Auctions: comic books in 'Thanos: The Final Threat'

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 55 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4652009022

"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.

Iron Man (1968 1st Series) 55 VG- 3.5

Cover coming detached at one staple.

"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.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 25 VF- 7.5

Cover pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Joe Sinnott. Captain Marvel battles the Super-Skrull (in the guise of Ronan, Megaton, Yon-Rogg, the Hulk, and the Sub-Mariner) in "A Taste of Madness!", script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Jim Starlin (first work on the series), inks by Chic Stone; In an elaborate scheme of the Skrulls and their mysterious Masterlord, Super-Skrull and Kl'rt, Rick Jones is framed for the murder of Dr. Benjamin Savannah and brought to a run-down police precinct; Using Super-Skrulls invisibility as well as other Skrull technology, Mar-Vell and Rick are led to believe that many of his long-time friends and foes have returned and are attacking him; Rick and Mar-Vell identify the ruse, and Mar-Vell attacks the Skrulls; The building collapses in the battle and the Skrulls escape. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 25 VG/FN 5.0

Cover pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Joe Sinnott. Captain Marvel battles the Super-Skrull (in the guise of Ronan, Megaton, Yon-Rogg, the Hulk, and the Sub-Mariner) in "A Taste of Madness!", script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Jim Starlin (first work on the series), inks by Chic Stone; In an elaborate scheme of the Skrulls and their mysterious Masterlord, Super-Skrull and Kl'rt, Rick Jones is framed for the murder of Dr. Benjamin Savannah and brought to a run-down police precinct; Using Super-Skrulls invisibility as well as other Skrull technology, Mar-Vell and Rick are led to believe that many of his long-time friends and foes have returned and are attacking him; Rick and Mar-Vell identify the ruse, and Mar-Vell attacks the Skrulls; The building collapses in the battle and the Skrulls escape. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 27 GD/VG 3.0

Water damage.

The Super-Skrull continues to pester Captain Marvel in "Trapped on Titan!" Script by Mike Friedrich, plot and pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Pablo Marcos. Meanwhile, Thanos seeks out the Cosmic Cube. Cameos by the Thing (of the Fantastic Four), the Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, the Scarlet Witch, the Vision, and the Black Panther), and Drax the Destroyer. This issue also contains a map of Titan. Cover price $0.20.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 29 VG+ 4.5

"Metamorphosis!" Script by Jim Starlin. Pencils by Jim Starlin. Inks by Al Milgrom. Cover by Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom, and John Romita (Captain Marvel's head). In a remarkable manner, the cosmic entity called Eon summons Captain Marvel to transform him into the "protector of the universe!" Why? And for what purpose? Both questions have the same simple answer…Thanos! After undergoing various mental and physical tests of his worthiness, the Kree Warrior receives the "cosmic awareness" from Eon! And now the cosmically-enlightened Captain Marvel is ready for his next encounter with Thanos! First appearance of Eon. Cameo appearances by Thanos, Mentor, Starfox, Drax the Destroyer, Una, Lou-Ann Savannah, Rick Jones, and the Controller. Flashback cameos by Chronos, Zeus, and Mentor. (Notes: In this issue Captain Marvel's hair color changes from white to blonde. The letters page includes a letter from comics artist Duffy Vohland.) 32 pages Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Feature (1971 1st Series) 12 FN 6.0

"The Bite of the Blood Brothers!" Guest-starring the Thing and Iron Man. Script by Mike Friedrich. Pencils by Jim Starlin. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by Jim Starlin and John Romita. Ben Grimm is stranded in the Arizona desert after his battle against the Leader last issue! And looking for anyone or anything that can help him return home! In a stroke of luck, the golden avenger streaks overhead! But Shell-Head doesn't stop for Ben, he flies on to an abandoned military base! In a matter of minutes though, Iron Man will regret not stopping to pick up the strongest member of the Fantastic Four! Because far across the universe on Titan, Thanos commands the Blood Brothers to ambush the golden avenger! And just like that…the twin galactic vampires pounce on the unsuspecting Shell-Head! Fortunately for Tony Stark's alter-ego, the Thing eventually reaches Thanos' old base…and the rock'em sock'em battle erupts! The Invincible Iron Man and the blue-eyed idol of millions vs. the savage Blood Brothers! It's clobberin' time! Cameo appearances by Eros, Mentor, and Death. Flashback cameos by Drax the Destroyer and the Controller. (Notes: This issue is part of the classic Thanos storyline that ran though Captain Marvel 25-33. From a continuity standpoint, this story fits in and around Captain Marvel 30. The Blood Brothers previously appeared in the landmark Iron Man 55. The bloodthirsty brothers return in Iron Man 88. The Avengers visit Thanos' Arizona installation years later in Avengers 252. This is the final issue of the Marvel Feature 1st series. The letters page indicates that there was going to be a 13th issue featuring the Thing and the Man-Thing, but that story actually became the 1st issue of the Marvel Two-in-One series. This issue was reprinted in the Life of Captain Marvel limited series published in 1985.) 32 pages Cover price $0.20.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 105 FN- 5.5

