Auctions: comic books March 1996

Sandman (1989 DC/Vertigo) 75REP.2ND CGC 9.4 2nd Printing

Paper: White

Second Printing.

Label #4315150017

Second Printing. The last grains trickle through the glass, a pen is set down, perhaps a soft sigh is heard. And with a strange sense of waking as if from some elusive, intangible dream, one of the most significant, closely followed and highly praised chapters in the history of comics draws to an all-too-soon but triumphant close. THE SANDMAN, Neil Gaiman's critically acclaimed and award-winning series, has consistently challenged and sparked the imagination of readers throughout the world. With compelling, multileveled storytelling and an unprecedented diversity of artistic styles, THE SANDMAN became the flagship title of DC's Vertigo imprint. Now Gaiman's poetic, personal exploration of the human condition and the lives touched by the eerie power of Dream concludes its 7-year run with #75, "The Tempest." Illustrated by Charles Vess (Gaiman's collaborator on the World Fantasy Award-winning "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from #19), "The Tempest" tells the final tale of the Sandman as Morpheus collects the last part of the debt owed to him by William Shakespeare. With dramatic interludes on a mysterious island, along with monsters, sprites, gods, maidens, apparitions and certain observations on English weather, "The Tempest" brings long-promised closure to what Steve Erickson in the Los Angeles Times Magazine described as "the best monthly comic book in the world." THE SANDMAN #75 is an extra-sized issue with a special 4-color, bound-in gatefold poster featuring art from the original cover of THE DOLL'S HOUSE trade paperback by Dave McKean one one side, and a commemorative time-line on the other. The issue also includes 2 'farewell' text pages by Gaiman. Cover by Dave McKean. Suggested for Mature Readers. Cover price $3.95.

Spawn (1992 Image) 44D CGC 9.6 Daniel Variant

Paper: White

Label #2044913011

Direct Edition. "Avenger!" Written by Todd McFarlane. Art and cover by Tony Daniel and Kevin Conrad. Tiffany, vowing to make a name for herself and take Angela's place as the Priority A-1 angel, knows destroying Spawn ensures her promotion. Meanwhile, Spawn, who was almost destroyed by the Curses experiments, continues to rejuvenate himself. Wild animals help by bringing forth their evil to give life to a hellspawn weakened. As his body slowly grows stronger, Spawn experiences flashbacks of the Curses extractions, and of his love for his wife, Wanda. Tiffany confronts Spawn and is happy to find him in recharge. A fierce battle ensues and Tiffany is just about to decapitate the weakened Spawn… Back in New York, detectives Burke and Williams, after being fired from the precinct, begin to investigate why Banks took the fall when the file they gave to the newspaper indicted several others. 32 pages, FC. NOTE: This issue is dedicated to Jim Starlin. Cover price $1.95.

Star Wars X-Wing Rogue Squadron (1995) 6 CBCS 9.8

Paper: White

Label #19-2B978A3-178

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The Phantom Affair: Part 2 of 4 - Written by Michael A. Stackpole and Darko Macan. Art by Edvin Biukovic. Cover by Mathieu Lauffray. If Wedge Antilles can't persuade the alien Mrlssti to sell their cloaking device to the New Republic, the result could be disaster. And that's just what Wedge expects when he discovers that the negotiating party includes Loka Hask -- the pirate chieftain who killed Wedge's parents! 32 pages, FC. Cover price $2.95.