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The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. Spider-Man is not only Marvel's most famous and enduring character, he's the star of two smash hit movies, with more to come. And Amazing Spider-Man is currently the most collected series in comics, making demand for this debut issue extremely high. It was only the character's second appearance overall after Amazing Fantasy #15. This book is ranked as the fourth most-valuable Silver Age comic book by Overstreet, topped only by the first appearances of the Fantastic Four, the Silver Age Flash, and Spidey himself. The issue also has the first appearance of a key member of Spidey's supporting cast, irascible newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson, and also reveals the origin of Jameson's grudge against the Webslinger -- it has to do with Jonah's son, astronaut John Jameson, who also makes his first appearance here and popped up in various storylines in the ensuing years. Lee's winning formula for the character of Spider-Man, plagued by everyday woes like paying the bills, was carried on here in two famous scenes: the first has the hero putting on a performance to make some money only to find out he can't cash a check that's made out to Spider-Man. Then he applies for membership in the Fantastic Four, asking "How much does the job pay? I figure I'm worth your top salary." The quartet of non-profit do-gooders can only shake their heads at that. Spider-Man even finds time to take on his first supervillain, the Chameleon. The story is of course by Lee (who can be forgiven for calling his character "Peter Palmer" in one panel), and the interior art is by Steve Ditko. The cover is billed as a team effort between Ditko and Jack Kirby -- it would appear that Jolly Jack did the layouts, and Sturdy Steve took care of the rest. Since copies of this comic were usually read, re-read, and read again, a 9.4 copy really makes us sit up and take notice. Only four copies of this issue have been certified with higher g
Auction 815 | Lot: 1005 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $55,200.00
Mad #1 Gaines File pedigree 4/12 (EC, 1952) CGC NM/MT 9.8 Off-white to white pages. Few titles have managed to last as long as Harvey Kurtzman's brain-child, which is still going strong today. Kurtzman drew the cover to this seminal issue, Jack Davis satirized the horror genre, Wally Wood lampooned the sci-fi, John Severin skewed the westerns, and Bill Elder poked fun at the crime stories that EC published. What more could you want? Why, perhaps the most stunning specimen of this important comic! Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $7,000. CGC census 12/04: 3 in 9.8, none higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1200 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $32,200.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Marvel, 1964) CGC MT 9.9 Off-white to white pages. That's not a misprint, tiger, this is a MT 9.9 copy of this Silver Age book. We look at ASM issues just about all day long, and even the really nice ones usually have one of Marvel's notorious overhangs or a shade of "Marvel chipping." Not so for this gem, which has perfect corners and edges and superb page quality. You rarely see a book this nice that's a couple of years old, never mind one from the days before mylar bags and the like. And of all issues, it's the one with the predominantly white cover! Never mind fingerprints, we don't think anyone ever even breathed on the thing. An outrageously nice book. The reason there aren't more MT copies? Well, everyone and his kid brother wanted to read and re-read yet another Stan Lee and Steve Ditko story. This one had plenty of action; Sandman and the Enforcers appear, and the Human Torch guest-stars as well. As of this writing, this is the only 9.9 that CGC has certified. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $625. CGC census 1/05: 1 in 9.9, none higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1018 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $20,700.00
Marvel Comics #1 (Timely, 1939) CGC GD 2.0 Cream to off-white pages. When it comes to sheer significance, you can't top Marvel Comics #1, a collection of firsts unrivaled anywhere in comicdom. It was the first Timely comic to hit newsstands; of course "Marvel" would later become the name of the company as a whole. As such, this book was effectively the start of the Marvel Universe, the fascinating conglomeration of characters which has collectively sold millions of comic books and left its mark on American popular culture. There's an entire roster of characters making their first appearances here, but we'll start by mentioning the debut and origin story of the first Human Torch, one of the most important characters of Timely's run. The book also boasts the de facto first appearance of the other major Timely character, the Sub-Mariner, who's still a star in Marvel comic books today (a story with the character had been printed in the promotional comic Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, but that book was never released to the general public; Overstreet terms Marvel #1 the Sub-Mariner's first newsstand appearance). There are even more key firsts here -- take the first comic book appearance of pulp hero Ka-Zar, who may have begun as a Tarzan imitation but has starred in his own comic series more than once and guest-starred in innumerable others. Then there's the first appearance of the original Angel, which in itself would be enough to make this a key book, as he was a Timely standby throughout the Golden Age. The cover, showing the Human Torch, is by science fiction pulp illustrator Frank R. Paul. The interior material was the work of the artistic "shop" known as Funnies, Inc. the best-known artists of which are Bill Everett (who created the Sub-Mariner and drew the character's story) and Carl Burgos (who did the same for the Human Torch). Overstreet ranks this book as the third-most valuable comic book of all, and while this copy was gra
