The ComicLink Summer Featured Auction is underway with an exceptionally strong selection of certified comic books and related original artwork from all eras. “This is one of the strongest auctions we've held in our many years of serving the collector community in terms of the selection of both vintage comic books and related original comic art. Whether you are into key and high grade comic books or original art, this auction likely has something you’ll want to bid on,” ComicLink President Josh Nathanson said. “2016 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years ever for the comic book industry with several blockbuster movies ruling the charts all year long, multiple new hit TV series and DC's bestselling Rebirth comic book initiative all creating massive excitement. Still to come in the next few months is the Doctor Strange movie and the new Netflix series Marvel’s Luke Cage series. 2017 is just around the corner and will see several huge comic book movies including Spider-Man: Homecoming, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Justice League, Wonder Woman, Thor: Ragnakok, and a Wolverine solo film. The vintage market is on fire with record prices for both comic books and original art. The future looks very bright for our hobby and we are excited to have so many outstanding offerings in the Summer Featured Auction for our bidders.”

By its very nature, the Featured Auction is packed with highlights, but here is a very small sample of the major highlights you will find within the Summer Featured Auction (comic books only, see separate article for original artwork).

Key books are Fantastic Four #52 CGC 9.8 (first Black Panther, one of only four in the highest certified grade), Whiz Comics #1 CGC 6.5 (first appearance and origin of Captain Marvel, first Billy Batson, the wizard Shazam, Dr. Sivana, Ibis and Spy Smasher), Action Comics #13 CGC 6.5 (fourth ever cover appearance of Superman and also one of the best Superman cover images of them all), and Detective Comics #33 CGC 6.5 (first origin of Batman, first time murder of Batman’s parents revealed, and the first time Bruce Wayne is shown training himself to fight crime).

Comic book highlights include Action Comics #4 CGC 5.0, #10 (third Superman cover) CGC 7.0R, #17 CGC 5.0, #18 CGC 8.0, and #23 (first Lex Luthor) CGC 6.5, Adventure Comics #70 CGC 9.2, #88 CGC 9.4, #89 CGC 9.4, #280 (first Lori the Mermaid meets Superboy) CGC 9.8 (single highest), and #326 (female Legion members rebel) CGC 9.8 (highest one of two), All-American Comics #21 (classic early Golden Age Green Lantern cover) CGC 7.0, All Star Comics #3 (first JSA) CGC 8.5R, #7 (first Superman and Batman in same story) CGC 8.0, #8 (first Wonder Woman) CGC 2.0, and #22 (WWII cover) CGC 8.5 (top five example), All Winners Comics #5 CGC 9.2, #6 CGC 8.5 (one of top three graded overall), and #21 (second All Winners Squad) CGC 8.5, Amazing Fantasy #15 (first Spider-Man) CGC 5.5 and CGC 4.5, Amazing-Man #5 CGC 6.0 and other rare examples from this Centaur title, Amazing Spider-Man #1 CGC 9.0, 7.5, and CGC 5.5, #5 (Doctor Doom) CGC 9.6, #6 (first Lizard) CGC 9.6, #8 (first Living Brain) CGC 9.8 (highest graded, one of six), #16 (first crossover with Daredevil) CGC 9.8 and 9.6, #19 CGC 9.6, #39 (first John Romita, Goblin revealed as Norman Osborn), #40 (origin of the Goblin) CGC 9.6 Signature Series, #48 CGC 9.8, and #129 (first Punisher) CGC 9.8, Aquaman #1 CGC 7.5, Archie Comics #2 (scarce) CBCS 2.0, Avengers #1 CGC 6.0, #4 (first Captain America in Silver Age) CGC 9.2 and CGC 9.0, #11 (Spider-Man Crossover) CGC 9.4, #57 (first Vision) CGC 9.6, #83 (first Valkyrie and Lady Liberators) CGC 9.6, and Annual #1 CGC 9.6.

