ComicLink is gearing up for the Summer Featured Auction which will be one of their biggest comic book related auctions of the year. The auction, beginning in August, already has a number of stellar comic books and original art pieces consigned, and many more are coming in. Interested sellers that would like to be a part of this auction can get in touch with ComicLink as soon as possible to reserve placement, as auction slots tend to fill up quickly for some items. Sellers may contact ComicLink 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. ComicLink will also be accepting auction consignments during Comic-Con International: San Diego on July 20-23, 2017 at booth 1100.

Some early highlights of the Summer Featured Auction comic book offerings include Silver Age Marvel keys such as Amazing Spider-Man #1 (second Spider-Man, first Jameson) CGC 8.0 and #16 (first Daredevil crossover) CGC 9.8, Captain America #100 (first issue) CGC 9.8, Doctor Strange #169 (first issue, 1968) CGC 9.8, Fantastic Four #4 (first Silver Age Sub-Mariner) CBCS 9.2, and Incredible Hulk #1 (first Hulk and origin) CGC 6.0. Marvel early Bronze Age keys include Amazing Spider-Man #129 (first Punisher) CGC 9.8, Conan the Barbarian #1 (first Conan in comics) CGC 9.8, Ghost Rider #1 (1973, first Daimon Hellstrom) CGC 9.8, Iron Man #55 (first Thanos and Drax) CGC 9.8, and Tomb of Dracula #10 (first Blade) CGC 9.8 Signature Series (highest graded, one of two).

DC Silver Age offerings include a significant comic book that comes from the newly coined John G. Fantucchio Pedigree. It’s the first appearance of the Teen Titans in Brave and the Bold #54 CGC 9.8 which is the single highest graded. In the 17 years since CGC started grading, this is the first time this Silver Age key has ever been awarded the Near Mint/Mint 9.8 grade.

The Titans have been one of DC’s top franchises for decades. It’s recently been announced that a live-action Titans TV series will be one of the centerpieces of DC’s new, subscription digital TV service that will launch next year starting with 13 episodes, many written by superstar comic writer and now DC President Geoff Johns.

There are also some stunning high grade examples from the Silver Age Justice League of America run, most of which come from the Fantucchio Pedigree collection and feature bright bold colors and white pages. Highlights include Justice League of America #1 CGC 7.5 Fantucchio, #7 CBCS 9.6 (single highest graded), #41 (first Key) CGC 9.8 Fantucchio (highest graded, one of two), #48 (80-page Giant, classic Batman cover) CGC 9.8 Fantucchio (highest graded, one of two), #63 CGC 9.8 Fantucchio (highest graded, one of three), #64 (first Red Tornado) CGC 9.8 Fantucchio, #67 (Giant, classic Adams cover) CGC 9.6 Fantucchio, and #75 (Black Canary joins, gains sonic powers and begins relationship with Green Arrow) Fantucchio (highest graded, one of two).

Other Silver Age DC keys offered are Detective Comics #359 (first Batgirl/Barbara Gordon) CGC 9.2, Flash #139 (first Reverse Flash) CGC 9.0, and Hawkman #4 (first Zatanna) CGC 9.4. Early Bronze Age DC keys include Batman #234 (first Modern Two-Face by Adams) CGC 9.8, #244 (classic Batman vs. Ras Al Ghul cover by Adams) CGC 9.8, and #251 (classic Joker cover/story by Adams) CGC 9.8, as well as House of Secrets #92 (first Swamp Thing) CGC 9.6.

Some early Golden Age highlights include Batman #11 (first Joker cover in Batman title) CGC 7.5, Comic Cavalcade #16 (Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern cover) CGC 9.4 Ohio pedigree (single highest graded), Detective Comics #6 (rare 1937) CGC 6.5 and #67 (first Penguin cover) CGC 7.0, Incredible Science Fiction #33 (last EC color comic, classic Wood cover) CGC 9.6 Gaines File (highest graded, one of three), Marvel Mystery Comics #24 (Schomburg cover) CGC 9.2 and #71 (Schomburg cover) CGC 9.4, Nelvana #nn (the “Action Comics #1” of Canadian Whites) CGC 5.0, Phantom Lady #17 (Baker cover) CGC 7.0, Superman #17 (classic Superman vs. Hitler and Hirohito cover) CGC 8.0, Weird Fantasy #17 CGC 9.4 Gaines File, Weird Science #10 Gaines File CGC 9.4, #17 CGC 9.4, #21 CGC 9.4, and #22 CGC 9.4, and Wonder Comics #15 (classic Schomburg airbrush cover) CGC 9.0.

