Auctions: comic books August 1966

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 39 CGC 9.2

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4641197012

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 VG- 3.5

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.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 31 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4649142015

Cover by Don Heck. "Never Bug a Giant!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Frank Giacoia; Captain America, The Wasp and Hawkeye leave for South America to help Goliath; Meanwhile, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch realise how badly they like being Avengers and hope their powers return soon; Goliath and Prince Rey escape to Prince Rey's rebel hideout; He explains how the Keeper controls a powerful cobalt flame, capable of destroying the world; Goliath realizes Prince Rey only wants the flame for his own desires and leaves him; Goliath attacks the Keeper and gets captured; The other Avengers attack and also get captured with the exception of the Wasp; Prince Rey's forces attack the Keeper's, while at the same time, the Wasp frees all the Avengers; Hawkeye smothers the flame with explosive arrows, destroying it. Avengers roll call: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, the Wasp, and, briefly, Quicksilver,and the Scarlet Witch. Reprinted in Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #1. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 31 FN- 5.5

Water spotting.

Cover by Don Heck. "Never Bug a Giant!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Frank Giacoia; Captain America, The Wasp and Hawkeye leave for South America to help Goliath; Meanwhile, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch realise how badly they like being Avengers and hope their powers return soon; Goliath and Prince Rey escape to Prince Rey's rebel hideout; He explains how the Keeper controls a powerful cobalt flame, capable of destroying the world; Goliath realizes Prince Rey only wants the flame for his own desires and leaves him; Goliath attacks the Keeper and gets captured; The other Avengers attack and also get captured with the exception of the Wasp; Prince Rey's forces attack the Keeper's, while at the same time, the Wasp frees all the Avengers; Hawkeye smothers the flame with explosive arrows, destroying it. Avengers roll call: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, the Wasp, and, briefly, Quicksilver,and the Scarlet Witch. Reprinted in Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #1. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Batman (1940) 183 CGC 9.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4649155003

Cover pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Joe Giella. "A Touch of Poison Ivy!", script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), inks by Joe Giella; Missing the imprisoned Poison Ivy, the Caped Crusader receives a gift from her and she promises to repent; Batman visits her, but he is placed under her spell, and she uses him to make good her escape. Cap's Hobby Hints activity half-page by Henry Boltinoff. The Policeman Is Your Friend! public service announcement, script by Jack Schiff, art by Sheldon Moldoff. Letter from future comics writer Mike Friedrich. "Batman's Baffling Turnabout!", script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), inks by Joe Giella; While chasing crooks into a warehouse, Batman falls through a trapdoor and is captured while one of the crooks impersonates the Caped Crusader; A tell-tale clue alerts Robin that this is an imposter and he deals appropriately with the situation to find the real crime fighter. Letters to the editor from Biljo White, Irene Vartanoff, and comics writer Mike Friedrich. Statement of ownership--average print run 694,000; average paid circulation 453,745. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Batman (1940) 183 FR/GD 1.5

Water damage. Tape at spine.

Cover pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Joe Giella. "A Touch of Poison Ivy!", script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), inks by Joe Giella; Missing the imprisoned Poison Ivy, the Caped Crusader receives a gift from her and she promises to repent; Batman visits her, but he is placed under her spell, and she uses him to make good her escape. Cap's Hobby Hints activity half-page by Henry Boltinoff. The Policeman Is Your Friend! public service announcement, script by Jack Schiff, art by Sheldon Moldoff. Letter from future comics writer Mike Friedrich. "Batman's Baffling Turnabout!", script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff (as Bob Kane), inks by Joe Giella; While chasing crooks into a warehouse, Batman falls through a trapdoor and is captured while one of the crooks impersonates the Caped Crusader; A tell-tale clue alerts Robin that this is an imposter and he deals appropriately with the situation to find the real crime fighter. Letters to the editor from Biljo White, Irene Vartanoff, and comics writer Mike Friedrich. Statement of ownership--average print run 694,000; average paid circulation 453,745. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 19 CGC 7.5

Paper: White

Label #4649155012

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.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 53 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4641361001

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.

Frankenstein (1963-1967 Dell) 2 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4645782008

Cover by Tony Tallarico. Story by D. J. Arneson. Art by Tony Tallarico and others. Coming somewhat late to the superhero party, Dell combines classic monsters and superheroes, hoping for a winning combination. Revived by a lightning bolt, the Monster of Frankenstein awakens in modern America. Given a fortune by a kindly billionaire, he takes the name Frank Stone, while fighting crime at night in a Frankenstein mask. Only his devoted butler William knows his secret, but journalist Miss Ann Thrope willingly steps into the role of Frankenstein's Lois Lane. Frankenstein; The Rebirth of Frankenstein; The Reward. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 23 CGC 9.0

Paper: White

Label #4646452019

Cover pencils by Werner Roth, inks by Dick Ayers. To Save a City, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Werner Roth, inks by Dick Ayers; Count Nefaria, the Plantman, the Scarecrow, the Porcupine, the Eel, and the Unicorn continue their attack; Professor X walks with the aid of metal braces. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.