They have Batman #1 (first Joker and Catwoman) CGC 1.5R, #10 (early Catwoman story with first new costume) CGC 7.5, #15 (WWII cover) CGC 8.5, #47 (origin retold, murder of parents resolved) CGC 7.0, #59 (first Deadshot) CGC 4.0, #189 (first Silver Age Scarecrow) CGC 9.6, #232 (first Ras Al Ghul) CGC 9.8, and #234 (first Modern Two-Face) CGC 9.8, best existing run of Black Cat Comics including #1 CGC 9.4 (single highest graded) and multiple file copies in CGC 9.6, Blonde Phantom #12 (first issue of early Timely/Marvel heroine) CGC 7.0, Brave and the Bold #28 (first Justice League) CGC 7.5 and CGC 7.0 and #54 (first Teen Titans) CGC 9.6, Captain America Comics #40 CGC 9.0 (single highest), #46 (holocaust cover) CGC 3.0, and #49 CGC 9.6 (single highest), and Captain America #100 (first Silver Age issue) CGC 9.8.

Golden Age Canadian comic books (Canadian Whites) including numerous examples from Active Comics, Canadian Heroes, Dime Comics, Speed Savage, Triumph Comics, Wow Comics, and more will be sold. The Nelvana issue is also included. Many are highest graded and some of these are so rare that they have never even been seen before.

Captain Marvel #18 (Carol Danvers receives powers) CGC 9.8, Conan #1 (first Conan in comics) CGC 9.8, Crypt of Terror #17 (first issue) CGC 9.8 Gaines File Copy (highest graded, one of three), and CGC 9.6 Gaines File Copy, Daredevil #1 CGC 8.5, exceptional group of Golden Age Detective Comics including #35 CGC 3.5, #37 (Larson Pedigree) CGC 7.0 (Larson Pedigree), #48 (first mention of Gotham City in title, first time roadster called Batmobile) CGC 8.0, #54 CGC 9.4, #100 CBCS 9.0, and #121 CGC 9.8 (single highest), Fantastic Four #4 (first Silver Age Sub-Mariner) CGC 8.5, #10 CGC 9.6 (top seven, only two higher), #26 (Avengers crossover) CGC 9.8, #48 (first Silver Surfer and Galactus) CGC 9.6 Signature Series, #52 (first Black Panther) CGC 9.6, and #66 (Warlock/Him origin begins) CGC 9.6 (one of top ten, just two higher), Fight Against Crime #20 (decapitation cover) CGC 7.0, Flash Comics #86 (first Black Canary) CGC 4.5, The Flash #105 (first Silver Age issue, first Mirror Master) CGC 7.0 and 6.0 and #123 (Flash of Two Worlds) CGC 9.4 (highest graded, one of seven) are in the auction.

ComicLink has many single highest graded and Pedigree issues from #1 on of Four Color, Giant-Size X-Men #1 (first Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, and second full Wolverine) CGC 9.8 and 9.6, Great Comics #1 (classic L.B. Cole cover, single highest) CGC 9.6, Green Lantern (Golden Age) #10 (first Vandal Savage, the main villain on Legends of Tomorrow TV series) CGC 4.0, Green Lantern (Silver Age) #1 CGC 7.5, #7 (first Sinestro) CGC 9.0, #40 (Origin of Crisis, first Golden Age Green Lantern crossover in title) CGC 9.6, and #76 (first Adams Green Lantern/Green Arrow) CGC 9.4, Hawkman #1 CGC 9.4, Hero For Hire #1 (first Luke Cage) CGC 9.8 and 9.6, House of Secrets #92 (first Swamp Thing) CGC 9.4, Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 6.0 and CBCS 4.5, #102 (first issue) CGC 9.8, #180 (first Wolverine cameo) CGC 9.8, and #181 (first full Wolverine) CGC 9.8 and CGC 9.6 Signature Series, Iron Fist #14 (first Sabretooth) CGC 9.8 Signature Series, Iron Man #1 CGC 9.8, Jumbo Comics #1 (first Sheena) 4.5, and 50 examples from the best existing run of Jungle Comics – all are among the highest or the highest graded and many examples are from pedigree collections such as the Mile High pedigree collection.

