Auctions: comic books August 1966

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 39 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #3717970004

Cover art by John Romita. How Green Was My Goblin!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita (who begins as regular penciler), inks by Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] and John Romita (touch-ups); Peter heads to the doctor with the sniffles and learns that Aunt May's health is very fragile; Spidey is roped into tangling with a bunch of goons who zap him with a mysterious gas; Not realizing that the gas has weakened his spider sense, he changes into Peter Parker under the watchful gaze of the Green Goblin; The Goblin confronts Spidey outside of his home and captures him as Peter is worried that Aunt May might be overcome by the commotion; Trussed up in the Goblin's lair, Peter is shocked when the Goblin takes off his mask and reveals himself to be Norman Osborn. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 178. According to Les Daniels in "Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics" (Abrams, 1991), artist Steve Ditko resigned because of a disagreement over the Goblin's identity. Ditko wanted it to be someone anonymous--a new, unknown guy; Lee wanted it to be a familiar character that would startle readers. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 39 CGC 8.0 SS Esposito/Stan Lee/Romita

Paper: Off white

Signed by Mike Esposito on 7/11/10, Stan Lee on 7/22/10 & John Romita on 8/27/10.

Label #1013332001

Cover art by John Romita. How Green Was My Goblin!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita (who begins as regular penciler), inks by Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] and John Romita (touch-ups); Peter heads to the doctor with the sniffles and learns that Aunt May's health is very fragile; Spidey is roped into tangling with a bunch of goons who zap him with a mysterious gas; Not realizing that the gas has weakened his spider sense, he changes into Peter Parker under the watchful gaze of the Green Goblin; The Goblin confronts Spidey outside of his home and captures him as Peter is worried that Aunt May might be overcome by the commotion; Trussed up in the Goblin's lair, Peter is shocked when the Goblin takes off his mask and reveals himself to be Norman Osborn. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 178. According to Les Daniels in "Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics" (Abrams, 1991), artist Steve Ditko resigned because of a disagreement over the Goblin's identity. Ditko wanted it to be someone anonymous--a new, unknown guy; Lee wanted it to be a familiar character that would startle readers. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 39 GD/VG 3.0

Water damage. Only one staple (manufacturing).

Cover art by John Romita. How Green Was My Goblin!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita (who begins as regular penciler), inks by Mike Esposito [as Mickey Demeo] and John Romita (touch-ups); Peter heads to the doctor with the sniffles and learns that Aunt May's health is very fragile; Spidey is roped into tangling with a bunch of goons who zap him with a mysterious gas; Not realizing that the gas has weakened his spider sense, he changes into Peter Parker under the watchful gaze of the Green Goblin; The Goblin confronts Spidey outside of his home and captures him as Peter is worried that Aunt May might be overcome by the commotion; Trussed up in the Goblin's lair, Peter is shocked when the Goblin takes off his mask and reveals himself to be Norman Osborn. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 178. According to Les Daniels in "Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics" (Abrams, 1991), artist Steve Ditko resigned because of a disagreement over the Goblin's identity. Ditko wanted it to be someone anonymous--a new, unknown guy; Lee wanted it to be a familiar character that would startle readers. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 19 CGC 8.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4551037010

Cover pencils by John Romita, inks by Frank Giacoia. Alone--Against the Underworld!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita, inks by Frank Giacoia; The Masked Marauder busts Gladiator out of jail and the two fight over the privilege of taking Foggy Nelson, a.k.a. Daredevil, down; Everything is going as planned until the real DD shows up to save Foggy's chubby butt; cameos by Dr. Strange, Captain America, and Dr. Doom (as costumes in the Gladiator's costume shop). Cover price $0.12.

Detective Comics (1937 1st Series) 354 VG- 3.5

Three center wraps detached at one staple.

Written by John Broome. Art by Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. Cover by Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella. No Exit for Batman!; Batman discovers that the evil Dr. Tzin-Tzin is in Gotham City; he then uses Tzin-Tzins communicator to locate him. Written by John Broome. Art by Carmine Infantino. The Double-Dealing Jewel Thieves!; Ralph Elongated Man Dibny visits a museum of replicas of famous treasures. Letter to the editor from comics writer Mike Friedrich. Stetement of ownership--average print run 485,000; average paid circulation 304,414. 36 pages, full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 53 GD 2.0

Water damage. Staple rust with migration.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott. Second appearance of the Black Panther in The Way It Began..!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott; The Black Panther tells the story of Klaw's first attack on Wakanda; Klaw attacks the Black Panther and the FF. First appearance of Klaw, T'Chaka, and vibranium. Letter to the editor from comics writer Dennis O'Neil. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Showcase (1956-1978) 63 CGC 3.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4687375012

Cover pencils by Joe Orlando, inks by Mike Esposito. Conquer Man-Mountain -- Because He's There!, script by E. Nelson Bridwell, pencils by Joe Orlando and Jerry Grandenetti, inks by Mike Esposito; The Masked Swastika assembles his old gang, formerly enemies of the Freedom Brigade, and with the help of the Silver Sorceress they are all rejuvenated; Unfortunately, the Brigade is retired and only their children, the Inferior 5, are available to stop the villains. Oh, No! Not Another Green-Skinned Monster!, script by E. Nelson Bridwell, pencils by Joe Orlando, inks by Mike Esposito. Merryman's Last Stand, script by E. Nelson Bridwell, pencils by Joe Orlando, inks by Mike Esposito. Stories include parodies of Iron Man and the Hulk. Statement of ownership--average print run 388,000; average paid circulation 234,000. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.