Auctions: Tales to Astonish comic books

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 44 GD 2.0

Water damage.

Cover by Jack Kirby and Don Heck. The Creature from Kosmos!, script by Stan Lee and Ernie Hart [H. E. Huntley], art by Jack Kirby and Don Heck; When a fellow scientist is killed by an alien being, Ant-Man enlists the help of the dead man's daughter. Blueprint for Victory text story. Hunted, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; In the year 2000 all of New York City is searching for a 'plague carrier' who is attempting to escape notice and flee the city; He is apprehended at a transportation center and the police remove the 'plague' from him which turns out to be a handgun he had stolen from a museum which officials had worried could back bring the plague of war. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 52 CGC 9.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Slab: See item notes

Major front/back scratch(es), longer than 1". Top edge label strip problem (old style slabs only).

Label #0052595017

Cover by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky. The Black Knight Strikes!, script by Stan Lee, art by Dick Ayers; After being arrested for treason by Giant-Man, Professor Garrett flees to Europe where he manipulate the genes of horses and eagles to create a winged horse. X-Men #3 ad, art by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky. Avengers #3 ad, art by Jack Kirby and Paul Reinman. Not What They Seem!, script by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, art by Larry Lieber and George Roussos [as G. Bell]; The Wasp tells the tale of prison escapees who try to avoid a planet with a trap, but are doomed when they take the wrong side in a battle of the sexes. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 63 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4331477010

Cover by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone. The Gangsters and the Giant!, script by Stan Lee, art by Carl Burgos and Chic Stone; The police ask Giant-Man and the Wasp to stop the Wrecker and his gang who have been strong-arming business owners in Brooklyn. A Marvel Masterwork Pin-Up of Giant-Man and Wasp, art by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone. A Titan Rides the Train!, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko and George Roussos (as George Bell); The Leader ponders his origins as he prepares to send his powerful Humanoid to confront the Hulk; Although he is under suspicion for being in collusin with the Hulk, Banner is sent by train to escort one of his nuclear devices with Talbot keeping a close eye on him. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 64 VG 4.0

1/2" cumulative spine split. Cover oxidation. Water spotting.

Cover by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. When Attuma Strikes!, script by Leon Lazarus, art by Carl Burgos and Paul Reinman; When Hank snaps at Jan for making a clumsy error during an experiment, she tearfully decides to get away from his abuse and take a trip; When her plane is captured in Attuma's latest bid for surface world conquest, a remorseful Giant-Man comes to the rescue. The Horde of Humanoids!, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko and George Roussos (as George Bell); Banner has been jailed as a traitor and is popping tranquilizers to keep himself from turning into the Hulk; Rick goes right to the commander in chief to tell the prez Banner's secret and to ask for his release; Much to Talbot's chagrin, the president orders Bruce's release and the two are sent to Astra Island to oversee testing of Banner's absorbatron which has the power to soak up a nuclear blast. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 66 VG- 3.5

Water spotting.

Cover by Jack Kirby, Bob Powell, and Frank Giacoia. The Menace of Madam Macabre, script by Stan Lee, art by Bob Powell and Frank Giacoia (as Frankie Ray); Giant-Man is pitted against a disciple of the Mandarin who also has the power to grow and shrink things at will. The Power of Dr. Banner!, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko and Vince Colletta; The Hulk escapes from his Russian captors with a fellow fugitive who gives his life to save the jade giant from a blast from the powerful proton gun; Angry at the death of his friend, Hulk decides to take his fight to the commies. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 70 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4388597019

Cover by Jack Kirby and Mike Esposito. The Start of the Quest!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gene Colan (as Adam Austin) and Vince Colletta; Namor returns to Atlantis to find that Warlord Krang has taken his throne; When he spurns the affections of Lady Dorma, she turns him in and he is arrested by Krang as a traitor; Realizing that the only thing that will allow him to regain his kingdom and his subjects is the Trident of Neptune, Namor escapes to go and recover it. To Live Again!, script by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirby and Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo); Dragging his dead buddy to their old underground complex, Rick uses the gamma machine (last seen in Incredible Hulk #6) on Bruce, thus turning him into the Hulk and saving his life; The Hulk once again has the intellect of Banner but he has to continue to use the ray machine every 48 hours to keep himself from turning into his alter ego as he still has a bullet lodged in his head. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 79 CGC 9.4

Paper: White

Includes certificate from The Northland Collection.

