Auctions: comic books March 1973

Captain Marvel (1968 1st Series Marvel) 25 CGC 8.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4419918002

Cover pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Joe Sinnott. Captain Marvel battles the Super-Skrull (in the guise of Ronan, Megaton, Yon-Rogg, the Hulk, and the Sub-Mariner) in "A Taste of Madness!", script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Jim Starlin (first work on the series), inks by Chic Stone; In an elaborate scheme of the Skrulls and their mysterious Masterlord, Super-Skrull and Kl'rt, Rick Jones is framed for the murder of Dr. Benjamin Savannah and brought to a run-down police precinct; Using Super-Skrulls invisibility as well as other Skrull technology, Mar-Vell and Rick are led to believe that many of his long-time friends and foes have returned and are attacking him; Rick and Mar-Vell identify the ruse, and Mar-Vell attacks the Skrulls; The building collapses in the battle and the Skrulls escape. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.

Daredevil (1964 1st Series) 97 FN 6.0

Cover pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Frank Giacoia. First appearance of the Dark Messiah in He Who Saves, script by Gerry Conway (plot) and Steve Gerber, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Ernie Chan [as Ernie Chua]; A young street performer meets with an accident and is transformed by a mysterious figure into the super-powerful Dark Messiah; The Messiah breaks a gang of kids out of prison, leads them to Golden Gate Park and erects a force field so that no one can get in; DD gets involved and makes it through the force field but the power of the Messiah is too much and Hornhead goes down. The letters page contains a statement of ownership--average print run 325,103; average paid circulation 180,765. 36 pgs. Cover price $0.20. Cover price $0.20.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 132 CBCS 9.2

Paper: White

Slab: Significant scuff(s) front or back

Label #22-0F7594C-016

"Omega! The Ultimate Enemy!" Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Quicksilver and the Inhumans. Script by Roy Thomas. Art by John Buscema (breakdowns) and Joe Sinnott (finishes). Cover by Jim Steranko and Frank Giacoia. In the underground lair of the Alpha Primitives, the awesome Omega has seized Crystal! And now the Human Torch and Quicksilver must join forces to set her free! However, the massive android is powerful indeed! It's going to take all of the Inhumans plus Mr. Fantastic and the Thing to stop the invasion of the Alpha Primitives! Can the FF and the royal family defeat the Alphas and Omega? But even if the heroes win, Johnny Storm is still going to lose. (Notes: The Human Torch changes his costume from blue to red in this issue, and Medusa joins the Fantastic Four (through issue 159). The letters page contains a statement of ownership: average print run 457,990; average paid circulation 245,695.) 32 pages Cover price $0.20.

Marvel Feature (1971 1st Series) 8 FN+ 6.5

"Prelude to Disaster!" Guest-starring Ant-Man and the Wasp. Script by Mike Friedrich. Pencils by Craig Russell and Jim Starlin. Inks by Jimmy Janes. Cover by Jim Starlin and Mike Esposito. At the end of last issue, Janet Pym was transformed from her normal self into a grotesque-looking wasp! And now she's in hot pursuit of Ant-Man! As Henry Pym scampers away from his mutated wife, his mind wonders back to how it all began in Tales to Astonish 44. (Notes: This issue features 3 pages of new art. The remainder of the issue reprints Tales to Astonish 44 the origin of the Wasp. Script by Ernie Hart. Pencils by Jack Kirby. Inks by Don Heck.) 32 pages Cover price $0.20.

Sub-Mariner (1968 1st Series) 59 VG+ 4.5

Cover inks by Bill Everett and Marie Severin (alterations). "Thunder Over the Seas," script by Bill Everett and Steve Gerber, pencils by Sam Kweskin, inks by John Tartaglione; A pompous and arrogant Atlantean soldier, Lorvex, makes a pass at Tamara who rebukes his advances; She's later caught in a fishing net and eventually brought to New York city; Namor learns of her capture and makes his way there only to be challenged by Thor; Namor engages Thor and quickly learns the full power of the Thunder God; Namor returns home to ponder a full-scale invasion of the surface world. 36 pgs., full color. $0.20. Cover price $0.20.