Cover pencils by John Romita, inks by Mike Esposito. Menace From the Moons of Saturn!, script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Don Heck (pages 1-16, third tier of 26, 27-32) and Jim Starlin (pages 17-26 except bottom tier of 26), inks by Don Perlin; Kraven throws DD off of a cliff to his death but the hornhead disappears before he strikes bottom; DD finds himself in an elaborate underwater domain inhabited by Moondragon; She accuses him of being a thrall of Thanos and then tells him her origin to let him know what this means; Touching DD's mind, Moondragon discovers that she has been lied to and that Daredevil is one of the good guys; The real villain appears as none other than Kerwin J. Broderick, Matt's law partner and he gloats as he unleashes Terrex on the world; Thanos War tie-in; appearances by Dark Messiah and Angar the Screamer; cameos by Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner. 36 pages. Cover price $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 33 VG+ 4.5

Captain Marvel battles Thanos in "The God Himself!" Script by Steve Englehart, plot and pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Klaus Janson. Guest starring Drax the Destroyer. Brief appearance by the Avengers (Thor, Iron Man, the Vision, the Swordsman, Captain America, the Black Panther, and the Scarlet Witch). The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A # 6 (Thor by John Buscema). Starlin cover. Cover price $0.25.

Marvel Two-in-One (1974 1st Series) Annual 2 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white

Label #1248056023

"Death Watch!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Thing, Captain Marvel, and the Avengers. Script by Jim Starlin. Art by Jim Starlin (breakdowns) and Joe Rubinstein (finishes). Cover by Jim Starlin. Story continues from Avengers Annual 7. After Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and Thor destroyed Thanos' synthetic power gem, victory appeared close at hand for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But the evil genius' back up plan has worked to perfection and knocked out the Avengers! Before succumbing to unconsciousness though, Moondragon sends a desperate plea for help back to Earth, specifically to Peter Parker! The web-slinger knows that cosmic battles in outer space are not his specialty, so he swings by the Baxter Building to scoop up a friend. After a quick pow-wow, the blue-eyed idol of millions and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man blast off to save the galaxy! It's an epic encounter onboard the mad Titan's space ark as the Thing, Thor, Spider-Man, and finally Adam Warlock test their mettle vs. Thanos! Simply a fantastic annual! First appearances of Master Order and Lord Chaos. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. (Note: Besides a surreal appearance in the Death of Captain Marvel Graphic Novel (1982), Thanos does not appear again until Silver Surfer (2nd series) #34 thirteen years later.) 48 pages Cover price $0.60.

Marvel Two-in-One (1974 1st Series) Annual 2 FN+ 6.5

"Death Watch!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Thing, Captain Marvel, and the Avengers. Script by Jim Starlin. Art by Jim Starlin (breakdowns) and Joe Rubinstein (finishes). Cover by Jim Starlin. Story continues from Avengers Annual 7. After Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and Thor destroyed Thanos' synthetic power gem, victory appeared close at hand for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But the evil genius' back up plan has worked to perfection and knocked out the Avengers! Before succumbing to unconsciousness though, Moondragon sends a desperate plea for help back to Earth, specifically to Peter Parker! The web-slinger knows that cosmic battles in outer space are not his specialty, so he swings by the Baxter Building to scoop up a friend. After a quick pow-wow, the blue-eyed idol of millions and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man blast off to save the galaxy! It's an epic encounter onboard the mad Titan's space ark as the Thing, Thor, Spider-Man, and finally Adam Warlock test their mettle vs. Thanos! Simply a fantastic annual! First appearances of Master Order and Lord Chaos. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. (Note: Besides a surreal appearance in the Death of Captain Marvel Graphic Novel (1982), Thanos does not appear again until Silver Surfer (2nd series) #34 thirteen years later.) 48 pages Cover price $0.60.

Marvel Two-in-One (1974 1st Series) Annual 2 VG+ 4.5

Signed by Jim Starlin (cover), certification is not included. Water spotting.

"Death Watch!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Spider-Man, the Thing, Captain Marvel, and the Avengers. Script by Jim Starlin. Art by Jim Starlin (breakdowns) and Joe Rubinstein (finishes). Cover by Jim Starlin. Story continues from Avengers Annual 7. After Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and Thor destroyed Thanos' synthetic power gem, victory appeared close at hand for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But the evil genius' back up plan has worked to perfection and knocked out the Avengers! Before succumbing to unconsciousness though, Moondragon sends a desperate plea for help back to Earth, specifically to Peter Parker! The web-slinger knows that cosmic battles in outer space are not his specialty, so he swings by the Baxter Building to scoop up a friend. After a quick pow-wow, the blue-eyed idol of millions and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man blast off to save the galaxy! It's an epic encounter onboard the mad Titan's space ark as the Thing, Thor, Spider-Man, and finally Adam Warlock test their mettle vs. Thanos! Simply a fantastic annual! First appearances of Master Order and Lord Chaos. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. (Note: Besides a surreal appearance in the Death of Captain Marvel Graphic Novel (1982), Thanos does not appear again until Silver Surfer (2nd series) #34 thirteen years later.) 48 pages Cover price $0.60.