Auctions: comic books December 1967

Batman (1940) 197 VG 4.0

Centerfold detached at one staple.

Cover pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Mike Esposito. 4th Silver Age appearance of Catwoman in book-length story, "Catwoman Sets Her Claws for Batman!", script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Frank Springer (as Bob Kane), inks by Sid Greene; Catwoman decides to reform and become a crime fighter like Batman in order to get him to somehow propose to her; When he doesn't, she gives him an ultimatum: to marry her or she returns to crime! Letters to the editor from comics historian Peter Sanderson Jr. and Bob Pinaha (New England Comics). Cap's Hobby Hints activity half-page by Henry Boltinoff. 36 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.12.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 35 VG/FN 5.0

Water spotting.

Cover pencils by Gene Colan, inks by John Tartaglione. Daredevil Dies First!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Bill Everett; Trapster seeks legal advice from Nelson and Murdock on the penalty for murdering Daredevil; After a pitched battle with D.D. in which the villain believes the hero vanquished, Trapster heads to the Baxter Building to take on the F.F. but finds Invisible Girl the only one home. 36 pgs. Cover price $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 69 FN+ 6.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott. By Ben Betrayed!, script by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (co-plot), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott; Ben is driven mad by the treatments of Dr. Santini, revealed to be the Mad Thinker, and attacks the rest of the FF. Crystal (of the Inhumans) appearance. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 69 VG+ 4.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott. By Ben Betrayed!, script by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (co-plot), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott; Ben is driven mad by the treatments of Dr. Santini, revealed to be the Mad Thinker, and attacks the rest of the FF. Crystal (of the Inhumans) appearance. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Marvel Super Heroes (1967 1st Series) 12 GD/VG 3.0

Giant-size issue. Series continues from Fantasy Masterpieces. Origin and first appearance of Captain Marvel in "The Coming of Captain Marvel!" Script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Frank Giacoia. The rest of the issue consists of Golden Age reprints: Captain America (from Men's Adventures # 28; 1954); the Human Torch by Dick Ayers (from Men's Adventures # 27; 1954); the Destroyer (from All Winners # 12; 1944); the Black Knight by Stan Lee and Joe Maneely (from Black Knight # 1; 1955); and the Sub-Mariner by Bill Everett (from Sub-Mariner # 38; 1955). Colan cover pencils. Cover price $0.25.

Marvel Super Heroes (1967 1st Series) 12 GD+ 2.5

Water spotting.

Giant-size issue. Series continues from Fantasy Masterpieces. Origin and first appearance of Captain Marvel in "The Coming of Captain Marvel!" Script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Frank Giacoia. The rest of the issue consists of Golden Age reprints: Captain America (from Men's Adventures # 28; 1954); the Human Torch by Dick Ayers (from Men's Adventures # 27; 1954); the Destroyer (from All Winners # 12; 1944); the Black Knight by Stan Lee and Joe Maneely (from Black Knight # 1; 1955); and the Sub-Mariner by Bill Everett (from Sub-Mariner # 38; 1955). Colan cover pencils. Cover price $0.25.

Metamorpho (1965 1st Series) 15 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4006273005

Cover art by Sal Trapani. Hour of Armageddon, script by Bob Haney, pencils by Sal Trapani, inks by Charles Paris; After being destroyed by the Thunderer, Metamorpho and Element Girl are returned to life by Billy Barton; The Thunderer takes over the U.N. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 163 FN/VF 7.0

Cover art by Jim Steranko. Nick Fury stars in "And the Dragon Cried... Death!", script and pencils by Jim Steranko, inks by Frank Giacoia; As Fury escapes the monster octopus, The Yellow Claw spies on A.I.M.; Torn by her conscience, Suwan contacts Jimmy Woo who tells Fury of the Claw's plans to steal The Ultimate Annihilator from A.I.M. Fury meets Clay Quartermain who joins him on his mission to tackle an A.I.M. squad; They retrieve a dragon statue which the Claw steals, unaware it was only a duplicate. "Three Faces of Doom!", script by Jim Lawrence and Dan Adkins (co-plot), art by Dan Adkins; The Living Tribunal learns that Nebulos' staff is a force of evil which he must destroy; As the Tribunal & Nebulos battle, Strange fears for the life of the missing Victoria; The Tribunal uses "Cosmic Lightning" to begin destroying Nebulos' home planet; As Nebulos refuses to hand over his staff to the Tribunal, Strange wrests it away as Nebulos is buried under an avalanche. Marvel Marching Society info and coupon. NOTE: 1st appearance of Clay Quartermain. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 96 FN+ 6.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Frank Giacoia. "The Deadly Victory!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Frank Giacoia; Iron Man is assisted in his battle with Grey Gargoyle by SHIELD agent Sitwell. "To Be Reborn!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott; Now that his secret identity is known to all, Captain America falls prey to various assassins; The Sniper appears. Ad for Merry Marvel Marching Society. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales to Astonish (1959-1968 1st Series) 98 CBCS 7.5

Paper: Off white

Label #22-0FD2B27-041

Cover by Dan Adkins. To Destroy the Realm Eternal!, script by Roy Thomas, art by Werner Roth and Dan Adkins; Namor returns to Atlantis only to find it under attack by the Plunderer; As the two parties clash, an American sub overhead senses the vibrations and begins to drop depth charges in case it is the Sub-Mariner intent on attacking them; The charges not only take out the Plunderer's sub but also destroy much of the city of Atlantis. The Puppet and the Power!, script by Stan Lee, art by Marie Severin and Herb Trimpe; Brainwashed into thinking that the Living Ligtning members are his friends, Hulk attacks his old enemy Ross and while the military is busy taking on the jade giant, the Lord of the Living Lightning takes over Thunderbolt's base. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 147 VG+ 4.5

Water spotting.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta. "The Wrath of Odin!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta; Thor surrenders to the police, Loki posts his bail and attacks him when alone; Sif and Balder intervene. Appearances by Odin and the Circus of Crime. Origins of the Inhumans back-up: "The Reason Why!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott; King Randac gains evergy powers from the Terrigen Mists and decrees that all of his subjects will be exposed to the Mists; The Sentry reveals that the Kree were responsible for the advanced scientific knowledge of Randac's people. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.