Auction 815 | Lot: 1141 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $18,400.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #3 (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. Doctor Octopus has certainly become a household name in the last year or so. Thanks to "Spider-Man 2," everybody knows the guy. And this is the villain's first appearance and origin. There's a first for Spider-Man here as well, as this is the character's first book-length story. Also of note is an appearance by the Human Torch. The story was the work of that team supreme, writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. There aren't many better specimens of this key book; in fact, a mere two copies have been certified with a higher grade by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $4,200. CGC census 1/05: 6 in 9.4, 2 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1007 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $17,250.00
All-Flash #1 Recil Macon pedigree (DC, 1941) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Off-white pages. Yes, the Flash was already seen in every issue of Flash Comics, but he had to share the book with other heroes; this title was all Flash, 64 pages of him in fact. And anyone who was new to the character got a refresher in this issue on how Jay Garrick got his powers. The book has an E. E. Hibbard cover and interior art, with scripts by Gardner Fox (the writer who's most identified with our hero, and for that matter with the Silver Age Flash as well). There's even a brief biographical feature on Hibbard and Fox inside the mag. This key comic is ranked among the fifty most valuable Golden Age comic books by Overstreet. Our copy is from the well-known pedigree collection of Texas collector Recil Macon. Overstreet 2004 VF/NM 9.0 value = $16,157; NM- 9.2 value = $22,000. CGC census 1/05: 1 in 9.0, 2 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1004 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $16,100.00
Detective Comics #38 Larson pedigree (DC, 1940) CGC FN- 5.5 Off-white pages. One of the most influential books of the Golden Age, this issue is ranked at number 15 on Overstreet's list of the most valuable comic books. The reason for the fuss is that this issue introduced Robin the Boy Wonder, the most famous sidekick of all. Batman's creators hoped that giving Batman a partner would help sales, and it's said that sales nearly doubled as a result, ushering in a kid sidekick craze throughout comics. This issue's art is by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, and Batman and Robin's repartee is courtesy of scripter Bill Finger. This particular copy came from the renowned Lamont Larson collection, known for its glossy covers and high page quality. Overstreet 2004 FN 6.0 value = $10,314. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 5.5, 7 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1114 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $16,100.00
Suspense Comics #3 (Continental Magazines, 1944) CGC FN+ 6.5 Off-white pages. Few books inspire passion in collectors like Suspense #3. Ever since Ernie Gerber featured this cover in his Photo-Journal, it has consistently been one of the most in-demand books in the hobby. It's one of the scarcer ones as well -- while we're pleased when we see a Gerber "6" or "7," and consider ourselves privileged indeed to get our mitts on an "8," this one's a Gerber "9". Overstreet also notes the comic's rarity, calling it "scarce." Copies of this comic that do come to market always draw significant attention. As if it weren't difficult enough to find any copy of the book, there's the fact that most of the ones that do exist are incomplete, as the four pages in the center are very often missing -- not so with this copy, which is complete and unrestored. As for the cover art, just look at it and you will instantly know why this book attracts attention. It's the work of the great Alex Schomburg. In case you needed any more reasons to bid, the book also has L. B. Cole interior art. With all of the above, it's no wonder the book is ranked among the 100 most valuable Golden Age books by Overstreet. CGC notes, "Very small piece of tape on centerfold at staple." Overstreet 2004 FN 6.0 value = $5,100; VF 8.0 value = $10,200. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 6.5, 1 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1149 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $14,950.00
Batman #1 (DC, 1940) CGC Apparent VF 8.0 Extensive (P) Off-white pages. This premiere issue is the sixth most valuable comic book of all according to Overstreet; while Batman already had a few stories in Detective Comics under his belt, a couple of first appearances here make for a significant addition to the Batman mythos, as both the Joker and Catwoman made their debuts here. The Joker was quite sinister from the very start, with murders fully within his repertoire; he was reportedly only intended as a one-issue character -- luckily Batman's creators were persuaded to keep him alive at the story's end. As for the Catwoman, she was called the Cat here, but her unique personality was already in place, as was a bit of romantic tension between her and Batman. The Caped Crusader even lets her escape at the end! Also of note are a retelling of Batman's origin and a classic (and much-imitated) cover by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson. This professionally restored copy is certainly easy on the eyes -- it's a book any collector would be proud to own. CGC notes, "Restoration includes: color touch, pieces added, tear seals, cover cleaned, interior lightened, reinforced." Overstreet 2004 GD 2.0 value = $6,944; VG 4.0 value = $13,888; FN 6.0 value =$20,832; VF 8.0 value = $49,200. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1031 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $13,800.00
