Auctions: comic books in 'Celestial Madonna'

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 129 CGC 8.5 SS Englehart

Paper: White

Signed by Steve Englehart on 6/15/24

Label #4444122011

"Bid Tomorrow Goodbye!" Script by Steve Englehart. Art by Sal Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Staton (finishes). Cover by Ron Wilson and Mike Esposito. A bright shining star appears over Avengers Mansion! What does the radiant beacon foretell? Kang the Conqueror thinks he knows! And thus begins the Celestial Madonna saga! The 41st century Master of Time and his macrobots attack the Avengers outside their mansion! After overwhelming the six avengers, Kang absconds with five of them plus Agatha Harkness! The Conqueror deems the Swordsman as unworthy and leaves him behind. Will Kang end up regretting that decision? The former sword-wielding super-villain certainly has his work cut out for him! However, the Swordsman catches a big break when Agatha Harkness telepathically reveals Kang's hideaway! The centuries-old pyramids of Egypt! After arriving in the Egyptian desert, the Swordsman desperately needs an ally! Could one of the ancient pharaohs still be lurking around to help? Story continues in Giant-Size Avengers 2. Cameo appearance by Rama-Tut. Avengers Lineup: Iron Man, Mantis, Scarlet Witch, Swordsman, Thor, and the Vision. (Notes: The classic Celestial Madonna storyline runs through Avengers 129-135 and Giant-Size Avengers 2-4. Kang previously battled Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers (1st series) 71. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp Series A #88 The Leader.) 36 pages Cover price $0.25.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 131 CGC 7.5 SS Englehart

Paper: Off white to white

Signed by Steve Englehart on 6/15/24

Label #4444122013

"A Quiet Half-Hour in Saigon!" Script by Steve Englehart. Art by Sal Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Staton (finishes). Cover by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. The Avengers search for clues about Mantis' origin in the streets of Saigon. However, their quest for answers continues to come up empty. Meanwhile in timeless limbo, a strange three-way battle among Kang, Immortus, and Rama-Tut concludes. Unfortunately for Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Conqueror emerges victorious! With Immortus' time machine at his disposal, Kang plucks six deceased villains from the time stream to form the unearthly Legion on the Unliving! Frankenstein's Monster, Wonder Man, the Flying Dutchman (aka the Ghost), Midnight, Baron Zemo, and the original (golden age) Human Torch. Wow, an all-star assemblage from the annals of Marvel! And with a spectacular bolt from the blue, Kang interrupts the Avengers' quiet day in Vietnam and transports the heroes to the labyrinths of limbo! Where a blockbuster battle looms next issue…between the quick and the dead! Cameo appearances by Nomad (aka Steve Rogers), Libra, and the Cotati (as the green-hued Swordsman). Avengers Lineup: Iron Man, Hawkeye, Mantis, Thor, and the Vision. (Notes: The build-up of suspense between issues 131 and 132 was tremendous, since most of the resurrected villains had not appeared in almost a decade. Wonder Man, Baron Zemo, and Immortus previously appeared in Avengers (1st series) 9, 15, and 16, respectively. This issue is the third appearance of the original Human Torch in silver age/bronze age continuity. The first is Fantastic Four Annual 4 published in 1966. The second is Avengers 71 published in 1969. The letters page includes a letter from comics artist Ken Meyer, Jr. The letters page also contains Marvel Value Stamp Series A #70 Super Skrull by Jack Kirby.) 36 pgs. Cover price $0.25.

Giant Size Avengers (1974) 4 FN- 5.5

"Let All Men Bring Together!" Wedding of the Vision and Scarlet Witch. Story by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Don Heck. Inks by John Tartaglione. Cover by Gil Kane, Al Milgrom, and John Romita (touch-ups). Story continues from Avengers 135. The Vision's quest through time to discover his origin is over. But instead of returning to Immortus' domain, the synthezoid avenger materializes at the center of the Earth! And shockingly the Dread Dormammu is there! With his captive…the Scarlet Witch! Wow, how did Wanda end up in the dreaded one's clutches? It doesn't matter now as the Vision must fight for the woman he loves! It's a supernatural showdown at Earth's core: The Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Agatha Harkness vs. the Dread Dormammu and Umar! Meanwhile in Vietnam, while the Cotati explains the mystery of the Celestial Madonna to Mantis and Moondragon; Hawkeye, Shell-Head, and the thunder god slip outside the temple and bump into the Titanic Three! However the three communist super-villains have been beaten badly! Who did this? Who else…but the Conqueror! And one more time, one final time, the assembled Avengers battle Kang…for the Celestial Madonna! An extraordinary ending for Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Cameo appearances by the Space Phantom, Crimson Dynamo, Radioactive Man, Titanium Man, and Gaea. Flashback cameos by the Swordsman, original Human Torch, and Ultron. Avengers Lineup: Hawkeye, Iron Man, Mantis, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. First reprint story: "Betrayed by the Ants!" Plot by Stan Lee. Script by Larry Lieber. Pencils by Jack Kirby. Inks by Dick Ayers. The Ant-Man battles Egghead. Originally published in Tales to Astonish 38. Second reprint story: "Then Came…the Black Widow" Script by Gary Friedrich. Pencils by John Buscema. Inks by John Verpoorten. Originally published in Amazing Adventures 1 (2nd series). (Notes: This issue marks the end of the Celestial Madonna saga. Truly a bronze age masterpiece. Kang appears next in Avengers 141. Mantis does not return until many years later in Silver Surfer (2nd series) 3 & 4. The Vision and the Scarlet Witch first met in Avengers 76. Elements of this story overlap with Doctor Strange (1st series) 8. This issue was reprinted in 2005 in the trade paperback: Avengers…Vision and the Scarlet Witch. The letters page includes letters from comics publisher Dean Mullaney and comics artist Bill Blyberg, respectively.) 64 pages Cover price $0.50.