Auctions: comic books October 1968

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 65 FN- 5.5

"The Impossible Escape!" Script by Stan Lee. Art by John Romita (layouts) and Jim Mooney (finishes). Cover by John Romita. The wondrous wall-crawler lies unconscious in the street after defeating the Vulture. Thankfully, Captain George Stacy is at scene, and he prevents the crowd from unmasking the web-slinger! However Spider-Man is still taken to a nearby prison -- and placed in the infirmary to recover. In the meantime, six dangerous inmates are preparing to break out of prison. And their plan calls for escaping through the infirmary! Did the sextet pick the wrong day for a jailbreak? Spider-Man says yes! Cameo appearances by Foggy Nelson, Joe Robertson, J. Jonah Jameson, Aunt May, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, and Mary Jane Watson. (Note: This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales #48.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.12.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 65 VG- 3.5

"The Impossible Escape!" Script by Stan Lee. Art by John Romita (layouts) and Jim Mooney (finishes). Cover by John Romita. The wondrous wall-crawler lies unconscious in the street after defeating the Vulture. Thankfully, Captain George Stacy is at scene, and he prevents the crowd from unmasking the web-slinger! However Spider-Man is still taken to a nearby prison -- and placed in the infirmary to recover. In the meantime, six dangerous inmates are preparing to break out of prison. And their plan calls for escaping through the infirmary! Did the sextet pick the wrong day for a jailbreak? Spider-Man says yes! Cameo appearances by Foggy Nelson, Joe Robertson, J. Jonah Jameson, Aunt May, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, and Mary Jane Watson. (Note: This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales #48.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.12.

Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 41 VG- 3.5

Signed by writer Steve Skeates (splash), does not include certificate of authenticity. Cover detached at one staple.

Cover art by Nick Cardy. The Trail of the Ring! starring Aquaman, Aqualad, Aquagirl, Aquababy, Mera (flashback), Vulko, Harkran, and Zancol, script by Steve Skeates, art by Jim Aparo; Aquaman continues his quest to find the missing Mera. Letter from comics writer Tony Isabella. House ad for Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #86 (October 1968), written as a wedding invitation, art by Neal Adams. House ad for non-specific next issue of House of Mystery. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 57 CGC 4.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4595851014

First appearance of the Vision in "Behold...the Vision!" Part 1 of 2. Script by Roy Thomas. Pencils by John Buscema. Inks by George Klein. Cover by John Buscema and George Klein. One of the landmark issues of the silver age! On a rainy night in Manhattan, a strange being enters Janet Van Dyne's apartment and suddenly collapses! The Wasp quickly calls Goliath; and they take the red-hued stranger to Avengers Mansion for examination! Once their Hank Pym discovers that the Vision is a human being constructed of synthetic materials - a synthezoid in fact! When the Vision wakes up, he remembers that Ultron sent him to destroy the Avengers! But now the Vision wants to flip the script on his creator! So he leads Earth's Mightiest Heroes back to Ultron's underground lair! Could this be a trap? Either way Ultron-5 is waiting! And the battle is coming! Will the Vision prove worthy of the Avengers' trust? Cameo appearance by the Black Widow. Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Goliath, Hawkeye, and the Wasp. (Notes: The synthezoid avenger is not to be confused with the golden age Vision (aka Aarkus). Marie Severin contributed pencils to page 3 - the second to last panel. The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Tony Isabella. This issue was reprinted in Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #7 and also in Marvel Super Action #18.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.12.

Incredible Hulk (1962 Marvel 1st Series) Annual 1 CGC 6.0

Paper: Light tan to off white

Label #4040033009

New story: the Hulk battles the Inhumans in "A Refuge Divided!" Script by Gary Friedrich, pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Syd Shores (and others). Jim Steranko cover (with the head redrawn by Severin). 68 pages, full color. Cover price $0.25.

Inferior Five (1967) 10 CGC 9.4 Twin Cities

Paper: White

Twin Cities.

Label #0915181016

"A Monster Rally!" The I5 and the Kookie Quartet (a parody of Marvel's Fantastic Four) try unsuccessfully to thwart an alien invasion. Fortunately, Superman makes an appearance. Features a parody of Marvel's Spider-Man. Includes half-page text feature on Carmine Infantino. Script uncredited, pencils by Winslow Mortimer, inks by Tex Blaisdell. Cover by Mortimer and Blaisdell. Cover price $0.12.

Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD (1968 1st Series) 5 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4564904004

Cover by Jim Steranko. "What Ever Happened To Scorpio?", script by Jim Steranko, pencils by Jim Steranko, inks by John Tartaglione; Val reads Nick's horoscope in the morning paper, which says "Someone in your past will return today"; Nick pays a visit on Pickman, who's helping him locate someone, and he doesn't want SHIELD involved; The ESP Division picks up "possible danger", sending Nick to a seemingly-deserted warehouse - and straight into a trap set by Scorpio!; Nick's Farrari is destroyed, and Nick is captured; While unconscious, Scorpio creates a face-mask to allow him to impersonate Nick, then goes in disguise to view the test of the latest model of LMD; But as it begins, no one else realizes the robot has been replaced with Nick, drugged so he can't speak!; Miraculously, Fury manages to dodge one death trap after another, then faces his would-be killer; Val, trying to save Nick's life, shoots at the "LMD" - but hits Pickman instead, who found his way in via a secret passage. Letters to the editor from comics writer Don McGregor and fanzine publisher Ronn Foss. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD (1968 1st Series) 5 CGC 7.0 JSA Steranko

Paper: Off white

Jim Steranko authenticated autograph.

