Auctions: comic books January 1965

Avengers (1963 1st Series) 12 VG- 3.5

Cover oxidation. Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. "This Hostage Earth!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Dick Ayers; Ants warn Giant Man that there is something wrong, but none of the other Avengers believe him; In truth, it is the Mole Man, who plans to destroy the surface world by making the Earth spin very fast on its axis; And now, with his new ally the Red Ghost, how can he be stopped? Avengers Roll Call: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Giant Man, Wasp, and Rick Jones. Villains: the Red Ghost, the Mole Man, and the first appearance of Monk Keefer. Flashback cameos by Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, and Human Torch (of the Fantastic Four). Letters to the editor from science fiction writer George R.R. Martin and Steve Erickson (the writer?). Reprinted in Marvel Triple Action # 6. 36 pgs., full color. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Green Lantern (1960 2nd Series DC) 34 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4646447017

Cover pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Murphy Anderson. The Three-Way Attack on Green Lantern, script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Sid Greene; Hector Hammond creates an energy duplicate of a Guardian to fight Hal Jordan. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 128 VG 4.0

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky. The Human Torch and the Thing guest star in "Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch," script by Stan Lee and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray); Quicksilver wants to leave Magneto's group but his sister Wanda reminds him that she is in his debt; The Scarlet Witch takes her brother's lead and they seek out the Fantastic Four for advice; They encounter Ben and Johnny at FF headquarters where a misunderstanding turns into a brawl; Cameos by the X-Men (Angel, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Iceman), Magneto, the Mastermind, the Blob, and the Yancy Street Gang. Dr. Strange Master of the Mystic Arts illustration by Steve Ditko. "The Demon's Disciple!", script by Steve Ditko (plot, uncredited) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Strange receives a desperate plea for help from a man who became a disciple of someone called The Demon, not realizing the seriousness of the situation; The Demon transports the man back to his lair and consigns him to a pit beneath the floor; Strange tracks the man's location and confronts the evil mystic in an epic battle. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 61 GD/VG 3.0

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. "The Death of Tony Stark!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Dick Ayers; Iron Man versus Mandarin and his giant robot Koto. Iron Man pinup by Don Heck. "The Strength of the Sumo!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone; Captain America goes into Viet Nam to rescue prisoner of war Baker, and must face the Sumo. Letter from Pete Von Sholly (future comics artist). 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 112 VG+ 4.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. "The Mighty Thor Battles the Incredible Hulk!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone; Two rival fan clubs are debating who is stronger, Thor or the Hulk?; Thor happens to be passing by and drops in to offer his opinion; He relates the story of their epic battle (in Avengers #3) and describes a previously unseen scene in which he and the Hulk tussle; He goes into deep thought and when pressed, cannot say who is the stronger because he has insufficient proof!; Guest appearances by the Avengers (Iron Man, the Sub-Mariner, Giant-Man, and the Wasp) and Odin. "Tales of Asgard" back-up: "The Coming of Loki!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta; The Asgardians battle the Giants. Laufey, King of the Giants of Jotenheim, is slain; A bundle of cloth is found. It contains a baby; Odin adopts the child and names him Loki. The Merry Marvel Marching Society promo. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Two-Gun Kid (1948) 73 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4649155023

"The Guns of the Galloway Gang" (script by Stan Lee, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Frank Giacoia as "Frank Ray"), plus a back-up story, "The Little Hombre" (plot by Lee, script and art by Larry Lieber. Two-Gun Kid pin-up. Letters page begins. Ayers cover. Cover price $0.12.