Auctions: comic books November 1973

Action Comics (1938 DC) 429 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4719573001

Cover by Nick Cardy. "The Man Who Wrote Superman's Obituary!", script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Bob Oksner; After Superman defeats Oxymaxias, a monster from ancient Earth, he learns that the Daily Planets morgue keeper has learned his secret identity thanks to an accidental link between his teletype and the diary-writing device at the Fortress of Solitude; Cameos by Supergirl, Flash, Batman, and Green Lantern. "The Rodeo Riddle Contract!" starring the Human Target, script by Len Wein, art by Dick Giordano. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 126 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4723170002

"The Kangaroo Bounces Back!" Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Jim Mooney. Cover by John Romita. On a rooftop near the Empire State University campus, two advertising executives call out to Spider-Man! Surprisingly, they want the web-slinger to be the spokesman for a new car! At first Spidey declines, but later he changes his mind -- even though he must design the car himself. So it's time to pay a visit to Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) for help! Meanwhile, the Kangaroo is back in town. And after receiving a power boost from the creepy Dr. Jonas Harrow, he clashes with the wall-crawler at the Hudson Nuclear Laboratories! Beware of the radioactive isotopes! Lastly, Harry Osborn accepts his family legacy and assumes the mantle of the Green Goblin! Cameo appearances by Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson, Professor Miles Warren, John Jameson, Kristine Saunders, and J. Jonah Jameson. (Notes: The Kangaroo previously appeared in Amazing Spiderman #81. This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales 103.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 117 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4735814008

"Holocaust" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 5 of 8. Guest-starring the Defenders and Sunfire. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Mike Esposito and Frank McLaughlin. Cover by John Romita and Mike Esposito. Story continues from Defenders 9. The Dread Dormammu is shocked to discover that the Avengers are battling the Defenders for the Evil Eye! However, the Defenders are having success, so he elects not to intervene at the moment. In the Southern hemisphere, a Bolivian castle is the setting for the next superhero showdown featuring superior swordplay! Valkyrie enters the castle first, but the former super-villain turned avenger interrupts her search! The Asgardian defender has the edge in strength, while the Swordsman has the edge in skill! Which warrior will prevail? Meanwhile on the other side of the world in Japan, the stage is set for a classic confrontation! Captain America vs. the Sub-Mariner! These two men previously fought as allies in the Land of the Rising Sun during World War II, but today they fight as adversaries for the Evil Eye! Just an awesome battle! And it gets even better when Sunfire joins the mix! A fantastic issue! Story continues in Defenders 10. (Note: Sunfire previously appeared in Sub-Mariner 54 and appears next in Iron Man 68.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 117 CGC 6.5 SS Englehart

Paper: Off white to white

Signed by Steve Englehart on 6/15/24

Label #4444121017

"Holocaust" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 5 of 8. Guest-starring the Defenders and Sunfire. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Mike Esposito and Frank McLaughlin. Cover by John Romita and Mike Esposito. Story continues from Defenders 9. The Dread Dormammu is shocked to discover that the Avengers are battling the Defenders for the Evil Eye! However, the Defenders are having success, so he elects not to intervene at the moment. In the Southern hemisphere, a Bolivian castle is the setting for the next superhero showdown featuring superior swordplay! Valkyrie enters the castle first, but the former super-villain turned avenger interrupts her search! The Asgardian defender has the edge in strength, while the Swordsman has the edge in skill! Which warrior will prevail? Meanwhile on the other side of the world in Japan, the stage is set for a classic confrontation! Captain America vs. the Sub-Mariner! These two men previously fought as allies in the Land of the Rising Sun during World War II, but today they fight as adversaries for the Evil Eye! Just an awesome battle! And it gets even better when Sunfire joins the mix! A fantastic issue! Story continues in Defenders 10. (Note: Sunfire previously appeared in Sub-Mariner 54 and appears next in Iron Man 68.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 105 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4130180015

Cover pencils by John Romita, inks by Mike Esposito. Menace From the Moons of Saturn!, script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Don Heck (pages 1-16, third tier of 26, 27-32) and Jim Starlin (pages 17-26 except bottom tier of 26), inks by Don Perlin; Kraven throws DD off of a cliff to his death but the hornhead disappears before he strikes bottom; DD finds himself in an elaborate underwater domain inhabited by Moondragon; She accuses him of being a thrall of Thanos and then tells him her origin to let him know what this means; Touching DD's mind, Moondragon discovers that she has been lied to and that Daredevil is one of the good guys; The real villain appears as none other than Kerwin J. Broderick, Matt's law partner and he gloats as he unleashes Terrex on the world; Thanos War tie-in; appearances by Dark Messiah and Angar the Screamer; cameos by Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner. 36 pages. Cover price $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 105 VG- 3.5

