Auctions: comic books December 1973

Action Comics (1938 DC) 430 CGC 8.0

Paper: White

Label #4719573002

Cover by Nick Cardy. "Bus-Ride to Nowhere!", script by Cary Bates, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Murphy Anderson; Superman is warned about a lizard-being from the 420th Century, the Quakerer, who has the power to change his own appearance or that of other beings or objects, and who has come back to the 20th Century to find a weapon that will destroy the humans of the future; The Quakerer is disguised as one of Clarks neighbors, but he does not know who. "Up Pops The Atom" starring Atom, Hawkman, Batman, the Flash, and Green Lantern, script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Dick Dillin, inks by Dick Giordano; While taking Jeans nephew to an amusement park, Ray Palmer has to become the Atom to trap two spies. Letter from comics writer Bob Rozakis. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 127 FN- 5.5

"The Dark Wings of Death!" Part 1 of 2. First appearance of the third Vulture. Script by Gerry Conway. Pencils by Ross Andru. Inks by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt. Cover by John Romita. Outside her apartment window, Mary Jane Watson witnesses a murder! And she thinks the killer is the Vulture! However MJ is reluctant to go to the police in fear of retaliation -- despite Peter's recommendation to do so. The next day at Empire State University, Mary Jane's worst fear is realized...when the Vulture grabs her! But the ESU campus is the stomping ground of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. And the next great fight between the web-slinger and the Vulture begins! First appearance of Dr. Clifton Shallot. Cameo appearances by the Human Torch, Professor Miles Warren, Flash Thompson, and Harry Osborn. (Note: This issue was reprinted in Marvel Tales 104.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 118 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4723170005

"To The Death!" Avengers-Defenders crossover. Part 7 of 8. Guest-starring the Defenders. Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by Bob Brown. Inks by Mike Esposito and Frank Giacoia. Cover by Bob Brown and John Romita. One of the classic Avengers issues of the bronze age! Story continues from Defenders 10. At last the truth stands revealed! Dormammu and Loki have tricked the Avengers and Defenders into gathering the Evil Eye! And now Dormammu has the Evil Eye and is using it to merge his dark dimension with Earth's! The fourteen super-heroes have one hour to beat the powerful super-villains before chaos envelopes the universe! Once inside the dark realm, the Dread One wipes out the Defenders! And after quicksand bogs down five avengers, only three remain to make the final charge! But when the thunder god and the golden avenger fall, the final hope of the universe rests with the Scarlet Witch! In the depths of the dark realm, can Wanda deliver the coup de grâce to the Dread Dormammu? Avengers Assemble! Story continues in Defenders 11. Cameo appearances by Contessa Valentina Allegro, Dum Dum Dugan, Nick Fury, the Watcher, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Black Bolt, Gorgon, Karnak, Dracula, Ghost Rider, Luke Cage, Man-Thing, Ka-Zar, Zabu, Thanos, Adam Warlock, and Doctor Doom. (Notes: The Avengers-Defenders Clash was a masterpiece by Steve Englehart that set the standard for multi-issue crossovers (that have become much more common in the modern age). Crossover stories greater than 2 or 3 issues were very rare in the silver and bronze ages. The Avengers-Defenders Clash was reprinted in a trade paperback in 2002 and again in a hard cover edition in 2007. The Avengers appear in a cameo role in the final part of the story in Defenders 11. Dormammu returns in Doctor Strange (2nd series) 6. The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Ralph Macchio.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Dead of Night (1973) 1 VG- 3.5

Cover art by John Romita. The Ghost Still Walks, art by Joe Sinnott; A fraternity initiation leads to a death. House of Fear!, art by Jim Mooney; A haunted house investigator and a reporter visit an old mansion. My Brother... the Ghoul, script by Hank Chapman; A graverobber with an identical twin meets his doom. He Dwells in a Dungeon; A woman plans to kill her disfigured future brother-in-law, but makes a fatal mistake. 32 pgs.$0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 141 CGC 6.5

Paper: White

Label #4710924011

"The End of the Fantastic Four!" Part 2 of 2. Script by Gerry Conway. Art by John Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Sinnott (finishes). Cover by John Romita. The situation looks grim indeed as Reed, Sue, Ben, Johnny, Medusa, Franklin, Wyatt Wingfoot, and Agatha Harkness are all prisoners of Annihilus in the Negative Zone! What is the master of the Negative Zone planning for the helpless Fantastic Four? After connecting Franklin to his gene transmuter, Annihilus siphons the young boy's power to recharge his cosmic control rod! Can anyone stop the power transfer and save Franklin's life? Or will disaster strike the Fantastic Four? (Note: Annihilus appears next in Captain Marvel 35.) 36 pages Cover price $0.20.

