Auctions: comic books July 1970

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 86 VG 4.0

First appearance of the Black Widow's classic black costume in "Beware the Black Widow!" Guest-starring the Black Widow. Script by Stan Lee. Art by John Romita (layouts) and Jim Mooney (finishes). Cover by John Romita. Natasha Romanoff is ready to get back in the superhero game! But there are two things she must do first. One...design a new costume; and two...learn the secrets of the wondrous wall-crawler! So to that end the widow lays a trap for the web-slinger! Will the Amazing Spider-Man get caught in the web of the beautiful Black Widow? Retelling of the Black Widow's origin. Cameo appearances by Captain Stacy, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Aunt May, Anna Watson, and J. Jonah Jameson. Flashback cameos by Iron Man, Hawkeye, and the Red Guardian. (Notes: The Black Widow appears next in Amazing Adventures (1970 2nd series) #1. Spider-Man and the Black Widow meet again in Daredevil (1st series) 103. This issue was reprinted in Marvel Tales #67.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.15.

Brave and the Bold (1955 1st Series DC) 90 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4745072002

Cover by Neal Adams. "You Only Die Twice!", script by Bob Haney, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito; After a near death experience, Batman is visited by Adam Strange, who explains to him that after a freak accident involving the Zeta-Beam, Adam was transported to Earth sometime in the future and found Batman's obituary; However, as Adam grabbed for the newspaper, he was transported back to modern day Rann, only taking part of the obituary with him, so that the year of Batman's death is unknown; Giving this information to Batman leads the caped crusader to become paranoid of his coming demise, and leaves Earth with Adam Strange in the middle of solving a crime involving a contracting scheme and contractor Mike Morrison. However, when viewing Gotham City via a machine on Rann, Batman observes Alfred being taken hostage by the mob over gambling debts. Also features a one-page text article titled "The Greatest Heroes of Them All," the fourth in a series recounting the heroes who previously appeared in Brave and Bold. This article covers the appearances of Green Lantern, Eclipso, Flash, Metamorpho, Hawkman, Green Arrow, the Metal Men, Plastic Man, the Atom, Batgirl, and Wonder Woman. One-page horror story, "Spirit in the Séance," script by Murray Boltinoff, pencils by George Tuska, inks by George Tuska. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.15.

Captain America (1968 1st Series) 127 VG+ 4.5

Cover pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Joe Sinnott. "Who Calls Me Traitor?", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Wally Wood (his only work on the title, and the results are striking!); At SHIELD headquarters, Nick Fury tests the new protecto-suit designed by Dr. Ryder; AIM attacks Fury and his SHIELD agents, who have developed a way to nullify the protecto-suits; Ryder convinces Fury that Cap is suspected of betraying SHIELD; Fury has Tony Stark build X-4, an android that can test Cap to assure Fury that he is not an imposter; X-4 attacks Cap; Sharon outs Ryder as a traitor. Brief appearance by Joe Robertson (from Spider-Man). Letter from DCs Neal Pozner. 36 pgs., full color. $0.15. Cover price $0.15.

Our Fighting Forces (1954) 125 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4207213015

36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.15.

Star Spangled War Stories (1952 DC 2nd Series) 151 VG 4.0

Cover art by Joe Kubert. They Came from Shangri-La! starring Unknown, script and art by by Joe Kubert; The Unknown Soldier is a master of disguise who follows his family heritage by taking on whatever role is required to win the next battle. Ad for Showcase #91, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Dick Giordano. Flaming Bait! starring Enemy Ace, script by Robert Kanigher, art by Joe Kubert; Hans Von Hammer must deal with the death of two of his pilots after they posed for pictures before flying their missions. Ad for G. I. Combat #142, art by Joe Kubert. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.15.

Sub-Mariner (1968 1st Series) 27 CGC 9.4

Paper: Off white to white

Label #0906951011

Cover pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Mike Esposito. "When Wakes the Kraken!", script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Mike Esposito (as Joe Gaudioso); Commander Kraken captures Dorma and Diane Arliss and tries to use them to get Sub-Mariner to join his group of pirates. Letter from Bernie Bubnis, a fan who put together the first New York Comic Book Convention. 36 pgs., full color. $0.15. Cover price $0.15.