Showcase #4 The Flash (DC, 1956) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white pages. This is simply one of the most significant comic books ever. In the mid-1950s, the comic industry was struggling, and though superheroes had gone out of fashion, DC decided to bring one hero back for a tryout issue. The new Flash, Barry Allen, made his first appearance here, the comic was a hit, and after a couple more Showcase appearances, the Flash received his own title. Showcase #4 is generally considered to be the start of the Silver Age. The story, written by Bob Kanigher and drawn by Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert, also featured the first appearance of Barry's girlfriend Iris West, and of course detailed the origin of the new Flash's powers. It's a key book by any standard. Overstreet 2004 VF 8.0 value = $13,200. CGC census 12/04: 6 in 8.0, 4 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1146 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $13,800.00
Wonder Woman #1 (DC, 1942) CGC VF- 7.5 Off-white pages. Wonder Woman charges onto the scene in the first issue of her own comic, starting off a four-decade run. Household-name status was not far behind! The Amazon's creator, William Moulton Marston, didn't fit the profile of the typical comic book writer, and his unorthodox approach gave these stories an originality that's still striking today. H. G. Peter's art established the signature look of Wonder Woman's early years. As befits a #1 issue, the heroine's origin story is retold and expanded upon. Overstreet 2004 VF 8.0 value = $15,950. CGC census 1/05: 3 in 7.5, 6 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1158 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $12,650.00
Green Lantern #1 (DC, 1941) CGC FN/VF 7.0 Off-white to white pages. The premiere issue of Green Lantern's solo title is ranked by Overstreet as one of the twenty most valuable comic books of all. The hero had more than earned his own book after successful appearances in All-American Comics, and this issue started a long and successful run -- except for taking the 1950s off along with most every other superhero, Green Lantern has been in near-continuous publication from the 1940s through the present day. The origin of Alan Scott, the Golden Age bearer of the ring, is retold in this issue, which features a cover by Howard Purcell and interior art by GL's creator Martin Nodell. Gerber's Photo-Journal gives this issue its "scarce" rating, estimating that less than 50 copies exist. Overstreet 2004 FN 6.0 value = $8,823; VF 8.0 value = $23,500. CGC census 12/04: 5 in 7.0, 7 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1130 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $12,075.00
Detective Comics #33 (DC, 1939) CGC FN- 5.5 Light tan to off-white pages. This issue is the twelfth most valuable comic book of all according to Overstreet. In the 2004 Guide's ranking it even surpassed Detective #1, and it's now the second most-valuable issue of the title, ranking behind only the hallowed #27. The reason for all the fuss comes in the first two pages of the book: the first-ever telling of Batman's origin. A look at the cover is enough to tell you how early in Batman's career this is: he's wearing a gun holster on the cover and in several panels of the story. The cover and art are by the Caped Crusader's creator Bob Kane, reportedly with an inking assist by Sheldon Moldoff. The backup features include the usual complement of detective tales, including Speed Saunders (with Fred Guardineer art), Larry Steele, Slam Bradley, and the Spy. When copies of this issue do turn up, they usually bear a purple label, so we were particularly pleased to see that this one's an unrestored book. Only four unrestored copies of this issue have been certified with higher grades by CGC to date. CGC notes, "Store stamp on 8th, 22nd and 29th page." Overstreet 2004 FN 6.0 value = $11,250. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 5.5, 4 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1109 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $11,500.00
Crime Patrol #15 Gaines File pedigree (EC, 1950) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white to white pages. A very significant book in EC history, this issue (while technically a pre-Trend title) has the first stirrings of EC's New Trend. The historic tale is called "Return From The Grave!" and it features the first appearance of the Crypt Keeper and our first glimpse of the Crypt of Terror. Our nightmares would never be the same! That first horror story, an experiment on EC's part, was written and drawn by Al Feldstein; the book also has Johnny Craig art as well as a Craig cover. Note that while CGC has certified this book as a Gaines File copy, no certificate accompanies this lot. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $3,500. CGC census 1/05: 3 in 9.6, 1 higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1182 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $11,500.00
