Auctions: comic books January 1973

Amazing Spider-Man (1963 1st Series) 116 FN- 5.5

"Suddenly...the Smasher!" Part 1 of 3. Script by Stan Lee (original) and Gerry Conway (updates). Pencils by John Romita. Inks by Jim Mooney and Tony Mortellaro (backgrounds). Cover by John Romita. The gang war is over, and the Spectacular Spider-Man wants to get back to his normal life. But while web-swinging to the Daily Bugle, he's ambushed in mid-air by the Smasher! Who? The web-spinner doesn't recognize his large opponent, but he battles him to a standstill and saves the lives of two high-rise painters. In the meantime, a new candidate -- named Richard Raleigh -- is running for mayor. And he's holding a big indoor rally that Peter, Gwen Stacy, and Mary Jane attend! However when the ceiling plaster starts falling, the wall-crawler leaps into action to keep the rally-goers safe! Is someone trying to ruin Raleigh's campaign? Cameo appearances by J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Betty Brant, and Harry Osborn. (Notes: ASM issues 116-118 are a revised, re-edited, and colorized version of Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #1 -- published in black and white in 1968. The script and art contain many updates (including new pages) in order to fit into Spider-Man's current continuity. ASM 116 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #95.) 32 pages. Cover price $0.20.

Phantom Stranger (1969 2nd Series) 23 FN- 5.5

Cover art by Jim Aparo. "Panic in the Night!", script by Len Wein, art by Jim Aparo; In their quest to end the terror of the Dark Circle, the Phantom Stranger and Cassandra Craft end up in Paris; The city has been terrorized by the appearance of Quasimodo and the Phantom of the Opera; While attending the opera, the "Phantom" captures Cassandra; Going after the "Phantom," the Phantom Stranger learns that it's really his old foe Tannarak. "The Spawn of Frankenstein" Part 1, script by Marv Wolfman, art by Mike Kaluta; When Victor Adams, a colleague of Dr. Thirteen recovers the frozen remains of Frankenstein's Monster, he becomes determined to revive the creature; Even when the university he works for fires him for his proposed plan, Adams decides to continue with the project on his own; When his wife calls in Dr. Thirteen and his wife Marie, the two arrive just as Adams has used a laser device to revive the monster. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.