Auctions: comic books December 1973

Chilling Adventures in Sorcery (1972) 4 CGC 3.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4687376012

Cover art by Gray Morrow. Suicide ...Maybe, script and art by Vicente Alcazar; A man who fails to commit suicide is given a mission to kill an evil dictator, knowing the dictator's guards will surely kill him. Horripilate Host, script by Don Glut, art by Dick Giordano; A nasty, aging actor who is a vampire host on a Creeper Feature show is tricked into reciting a spell on live TV. Golden Touch, script and art by Gray Morrow; A man acquires Midas' Golden Touch. A Thousand Pounds of Clay, script by Don Glut, art by Vicente Alcazar; An artist creates a clay Golem to destroy his enemies, starting with his girlfriend and his best friend, who are having an affair. The Witch--Essays into the Supernatural, art by Gray Morrow. 36 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Defenders (1972 1st Series) 11 FN 6.0

The Avengers/Defenders crossover continues with "A Dark and Stormy Knight." Script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Frank Bolle. Cover by John Romita. Story continues from Avengers 118. The epic battle vs. Dormammu is over and Earth has survived! But there's one more mission remaining for the Defenders! Return the Black Knight's stone body back to flesh and blood. To that end six defenders along with the Evil Eye travel back in time to the 12th century and find Dane Whitman smack dab in the middle of the Crusades! The super-heroes from the 20th century get a medieval history lesson as all the famous combatants are present: Prince John, Mordred the Evil, Chandu, Prester John, and Richard the Lionheart! Can the Dynamic Defenders save the King (and the Black Knight)? Cameo appearances by the Avengers, Nick Fury, and Loki. Defenders Lineup: Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, and Valkyrie. (Notes: Prester John previously appeared in Fantastic Four (1st series) 54. The 20th century stone statue of the Black Knight comes to life in Avengers 157. The 12th century Black Knight (aka Dane Whitman) and the Evil Eye return in Avengers 225 & 226.) 36 pgs. Cover price $0.20.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 141 FN/VF 7.0

"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 FN 6.0

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.

Ghost Rider (1973 1st Series) 3 FN+ 6.5

"Wheels on Fire!" Guest-starring Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan). Story by Gary Friedrich. Art by Jim Mooney and John Tartaglione. Cover by John Romita, Sr. It had to happen, the fateful final showdown with Big Daddy Dawson! Plus, in this issue, Ghost Rider learns how to summon forth his mystical motorcycle! 32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Double Feature (1973 Marvel) 1 FN+ 6.5

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 6.0 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION. Color touch.

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 CGC 4.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4012023003

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.

Swamp Thing (1972 1st Series) 7 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4482302003

"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.

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.

Tomb of Dracula (1972 1st Series) 15 FN+ 6.5

"Fear is the Name of the Game!" Written by Marv Wolfman. Art by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer. In the wake of his last death, Dracula tells looks back on other times in his past when he has faced the cold touch of death only to rise once again to plague mankind. Blade cameo. 32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.20.

Uncanny X-Men (1963 1st Series) 85 FN- 5.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, Don Heck, John Romita, and John Verpoorten (alterations), inks by George Roussos, John Romita, and John Verpoorten. We, the Jury, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Don Heck; the X-Men battle the Factor Three in Europe; the Mutant-Master holds Professor X and Banshee captive; Juggernaut cameo; reprinted from issue 37. 36 pgs. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Weird Wonder Tales (1973) 1 CGC 9.0 SS Ploog

Paper: Off white to white

Signed by Mike Ploog on 05/15/2014. From the Collection on Mike Ploog.

Label #4464650013

Cover by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. Stories by Al Hartley, Sid Check, Ed Winiarski, and Basil Wolverton. Stories of fantasy, science fiction, and the supernatural—these are Weird Wonder Tales! All reprints. Cover price $0.20.

Wonder Woman (1942 1st Series DC) 209 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4699595001

Cover by Ric Estrada. "The Planet of Plunder!", script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Vince Colletta; Wonder Woman must rescue the women of an underwater city from Solo and his Neptunian army; The story is a re-written and re-drawn version of "The Planet of Plunder" from Wonder Woman #31. "Attack of the Sky Demons," script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Vince Colletta; On Princess Diana's seventh birthday, the Sky Riders of Nebulosta invade Paradise Island, and only the young Wonder Girl can save her mother; Rehash of Wonder Woman #23, "Wonder Woman and the Coming of the Kangas" (the first Wonder Girl story). 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.

Wonder Woman (1942 1st Series DC) 209 FN- 5.5

Cover by Ric Estrada. "The Planet of Plunder!", script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Vince Colletta; Wonder Woman must rescue the women of an underwater city from Solo and his Neptunian army; The story is a re-written and re-drawn version of "The Planet of Plunder" from Wonder Woman #31. "Attack of the Sky Demons," script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Vince Colletta; On Princess Diana's seventh birthday, the Sky Riders of Nebulosta invade Paradise Island, and only the young Wonder Girl can save her mother; Rehash of Wonder Woman #23, "Wonder Woman and the Coming of the Kangas" (the first Wonder Girl story). 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.20.