Auctions: comic books September 1963

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 1 CBCS 3.5

Paper: Off white to white

Slab: Significant scuff(s) front or back; Minor side/edge crack(s)

Label #17-0818927-038

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. In this first landmark issue, Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, and Ant Man form the Avengers in "The Coming of the Avengers!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Loki, having been previously captured by Thor, is being held prisoner at the Isle of Silence in Asgard; His physical form may be confined there, but by means of thought projection his disembodied self travels to Earth in search of revenge; He spots Thor in his human identity of Dr. Don Blake, but resists defeating him as it would be a hollow victory compared to defeating him as Thor; After hours of searching, Loki happens across the Hulk and devises a wicked plan to entice Blake to transform into Thor; Hours later, newspapers print articles about the Hulk being on the rampage again and a manhunt begins; The Hulk's friend, Rick Jones, reads the article with disbelief and meets with members of the Teen Brigade in order to find help to track Hulk down to find the truth; They attempt to contact the Fantastic Four but Loki interferes with the radio signal, diverting it to Don Blake; He decides to transform into Thor to help the Teen Brigade; Unknown to Loki, the radio signal is also picked up by Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Iron Man, who also travel to assist; Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp pursue the Hulk to an auto factory in Detroit; Thor appears with Loki to clear Hulk's name; Suddenly Loki makes himself radioactive forcing the heroes to retreat; Luckily, Loki stands over a trapdoor and Ant-Man's ants trigger a switch, dropping him into a lead-lined tank; Upon celebrating their victory, Ant-Man and the Wasp point out how well they could work as a team, and that they should work together in future; The Wasp decides they should call themselves the Avengers, and everybody agrees. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 18 GD 2.0

Cover oxidation.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman. Origin and first appearance of the Super Skrull in "A Skrull Walks Among Us!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; The Skrull Emperor sends the Super-Skrull, a Skrull possessing all the powers of the Fantastic Four, to conquer Earth. In answer to a question from Paul B. Weinstein about who originated the corner cover symbol box, Stan Lee replied: "Steve Ditko dreamed up the idea, and we're sure glad he did!" 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Justice League of America (1960 1st Series) 22 VG- 3.5

Water spotting.

Cover art by Murphy Anderson. Crisis on Earth-Two!, script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Bernard Sachs; The JLA and JSA fight their own villains on the opposite Earths until they are mystically transported to cages in space; They escape and take down the gathered villains. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Metal Men (1963 1st Series) 3 VG 4.0

Cover pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito. The Moon's Invisible Army!, script by Bob Kanigher, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito; Doc Magnus builds a new Platinum, sans emotions; 1st use of Doc's Thought Power X image-field. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 47 GD- 1.8

Cover by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. Music to Scream By, script by Stan Lee and Ernie Hart [H. E. Huntley], art by Don Heck; Ant-Man and the Wasp are caught by the music of Trago, the trumpet player, who has learned some mystic use of his trumpet in India. The Disappearance text story. The Smiling Gods!, script by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber, art by Larry Lieber and Matt Fox; Asian farmers pray to their gods for a good crop to appease their cruel overlord, and their grain grows so rapidly that it entangles and crushes him. Target...Earth!, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; An alien lands on Earth with the intent of sizing up possible resistance to an invasion force. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.