Cover pencils by John Romita, inks by Mike Esposito. Menace From the Moons of Saturn!, script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Don Heck (pages 1-16, third tier of 26, 27-32) and Jim Starlin (pages 17-26 except bottom tier of 26), inks by Don Perlin; Kraven throws DD off of a cliff to his death but the hornhead disappears before he strikes bottom; DD finds himself in an elaborate underwater domain inhabited by Moondragon; She accuses him of being a thrall of Thanos and then tells him her origin to let him know what this means; Touching DD's mind, Moondragon discovers that she has been lied to and that Daredevil is one of the good guys; The real villain appears as none other than Kerwin J. Broderick, Matt's law partner and he gloats as he unleashes Terrex on the world; Thanos War tie-in; appearances by Dark Messiah and Angar the Screamer; cameos by Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner. 36 pages. Cover price $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Defenders (1972 1st Series) 10 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #4209419009

"Breakthrough" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 6 of 8. Guest-starring the Avengers. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Frank Bolle. Cover by John Romita. One of the classic issues of the Defenders! Story continues from Avengers 117. The sixth and final superhero battle of the Avengers-Defenders Clash! And as shown on the cover, it's a matchup of true Marvel heavyweights! The Green Goliath rumbles thru the streets of Los Angeles looking for the Evil Eye. And lo and behold he finds it! However, the Avengers have also sent a team member to the city of angels! The Prince of Asgard! When the thunder god confronts the gamma-radiated defender, the epic clash of the titans erupts! Wow, the Mighty Thor vs. the Incredible Hulk! A battle for the ages! Next Chapter: "United We Stand!" In Greenwich Village the Defenders gather around the four pieces of the Evil Eye that they have recovered. When Prince Namor joins his teammates, he brings with him the fifth piece of the eye plus the Avengers! Whoa! Not exactly what Doctor Strange was expecting! Is another battle on the horizon? Or have the super-heroes finally realized who's been orchestrating the events? Story continues in Avengers 118. Cameo appearances by Asti and Dormammu. Flashback cameo by Loki. (Notes: This issue includes two outstanding full-page panels. The first on page 15 depicting Thor and the Hulk locked in combat; and the second on page 23 featuring seven avengers and five defenders conversing in Dr. Strange's townhouse. The Avengers-Defenders clash was reprinted in a trade paperback in 2002 and again in a hard cover edition in 2007.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Defenders (1972 1st Series) 10 FN 6.0

"Breakthrough" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 6 of 8. Guest-starring the Avengers. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Frank Bolle. Cover by John Romita. One of the classic issues of the Defenders! Story continues from Avengers 117. The sixth and final superhero battle of the Avengers-Defenders Clash! And as shown on the cover, it's a matchup of true Marvel heavyweights! The Green Goliath rumbles thru the streets of Los Angeles looking for the Evil Eye. And lo and behold he finds it! However, the Avengers have also sent a team member to the city of angels! The Prince of Asgard! When the thunder god confronts the gamma-radiated defender, the epic clash of the titans erupts! Wow, the Mighty Thor vs. the Incredible Hulk! A battle for the ages! Next Chapter: "United We Stand!" In Greenwich Village the Defenders gather around the four pieces of the Evil Eye that they have recovered. When Prince Namor joins his teammates, he brings with him the fifth piece of the eye plus the Avengers! Whoa! Not exactly what Doctor Strange was expecting! Is another battle on the horizon? Or have the super-heroes finally realized who's been orchestrating the events? Story continues in Avengers 118. Cameo appearances by Asti and Dormammu. Flashback cameo by Loki. (Notes: This issue includes two outstanding full-page panels. The first on page 15 depicting Thor and the Hulk locked in combat; and the second on page 23 featuring seven avengers and five defenders conversing in Dr. Strange's townhouse. The Avengers-Defenders clash was reprinted in a trade paperback in 2002 and again in a hard cover edition in 2007.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

House of Mystery (1951-1983 1st Series) 219 CGC 9.2

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4735814014

Cover by Luis Dominguez. Featuring: 1 page Cain introduction drawn by Berni Wrightson; 11 page story "The Curse of the Crocodile!" written by Michael Fleisher & Russell Carley (art continuity/breakdowns) and drawn by Alfredo Alcala; 8 page story "Pledge to Satan" written by Sheldon Mayer and drawn by Nestor Redondo. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Feature (1971 1st Series) 12 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #0992445016

