Auctions: comic books published by United Features Syndicate

Single Series (1938) 4 GD+ 2.5

2" Cumulative spine split. Cover coming loose at one staple. Cover oxidation.

Cover by Al Capp. Stories and art by Al Capp. United's anthology series presented a different comic-strip character in every issue. This issue focuses on the hillbilly antics of Al Capp's Dogpatch, and features the first-ever appearance of Li'l Abner in a comic book. Li'l Abner is selected to represent Dogpatch in the county wrestling Champeenship. But lowdown gamblers from Skunk Hollow ambush Abner before the fight. With Abner's wrist injured, Mammy must substitute for him in the ring, disguised as Th' Masked Marvel. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sparkler Comics (1941 2nd Series) 16 PR 0.5

INCOMPLETE. Multiple pages missing, interrupts art and story. Heavy water damage.

Cover by Reg Greenwood. Stories and art by Burne Hogarth, Reg Greenwood, Fred Methot, Bernard Dibble, Ernie Bushmiller, Jack Sparling, Drew Pearson, Bob Allen, Ben Batsford, Rudolph Dirks, Charlie Plumb, Bill Conselman, Harry O'Neill, Raeburn Van Buren and Frank N. Ernest. United's anthology featured reprints of early comic strips plus an original superhero, The Spark Man, who joined the military to fight in WWII. In the Pacific, Spark Man starts fighting the enemy in his civilian identity, Private Omar Kavak, a trend that would continue for most of the war. The "Sparkler Salutes" page focuses on General James H. Doolittle of the "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" raid. Plus a look at the Lockheed Lightning P-38 and the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress." And a Tarzan adventure by Burne Hogarth. Spark Man; Hap Hopper; Nancy; Captain and the Kids; Ella Cinders; Tarzan; Abbie an Slats; Broncho Bill; Frankie Doodle; Sparkler Salutes; El Bombo; Unbelievable - But True. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Tip Top Comics (1936) 188 CGC 1.8

Paper: Off white to white

Label #2025568002

Cover by Charles Schulz. Stories and art by Charles Schulz, Ernie Bushmiller, Rudolph Dirks, Mik, Dick Van Buren, and Bob Lubbers. Tip Top Comics presented color reprints of United Features newspaper comic strips. One of the backup strips in the comic is Charles Schulz's Peanuts, then only in its fifth year; several strips are presented in full color. Lucy's bouncing of the ball 50,000 times finally drives Charlie Brown over the edge. Snoopy feels left out by the gang, in one of his earliest interior monologues. Nancy has too much junk food while visiting the zoo. Tarzan finds himself in the strange land of Luanda. One of the earliest appearances of Schulz's Peanuts on the cover of a comic book. Nancy; Peanuts; Strange as It Seems; Hobbies for All!; The Captain and the Kids; Stamp Tips; Ferd'nand; Tarzan. Final issue published by United Features; St. John takes over publishing with the next issue. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

United Comics (1940/1950) 10 PR 0.5

INCOMPLETE. Piece missing, interrupts art or story. Mold.

Cover by Ernie Bushmiller. Stories and art by Ernie Bushmiller and Raeburn van Buren. The comic-strip adventures of aspiring model Fritzi Ritz and her boyfriend, the bumbling Phil Fumble. Fritzi tries to attract the attention of a newspaper photographer at the beach, in a strip that showcases Bushmiller's ability to draw beautiful women. Bathless Groggins gets into a boxing match with Banker Hagstone over $10,000 in stock shares, in an Abbie an' Slats strip with nice art by Raeburn van Buren. Fritzi Ritz; Abbie an' Slats; Stamp Tips. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.