Label #4388597020

Cover by Jack Kirby and Bill Everett. When Rises the Behemoth, script by Stan Lee, art by Gene Colan (as Adam Austin) and Bill Everett; Little realizing that he is under the control of the Puppet Master, the Army tries to capture Namor for robbing a bank; After being shot in the arm, Namor seeks the healing power of water and winds up in the Hudson River; There he encounters Lady Dorma who has come to the surface world to retrieve him as the Behemoth has awakened and is menacing Atlantis. The Titan and the Torment, script by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirby and Bill Everett; Zaxon tries to sap the power of the Hulk for his own nefarious ends but ends up getting himself killed in the process; Free once again, the Hulk rips up some train tracks to throw at pesky fighter jets and wouldn't you know that Hercules just happens to be riding in the oncoming locomotive; Hulk and Herc battle to a standstill before the jade giant leaps off to fight another day. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 81 CGC 9.2

Paper: Off white to white

Label #1057601007

Cover by Jack Kirby and Bill Everett. When a Monarch Goes Mad!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gene Colan and Dick Ayers; Namor is driven mad by the betrayal of Lady Dorma (she agreed to marry Krang last ish in order to protect the Sub-Mariner from the monstrous Behemoth); Dorma and Krang turn their skin to flesh color and head to the surface world to hide out. The Stage Is Set!, script by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirby and Bill Everett; The Secret Empire hires Boomerang to obtain the plans for the Orion missile and the new bad guy on the block heads for gamma base; As Rick, Betty and Glenn are returned to the surface from the underground subterranean kingdom, Boomerang captures Betty to use as a bargaining chip for the missile. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 89 FN- 5.5

Cover by Gil Kane. The Prince and the Power!, script by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett; Attuma has sent a giant alien robot to destroy Atlantis and it takes all of the power of Namor, his subjects and his underwater animal friends to hold the creature at bay; The battle abruptly ends when the aliens show up to retrieve their missing mechanical servant. Then, There Shall Come a Stranger!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane; The Stranger arrives on Earth and programs the Hulk to be his agent to wipe out humanity. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 90 VG+ 4.5

Stamp on interior pages. Cover oxidation.

Cover by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta. To Be Beaten by Byrrah!, script by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett and Marie Severin; Namor's cousin wins the favor of the populace of Atlantis as well as the Atlantean council by belittling the regime of the Sub-Mariner as violent and unstable; He challenges Namor to single combat for the right to rule and no one is more surprised than the avenging son when his powers desert him during the fight and Byrrah handily wins. The Abomination!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane; The Stranger leaves earth with the rampaging Hulk left behind to wreak destruction on his behalf; Turning back into his alter ego, Banner surrenders himself to Gamma base and tries to kill himself with radiation to stop the Hulk's destruction; Stopped before he can use his gamma machine, the machine is instead used by a foreign spy who is transformed into the Abomination; More powerful than even the Hulk, Abomination beats the jade giant down and kidnaps Betty as he escapes from the base. Letter from Bill Mantlo. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 90 VG 4.0

1" spine split from bottom of comic. Cover oxidation.

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Cover by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta. To Be Beaten by Byrrah!, script by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett and Marie Severin; Namor's cousin wins the favor of the populace of Atlantis as well as the Atlantean council by belittling the regime of the Sub-Mariner as violent and unstable; He challenges Namor to single combat for the right to rule and no one is more surprised than the avenging son when his powers desert him during the fight and Byrrah handily wins. The Abomination!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane; The Stranger leaves earth with the rampaging Hulk left behind to wreak destruction on his behalf; Turning back into his alter ego, Banner surrenders himself to Gamma base and tries to kill himself with radiation to stop the Hulk's destruction; Stopped before he can use his gamma machine, the machine is instead used by a foreign spy who is transformed into the Abomination; More powerful than even the Hulk, Abomination beats the jade giant down and kidnaps Betty as he escapes from the base. Letter from Bill Mantlo. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 91 CGC 7.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4125690025

Cover by Gil Kane. Outside the Gates Waits..Death!, script by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett and Dan Adkins; As the new ruler of Atlantis, Byrrah has Namor arrested and sent to the dreaded Inferno Isle; Namor battles the lava monster that lives there and returns to Atlantis to seek his vengeance; Meanwhile, back in the undersea kingdom, Dorma has found Byrrah's hypnosis machine that won him the throne and uses it to turn the Atlantean allegiance back to Namor. Whosoever Harms the Hulk..!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane; Ross and his men try to revive the Hulk after his beating by the Abomnation; Returning from the brink of death, Hulk is about to leave when the pleading Rick Jones causes him to transform back to Banner; Banner uses his knowledge to lure Abomination back to Gamma base with Betty in tow; Hulk and Abomination clash once again; Watching from a distant galaxy, the Stranger realizes that the Abomination is a much better ally than the Hulk and zaps him to his side, ending the battle. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 91 VG+ 4.5

Stamp on interior pages.

