Auctions: comic books published by United Features Syndicate

Single Series (1938) 9 CGC 7.0

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #4363506001

Cover by John Hix. Stories and art by John Hix. United's anthology series presented a different comic-strip character in every issue. This issue features the Ripley's Believe It or Not-like comic strip Strange as It Seems by John Hix. Freaks of nature, whimsical facts, historical oddities, persons of unusual habits, hero pets, wonders of the animal kingdom, strange foods, medical trivia, and pure plainspoken hokum. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sparkler Comics (1941 2nd Series) 10 VG+ 4.5

Cover oxidation.

Stories and art by Burne Hogarth, Reg Greenwood, Fred Methot, Bernard Dibble, Ernie Bushmiller, Jack Sparling, Drew Pearson, Bob Allen, Ben Batsford, Rudolph Dirks, Charlie Plumb, Bill Conselman, Harry O'Neill, Raeburn Van Buren and Frank N. Ernest. United's anthology featured reprints of early comic strips plus an original superhero, Spark Man, whose identity was a secret even from the readers. Washington DC reporter hero Hap Hopper joins the Sparkler Comics cast. Hap enlists in the Army as WWII starts, but Hap's mother, who has a history with the camp's general, makes boot camp a humiliating experience. Also joining the Army is The Spark Man, who reveals his identity...to the readers, at least. And Danny Dingle and his father, who join a Latin American rebel army, whether they like it or not. Plus a Tarzan adventure by Burne Hogarth. Spark Man; Hap Hopper; Nancy; Captain and the Kids; Ella Cinders; Tarzan; Abbie an Slats; Broncho Bill; Frankie Doodle; Danny Dingle; El Bombo; Unbelievable - But True. 68 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sparkler Comics (1941 2nd Series) 37 CGC 4.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4427483022

Cover by Burne Hogarth. Stories and art by Burne Hogarth, Paul Berdanier, Fred Methot, Bernard Dibble, Ernie Bushmiller, Jack Sparling, Drew Pearson, Bob Allen, Milburn Rosser, Rudolph Dirks, Charlie Plumb, Bill Conselman, Harry O'Neill, Raeburn Van Buren and Abner Dean. United's anthology featured reprints of early comic strips, plus patriotic WWII heroes The Spark Man and Race Riley. The Spark Man struggles to escape after being sealed up behind the wall in gangster Martoni's house. Heartbroken Hap Hopper and Holly pass each other in the Washington train station without even realizing it. Bathless Groggins is masquerading as Princess Groggynska while the real princess organizes the Resistance, but that puts Bathless in the hot seat. Plus a Tarzan adventure by Burne Hogarth. Aquatic Tarzan cover by Hogarth. Spark Man; Hap Hopper; Nancy; Captain and the Kids; Ella Cinders; Tarzan; Abbie an Slats; Broncho Bill; Race Riley and the Commandos; Sparkler Salutes; El Bombo. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sparkler Comics (1941 2nd Series) 47 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4427483019

Cover by Burne Hogarth. Stories and art by Burne Hogarth, Paul Berdanier, Fred Methot, Ernie Bushmiller, Jack Sparling, Drew Pearson, Bob Allen, Rudolph Dirks, and Raeburn Van Buren. United's anthology featured reprints of early comic strips, including Tarzan, Captain and the Kids and Nancy. Discharged from the Army after 37 issues, The Spark Man resumes his superhero costume and powers to track gamblers who prey on veterans. Hans und Fritz disguise themselves as a rhinoceros, but the fun begins when a real rhino gets involved. Dave's performance proves he's a genius, but not quite in the way he thought. Plus a Tarzan adventure by Burne Hogarth. Dynamic Tarzan cover by Hogarth. Hap Hopper; Nancy; Captain and the Kids; Tarzan; Abbie an Slats; Spark Man: In Metropole; Sparkler Salutes. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sparkler Comics (1941 2nd Series) 59 PR 0.5

INCOMPLETE. Multiple pages missing. Interrupts art and story.

