Auctions: comic books 1953

Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica Annual (1953) 1 FR 1.0

6.25" Cumulative spine split/spine panel missing. Interior loose along split.

100 page giant. Cover by George Frese. "Uncover Girl," script by Frank Doyle, art by George Frese; Veronica refuses to give Betty a picture of herself for the yearbook, since all the pictures have her wearing out-of-date fashions. "Twin Killing," art by Samm Schwartz; As a welcoming gesture to two new girls who just transferred to Riverdale High, Veronica and Betty agree to set them up with one time only dates with Archie and Reggie. "Wrong Track," pencils by George Frese; Dateless, Betty agrees to babysit for her Aunt Lucy. "Dyeing For A Date," script and art by Joe Edwards; Betty helps Reggie play a prank on Veronica so she won't go to the dance with Archie. "Shop, Look And Listen," script by Frank Doyle, art by Samm Schwartz; Mr. Weatherbee assigns Archie and Reggie to rehabilitate his desk. "Gals Are Too Clever" text story. "For Better Or Verse," script and art by Joe Edwards; Archie pays Jughead to write a love poem, and then gives it to Veronica claiming he wrote it. "Big Fad Mamas," art by Samm Schwartz; In order to embarrass the girls out of the fad fashions they've taken to wearing, Archie and Reggie dress up in clothing from the Gay '90s. "Ugly Rumor," pencils by George Frese; Reggie tells Veronica he saw Archie escorting another woman. "With Mallet Toward None," script by Frank Doyle, pencils by Dan DeCarlo, inks by Rudy Lapick; Veronica insists on teaching Archie and Reggie croquet, but the collateral damage is too much for Mr. Lodge. 100 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.

Batman (1940) 75 GD/VG 3.0 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

RESTORATION. Tear seal. Water damage.

Gorilla story issue! Cover by Win Mortimer (Batman and Robin figures only) and Lew Sayre Schwartz. The Holiday Spirit! public service announcement with Superboy, script by Jack Schiff, art by Win Mortimer. "Outlaw Town, U.S.A.!", script by David Vern, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris; The town of Silver Vein is run by criminals and is a hideout for bad guys;. When some criminals from Gotham City go to Silver Vein, Batman and Robin follow them. Half-page Little Pete story by Henry Boltinoff. "Mr. Roulette's Greatest Gamble," script by David Vern, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris; Mr. Roulette has been gambling with his life but Batman and Robin try to stop him. One-page Casey the Cop story by Henry Boltinoff. "Stone Walls and Iron Bars" article by Jack Miller, art by Raymond Perry. Half-page Jerry the Jitterbug story by Henry Boltinoff. "The Gorilla Boss of Gotham City!", script by David Vern, pencils by Bob Kane (Batman and Robin figures only) and Lew Sayre Schwartz (as Bob Kane), inks by Charles Paris; Boss Dyke is executed in the gas chambers for his crimes, and his body is taken to a doctor who transplants the criminal's brain into that of a large gorilla; The gorilla communicates to the doctor that after he and his gang have secured needed funds, he wants his brain then transplanted into that of the Batman, and Batman's brain put into the gorilla. 44 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Batman (1940) 76 GD- 1.8 (R)

Restored (see item notes)

TRIMMED. 3" Cumulative spine split. Tape along interior cover spine and edges. Water damage.

Cover pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris. "The Danger Club," script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Bob Kane, inks by Charles Paris; When members of the Danger Club are threatened, then violently are elminated one by one, Batman decides to join the club himself to try to track down the killer. Half-page Shorty story by Henry Boltinoff. One-page Casey the Cop story by Henry Boltinoff. Half-page Peg story by Henry Boltinoff. "The Penguin's Fabulous Fowls!", script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Bob Kane (Batman and Robin figures only) and Lew Sayre Schwartz, inks by Charles Paris; Penguin is released from prison claims hes "going straight"; Batman and Robin go down to Gotham Harbor to confront the Penguin. One-page Varsity Vic story by Henry Boltinoff. 160,000,000 Policemen article by Jack Miller, art by Raymond Perry. People Are People! public service announcement with Superman, script by Jack Schiff, art by Win Mortimer. "The Man of 100 Murders," art by Jim Mooney (as Bob Kane); The Caped Crusaders go up against a ruthless, cold-blooded killer who shows no mercy to anyone. 44 Pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cave Girl (1953 ME) 12 VG- 3.5

Cover and first wrap detached at one staple. Water spotting.

