Auctions: comic books June 1969

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 73 GD/VG 3.0

First appearances of Silvermane and Man-Mountain Marko in "The Web Closes!" Plot by John Buscema and John Romita. Script by Stan Lee. Art by John Buscema (layouts) and Jim Mooney (finishes). Cover by John Romita. Spider-Man is in hot pursuit of the ancient clay tablet! And he receives a tip from Captain Stacy -- that the Shocker's girlfriend may have it. The wall-crawler rushes to her apartment, but a new super-villain is already there: Man-Mountain Marko! The Maggia sent Marko to get the petrified tablet...and nobody is going to stop him! The web-slinger tries his best, but the raging bull grabs the tablet and takes it to his boss: Silvermane. Why does Silvermane want the tablet? And why does he need Dr. Curt Connors' help? Cameo appearances by Gwen Stacy, Caesar Cicero, Joe Robertson, Randy Robertson, and J. Jonah Jameson. (Notes: The letters page includes letters from comics historian Peter Sanderson and comics writer J.M. DeMatteis, respectively. This story was reprinted in Marvel Tales #54.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.12.

Incredible Hulk (1962 Marvel 1st Series) 116 VG+ 4.5

Centerfold detached at one staple.

Cover art by Herb Trimpe. The Eve of Annihilation, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Dan Adkins; With the Hulk in an unbreakable plastic prison of the Leader's design, things start to look a little fishy as the Leader moves his Giant Humanoid onto the missile base and begins to take over; Betty hears the Leader soliloquizing to himself about his plans for world domination and she convinces Talbot to try and free the Hulk; Once he escapes, the Hulk has to battle through the Super Humanoid to try and stop the Leader from starting a nuclear war. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Phantom Stranger (1969 2nd Series) 1 VG/FN 5.0

First and only 12-cent cover price. Cover art by Bill Draut. "When Ghosts Walk!", script by Mike Friedrich (p. 1 and top half of p2-3) and John Broome (bottom half of p2-3, 4-7), pencils by Bill Draut (p. 1 and top half of p2-3) and Carmine Infantino (bottom half of p2-3, 4-7), inks by Bill Draut (p. 1 and top half of p2-3) and Sy Barry (bottom half of p2-3, 4-7); When three friends die in a plane crash, the spirits seem to be haunting those they left behind, but the Phantom Stranger reveals that the ghostly appearances are really the work of an embezzler attempting to cover his tracks. "The Hermit's Ghost Dog" starring Doctor Terry Thirteen, Marie, Bart Harley, and Dirk the dog, script by Ed Herron, art by Leonard Starr. "Defeat the Dragon Curse...or Die!", script by Mike Friedrich, art by Bill Draut; When Dr. 13 and Marie Leeds visit their friends Harry and Rosemary in San Francisco during the Chinese New Year, they find that their friends have been killed; When the Phantom Stranger appears, he suggests that it is the curse of Ching Hi Fu; The Phantom Stranger works to capture the culprit, a man worshiping Ching Hi Fu, who has been trying to destroy modern buildings which he believes are an effrontery to his Chinese heritage. Letter to the editor from comics writer Martin Pasko. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Silver Surfer (1968 1st Series) 6 CGC 9.2

Paper: White

Label #4388597017

"Worlds without End!" Written by Stan Lee. Art by John Buscema and Sal Buscema. Cover by John Buscema. Through an inexplicable occurrence, the Silver Surfer arrives in the far off future. A future where the galaxy has been made a barren wasteland and what few patches of humanity remain alive life as slaves to the despot responsible for everything. In order to save the universe the Surfer must give up that which he has sought for so long - freedom! Includes the Watcher back-up "The Unsuspecting!" Story by Stan Lee. Art by Syd Shores and Frank Brunner. 64-page giant. Cover price $0.25.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 165 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #0243796003

Last 12-cent cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta. First full appearance of Adam Warlock in "Him!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta; Balder continues to resist the feminine wiles of Karnilla, and the Norn Queen calls in reinforcements; Meet Haag, a morally-dubious sorceress who has mastered the power of persuasion; Will Balder cave to the sinister love of Karnilla?; Plus, Thor encounters a strange earthling who goes only by the name of "Him." Appearances by Sif and the Watcher. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.