Label #4576478004

Cover by Jim Steranko. "What Ever Happened To Scorpio?", script by Jim Steranko, pencils by Jim Steranko, inks by John Tartaglione; Val reads Nick's horoscope in the morning paper, which says "Someone in your past will return today"; Nick pays a visit on Pickman, who's helping him locate someone, and he doesn't want SHIELD involved; The ESP Division picks up "possible danger", sending Nick to a seemingly-deserted warehouse - and straight into a trap set by Scorpio!; Nick's Farrari is destroyed, and Nick is captured; While unconscious, Scorpio creates a face-mask to allow him to impersonate Nick, then goes in disguise to view the test of the latest model of LMD; But as it begins, no one else realizes the robot has been replaced with Nick, drugged so he can't speak!; Miraculously, Fury manages to dodge one death trap after another, then faces his would-be killer; Val, trying to save Nick's life, shoots at the "LMD" - but hits Pickman instead, who found his way in via a secret passage. Letters to the editor from comics writer Don McGregor and fanzine publisher Ronn Foss. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD (1968 1st Series) 5 VG 4.0

Cover by Jim Steranko. "What Ever Happened To Scorpio?", script by Jim Steranko, pencils by Jim Steranko, inks by John Tartaglione; Val reads Nick's horoscope in the morning paper, which says "Someone in your past will return today"; Nick pays a visit on Pickman, who's helping him locate someone, and he doesn't want SHIELD involved; The ESP Division picks up "possible danger", sending Nick to a seemingly-deserted warehouse - and straight into a trap set by Scorpio!; Nick's Farrari is destroyed, and Nick is captured; While unconscious, Scorpio creates a face-mask to allow him to impersonate Nick, then goes in disguise to view the test of the latest model of LMD; But as it begins, no one else realizes the robot has been replaced with Nick, drugged so he can't speak!; Miraculously, Fury manages to dodge one death trap after another, then faces his would-be killer; Val, trying to save Nick's life, shoots at the "LMD" - but hits Pickman instead, who found his way in via a secret passage. Letters to the editor from comics writer Don McGregor and fanzine publisher Ronn Foss. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD (1968 1st Series) 5 CGC 2.5 JSA Steranko

Paper: Cream to off white

Jim Steranko authenticated autograph.

Label #4576478005

Cover by Jim Steranko. "What Ever Happened To Scorpio?", script by Jim Steranko, pencils by Jim Steranko, inks by John Tartaglione; Val reads Nick's horoscope in the morning paper, which says "Someone in your past will return today"; Nick pays a visit on Pickman, who's helping him locate someone, and he doesn't want SHIELD involved; The ESP Division picks up "possible danger", sending Nick to a seemingly-deserted warehouse - and straight into a trap set by Scorpio!; Nick's Farrari is destroyed, and Nick is captured; While unconscious, Scorpio creates a face-mask to allow him to impersonate Nick, then goes in disguise to view the test of the latest model of LMD; But as it begins, no one else realizes the robot has been replaced with Nick, drugged so he can't speak!; Miraculously, Fury manages to dodge one death trap after another, then faces his would-be killer; Val, trying to save Nick's life, shoots at the "LMD" - but hits Pickman instead, who found his way in via a secret passage. Letters to the editor from comics writer Don McGregor and fanzine publisher Ronn Foss. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Sub-Mariner (1968 1st Series) 6 VG+ 4.5

2nd appearance of Tiger Shark. "...And to the Vanquished - Death!" Written by Roy Thomas. Art by John Buscema and Dan Adkins. It's a true clash of titans as the mighty Prince Namor battles the savage Tiger Shark for supremacy of the Seven Seas! 32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.12.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 49 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4615917025

First appearance of Lorna Dane (Polaris). Cover art by Jim Steranko. Who Dares Defy the Demi-Men?, script by Arnold Drake, pencils by Don Heck and Werner Roth, inks by John Tartaglione; Angel warns Jean about Cerebro beeping loudly, and she tells the other X-Men; a group commanded by Mesmero uses a machine (along with his powers) to turn latent mutants into full-fledged mutants in order to form his army; 1st appearance of Mesmero. A Beast Is Born--The Origins of the Uncanny X-Men, script by Arnold Drake, art by Werner Roth; how Beast got his powers. Letter to the editor from comic writer Tony Isabella. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 49 FN- 5.5

First appearance of Lorna Dane (Polaris). Cover art by Jim Steranko. Who Dares Defy the Demi-Men?, script by Arnold Drake, pencils by Don Heck and Werner Roth, inks by John Tartaglione; Angel warns Jean about Cerebro beeping loudly, and she tells the other X-Men; a group commanded by Mesmero uses a machine (along with his powers) to turn latent mutants into full-fledged mutants in order to form his army; 1st appearance of Mesmero. A Beast Is Born--The Origins of the Uncanny X-Men, script by Arnold Drake, art by Werner Roth; how Beast got his powers. Letter to the editor from comic writer Tony Isabella. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.