(A-1 No. 96) Stories by Gardner Fox. Art by Bob Powell. Cover by Bob Powell. Sometimes listed as A1 Comics (1944 Life's Romances) #96. Classic good-girl art by Bob Powell, as a girl raised by wolves becomes the jungle hero Cave Girl. White men disguised as natives steal ivory and archaeological treasures; Cave Girl is captured by the Amazons and forced to fight lions; Jungle lord Thun'da must prevent discovery of an ancient machine that can turn anything into gold. Featuring early stories by future comics legend Gardner Fox. The Devil Boat!; Prey of the Headhunters!; The Amazon Assassins!; Thunda: The Gold-Maker! 36 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Cowpuncher (1953) 1 FN+ 6.5

Crime and Justice (1951) 11 VG 4.0

Cover by Lou Morales. Stories and art by Lou Morales, Art Capello, Frank Frollo, and Stan Campbell. Pre-Code crime comics from Charlton, sometimes published under its short-lived Capitol or Law and Order imprints. Mr. and Mrs. Chase are aided by teen gang "The Cobras" (who ride around in an Archie-like jalopy) while investigating a narcotics ring and a mad millionaire who keeps live alligators in his weird mansion. Not your typical crime-comics story. A small-time hood named Lippy still knows enough to bring down a major organized-crime syndicate. A detective flies out to Skull Lake to investigate killings that seem to be the work of a lake monster. Crime Clues: A Simple Case of Murder!; Mr. and Mrs. Chase: The Cobras; Rub-Out!; Plainly Poison; The Demon of Skull Lake; Radio Patrol: Case of the Bottled Murder. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Detective Comics (1937 1st Series) 196 GD 2.0 (R)

Trimmed

Cover partially TRIMMED. Heavy tape on cover, pieces on centerfold. Interior staining

Cover by Win Mortimer. Stories by Bill Woolfolk and unknown. Art by Dick Sprang, Charles Paris, Leonard Starr, Joe Certa and Ruben Moreira. When Bruce and Dick visit London's Scotland Yard, they are shocked to see a frame that once held a picture of Batman and Robin empty, and seek to find out why this has happened in "City Without Guns!" by Bill Woolfolk, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris. Plus: Pow-Wow Smith, Indian Lawman in "The Garments of the Golden Chief" with art by Leonard Starr; Robotman in "The Repeating Robotman!" with art by Joe Certa; and Impossible -- But True! tale "The Man from the 5th Dimension!" (featuring Roy Raymond) with art by Ruben Moreira. Also: Quick Quiz activity half-pager by H.T. Elmo; 2-page text story "Invitation to a Burglary" by Jack Miller; and Casey the Cop half-pager by Henry Boltinoff. 44 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Ginger (1951) 6 PR 0.5

Complete spine split. Cover oxidation with chipping. Water damage.

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36 pages. Cover price $0.10.

House of Terror (1953 3-D) 1N VG- 3.5 Without 3D Glasses

Cover detached at one staple. Staple rust.

Does not include original 3-D glasses. Cover by Joe Kubert. Stories and art by Joe Kubert, Les Zakarin and Enrico Bagnoli. Pre-Code horror from St. John featuring nice art by comics legend Joe Kubert and Enrico Bagnoli. St. John was a pioneer in 3-D comics during the original 3-D craze of the 1950s. Aspiring painter Henry makes a deal with the devil after he purchases a cursed painting, in a story with early art by comics legend Joe Kubert. In another Kubert story, robbers commit murder while fleeing police, then are pursued by the murdered man's spirit. A violinist falls under the spell of a cursed Stradivarius. Picture of Evil; The Violin of Death; The Curse of Khar; The Devil's Chair. 32 pages, B/W with 3-D effects. Cover price $0.25.