Stories and art by Burne Hogarth, Al Capp, Ernie Bushmiller, Jack Sparling, Charlie Plumb, Bernard Dibble, Ed Dodd, Rudolph Dirks, J. P. Williams, Arnie Mossler and Raeburn Van Buren. United's anthology featured reprints of early comic strips, including Tarzan, Li'l Abner and Nancy. Tarzan secures the radioactive jewel and restores the rightful queen to the Kavian throne, but is captured by the strange tree-women. Hap Hopper investigates after Senator Stormy Rivers suddenly withdraws from his re-election campaign. The ghost of Flame McGoon declares she will follow Li'l Abner until he declares his love for her. Li'l Abner; Hap Hopper; Nancy; Captain and the Kids; Tarzan; Sparkler Salutes; Ella Cinders; The Young Idea; Abbie an Slats; Back Home Again; Out Our Way; El Bombo. 48 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sparkler Comics (1941 2nd Series) 110 PR 0.5

INCOMPLETE. Page missing. Interrupts art and story.

Cover by Ernie Bushmiller. Stories and art by Ernie Bushmiller, Rudolph Dirks, Warren Tufts and Ernest G. Osborne. United's anthology featured reprints of early comic strips, including Casey Ruggles, Captain and the Kids and Nancy. When a wave of cattle-rustling, highway robbery, and murder sweeps across California, the fearsome outlaw chief Juan Soto is believed to be behind it. Casey Ruggles sets out to track down the killer who is feared even by his own men. The Captain's quiet day of fishing is disrupted by the Kids and the sudden appearance of a submarine. The Family Workshop; Nancy; Captain and the Kids; Casey Ruggles; Strange as It Seems. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Tip Top Comics (1936) 68 PR 0.5

Interior is complete. Extremely brittle pages. Spine split through all wraps.

Cover by Rudolph Dirks. Stories and art by Al Capp, Ernie Bushmiller, Rudolph Dirks, Gus Mager, Dick Moores, Fred Methot, Reg Greenwood, Hal Forrest, Bernard Dibble, and R. M. Brinkerhoff. Sometimes listed as Tip Top Comics Vol. 6 #8. Tip Top Comics presented color reprints of United Features newspaper comic strips. The Mirror Man, Sa-Gu, and Brother Bright arrive at the Black Castle. There they find the body of Atar, but first they must battle his evil spirit in the form of "black light beams." When thugs try to steal Professor Myte's powerful new explosive formula, The Triple Terror superhero team springs into action. Rich, eccentric, old Hattie Haggle decides to give her fortune to a stranger, in a Li'l Abner storyline by Al Capp. Li'l Abner; The Captain and the Kids; The Mirror Man; The Triple Terror; Jim Hardy; Stamp Tips; Looy Dot Dope; Tailspin Tommy; Iron Vic; Phil Fumble; Fritzi Ritz; Little Mary Mixup. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Tip Top Comics (1936) 167 PR 0.5

Interior is complete. Extremely brittle pages. Spine split through all wraps.

Stories and Art by Ernie Bushmiller, Paul Berdanier, Leonard Sansone, Rudolph Dirks and unknown. (Note: Who the inkers are is mainly unknown.) In this issue: Nancy by Ernie Bushmiller; Strange as It Seems 1-pager "Longest Cemetery in the World"; How It Began article "Cold Cream" with art by Paul Berdanier; Willie by Leonard Sansone; Stamp Tips article "A Stamp Fortune"; Broncho Bill; and The Captain and the Kids by Rudolph Dirks. 32 pages, full color. Cover price $0.10.

Tip Top Comics (1936) 186 GD- 1.8

Cover detached. Cover oxidation. Water damage.

Tip Top Comics (1936) 202 PR 0.5

Interior is complete. Full length spine split through cover and first few wraps.