Detective Comics #29 (DC, 1939) CGC VG/FN 5.0 Off-white to white pages. Batman appeared on a comic book cover for only the second time here, with the impressive visuals courtesy of Bob Kane. And while the Caped Crusader had faced forgettable foes up to this point, he met his first "name" villain here in the person of Dr. Death. While Batman had earned top billing, he hadn't yet taken over the whole comic -- also appearing in this issue were the Crimson Avenger (with Jim Chambers art), Speed Saunders (with Fred Guardineer art), and Slam Bradley (in a story written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Joe Shuster). Only three unrestored copies of this book have been certified with higher grades by CGC to date. CGC notes, "small amount of dried glue on spine of cover." Note that a small plastic stabilizing peg is loose inside the CGC holder, not affecting the integrity of the holder or the comic itself. Overstreet 2004 VG 4.0 value = $5,636; FN 6.0 value = $8,445. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 5.0, 3 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1106 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $10,925.00
Crypt of Terror #18 Gaines File pedigree 1/10 (EC, 1950) CGC NM/MT 9.8 Off-white to white pages. Cover artist Johnny Craig was 24 years old when he created this cover, typically clean, understated, and oh so creepy. Craig was already an EC veteran of three years here, and had drawn every cover of this series since the title had changed to Crime Patrol with issue #7. Interior art comes from Craig, Wood, Feldstein, and Kurtzman. This is an absolutely brilliant example with the highest grade CGC has awarded to a copy of issue #18. It is also the #1 Gaines File copy as ranked by Bob Overstreet, quite probably making it the finest copy in existence! Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $2,200. CGC census 12/04: 3 in 9.8, none higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1191 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $8,912.50
The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. This beautiful copy features the first appearance of one of Spider-Man's most interesting villains. The Lizard is an ironic nemesis for Spider-Man, as Dr. Curt Conners' angst at the ever-present possibility of his evil alter-ego surfacing to threaten his wife and son rivals that of Peter Parker's. The early issue of The Amazing Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko is considered by many to be unmatched. This is a great chance to own a sharp, bright copy of this classic Silver Age comic. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $2,700. CGC census 1/05: 8 in 9.4, 6 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1010 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $8,625.00
Famous Funnies: Carnival of Comics #nn (Eastern Color, 1933) CGC VF/NM 9.0 Off-white pages. Considered the second comic book ever, this Platinum Age oldster shows up more often than you might think, but not in this grade. Our offering is currently tied with one other copy atop CGC's census. A unique wraparound cover adds to the appeal of this historic book that Gerber's Photo-Journal Guide to Comic Books calls "rare". Overstreet 2004 VF/NM 9.0 value = $8,740; NM- 9.2 value = $12,000. CGC census 1/05: 2 in 9.0; none higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1127 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $8,625.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #8 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white to white pages. We give you Flash Thompson: football star, adored by the girls, Big Man On Campus. Didn'tcha hate him? The moment fans had waited eight issues for came in #8, as Peter Parker actually had a boxing match with the big bully (unfortunately, a robot attack interrupted matters). The art on the lead story is by Steve Ditko, who also drew the cover. The backup feature guest-stars the Fantastic Four, and offers an artistic team we really love: Ditko inking Jack Kirby! Surprisingly, Spidey shows amorous inclinations in the tale -- he tries to hit on the Human Torch's girlfriend Dorrie, and even makes a web-valentine for the Invisible Girl (who was still single at the time, we hasten to add). Only two copies of this issue have been certified with a higher grade by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,750. CGC census 12/04: 6 in 9.6, 2 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1011 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $8,050.00
Flash Comics #1 (DC, 1940) CGC VG- 3.5 Off-white to white pages. Both Flash and Hawkman made their first appearances in this book. The origin stories of both Flash and Hawkman are in this book. So we think you'll agree that this is a significant comic. The Sheldon Moldoff cover is an image that every comics fan recognizes, and fans loved both the cover and the story, one of the more believable origin tales in all of comics (when Jay Garrick gets his speedster powers, he reacts as a real college kid would -- the first thing he does is become a football star and try to impress girls). Incidentally, this issue also has a couple of other notable first appearances beyond the "big two." For one, Shiera Sanders appears; she wouldn't become Hawkgirl until later, but she plays a key role in Hawkman's origin story here. Also debuting is the fondly remembered Johnny Thunder. Granted, he's no Flash, he's no Hawkman... frankly, he's a blundering doofus. But the super power he can't control (a thunderbolt activated by the words "say you") made for much comic relief, and his well-meaning nature won him a lot of fans. Johnny would join Flash in the Justice Society before long. With so many impressive introductions, it's no wonder that Overstreet ranks this issue among the top ten most valuable comic books of all. CGC notes, "Date stamp on 30 pages and interior back cover." Overstreet 2004 VG 4.0 value = $12,400. CGC census 12/04: 2 in 3.5, 5 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1129 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $8,050.00