Jesse James (1953 Realistic) 0 FN 6.0

Art by Joe Kubert and others. Cover by Gene Fawcette. Reprints Jesse James (1950 Avon) #1. True tales (some slightly embellished) of Old West outlaws, focusing on the James brothers and other real-life figures from history. The story of Jesse James is given a war-hero spin, as he fights for the Confederacy against the Union commander Redbeard Randolph, who humiliated his family. Joining the guerrilla band of Bloody Bill Anderson, he takes part in the Centralia Massacre before becoming a bandit and outlaw. Split-Second Stand In introduces Alabam, who becomes sheriff of Broken Creek after his family is murdered, with art by Joe Kubert. Bloody Bill Anderson; The Centralia Massacre; Split-Second Stand In!; The San Antonio Stage Robbery; The Great Plains Robbery! 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Journey into Fear (1951 Superior) 11 GD- 1.8

Cover oxidation. Water damage. Lateral spine tear.

Beast of Bedlam; a man fights for his soul against the forces of evil from out of the past. Miser in the Coffin; millionaire Thaddeus Crewe decides to take his wealth with him to the grave. The Missing Man text story. Terror in the Night. Blood on Her Lips; a man of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police braves winter climes to try and capture a trapper wanted for murder. Circus Toys and Big Top ad. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Jughead (1949 1st Series Archie) Annual 1 FR 1.0

5.5" Cumulative spine split/spine panel missing. Interior loose along split. Margin piece torn out.

"Mask Me No Questions"; Jughead tricks Reggie into coming to a costume party dressed as Jughead; Jughead calls Moose, who is tasked with throwing out anyone not in a costume. "To Bear Or Not To Bear"; Archie and Reggie ask Jughead to come to their picnic dressed as a bear, as a prank on Betty and Veronica; Jughead can't find a bear costume, but a real bear crashes the picnic and wallops Reggie. "It's Hop To You"; Jughead is caught reading about hypnosis during class; Mr. Weatherbee explains to the gang that only the weak-minded can be hypnotized. Jughead says he could even hypnotize Mr. Weatherbee. "Fresh Heir"; When Jughead is named as an heir in his uncle's will, Reggie thinks Jughead has inherited money; He buys him malteds at the Choklit Shop and lets him have cash, ensuring him that it's not a loan, to get in Jughead's good graces in hopes of getting part of the inheritance. "Mind Over Manner"; Jughead sees Souphead making a girl carry his books home. "Take It Or Weave It"; Betty and Veronica praise Jughead for his prolific basket weaving. "Space Man"; Souphead builds a large box kite, so large that a gust of wind carries it away and Souphead with it; Jughead fears he is lost. 100 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.

Mad (1952 EC) 4 FR 1.0

6" cumulative spine split. Cover detached. Oxidation.

Cover by Harvey Kurtzman. "Superduperman!", art by Wally Wood; Superduperman defeats Captain Marbles by causing Marbles to punch himself out, but Superduperman still can't make it with Lois; The classic Superman parody. "Flob Was A Slob!", art by Jack Davis; Ramona is engaged to slobby, boring Flob but is smitten by the newcomer Rackstraw and follows Rackstraw into a life of crime. E.C. comics ad. "The Parole" text story by Jerry DeFuccio. "Let's Deplore Your Mind" text story; A fake letters column with Cosmo answering the letters. "Robin Hood!", art by John Severin; After robbing a sheriff's posse, Robin Hood and his gang rob Big John and Sparkie of their last two cents. "Shadow!", art by Bill Elder; Lamont kills Margo to preserve the secret of his identity; Shadow parody. 36 pgs., full color. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (1949-Present Mercury Publications) Vol. 4 #1 FN- 5.5

