Auctions: comic books August 1973

Adventure Comics (1938 1st Series) 428 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4705499003

1st appearance of Black Orchid. Cover art by Bob Oksner. Untitled Black Orchid story, script by Sheldon Mayer, art by Tony DeZuniga; introduction of Black Orchid. The Ghosts on the Glasses starring Dr. 13, the Ghost Breaker, script by Steve Skeates, art by Tony DeZuniga. Mr. Randolf mysteriously dies; Dr. 13 investigates. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 123 FN 6.0

"...Just A Man Called Cage!" Guest-starring Luke Cage. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Gil Kane and John Romita. Inks by John Romita and Tony Mortellaro (backgrounds). Cover by John Romita and Tony Mortellaro. While Peter Parker and his friends attend Gwen Stacy's funeral, J. Jonah Jameson plots revenge against the web-slinger for the death of Norman Osborn. The Daily Bugle publisher wants the wall-crawler captured dead or alive -- and he hires the powerful Luke Cage to do it! On a Manhattan rooftop, the Hero for Hire ambushes Spider-Man! And the super slugfest begins! The two heroes trade punches, body blows, and haymakers one after another! How will they break the stalemate -- before they break each other in half? Cameo appearances by Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, Betty Brant, Joe Robertson, Flash Thompson, Anna Watson, Aunt May, and Norman Osborn (deceased). (Notes: This issue features the first meeting between Spider-Man and Luke Cage. The plot crosses over briefly with Power Man and Iron Fist (1972 Hero for Hire) #12. This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales 100.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Archie and Me (1964) 58 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4687375024

Giant Size. "Too Many Cooks"; Mr. Weatherbee is shopping for a steak when the gang decides to help him find the right sauce. "The Write Way!" starring Li'l Jinx and Hap Holliday, script and art by Joe Edwards. "Every Litter Bit Hurts!"; Mr. Weatherbee wants to crack down on careless littering in the school. "A-Weigh We Go"; Mr. Weatherbee is in a bad mood because he's on a diet, but the sight of Archie makes him quit thinking about how hungry he is, so he makes Archie be his exercise partner. "Treble Trouble" starring Archie Andrews, Dilton Doiley, Waldo Weatherbee, Professor Flutesnoot, and Geraldine Grundy. Archie Club News. "Suspension Britches"; Mr. Weatherbee wants Archie's help in modernizing his clothing style. 52 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.

Captain America (1968 1st Series) 164 VG/FN 5.0

First appearance of Nightshade in "Queen of the Werewolves" Plot by Steve Englehart and Alan Weiss. Script by Steve Englehart. Art by Alan Weiss (with touch-ups by John Romita Sr.). Cover by John Romita Sr. On their way back to New York, the Sentinel of Liberty and the Falcon stop at Grimrock Prison in Maryland to check on Sam Wilson's friend who is serving time there. And unfortunately, the duo is completely unaware of the horror that awaits them inside. Cap enters the facility from the rear and is immediately attacked by werewolves! The star-spangled avenger ferociously fends off the wolf pack and then meets their master: Nightshade! She initially seems harmless -- almost childlike -- but Nightshade enjoys turning people into werewolves...including Sam Wilson! Oh no, will Captain America have to fight the new Falcon-Wolf? Yes, he will. Just like Nightshade planned! Cameo appearances by Nick Fury and the Yellow Claw. (Notes: This is the first appearance of Yellow Claw since the early silver age Yellow Claw (1956) series. A robot version of the character appeared in Strange Tales (1st series) 161-167. Nightshade returns in Captain America 189. Years later she will turn Cap into a werewolf in Captain America 405. Romita's touch-ups to Weiss' pencils create quite a contrast in styles.) 36 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Ghost Rider (1973 1st Series) 1 FN+ 6.5

"A Woman Possessed!" Guest-starring Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan). Story by Gary Friedrich. Art by Tom Sutton and Syd Shores. Cover by Gil Kane. This issue picks up after the events in Marvel Spotlight (1971-1977 1st Series) #11. Johnny Blaze races against the clock to save a woman from a fate worse than death. Featuring the evil of Mephisto (as Satan). 32 pages, FC. NOTE: 1st appearance of Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan). Cover price $0.20.

