Auctions: comic books February 1964

Batman (1940) 161 VG/FN 5.0

Cover art by Sheldon Moldoff. "The New Crimes of the Mad Hatter," script by Dave Wood, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; The Mad Hatter pulls a string of robberies based on the professions of the jurors that sentenced him on his last arrest. Special Christmas Quiz -- "Christmas in Many Lands!" public service announcement, art by Ruben Moreira. "The Bat-Mite Hero," script by Dave Wood, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris; Batman corners a wanted felon in a baseball stadium, but Bat-Mite appears and messes things up with his magical nonsense. Batman tells him to find another hero to pester, so Bat-Mite creates a series of heroes (the third a crook), but they fail miserably. Half-page Casey the Cop story by Henry Boltinoff. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 117 GD+ 2.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko (Eel figure), inks by Sol Brodsky and Steve Ditko (Eel Figure). The Human Torch battles the Eel (from issue #112) in "The Return of the Eel!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; Having served his time, The Eel is released from jail, but Johnny's suspicious because he left prison wearing his Eel costume; Taking a security guard job at an aquarium, The Eel begins pulling crimes. "From Outer Space" text story. "The Many Traps of Baron Mordo!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), art by Steve Ditko; Mordo places a spell over Strange's house that causes it to vanish to another dimension; Strange manages to track Mordo down using his ethereal form, but it becomes trapped in Mordo's lair; Mordo goes to see The Ancient One, claiming he's changed his way, just so he can attack him unawares. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 101 VG/FN 5.0

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos. The Avengers (Iron Man, Giant-Man, and the Wasp) guest appear in "The Return of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos (as G. Bell); Loki convinces Odin to reduce Thor's power in punishment for loving Jane Foster, and then restores the memory of the Tomorrow Man so that he can come back in time and defeat Thor; He builds a powerful robot, and when Thor cannot defeat it he agrees to help the Tomorrow Man conquer the 23rd century; Jane Foster appearance; Heimdall cameo. "The Flying Saucer That Was" text story. "The Enemies!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Matt Fox; The barbaric Vulcans plan to invade the world of the pacifist Idylicans; Instead of fighting, the Idylicans abandon their world, altering the gravity of their world to trap the invaders, and settling the Vulcan's abandoned homes as their own. "Tales of Asgard" back-up: "The Invasion of Asgard," script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos (as G. Bell); Loki makes a hole in Asgard's defenses and lures Thor there to face an attack alone; Thor holds off the enemies of Asgard until help arrives. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.