Auctions: comic books March 1965

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 22 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4465663001

Cover art by Steve Ditko. First appearance of Princess Python (part of the Masters of Menace) in The Clown and His Masters of Menace!, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; Spider-Man goes to Ringmaster and his criminal circus performers hotel room; the performers kick Ringmaster out of their group and steal some paintings; Spidey battles Ringmaster. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 17 and 160. 32 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 22 VG 4.0

Cover art by Steve Ditko. First appearance of Princess Python (part of the Masters of Menace) in The Clown and His Masters of Menace!, script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; Spider-Man goes to Ringmaster and his criminal circus performers hotel room; the performers kick Ringmaster out of their group and steal some paintings; Spidey battles Ringmaster. Reprinted in Marvel Tales # 17 and 160. 32 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 36 VG- 3.5

Heavy cover oxidation.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. Intro and first appearance of Madam Medusa (of the Inhumans) in The Frightful Four!, script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone; Reed and Sue announce their engagement. The Wizard forms the Frightful Four and attacks the Baxter Building. The Frightful Four include Medusa, the Wizard, the Sandman, and Paste-Pot Pete. Brief appearances by the Avengers, the X-Men, and Spider-Man. Letter to the editor from comics artist Dave Cockrum. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 63 VG 4.0

Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby (Captain America) and Don Heck (Iron-Man), inks by Sol Brodsky (Captain America) and Dick Ayers (Iron-Man). "Somewhere Lurks the Phantom!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Dick Ayers; Iron Man stops industrial saboteur the Phantom, who turns out to be one of his employees. Captain America's origin is told for the first time in the Silver Age in "The Origin of Captain America!", script by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (co-plot), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray); While the Nazi war machine marches on, President Roosevelt institutes a top-secret program, "Project Rebirth"; In a secret lab, scientist Dr. Erskine gives army 4F reject and volunteer Steve Rogers the "super-soldier serum," which turns him into a virtual superman; But a Nazi spy who got past security murders Erskine before he can create an army of men like Rogers, and is killed when he runs headlong into some electrical machinery; Rogers becomes the costumed Captain America, as a symbol of freedom; Bucky Barnes appearance; Franklin D. Roosevelt cameo; This is a re-telling of "Meet Captain America" from Captain America Comics #1, March 1941. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Tales of Suspense (1959) 63 GD+ 2.5

Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby (Captain America) and Don Heck (Iron-Man), inks by Sol Brodsky (Captain America) and Dick Ayers (Iron-Man). "Somewhere Lurks the Phantom!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Dick Ayers; Iron Man stops industrial saboteur the Phantom, who turns out to be one of his employees. Captain America's origin is told for the first time in the Silver Age in "The Origin of Captain America!", script by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (co-plot), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray); While the Nazi war machine marches on, President Roosevelt institutes a top-secret program, "Project Rebirth"; In a secret lab, scientist Dr. Erskine gives army 4F reject and volunteer Steve Rogers the "super-soldier serum," which turns him into a virtual superman; But a Nazi spy who got past security murders Erskine before he can create an army of men like Rogers, and is killed when he runs headlong into some electrical machinery; Rogers becomes the costumed Captain America, as a symbol of freedom; Bucky Barnes appearance; Franklin D. Roosevelt cameo; This is a re-telling of "Meet Captain America" from Captain America Comics #1, March 1941. 36 pages, full color. Cover price $0.12.

Thor (1962 Marvel 1st Series Journey Into Mystery) 114 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4461664016

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. First appearance and origin of the Absorbing Man in "The Stronger I Am, the Sooner I Die!" (And what a great title!), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone; Loki uses his magic to turn Crusher Creel into the Absorbing Man; A patient of Blake's, reporter Harris Hobbs, alerts him the existence of the Absorbing Man; Blake breaks a dinner date with Jane in order to investigate as Thor; Thor and Creel meet and fight; Hobbs witnesses the battle and is injured; Thor tends to Hobbs before resuming his battle; Balder then interrupts the fight by transporting Thor to Asgard; It seems that Loki has abducted Jane and brought her to the Golden Realm; Thor and Balder ride off to save her; Appearance by Loki. Fantastic Four comic ad. "Tales of Asgard" back-up, "The Golden Apples!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta; Asgardian version of Little Red Riding Hood; First appearance of the land of Varinheim. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.