Make Offer to Owner
$76,125 or more
The Amazing Spider-Man #2 Massachusetts pedigree (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM- 9.2 White pages. The second issue of this title was only Spidey's third appearance overall. It features the debut of the Vulture, a villain who vexed Spider-Man many times over the years (finding ways to drop the Webhead from a great height more often than not). The second Spidey feature in this comic has the debut of the Terrible Tinkerer, in a sci-fi-themed plot that wouldn't be out of place in one of those Atlas "mystery" tales drawn by Steve Ditko. How appropriate, then, that Ditko drew both of the book's stories as well as the cover. Only five copies of this issue have been certified with higher grades by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $6,000. CGC census 12/04: 10 in 9.2, 5 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1006 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $7,475.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #14 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. While almost every early issue of this title introduced a classic villain, it wasn't until #14 that Spider-Man's foe of foes debuted. We're talking about the Green Goblin, whose first clash with the Webslinger takes place in the desert of New Mexico. Wouldn't you know it, they even stumble upon the Hulk, who's resting up between the cancellation of his own book and the start of his Tales to Astonish run. It was the Hulk's first meeting with Spider-Man. The cover and interior art are by Steve Ditko. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $3,300. CGC census 12/04: 14 in 9.4, 11 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1015 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $7,475.00
Batman #11 Rockford pedigree (DC, 1942) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white pages. A classic Joker cover by Fred Ray makes this one of the most sought-after Batman issues. Of course, the Crafty Clown of Crime appears inside the comic as well -- by trying to kill Robin, he's cruisin' for a bruisin', and Batman's happy to do the honors. As if that weren't enough exertion for one issue, the Dynamic Duo has to deal with the Penguin as well when the Umbrella Rogue tries to rob Bruce Wayne. The interior art is by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, and George Roussos. Overstreet 2004 VF 8.0 value = $4,585; VF/NM 9.0 value = $7,043. CGC census 1/05: 2 in 8.5, 4 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1039 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $7,475.00
X-Men #2 (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM 9.4 White pages. The X-Men make only their second appearance, and they have to protect the White House itself! The villain of the piece is the Vanisher, who makes his first appearance (though he says "I've beaten the X-Men before" on the cover, he's talking about earlier in the same story). Stan Lee and Jack Kirby wrote and drew the mutants' sophomore outing. Only four copies of this issue have been certified with a higher grade by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $2,660. CGC census 12/04: 8 in 9.4, 4 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1171 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $7,475.00
Crime Patrol #16 Gaines File pedigree 3/11 (EC, 1950) CGC NM+ 9.6 White pages. This was the last issue of this series before the title's changeover to Crypt of Terror -- and Johnny Craig's spooky cover made clear what was to come, with the horror theme and "Crypt" blurb letting readers know that this was no longer just another straight crime comic. The Crypt-Keeper makes his second appearance in this issue, which has stories illustrated by Craig, Al Feldstein, and George Roussos. This stunning pre-Trend issue is virtually flawless; there is currently only one copy of this issue that has been graded higher by CGC. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $2,300. CGC census 12/04: 3 in 9.6, 1 higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1183 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $7,187.50
Detective Comics #20 (DC, 1938) CGC VF 8.0 Off-white pages. Leo O'Mealia and Creig Flessel arguably gave DC the two most distinctive cover artists in comics during the days just before and just after Action Comics #1 hit the stands in 1938. O'Mealia provided the cover here, and also contributed interior art, as did Fred Guardineer and Joe Shuster. The issue has the first appearance of the Crimson Avenger. Like several of the early issues of the title that would introduce Batman a few issues later, #20 is rated "scarce" by Gerber. Our copy is easily the nicest that CGC has certified to date; in fact no other copy has earned higher than a 4.5 to date! Overstreet 2004 VF 8.0 value = $3,940. CGC census 1/05: 1 in 8.0, none higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1101 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $6,612.50

Make Offer to Owner
$9,919 or more
