Auctions: comic books in 'Avengers/Defenders War', graded by CGC

Defenders (1972 1st Series) 8 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #3960750014

"If Atlantis Should Fall!" Part 2 of 2. Avengers-Defenders crossover. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Frank McLaughlin. Cover by Sal Buscema. With Hawkeye, Valkyrie, and the Sub-Mariner as their mind-slaves, the Red Ghost and Attuma begin their quest to conquer Atlantis! The two super-villains' assault on the underwater citadel is progressing as planned until Doctor Strange and the Silver Surfer get wind of the attack! The key to victory is knocking out the Red Ghost! But how can the Master of the Mystic Arts and the cosmic sky-rider do that? Simple, just block all the cosmic rays from outer space from entering the Earth's atmosphere! Wow, it's a good thing these two defenders are among the most powerful heroes on the planet! Cameo appearances by Clea and Wong. Flashback cameo by the Unicorn. Second story: "Deception!" Avengers-Defenders Clash Part 2 of 8. Story continues from Avengers 115. Dr. Strange has a new plan for turning the Black Knight (from a stone statue) back into his normal self. The Master of the Mystic Arts magically contacts Dane Whitman's soul floating in the dark realm. The stranded Black Knight responds to Dr. Strange's message, but the knight's reply is intercepted and transposed by the Dread Dormammu and his new ally, Loki! What is the fateful message that eventually reaches the Defenders? "Go find the Evil Eye." Story continues in Avengers 116. Defenders Lineup: Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, and Valkyrie. (Note: The Red Ghost returns in Iron Man 82.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 117 CGC 6.5 SS Englehart

Paper: Off white to white

Signed by Steve Englehart on 6/15/24

Label #4444121017

"Holocaust" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 5 of 8. Guest-starring the Defenders and Sunfire. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Mike Esposito and Frank McLaughlin. Cover by John Romita and Mike Esposito. Story continues from Defenders 9. The Dread Dormammu is shocked to discover that the Avengers are battling the Defenders for the Evil Eye! However, the Defenders are having success, so he elects not to intervene at the moment. In the Southern hemisphere, a Bolivian castle is the setting for the next superhero showdown featuring superior swordplay! Valkyrie enters the castle first, but the former super-villain turned avenger interrupts her search! The Asgardian defender has the edge in strength, while the Swordsman has the edge in skill! Which warrior will prevail? Meanwhile on the other side of the world in Japan, the stage is set for a classic confrontation! Captain America vs. the Sub-Mariner! These two men previously fought as allies in the Land of the Rising Sun during World War II, but today they fight as adversaries for the Evil Eye! Just an awesome battle! And it gets even better when Sunfire joins the mix! A fantastic issue! Story continues in Defenders 10. (Note: Sunfire previously appeared in Sub-Mariner 54 and appears next in Iron Man 68.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Defenders (1972 1st Series) 10 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4209419009

"Breakthrough" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 6 of 8. Guest-starring the Avengers. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Frank Bolle. Cover by John Romita. One of the classic issues of the Defenders! Story continues from Avengers 117. The sixth and final superhero battle of the Avengers-Defenders Clash! And as shown on the cover, it's a matchup of true Marvel heavyweights! The Green Goliath rumbles thru the streets of Los Angeles looking for the Evil Eye. And lo and behold he finds it! However, the Avengers have also sent a team member to the city of angels! The Prince of Asgard! When the thunder god confronts the gamma-radiated defender, the epic clash of the titans erupts! Wow, the Mighty Thor vs. the Incredible Hulk! A battle for the ages! Next Chapter: "United We Stand!" In Greenwich Village the Defenders gather around the four pieces of the Evil Eye that they have recovered. When Prince Namor joins his teammates, he brings with him the fifth piece of the eye plus the Avengers! Whoa! Not exactly what Doctor Strange was expecting! Is another battle on the horizon? Or have the super-heroes finally realized who's been orchestrating the events? Story continues in Avengers 118. Cameo appearances by Asti and Dormammu. Flashback cameo by Loki. (Notes: This issue includes two outstanding full-page panels. The first on page 15 depicting Thor and the Hulk locked in combat; and the second on page 23 featuring seven avengers and five defenders conversing in Dr. Strange's townhouse. The Avengers-Defenders clash was reprinted in a trade paperback in 2002 and again in a hard cover edition in 2007.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 118 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4723170005

"To The Death!" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 7 of 8. Guest-starring the Defenders. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Mike Esposito and Frank Giacoia. Cover by Bob Brown and John Romita. One of the classic Avengers issues of the bronze age! Story continues from Defenders 10. At last the truth stands revealed! Dormammu and Loki have tricked the Avengers and Defenders into gathering the Evil Eye! And now Dormammu has the Evil Eye and is using it to merge his dark dimension with Earth's! The fourteen super-heroes have one hour to beat the powerful super-villains before chaos envelopes the universe! Once inside the dark realm, the Dread One wipes out the Defenders! And after quicksand bogs down five avengers, only three remain to make the final charge! But when the thunder god and the golden avenger fall, the final hope of the universe rests with the Scarlet Witch! In the depths of the dark realm, can Wanda deliver the coup de grâce to the Dread Dormammu? Avengers Assemble! Story continues in Defenders 11. Cameo appearances by Contessa Valentina Allegro, Dum Dum Dugan, Nick Fury, the Watcher, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Black Bolt, Gorgon, Karnak, Dracula, Ghost Rider, Luke Cage, Man-Thing, Ka-Zar, Zabu, Thanos, Adam Warlock, and Doctor Doom. (Notes: The Avengers-Defenders Clash was a masterpiece by Steve Englehart that set the standard for multi-issue crossovers (that have become much more common in the modern age). Crossover stories greater than 2 or 3 issues were very rare in the silver and bronze ages. The Avengers-Defenders Clash was reprinted in a trade paperback in 2002 and again in a hard cover edition in 2007. The Avengers appear in a cameo role in the final part of the story in Defenders 11. Dormammu returns in Doctor Strange (2nd series) 6. The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Ralph Macchio.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.