Fear (1970 Marvel) 19 CGC 9.2

Paper: White

Label #4723170004

1st appearance of Howard the Duck - Cover pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Ernie Chan. "The Enchanter's Apprentice!", script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Val Mayerik, inks by Sal Trapani; As an improbable battle rages on below the castle, Man-Thing is picked up by Jennifer Kale, with the savage Korrek following from behind; Korrek catches up with Kale and the Man-Thing and attacks the two of them; Jennifer suddenly awakens screaming, and as her brother and grandfather burst into the room to reassure her it's all a dream; However, Joshua Kale has his doubts that his granddaughters nightmares being just dreams; His suspicions are validated when Korrek is transported to Earth's dimension through a jar of peanut butter and resumes his attack on Jennifer; However, when Joshua and Andy burst into the room, Korrek believes himself surrounded and flees into the swamp; The Kales are soon visited by Dahkim the Mystic who has come to tell the Kales about the disruption in the Nexus of Realities caused by the construction being done in the swamp; Korrek is visited by Howard the Duck, who has also found himself transported to Earth's dimension as well. Man-Thing stories continue in Man-Thing #1. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

Fear (1970 Marvel) 19 VG- 3.5

1st appearance of Howard the Duck - Cover pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Ernie Chan. "The Enchanter's Apprentice!", script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Val Mayerik, inks by Sal Trapani; As an improbable battle rages on below the castle, Man-Thing is picked up by Jennifer Kale, with the savage Korrek following from behind; Korrek catches up with Kale and the Man-Thing and attacks the two of them; Jennifer suddenly awakens screaming, and as her brother and grandfather burst into the room to reassure her it's all a dream; However, Joshua Kale has his doubts that his granddaughters nightmares being just dreams; His suspicions are validated when Korrek is transported to Earth's dimension through a jar of peanut butter and resumes his attack on Jennifer; However, when Joshua and Andy burst into the room, Korrek believes himself surrounded and flees into the swamp; The Kales are soon visited by Dahkim the Mystic who has come to tell the Kales about the disruption in the Nexus of Realities caused by the construction being done in the swamp; Korrek is visited by Howard the Duck, who has also found himself transported to Earth's dimension as well. Man-Thing stories continue in Man-Thing #1. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

House of Mystery (1951-1983 1st Series) 220 CGC 9.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4735814005

"They Hunt Butterflies, Don't They?" (script by Michael Fleisher, breakdowns by Russell Carley, art by Alfredo Alcala) and "The Hunter!" (script by John Albano, art by Alex Nino). One page Sergio Aragones cartoons. Nick Cardy cover. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Double Feature (1973 Marvel) 1 CGC 8.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4723169024

Captain America and Iron Man reprints from Tales of Suspense 84 and 77. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby and John Romita, inks by Dick Ayers and John Romita. "The Other Iron Man," script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Frank Giacoia; Mandarin is plotting against Iron Man. "If A Hostage Should Die," script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby (layouts) and John Romita (pencils), inks by Frank Giacoia [as Frank Ray]; In a flashback to World War II, we see how Cap spends a few weeks with Peggy Carter and her resistance fighters. 36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Special Marvel Edition (1971) 15 FN/VF 7.0

Written by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. Art and cover by Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom. Shang Chi, making his first appearance, is a master of martial arts and the son of Fu Manchu, a Chinese mandarin and scientist. Fu Manchu sends Shang Chi to England in order to assassinate the evil Dr. Petrie for the common good. Shang Chi reluctantly agrees, but after the deed is done he is confronted by Sir Denis Nayland Smith, a former British intelligence officer who tells him the truth about Fu Manchu; that he is a nearly immortal evil mastermind. Shang Chi travels back to his father's secret lair in New York and renounces him. Text articles by Roy Thomas and Englehart about the creation of Shang-Chi. Ad for Astonishing Tales #21. A brief obituary for Syd Shores. Ad for the Marvel fan club FOOM (Friends of Ol' Marvel). 36 pages, full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Special Marvel Edition (1971) 15 VG+ 4.5

Water damage.

Written by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin. Art and cover by Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom. Shang Chi, making his first appearance, is a master of martial arts and the son of Fu Manchu, a Chinese mandarin and scientist. Fu Manchu sends Shang Chi to England in order to assassinate the evil Dr. Petrie for the common good. Shang Chi reluctantly agrees, but after the deed is done he is confronted by Sir Denis Nayland Smith, a former British intelligence officer who tells him the truth about Fu Manchu; that he is a nearly immortal evil mastermind. Shang Chi travels back to his father's secret lair in New York and renounces him. Text articles by Roy Thomas and Englehart about the creation of Shang-Chi. Ad for Astonishing Tales #21. A brief obituary for Syd Shores. Ad for the Marvel fan club FOOM (Friends of Ol' Marvel). 36 pages, full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Strange Sports Stories (1973) 2 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4710930005

Cover by Nick Cardy. "Karate on the Moon!", script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano; a Karate match starts on Earth and shifts to the moon. "Volley of Death," script by Frank Robbins, art by Dick Giordano; a man has to play tennis using a live grenade as the ball. Behind the Scenes at the DC Comic World. "Tall in the Saddle!", script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Murphy Anderson; a dinosaur runs in a modern day horse race. Letter to the editor from comic editor Bob Rozakis. 36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Swamp Thing (1972 1st Series) 7 GD+ 2.5

"Night of the Bat." Swamp Thing goes to Gotham City and encounters Batman. Both are after Mr. E, who is leader of the Conclave. Script by Len Wein, art and cover by Berni Wrightson. Cover price $0.20.

Walt Disney Comics Digest (1968 Gold Key) 44 NM- 9.2

Gold Key edition with 50c cover price. NOTE: There is a 69c cover-priced Whitman variant of this issue. Donald at His Duckiest. Classic multi-part Carl Barks stories: Donald Duck and the Mummys Ring, Luck of the North, Donald Duck in Ancient Persia, and The Pixilated Parrot. 4.75. x 6.5. 128 pages. Cover price $0.50.

Werewolf by Night (1972 1st Series) 12 VG- 3.5

Cover pencils by John Romita. Cry Werewolf!, script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Don Perlin; the Werewolf defeats the Hangman and all the Hangman's captives are released. 36 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.