Auctions: comic books December 1977, graded by CGC

Challengers of the Unknown (1958 DC 1st Series) 84 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Slab: See item notes

Minor side/edge crack(s), less than 1".

Label #4428074004

Cover pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Joe Rubinstein. "To Save A Monster/When Deadmen Walk," script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Keith Giffen, inks by John Celardo; Perdition lies in ruins. Prof is infected with an alien fungus; Swamp Thing watches from cover, is attacked by a wolf, but brushes it off; The wolf is possessed by Deadman, who asks Rama Kushna why he's here; Back at Challenger Mountain, the heroes can't cure Prof's disease; Angry, Ace orders Gaylord to take a walk: he walks; Deadman tries a cure, diving in to possess Prof and fighting from within; Prof sloughs the fungus and Deadman passes out; Prof wakes, healthy, and announces Swamp Thing is Dr. Alec Holland, who's wandered off and needs help; The Challengers search, but Swamp Thing hopped a freight for Philadelphia; Deadman tries to possess Swamp Thing and bounces - he's already possessed!; Deadman possesses Ace and announces Swamp Thing's in Philly, where Swamp Thing rages to the state asylum and the cell of Duncan Pramble, the former Multi-Man. Artist profile on Bob Layton. 36 pgs., full color. $0.35. Cover price $0.20.

New Gods (1971 1st Series) 15 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4386899016

Cover by Rich Buckler and Joe Rubinstein. "The Apocalypse Child". Part 4 of 10. Story by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Rich Buckler. Inks by Bob McLeod. Darkseid has kidnapped a child of New Genesis. In exchange, he sends a child of Apokolips to Earth. Taking the child to New Genesis is the wrong thing to do, for it inadvertently provides Darkseid with a part of the Anti-life equation, and costs a New God his life. 32 pages. Full color. Cover price $0.35.

Showcase (1956-1978) 96 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4381088002

Cover by Jim Aparo. "Defection!", script by Paul Kupperberg, pencils by Joe Staton, inks by Bruce Patterson; The Doom Patrol returns home after their defeat of General Immortus to find a U.S. agent waiting for them in their headquarters; Lt. Matt Cable has been assigned by U.S. Intelligence to apprehend and arrest Russian ex-cosmonaut Lt. Col. Valentina Vostok, aka the new Negative Woman; The Doom Patrol defends their new teammate, and trap Lt. Cable in a locker; Robotman grills Negative Woman on her past, and she leaves; Her exit, though, is interrupted by the Cossack, a Russian agent assigned to bring her in. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.35.