Auctions: comic books in 'Celestial Madonna'

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 134 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #2097290001

"The Times That Bind!" Script by Steve Englehart. Art by Sal Buscema (layouts) and Joe Staton (finishes). Cover by Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott (with John Romita touch-ups). The Vision's trip through time marches on as the synthezoid avenger discovers the sad fate of the original Human Torch. After going nova in the 1950's, the torch's body remained dormant and missing for many years until the Mad Thinker located it. However, the twisted thinker just resurrected the torch in order to attack the Fantastic Four. After the FF's victory (in Fantastic Four Annual 4), the original Human Torch became inactive again…until someone else, someone even more evil, found the android body! Also traveling through time, Mantis and her teammates learn how the pacifist Kree and the Cotati worked together to defeat the militant Kree and the Star Stalker centuries ago. And then they observe how the Kree came to Earth to plant the Cotati in Vietnam years later. Meanwhile back in the present time at Avengers Mansion, a confident Scarlet Witch wins a brief skirmish against Moondragon. Origin of the Vision. Origin of Mantis. Cameo appearances by Agatha Harkness and Libra. Flashback cameos by Immortus, the Supreme Intelligence, Quasimodo, Toro, Ultron-5, and the Fantastic Four. Avengers Lineup: Iron Man, Hawkeye, Mantis, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. 36 pgs. Cover price $0.25.

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 135 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #2097290002

"The Torch is Passed!" Script by Steve Englehart. Pencils by George Tuska. Inks by Frank Chiaramonte. Cover by Jim Starlin and John Romita Sr. (vignettes). In the Mad Thinker's deserted laboratory, the Vision witnesses how Ultron-5 transformed the original Human Torch's body into his own synthetic body. Sadly, the synthezoid avenger also observes the tragic death of his creator and his first valiant fight against Ultron. However, the past is in the past; and knowing the truth, the Vision is ready to move forward and reunite with Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Meanwhile in present day Vietnam, Moondragon joins Mantis, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, Libra, and the Cotati to uncover the secrets of the Celestial Madonna. Origin of the Vision. Origin of Moondragon. Death of Dr. Phineas T. Horton. Story continues in Giant-Size Avengers 4. Cameo appearance by Immortus. Flashback cameos by the Wasp, Henry Pym, Dr. Phineas T. Horton, Quasimodo, Silver Surfer, Thanos, Mentor, and the Mad Thinker. (Notes: This issue fills in the details of what took place between Fantastic Four Annual 4 and the Vision's first appearance in Avengers 57. Elements of the story in Doctor Strange (2nd series) 7 continue in Giant-Size Avengers 4.) The letters page contains a statement of ownership: average print run 342,917; average paid circulation 188,084. 36 pgs. Cover price $0.25.