Justice League of America #1 CGC 5.0, MAD #16 (Gaines File copy, single highest) CGC 9.8, Marvel Mystery Comics #11 CGC 9.2 (single highest), #25 CGC 7.5, #27 CGC 9.4 (highest, one of two), #29 CGC 7.0, #34 CGC 8.5 (San Francisco Pedigree), #39 CGC 7.0, #40 (classic WWII Zeppelin cover) CGC 5.0, #44 (classic WWII Schomburg cover) CGC 4.0, #49 CGC 8.0, and #52 CGC 9.2 (highest, one of three), Marvel Premiere #15 (first Iron Fist) CGC 9.8, Mickey Mouse Magazine V2 #5 (1935 issue featuring the first appearance of Donald Duck in his trademark sailor suit) CGC 9.6 (single highest), More Fun Comics #54 (classic Spectre cover) CGC 8.5 and #101 (first Superboy) CGC 8.5, New York World's Fair 1940 first Batman and Superman on a cover together CGC 8.5 (single highest graded), Our Army At War #81 (Sgt. Rock prototype The Rock of Easy Co.) CGC 6.5, Pep Comics #22 (first Archie, Betty, and Jughead) CGC 6.5R, Plastic Man #1 (1943) CGC 6.5, Rifleman #10 (infamous cover) CGC 9.4, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer #NN (first issue from 1950) CGC 8.5 (one of top three), and Sea Devils #1 CGC 9.4 are listed.

An incredible run of Sensation Comics with 35 out of the first 40 issues including the key first issue plus many pedigrees and single highest graded examples is offered. It includes #1 (first Wonder Woman cover, second Wonder Woman appearance overall) CGC 5.0, #10 CGC 9.2 Rockford Pedigree (single highest), #11 CGC 9.0 Rockford (single highest), #14, #15, #18 CGC 9.2 (all single highest graded), and many more incredible examples.

Showcase #4 (first Flash) CGC 4.5 and #22 (first Silver Age Green Lantern) CGC 6.5, Silver Surfer #4 (classic Thor battle cover) CGC 9.8, Spawn #1 CGC 9.9, Star Wars #4 (single highest graded) CGC Mint 9.9, Strange Tales #110 (first Doctor Strange) CGC 9.0, Superman #1 (CGC NG, coverless and incomplete), #14 (classic patriotic cover) CGC 6.0, #61 (first return to Krypton) CGC 7.5, and #199 (first Superman/Flash race) CGC 9.6, Tales From the Crypt #33 CGC 9.8 (Gaines file copy, highest one of two), Tales of Suspense #39 (first Iron Man) CGC 8.0, #54 CGC 9.6 (top eight, only one higher), #57 (first Hawkeye) CGC 7.5, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 CGC 9.6 are offered.

Additional highlights are USA Comics #6 (Golden Age Captain America cover) CGC 7.5 (top five), Vault of Horror #17 CGC 9.8 (Gaines file copy, highest one of three), Vampirella #19 CGC 9.9 (single highest), Walking Dead #1 CGC 9.8, Werewolf By Night #32 (first Moon Knight) CGC 9.8 and 9.6, over 50 examples from the best existing run of Wings Comics – all are among the highest or the highest graded and many examples are from pedigree collections such as the Mile High pedigree collection, Wonder Woman #1 CGC 4.5, X-Men #1 (first X-Men and Magneto) CBCS 9.0, #14 (first Sentinels) CGC 9.6, #82 CGC 9.8 (highest, one of two), #83 (Spider-Man crossover) CGC 9.8 (White Mountain Pedigree, highest one of eight) and many more from this title, and Zap Comix #0 CGC 9.6.

ComicLink is currently accepting consignments for auctions to be held in the remaining months of 2016, including the September Focused Auction and the Fall Featured Auction which will begin in November. Interested sellers may contact the firm by emailing buysell@comiclink.com or by calling (617) 517-0062 (option 1) to speak with Josh Nathanson, Douglas Gillock, Jason Crosby, Jon Signorelli or Ross Kearney.

In addition to auctioning items for consignors, ComicLink is also always accepting new sellers for the ComicLink exchange marketplaces, brokering private placement deals, and buying outright. 

To review ComicLink’s auction schedule and auction previews visit their website.