Black Panther stories begin. Cover pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Frank Giacoia. The "Panther's Rage" saga starts here in Panther's Rage, script by Don McGregor, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Klaus Janson; On his return to Wakanda, the Panther learns that one of the mountain villages is in revolt, led by a man calling himself Erik Killmonger (first appearance); The Panther confronts Killmonger at Warrior Falls, where the Panther is defeated and thrown from the top of the falls. Map of the Land of the Wakanda by Don McGregor. Double Danger! (reprinted from Lorna, the Jungle Girl 6, March 1954), script by Don Rico, art by Werner Roth; Lorna is impersonated by an imposter. Ad for FOOM! Friends of Ol' Marvel. 36 pgs., full color.

First 25-cent cover price. The Black Panther stars in Panther's Rage part 4, But Now the Spears are Broken, script by Don McGregor, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Klaus Janson; The Panther saves Kantu from being killed by a rhinoceros; One of Killmonger's terrorists, Baron Macabre raises the dead and battles the Panther; Zatama is killed, and Monica is accused of the murder. Four-page back-up feature, Panther's Rage, script by Don McGregor, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Klaus Janson; summarizes the story from issues 6-8. Marvel Value Stamp. 36 pgs., full color.

Cover pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by John Romita. The Black Panther stars in the Panther versus the Klan part 3, "A Cross Burning Darkly, Blackening the Night, script by Don McGregor, pencils by Billy Graham, inks by Bob McLeod; Sherrif Tate gives the details of Angela's death; The Panther interrupts a Klan rally. Letter from comics creator Mark Gasper. Marvel Value Stamp. 36 pgs., full color.

Cover art by Joe Kubert. "Batman and the Mummy" Hostess Twinkies ad. "This Night, an Avenger Is Born!", script by Denny O'Neil, art by Al McWilliams; Origin and intro of the Avenger, and his support organization Justice, Inc.; The Avenger was Richard Benson; Due to the traumatic kidnapping of his wife and child the muscles in his face were frozen; This enabled him to literally mold his face into any shape. "Justice Incorporated" by Allen Asherman. 36 pgs., full color.

Joe Kubert art and cover