Auctions: comic books April 1963

Archie's Madhouse (1959) 25 FR/GD 1.5

2" cumulative spine split.

1st appearance Captain Sprocket. This issue was published without an issue number on the cover. Cover by Samm Schwartz. "Sister Sorceress," script by George Gladir, pencils by Dan DeCarlo, inks by Rudy Lapick; Della the Head Witch gives Sabrina the assignment to hex Wanda DeMoola and break up her romance with Hal Flipp. "More Bounce to the Ounce," pencils by Dan DeCarlo; The Smasher keeps bullying Ronald, who finally gets fed up and challenges him to a boxing match. Untitled Captain Sprocket story, art by Joe Edwards; The President calls on Captain Sprocket to defeat Neptunia, the girl from Venus, who is scouting the Earth for a possible invasion. "The Gold Bug," art by Joe Edwards; A failed experiment turns Professor Transistor into a human geiger counter, who is sensitive to the presence of gold. Archie's Pals 'n' Gals ad. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 40 GD+ 2.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Don Heck. Second appearance of Iron Man in "Iron Man versus Gargantus!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Robert Bernstein (as R. Berns) (script), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Don Heck; Introduction and origin of Gargantus. "Wrong Number" text story. "Work of Art!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Sol Brodsky; An unsuccessful artist tries to force a new painter to show him how to paint lifelike pictures; The painter is a sorcerer, and traps the artist in one of his paintings, the secret to his realism. "Prophet of Doom!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; A man from the future arrives in the present day in order to set himself up as ruler; He attempts to extort 100 million dollars from the Secretary General of the United Nations only to be shocked when the Secretary reveals that he too is from the future and that there are agents planted in every era in order to apprehend criminals who may attempt to alter the course of events. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 91 GD- 1.8

Cover detached and glued to first wrap. Water damage. Oxidation.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. "Sandu, Master of the Supernatural!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Joe Sinnott; Loki gives a greedy carnival mystic magical powers in order to use him to attack Thor; Thor is overcome in their first battle, but with the help of Odin and his belt of strength he defeats Loki's pawn; Jane Foster appearance; first appearance of Odin's Valkyries (cameo). "The Party" text story. "The Seedlings," script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Sol Brodsky; Alien spores land on Earth and bloom into telepathic plants that would have conquered the world had they not been eaten by crows. "The Manikins!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; An odd man works with the manikins in a department store, but becomes upset when one of the female manikins is to be put in a bridal display; The employee disappears and the groom is replaced with a manikin that looks just like him. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 91 FR/GD 1.5

2" cumulative spine split. Cover and interior oxidation. Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. "Sandu, Master of the Supernatural!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Joe Sinnott; Loki gives a greedy carnival mystic magical powers in order to use him to attack Thor; Thor is overcome in their first battle, but with the help of Odin and his belt of strength he defeats Loki's pawn; Jane Foster appearance; first appearance of Odin's Valkyries (cameo). "The Party" text story. "The Seedlings," script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Sol Brodsky; Alien spores land on Earth and bloom into telepathic plants that would have conquered the world had they not been eaten by crows. "The Manikins!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; An odd man works with the manikins in a department store, but becomes upset when one of the female manikins is to be put in a bridal display; The employee disappears and the groom is replaced with a manikin that looks just like him. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.