Auctions: comic books March 1978

Black Panther (1977 Marvel 1st Series) 8 VF+ 8.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Frank Giacoia. Panthers or Pussycats?, script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Mike Royer; Traveling back to Wakanda, T'Challa recalls how he won the trial by combat to become the Black Panther, leader of the Panther cult and all of Wakanda; In Wakanda, members of the Wakandan royal family, Joshua Itobo, Ishanta, Khanata and Zuni, answer N'Gassi's call to battle the mutated Jakarra. 32 pgs. $0.35. Cover price $0.35.

Detective Comics (1937 1st Series) 476 CGC 9.2

Paper: White

Label #4480391005

Cover pencils by Marshall Rogers, inks by Terry Austin. "Sign of the Joker!" script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Marshall Rogers, inks by Terry Austin; Hugo Strange takes his revenge on Rupert Thorne, Silver St. Cloud makes a decision about her future, and Batman puts an end to the Joker's latest scheme. Letter from comics historian Peter Sanderson. Article by Jenette Kahn about the comic "Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali." Aquaman stars in a one-page Hostess ad, "Mera Meets the Manta Men." 36 pgs., full color. $0.35. Cover price $0.35.

Firestorm (1978 1st Series) 1 VF- 7.5

"Make Way for Firestorm." The origin of Firestorm. An explosion at an atomic energy plant merges Professor Martin Stein with high school jock Ronnie Raymond, resulting in the nuclear-powered hero, Firestorm. Script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Al Milgrom, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubenstein. Cover by Milgrom. Cover price $0.35.

John Carter Warlord of Mars (1977 Marvel) 10 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #4500670003

"Air Pirates of Mars, Part 10: Confrontation." The final installment of "Air Pirates," this issue finds John Carter confronting The Great One, who has chosen Carter to survive his purge of Barsoom. The Great One dies in battle. Script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by The Tribe. Cover by Kane. Cover price $0.35.

Steel the Indestructible Man (1978) 1 CGC 9.8

Paper: White

Label #0295456014

Cover pencils by Don Heck, inks by Al Milgrom. "From Hell Is Forged... a Hero!", script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Don Heck, inks by Joe Giella; First appearance of the original Steel, grandfather of the second Steel and Citizen Steel; Origin story of Steel in 1939 before America enters into war during World War II (WWII); As a civilian Hank goes to Germany and sees a Jewish man receive a beating and fears that the old man was later killed after he left; When he arrives back to the States, he finds that Germany has invaded Poland and he leaves Princeton to join the United States Marines; His girlfriend Gloria Giles (intro) is against his decision and leaves him for that decision, but it is soon after entering the war that that he is blown up trying to stop some saboteurs; This is when Gloria decides to come back and Steel is rebuilt to comeback from his injuries; This turns him into a super-powered being; vs. Baron Death (intro). 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.35.