Auctions: comic books October 1974

Dead of Night (1973) 6 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4714807015

Cover pencils by Larry Lieber. Jack the Ripper, art by Tony DiPreta; The ghost of Jack the Ripper continues to kill people who visit his grave. Down in the Cellar, pencils by Paul Cooper; A taxidermist who loves birds kills and stuffs the hunters who bring them in and puts them in the basement. The Snowman!, art by Dave Berg; Two explorers determined to find the Abominable Snowman revert to savage ways to ensure that only one of them makes the discovery. Sarah, art by Joe Sinnott; Sarah Harper is an unscrupulous collector of historical artifacts who plots to steal a sword that belonged to Benedict Arnold, but her guilt eventually forces her to confess to the crime. 36 pgs.$0.25. Cover price $0.20.

Defenders (1972 1st Series) 16 CGC 9.6

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4734893022

"Alpha, the Ultimate Mutant!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Professor Xavier. Script by Len Wein. Pencils by Sal Buscema. Inks by Mike Esposito. Cover by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. The Defenders have gone down to defeat in New Mexico at the hands of Magneto and Alpha, the Ultimate Mutant! And now the Master of Magnetism and his mutants travel to New York City and take over the United Nations headquarters! With Alpha at his side, Magneto demands the subjugation of the world! However, as time goes by the Ultimate Mutant metamorphoses from a simple man into a godlike being. And when Doctor Strange, Professor Xavier, Valkyrie, Nighthawk, and the Hulk attack Magneto again, Alpha wonders if he's fighting on the side of good or evil. Will Alpha turn against the Master of Magnetism and lead the Defenders to an unexpected victory? (Notes: Magneto appears next in Uncanny X-Men 103 and 104. Alpha returns many years later in Quasar 14. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp Series A #44 the Absorbing Man by Jack Kirby.) 36 pages Cover price $0.25.

Giant Size Werewolf (1974) 2 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Label #0791971007

Cover pencils by Gil Kane and John Romita (alterations), inks by Tom Palmer and John Romita (alterations). "The Frankenstein Monster Meets Werewolf By Night," script by Doug Moench, pencils by Don Perlin, inks by Vince Colletta; The Frankenstein Monster travels to California to see if Danton Vayla can help him; At the same time, the Brotherhood of Baal, run by Vayla, kidnaps Lissa Russell and plans to sacrifice her in a magical ritual; Jack Russell, while searching for his sister, changes into the Werewolf by Night and attacks the Frankenstein Monster. "Mind Over Matter" (reprinted from Adventures Into Weird Worlds #16), pencils by Bill Benulis, inks by Jack Abel; A man has been trained by Indian mystics to be able to make objects disappear, merely by doubting their existence; When he tries to tell his friend of his new powers, the friend is skeptical until he sees a demonstration. "The Ape Man" (reprinted from Strange Tales #85), art by Steve Ditko; A prisoner plans to escape, and hopes that the legend of an ape man in the jungle around his prison will deter pursuit. "The Barefoot Man" (reprinted from Uncanny Tales #29), art by Robert Q. Sale; Pablo, a poor Mexican, longs for a pair of boots to ease the pains in his bare feet; He finally resorts to mugging a man, and stealing his boots. "The Werewolf of Wilmach!" (reprinted from Astonishing #17), art by Tony DiPreta; Several deaths have a village in a panic over the werewolf prowling the moon-lit streets; Two ne'er-do-wells plan a robbery while the town is gripped in fear. NOTE: For #1 see Giant-Size Creature (1974). 68 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.50.

Incredible Hulk (1962 Marvel 1st Series) 180 PR 0.5

INCOMPLETE. Page and Marvel Value Stamp missing, interrupts art and story.

First appearance of Wolverine (cameo last panel). Cover art by Herb Trimpe. And the Wind Howls...Wendigo!, script by Len Wein, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Jack Abel; Hulk is in Canada looking for some peace and quiet when he is mysteriously drawn to a cave inhabited by the sister of the man who became the Wendigo; Marie and Georges plan on transferring the power of the Wendigo to the Hulk, thus restorin Paul Cartier to his normal life; Marie's magic isn't strong enough, however, and just as Wendigo shows up, the Hulk wakes up from his magical slumber and the two battle; The Canadian government gets involved and sends in their own agent to take care of a recent Hulk sighting, the mutant known as Wolverine. Marvel Value Stamp Series A (Cyclops). 36 pgs. $0.25. Cover price $0.25.

Man-Thing (1974 1st Series) 10 CGC 9.6

Paper: White

Label #4736273020

Part 2 of 2 - "Nobody Dies Forever!" Written by Steve Gerber. Art by Mike Ploog. Cover by Gil Kane. The macabre Man-Thing helps a man save his wife's soul from a sinister swamp spirit. Includes Mary Jane Marvel Value Stamp #82. 32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.25.

Power Man and Iron Fist (1972 Hero for Hire) 21 CGC 9.6

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4736273017

"The Killer with My Name!" Plot assist by Len Wein, script by Tony Isabella, pencils by Ron Wilson, inks by Vince Colletta. Before Luke Cage there was another man called Power Man (1st appeared in Avengers #21-22), and he's come to reclaim his title. It's a heavyweight bout with Power Man vs. Power Man for the championship. The letters page includes Marvel Value Stamp series A # 73 (Kingpin by John Romita Sr.). Wilson cover pencils, Frank Giacoia cover inks. NOTE: "The other Power Man in this story is none other than Erik Josten, who would later become the villain Goliath [in Iron Man (1968-96 1st Series) Annual # 7] and presently is the hero known as Atlas in the pages of Thunderbolts." - Odinson, Lone Star Comnics Archivist. Cover price $0.25.

Spidey Super Stories (1974) 1 CGC 9.2

Paper: White

Label #4544980015

Simplified Spider-Man stories. 11 page origin story, "Spider-Man is Born!" Script by Jean Thomas (with help from Bill Effros, based on the original story by Stan Lee), pencils by Winslow Mortimer, inks by Mike Esposito. Also in this issue: "Spidey Signs Up," "Spidey Meets the Spoiler" (based on the Electric Company script by Tom Whedon), and "Help! I'm Spider-Man!" (based on a story by Byron Preiss). John Romita Sr. cover. Cover price $0.35.

Vampire Tales (1973) 7 VG/FN 5.0

Paul Gulacy and Howard Chaykin art Cover price $0.75.