"The Bite of the Blood Brothers!" Guest-starring the Thing and Iron Man. Script by Mike Friedrich. Pencils by Jim Starlin. Inks by Joe Sinnott. Cover by Jim Starlin and John Romita. Ben Grimm is stranded in the Arizona desert after his battle against the Leader last issue! And looking for anyone or anything that can help him return home! In a stroke of luck, the golden avenger streaks overhead! But Shell-Head doesn't stop for Ben, he flies on to an abandoned military base! In a matter of minutes though, Iron Man will regret not stopping to pick up the strongest member of the Fantastic Four! Because far across the universe on Titan, Thanos commands the Blood Brothers to ambush the golden avenger! And just like that…the twin galactic vampires pounce on the unsuspecting Shell-Head! Fortunately for Tony Stark's alter-ego, the Thing eventually reaches Thanos' old base…and the rock'em sock'em battle erupts! The Invincible Iron Man and the blue-eyed idol of millions vs. the savage Blood Brothers! It's clobberin' time! Cameo appearances by Eros, Mentor, and Death. Flashback cameos by Drax the Destroyer and the Controller. (Notes: This issue is part of the classic Thanos storyline that ran though Captain Marvel 25-33. From a continuity standpoint, this story fits in and around Captain Marvel 30. The Blood Brothers previously appeared in the landmark Iron Man 55. The bloodthirsty brothers return in Iron Man 88. The Avengers visit Thanos' Arizona installation years later in Avengers 252. This is the final issue of the Marvel Feature 1st series. The letters page indicates that there was going to be a 13th issue featuring the Thing and the Man-Thing, but that story actually became the 1st issue of the Marvel Two-in-One series. This issue was reprinted in the Life of Captain Marvel limited series published in 1985.) 32 pages Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Team-Up (1972 1st Series) 15 VF 8.0

Spider-Man and Ghost Rider in "If An Eye Offend Thee." Script by Len Wein. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Don Perlin. Cover by Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, and John Romita. Spider-Man and Ghost Rider battle the Orb. First meeting between Spider-Man and Ghost Rider. Origin and first appearance of the Orb. The Orb appears next in Ghost Rider (1st series) 14. This issue was first reprinted in Marvel Treasury Edition 18 and Marvel Tales 254. 36 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Team-Up (1972 1st Series) 15 VG+ 4.5

Spider-Man and Ghost Rider in "If An Eye Offend Thee." Script by Len Wein. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Don Perlin. Cover by Gil Kane, Frank Giacoia, and John Romita. Spider-Man and Ghost Rider battle the Orb. First meeting between Spider-Man and Ghost Rider. Origin and first appearance of the Orb. The Orb appears next in Ghost Rider (1st series) 14. This issue was first reprinted in Marvel Treasury Edition 18 and Marvel Tales 254. 36 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Monsters Unleashed (1973) 3 FN- 5.5

Neal Adams cover. Cover price $0.75.

Sub-Mariner (1968 1st Series) 67 CGC 9.4

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4169290012

Seawinds of Change! Guest-starring Triton and the Fantastic Four. Script by Steve Gerber. Pencils by Don Heck. Inks by Frank Bolle. Cover by John Romita and Mike Esposito. Prince Namor narrowly escapes from the clutches of Orka and the She-Beast! But his wild burst of speed through the ocean sends him careening into a naval vessel loaded with deadly nerve gas! Fortunately Triton is nearby and scoops up the unconscious Sub-Mariner and rushes him to the Baxter Building! The FF are currently in the middle of their own crisis, but Reed volunteers to help! After fighting with Ben and Johnny, the Avenging Son calms down and accepts aid from his occasional (fantastic) adversaries. However the fallout from the nerve gas release for both Namor and Atlantis...is only just beginning! Cameo appearances by Wyatt Wingfoot, Tamara, and Force. Fantastic Four Lineup: Mr. Fantastic, Medusa, Thing, and the Human Torch. (Notes: The Sub-Mariner debuts his new costume. This story takes place between the first and second halves of Fantastic Four 140. Orka returns in Avengers 149. Elements of the story continue in the Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) series. This issue is dedicated to the memory of Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariners creator. The letters page includes an essay from Steve Gerber describing the future plans for the Sub-Mariner series. This story was reprinted in 2002 as part of the Marvel Legends AF reprints.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

War Is Hell (1973 Marvel) 6 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4646330001

Last 20-cent issue. Cover art by Dick Ayers. "To Die At Dawn," art by Jay Scott Pike; Allied forces hatch a plan to break captured British and American airmen out of a POW camp. "Court Martial," art by Werner Roth; Private Munson is accused of cowardice and sent to the rear for court-martial but finds his place helping the wounded. "The Last Battle!", art by Joe Orlando; Two infantrymen witness the Charge of the Light Brigade. "Trip Flare!", script by Paul Newman, art by Ed Robbins; BAR rifleman Private Falk volunteers to plant trip flares and grenades around his company's position, but before he can return to their lines he runs into enemy troops and has to set off his flares and grenades to help kill them; Falk returns to his side's lines, but his superior suggests he go back out and plant new flares and grenades. FOOM ad. Spider-Man Medallion Coin ad. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.