January 1953. Cover by Alex Schomburg. Fantasy and Science fiction stories: "The Big Holiday" by Fritz Leiber, "The Footprint" by Mabel Seeley, "Perfect Creature" by John Wyndham, "The Mask of Demeter" by Martin Pearson and Cecil Corwin, "New Ritual" by Idris Seabright, "When the Devil Took the Professor" by Kurd Lasswitz and translated by Willy Ley, "The Last Magician" by Bruce Elliot, "The Isle of Voices" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Joy Ride" by William Campbell Gault, "What Shadows We Pursue" by Russell Kirk, "The Chocolate Coach" by Doris Gilbert. Softcover, 5.5-in. x 7.5-in.; 132 pages, B&W. Cover price $0.35.

Return of the Outlaw (1953) 3 GD 2.0

Cover detached.

Cover by Stan Campbell. Stories and art by Art Helfant and others. Toby Press re-presents the adventures of Billy the Kid, a folk hero rather than a killer, as seen in Billy the Kid Adventure Magazine (1950). Billy and his sidekick Tar Woods get caught up in a town's strange traditions around their annual horse race. Billy aids a woman who's been claiming Billy the Kid as her brother to scare off outlaws seeking her lost gold mine. Billy gets a job as a sharpshooter in a Wild West show, but his skills may give away his true identity. The Brazos Beauty; The Mark of Z; Sure-Shot; Tumbleweed Tim and Chuck. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Spirit (1952 Fiction House) 4 PR 0.5

Interior is complete. Full length spine split.

Stories by Jules Feiffer and Will Eisner. Art by Jim Dixon and Al Wenzel. Reprints of the later years of the Spirit strip, when Will Eisner's crimefighter was being run by other cartoonists in his studio. This issue includes Spirit strips #566, 588, 607, and 621. Jules Feiffer seeks to convince Eisner to use the end of the world as a plot device in The Spirit; Humbolt Weepy tries to send a man to the Moon using only the power of his mind; A mysterious figure who may be the Devil himself plagues The Spirit, but is no match for Ellen Dolan. The Last Prowl of Mephisto; Design for Doomsday; The Sword and the Savage; The Great Galactic Mystery. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Three Stooges (1953 St. John) 2A VG- 3.5 3D Glasses Included

Includes St. John 3D glasses (unbound). Water damage. Staple rust. Double cover- outer cover 2.5, inner cover 3.5.

Copy includes original 3-D glasses. Cover by Norman Maurer. Stories and art by Joe Kubert and Norman Maurer. St. John, pioneer of celebrity comics and 3-D comics, combines the two as Moe, Larry and Shemp leap off the page. A mad scientist tricks the Stooges into test-piloting his rocketship to the moon. The Stooges are hired as store detectives to catch the thief known as The Chimp. Stunt performer Jeanie Steele goes on a location shoot in the jungle and danger follows, in a story with early art by comics legend Joe Kubert. Men in the Moon; Two Drips and a Droop!; The Nightmares of Benedict Bogus; Stunt Girl; Pie-Rates Reward. 32 pages, B/W with 3-D effects. Cover price $0.25.

War Battles (1952 Harvey) 9 PR 0.5

INCOMPLETE. Centerfold missing, interrupts art and story. 3 1/2" cumulative spine split. Cover oxidation.

Cover by Lee Elias. Stories and art by Joe Certa and Moe Marcus. Tales of war from Harvey, published as the Cold War was heating up. A stranded sailor is stuck on a raft loaded with explosives, with enemy aircraft overhead. A soldier calls on home-grown baseball skills to throw a grenade like a curveball. An ordinary jeep becomes a vehicle of survival for a group of soldiers trying to escape enemy fire. Floating Foxhole; Curve Ball Command!; Dirigible; Death Ride!; The Payne Saga; Make 'Em Pay. Final issue of the series. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Young Men (1950-1954 Marvel/Atlas) 20 VG 4.0

"Warning!" (art by Gene Colan), "Valley Forge!" (art by Bill Everett), "Gas!" (art by Dave Berg), "The Talking War" (art by Henkell), and a two-page text story, "The Kid!" 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.