Fantastic Four #10 (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. The usually placid Reed Richards seems possessed by evil on the cover of this Jack Kirby classic. Doctor Doom makes his return in this early FF, and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby themselves actually appear on the cover and in the story. Kirby is quoted on the cover of this issue as saying, "Our fans oughtta flip over this yarn!" If your taste in collecting runs toward high-grade copies, this one oughtta make you flip! Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,700. CGC census 1/05: 3 in 9.4, 2 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1128 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $6,440.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. Electro appears and reveals his origin to the world, courtesy of Steady Stan Lee and Sturdy Steve Ditko. The cover and pages on this book are very much superior to the typical high-grade Spider-Man. Few copies grade higher. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,850. CGC census 1/05: 8 in 9.4, 6 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1012 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $6,325.00
Detective Comics #31 (DC, 1939) CGC GD/VG 3.0 Cream to off-white pages. One of the most famous comic book covers of all, this one's a classic by any measure. It's a cover which has been paid homage to by many subsequent Bat-artists over the years, but none have matched the ominous mood set here by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson. The intense interest in this cover is also the primary reason that this book is listed among the top 20 most valuable comic books by Overstreet. But don't discount the story, which has a few major firsts, namely the debuts of the Batplane (called Batgyro here) and the Batarang (spelled "Baterang" in this early appearance). It also features the first appearance of Bruce Wayne's fiancee, Julie Madison. As this was a very early Batman appearance, the Bat-story is backed up by a plethora of other detective stories, the most notable of which is Slam Bradley by Superman's creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Overstreet 2004 GD 2.0 value = $2,815; VG 4.0 value = $5,636. CGC census 12/04: 2 in 3.0, 8 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1107 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $6,325.00
Detective Comics #37 (DC, 1940) CGC VF 8.0 White pages. This issue has Batman's last adventure of the pre-sidekick era, as the Caped Crusader takes on a foreign agent. The many backup features include superhero the Crimson Avenger (who actually had appeared in this title longer than Batman had), Speed Saunders, and Slam Bradley, as well as globetrotting adventurer Cliff Crosby, who made his first appearance in this issue. The book's artists include Bob Kane (who got some help from Jerry Robinson) and Fred Guardineer (who drew the Speed Saunders feature). Only two unrestored copies of this issue have been certified with higher grades by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 VF 8.0 value = $4,585. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 8.0, 2 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1113 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $6,325.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #28 (Marvel, 1965) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. This issue has probably the "blackest" black cover of any Silver Age book, which is why Overstreet notes that it's "scarcer in high grade." Good for us that what we've got is a high-grade copy! Inside these covers you'll find the origin and first appearance of the Molten Man. The cover and interior art are by Steve Ditko. Only four copies of this issue have been certified with a higher grade by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,000. CGC census 12/04: 5 in 9.4, 4 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1022 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $5,750.00
Daredevil #1 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM- 9.2 Off-white pages. A bookworm, ridiculed by other kids, gets in a freak accident and finds he has super powers! Yes, Marvel's new creation Daredevil had much in common with Spider-Man, but his origin story, told in this issue, was even more poignant than the Webslinger's. In addition to DD's first appearance, the book has the first appearances of love interest Karen Page and best friend Foggy Nelson. Stan Lee's story was illustrated by Bill Everett; the cover was a collaboration between Everett and Jack Kirby. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $3,800. CGC census 1/05: 19 in 9.2, 17 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1088 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $5,750.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #20 (Marvel, 1965) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white pages. Another issue, another new supervillain for the Wallcrawler! This time it's the Scorpion making his first appearance, and we also see his origin story unfold before our very eyes. For that matter, so does J. Jonah Jameson, who's behind the whole thing. The cover and art are by Steve Ditko. Only one copy of this issue has been certified with a higher grade by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $900. CGC census 12/04: 6 in 9.6, 1 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1019 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,887.50
X-Men #3 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. The third issue for the Merry Mutants brought the first appearance of the Blob. The "plus-size" supervillain would battle the X-Men many times, especially once he joined the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. There's also more on the personalities of the group, including one of the most infamous thought balloons in Marvel history, with Professor X declaring his undying love for Jean Grey! Let's just say Stan Lee was still fleshing out the character. Jack Kirby cover and art. This is an outstanding copy, all the more so considering the white cover. Only three copies of this issue have been certified with higher grades by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,350. CGC census 12/04: 7 in 9.4, 3 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1172 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,887.50