Cover by Gil Kane. Outside the Gates Waits..Death!, script by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett and Dan Adkins; As the new ruler of Atlantis, Byrrah has Namor arrested and sent to the dreaded Inferno Isle; Namor battles the lava monster that lives there and returns to Atlantis to seek his vengeance; Meanwhile, back in the undersea kingdom, Dorma has found Byrrah's hypnosis machine that won him the throne and uses it to turn the Atlantean allegiance back to Namor. Whosoever Harms the Hulk..!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane; Ross and his men try to revive the Hulk after his beating by the Abomnation; Returning from the brink of death, Hulk is about to leave when the pleading Rick Jones causes him to transform back to Banner; Banner uses his knowledge to lure Abomination back to Gamma base with Betty in tow; Hulk and Abomination clash once again; Watching from a distant galaxy, the Stranger realizes that the Abomination is a much better ally than the Hulk and zaps him to his side, ending the battle. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 91 VG 4.0

Cover loose at both staples. Cover oxidation.

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Cover by Gil Kane. Outside the Gates Waits..Death!, script by Stan Lee, art by Bill Everett and Dan Adkins; As the new ruler of Atlantis, Byrrah has Namor arrested and sent to the dreaded Inferno Isle; Namor battles the lava monster that lives there and returns to Atlantis to seek his vengeance; Meanwhile, back in the undersea kingdom, Dorma has found Byrrah's hypnosis machine that won him the throne and uses it to turn the Atlantean allegiance back to Namor. Whosoever Harms the Hulk..!, script by Stan Lee, art by Gil Kane; Ross and his men try to revive the Hulk after his beating by the Abomnation; Returning from the brink of death, Hulk is about to leave when the pleading Rick Jones causes him to transform back to Banner; Banner uses his knowledge to lure Abomination back to Gamma base with Betty in tow; Hulk and Abomination clash once again; Watching from a distant galaxy, the Stranger realizes that the Abomination is a much better ally than the Hulk and zaps him to his side, ending the battle. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 93 FN 6.0

Water spotting.

Cover by Marie Severin and Frank Giacoia. The Monarch and the Monster, script by Roy Thomas and Dan Adkins; As Namor battles It, torpedoes from the submarine cause an avalanche, trapping It; Namor turns on the submarine and begins to punch holes in it; It (the creature) returns and they battle, further damaging the submarine and (apparently) killing it;The submarine leaves (with the carcass of It) while Namor breaks off, feeling weakness overwhelm him. He Who Strikes the Silver Surfer, script by Stan Lee, art by Marie Severin; Having 'caught' the Silver Surfer (believing him to be an alien starship), Hulk starts a fight with perhaps the only being on Earth stronger than Hulk is; The Surfer, irritated, knocks him out, then probes Hulk to discover the reason for his belligerence and discovers the damage done by the gamma radiation; Just as the Surfer prepares to reverse the damage and return Dr. Banner's life, Hulk wakes up and, seeing the action as an attack, lashes out. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 99 CGC 9.0

Paper: Off white

1/4" tear on 3 pages. Top edge label strip problem (old style slab only).

Label #0103961033

Cover by Marie Severin and Dan Adkins. When the Monster Wakes!, script by Stan Lee, art by Marie Severin and John Tartaglione; With the military base under control of the Lord of the Living Lightning and the threat of a deadly missile barrage looming, it is up to the Hulk and Talbot to retake the instillation and beat back the Living Lightning troops; The Hulk succeeds in stopping his foe but has to blow up the military base to do it. When Falls the Holocaust!, script by Archie Goodwin, art by Dan Adkins; Namor awakens in the ruins of Atlantis only to find that his army has taken off to start a war with the surface world; They plan on activating their latest and most dangerous weapon, the Hurricane Inducer, but the machine has not been tested and Namor fears that it will cause great harm to friend and foe alike; With his subjects already thinking him a traitor for allying with the piratical Plunderer, Namor doesn't do his tarnished rep any favors when he is caught destroying the Atlantean's most powerful weapon. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.