Ghost Rider (1973 1st Series) 1 VG- 3.5

Cover detached at one staple.

"A Woman Possessed!" Guest-starring Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan). Story by Gary Friedrich. Art by Tom Sutton and Syd Shores. Cover by Gil Kane. This issue picks up after the events in Marvel Spotlight (1971-1977 1st Series) #11. Johnny Blaze races against the clock to save a woman from a fate worse than death. Featuring the evil of Mephisto (as Satan). 32 pages, FC. NOTE: 1st appearance of Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan). Cover price $0.20.

Journey into Mystery (1972 2nd series) 6 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4735136020

Cover by Rich Buckler and Mike Esposito. He Who Hesitates..., art by Al Eadeh; A hesitant professor finally decides to kill the man who's moving in on his wife, but he waits a little too long and the other man pushes him off the cliff instead so that he can marry the professor's wife. The Strange Case of Mr. Whimple!, art by Fred Kida; A thief attacks a man who always carries a box around on his shoulder and kills him; When he gets the box open, he is startled to see that he has killed one head but not the other and runs into the path of an oncoming train. Indoor Sport!, art by Sam Kweskin; A female ghost acquires pictures of men from potential suitors and throws darts into them to inflict pain and death upon the men in revenge for a man who once jilted her. The Tough Guy, script by Stan Lee, art by Joe Maneely; A muscleman gets pistol-whipped and winds up in the hospital; He overhears a conversation between two doctors about a serum that toughens the body so he decides to take it and turn to crime with his powerful body. 36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Spotlight (1971 1st Series) 11 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4728555001

Cover pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Mike Esposito. Season of the Witch-Woman, script by Gary Friedrich, pencils by Tom Sutton, inks by Syd Shores; Witch-Woman reveals her origins to Ghost Rider, who she easily defeats; Satan forces Witch-Woman to turn her own Satanic power against herself. Continued in Ghost Rider (1973 series) #1. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.20.

Shanna The She-Devil (1972 1st Series) 5 FN 6.0

Cover art by John Romita. "Where Nekra Walks - Death Must Follow!", script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Vince Colletta; Shanna battles Nekra, the Priestess of Darkness, who is also the sister of Mandrill; Professor X app. Vampire Tales ad. FOOM! ad. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

SHIELD (1973 Marvel) 4 CGC 9.4

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4558183009

This series contains slightly edited reprints. Cover art by Jim Steranko. The Power of SHIELD!, script by Jack Kirby (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), pencils by Jack Kirby (layout) and Jim Steranko, inks by Jim Steranko; Fury finds a way to signal SHIELD without a radio, delaying disaster; But after Sitwell realizes Fury is the pilot, he still orders the launching of a "Strato-Mine", which could ignite the very atmosphere; Supreme Hydra gets news that Laura Brown-- the daughter of his predecessor, who turned traitor and helped Fury a year before-- has been captured in Egypt. The Hiding Place!, script by Jack Kirby (plot) and Roy Thomas (dialogue), pencils by Jack Kirby (layouts) and Jim Steranko, inks by Jim Steranko; While enjoying a shave, Fury thinks back on SHIELD's 1st battle with HYDRA, when Laura Brown-- who had joined only to convince her father to give up his mad dream of world conquest-- saved his life and helped defeat them; As the President pushes thru a pardon for her, she's being transported by Gabe & Jasper-- whose car is attacked by HYDRA. 36 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Supernatural Thrillers (1972) 5 CGC 8.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4446804002

First appearance of The Living Mummy! Script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Frank Chiaramonte; The Living Mummy comes to life and seeks out a descendant of the man that cursed him 3000 years ago. 32 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 83 FN- 5.5

Cover art by Dan Adkins. Along Came a Spider, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Werner Roth, inks by Dan Adkins; Banshee calls to the X-Men for help against a mysterious spider creature, and when the young mutants run across Spider-Man, they mistake him for their foe and a battle ensues; reprinted from issue 35. 36 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.