The Amazing Spider-Man #12 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. Spidey is unmasked by Doctor Octopus (in Ock's third appearance), in front of J. Jonah Jameson and Betty Brant! You can't get much more dramatic than that, and as the cover indicates, it's not an "imaginary" story like Marvel's Distinguished Competition often dished up. The comic is by two pros at the top of their form, writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. Three copies of this issue have been certified one notch higher at 9.6 by CGC. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,200. CGC census 12/04: 10 in 9.4, 3 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1014 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,600.00
Detective Comics #28 (DC, 1939) CGC Apparent FN/VF 7.0 Moderate (P) Cream to off-white pages. Overstreet lists this title, the second appearance of Batman, among the 50 most valuable Golden Age comic books. And it's one that doesn't come along often. Even our seasoned eyes, which have seen a handful of copies of #27, had never seen a #28 from close range before the day we wrote these words. It's fascinating to see how the character was still being fleshed out in his second appearance. Even his name was still a work in progress; every mention of him calls him the "Bat-Man", quotation marks and all! Plus there's the fact that he doesn't even appear on Fred Guardineer's cover, which offers detective fare in the vein of the preceding issues. The book's interior artists include Guardineer (drawing the Speed Saunders story), Joe Shuster (once again collaborating with writer Jerry Siegel on both the Spy and Slam Bradley stories) and Jim Chambers (drawing the book's other superhero the Crimson Avenger). CGC notes, "Restoration includes: color touch, pieces added, tear seals, cleaned, reinforced." Overstreet 2004 GD 2.0 value = $1,688; VG 4.0 value = $3,376; FN 6.0 value = $5,064; VF 8.0 value = $12,660. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1105 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,312.50
Crime SuspenStories #1 Gaines File pedigree 2/9 (EC, 1950) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white to white pages. Harvey Kurtzman's suspensefully claustrophobic "High Tide!" features four men stranded on a boat and all suspicious of one another. And the book has much more to offer, with a Johnny Craig cover and interior art by Craig, Wally Wood, and Graham Ingels. As for this copy's condition, "9.6" and "Gaines File Copy" speak volumes as usual. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,475. CGC census 12/04: 2 in 9.6, 1 higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1184 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,312.50
Weird Science #5 Gaines File pedigree 6/10 (EC, 1951) CGC NM/MT 9.8 Off-white to white pages. Al Feldstein's atomic explosion cover set the tone for this issue, which had two cautionary anti-war tales drawn by Wally Wood and Harvey Kurtzman, respectively. In a somewhat lighter vein, the other two stories, drawn by Al Feldstein and Jack Kamen, are imaginative looks at time travel. By the way, unless you have a time machine of your own that you can set to 1951, you're not going to find a nicer copy than this one. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $810. CGC census 12/04: 5 in 9.8, none higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1261 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,312.50
Four Color (Series One) #4 Donald Duck (Dell, 1940) CGC VG+ 4.5 Off-white pages. This is one of the most desired Disney comic books, in fact it's on Overstreet's list of the 100 most valuable Golden Age comics. Donald Duck was drawn by Al Taliaferro in this early appearance. The Overstreet guide notes, "prices vary widely on this book." Top-grade copies of the issue seem to be nonexistent -- the highest-graded to date is in FN condition, making this VG+ copy one of the best available. Overstreet 2004 VG 4.0 value = $1,750. CGC census 1/05: 1 in 4.5, 2 higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1331 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,312.50
The Amazing Spider-Man #10 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. It just doesn't get much better than this copy -- no, really! Out of nearly 400 copies of #10 certified to date by CGC, just eight copies have earned higher grades, only one above a 9.6. Big Man and the Enforcers make their first appearance here. All brought to you by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, natch! Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,750. CGC census 1/05: 13 in 9.4, 8 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1013 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,025.00

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X-Men #4 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white to white pages. In addition to impressively brilliant color and gloss, and Jack Kirby's great cover and art, this issue has a lot of "firsts." Within the pages of this issue we're treated to the first appearances of Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Toad, and Mastermind, collectively comprising the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. It's also the second appearance of the mutant master of magnetism himself -- Magneto. Only one copy of this issue has been graded higher by the CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,400. CGC census 1/05: 12 in 9.4, 1 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1173 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $4,025.00
Detective Comics #32 (DC, 1939) CGC FN+ 6.5 Cream to off-white pages. The early Golden Age Batman was a bit different from the later character in some respects -- not only does he use a gun here, he shoots two villains while they're asleep! Overstreet calls it the "first time a costumed hero used a gun in comic books." Bob Kane's dark character was already the star of the book in this, his sixth appearance, and while he didn't get full cover billing here, this was the first issue to have the "Batman head" logo on the cover. The main cover scene with a cop coming out on top is by Fred Guardineer. The detectives in the issue include Speed Saunders (drawn by Guardineer) and Slam Bradley (with a Jerry Siegel story and Joe Shuster art). Only one unrestored copy of this issue has been certified with a higher grade by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 FN 6.0 value = $1,821; VF 8.0 value = $4,429. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 6.5, 1 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1108 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $3,680.00
Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics #1 (Dell, 1941) CGC VG/FN 5.0 Off-white pages. This premiere issue took gags directly from the cartoon shorts of the Leon Schlesinger characters. In this star-studded affair, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd all make their first comic book appearances! Gerber lists this issue as "uncommon." Only two copies of this issue have been certified with higher grades by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 VG 4.0 value = $2,050; FN 6.0 value = $3,075. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 5.0, 2 higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1361 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $3,651.25
The Amazing Spider-Man #26 (Marvel, 1965) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white pages. The mysterious Crime Master makes his first appearance, Green Goblin makes his fourth, and the two fiends are so tight, they even know each other's secret identities! Plus it's a big day for Peter Parker, as he swaps mask and webs for cap and gown to attend his high school graduation. The cover and interior art are by Steve Ditko. This is the highest grade that CGC has assigned for this issue to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $575. CGC census 12/04: 6 in 9.6, none higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1021 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $3,565.00
Vault of Horror #18 Gaines File pedigree 1/12 (EC, 1951) CGC NM/MT 9.8 Off-white to white pages. Even if Johnny Craig's cover doesn't grab you, titles like "The Mask of Horror" and "Dying To Lose Weight" will give you a good idea that EC's renowned mix of horror and stomach-turning twists is on hand here. The issue's artists are EC vets one and all: Craig, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, and Graham Ingels. The truly phenomenal aspect of this specimen, however, is its near-perfect condition. And not only is it a Gaines File book, it's the number one copy. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $610. CGC census 12/04: 5 in 9.8, none higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1240 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $3,565.00
Weird Science #13 (#2) Gaines File pedigree (EC, 1950) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. Here's the noted "UFOs over Washington" cover by Al Feldstein! But another highlight of this issue is the superb story "The Man Who Raced Time," drawn by Harvey Kurtzman. There's also interior art by Harry Harrison and Jack Kamen. Note that while CGC has certified this issue as a Gaines File copy, no certificate accompanies this lot. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,200. CGC census 12/04: 1 in 9.4, 3 higher.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1258 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $3,565.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #17 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM 9.4 Off-white pages. Green Goblin appearances have been much sought-after since the first Spidey movie hit the theatres. This is the second-ever appearance of the always-formidable villain. Luckily the Webhead, who's distracted by one of Aunt May's not-infrequent heart attacks, gets an assist from the Human Torch. The cover and art are by Steve Ditko. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $1,300. CGC census 1/05: 16 in 9.4, 7 higher. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1016 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $3,450.00
The Amazing Spider-Man #18 (Marvel, 1964) CGC NM+ 9.6 Off-white pages. This issue sees the first appearance of Ned Leeds who, Overstreet notes, "later becomes the Hobgoblin." Granted, that transformation of 20 years later is of earth-shaking import to many a Modern Age Marvelite, but back in '64 Ned posed an even greater threat: he was making time with Betty Brant! As far as the superhero action is concerned, the Sandman puts Spidey on the run; has our red-and-blue hero turned yellow? Pretty much, until a pep talk from Aunt May has him ready to kick some sandy butt. Also of note: great Steve Ditko art and a Fantastic Four cameo. Only one copy of this issue has been certified with a higher grade by CGC to date. Overstreet 2004 NM- 9.2 value = $750. From the Northern Lights Collection.
Auction 815 | Lot: 1017 | Feb 10, 2005

Sold For: $3,450.00

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