Late Bronze Age and Modern Era highlights so far include Love and Rockets #1 CGC 9.6 (single highest graded) and Miracleman #15 (epic battle and “Death” of Kid Miracleman) CGC 9.9 (highest graded, one of two).

ComicLink is offering the original Frank Frazetta oil painting for the Tales From the Crypt #1 Ballantine Book (1964), which is one of the earliest ‒ if not the earliest ‒ horror-themed oil paintings by the great Frazetta. “Nine years after Bill Gaines was forced to shelve EC Comics’ horror, crime, and sci-fi titles due to creative restrictions enforced by the Comics Code Authority, Ballantine reprinted a number of the original tales in five volumes published between 1964 and 1966: Tales from the Crypt (1964), The Vault of Horror (1965), Tales of the Incredible (1965), The Autumn People (1965), and Tomorrow Midnight (1966). Frazetta, who had worked briefly for EC in the 1950s, painted the covers for the entire series. Note the ‘Frank Frazetta’ on the tombstone, rather than his usual ‘Frazetta’ signature ‒ is it the only time he signed differently? The oils on this prime era piece is pure Frazetta genius, right down to the ground around the hands, which give off a phosphorescent glow,” ComicLink founder and President Josh Nathanson said.

Another original art piece in the Summer Featured Auction is the Neal Adams cover for Justice League of America #92 (1971) featuring Adams’ epic depiction of Solomon Grundy raising a defeated Superman over his head, having taken out the rest of the Justice League and the Justice Society. This is Adams’ only Solomon Grundy cover from his peak era and it’s an incredible piece. With Grundy looking very likely to appear on the hit show Gotham starting in a few months, the swamp monster is poised to skyrocket in popularity among a new generation of fans really soon.

One of the original art highlights of this auction is the historic cover for Uncanny X-Men #266, featuring the first appearance of Gambit, drawn by the extraordinary Andy Kubert. “This is one of the most significant Modern Era covers ever to come onto the auction market! Gambit was a shining star from the beginning of his career as an X-Man and he may just go supernova once the planned Gambit film franchise with Channing Tatum finally gets off the ground. Fox has just announced several dates for upcoming unnamed films, and speculation is that one of those will be Gambit. Though the Gambit movie been in the works for a while, keep in mind the Deadpool movie took years to get off the ground, and we all know how huge that was when it hit,” Nathanson said.

Speaking of extra special original art offerings, be sure to check out this complete Graham Ingels Tales From the Crypt story. This 7-page EC classic comes from Tales From the Crypt #46 (1955), the final issue of the historic run. The story, “Tatter Up!” is one of the more memorable stories narrated by the Old Witch in EC’s most famous horror title. As one of Ingels’ last stories before his EC career was cut short by the censorship that resulted in the Comics Code Authority, it shows the original master of the macabre at the full bloom of his talents, showcasing why he’s still considered to be the greatest horror comic book artist ever by many fans.

Other original art highlights from the Summer Focused Auction include Art Adams Avengers Classic #7 cover, Neal Adams Brave and the Bold #85 unused Batman and Green Arrow cover from the landmark issue that introduced Adams’ revamped Green Arrow, Charlie Adlard The Walking Dead #150 cover featuring a bloodied Rick Grimes, Mike Deodato Incredible Hulk #62 and #69 covers, David Finch Warlord of Mars #1 cover, Hal Foster Prince Valiant Sunday pages, Dale Keown the cover for the popular Spider-Gwen #1 and the cover for Future Imperfect #1 featuring the return of the future version of the Hulk known as the Maestro and a page from the landmark Incredible Hulk #377, Greg Land Marvel 75th Anniversary Magazine cover featuring loads of heroes, Todd McFarlane Wolverine #6 back cover featuring the only maskless Logan cover art by McFarlane from his prime era, Frank Miller Daredevil #184 page from the historic run, Tony Moore The Walking Dead #2 page featuring Rick Grimes from extremely early in the landmark saga, George Pérez Marvel Tales #261 cover featuring Spider-Man vs. the Hobgoblin, Stephen Platt Prophet #9 cover, John Romita Amazing Spider-Man #68 page featuring Spidey in action plus the Kingpin, and John Romita Jr. Daredevil The Man Without Fear #1 cover from the landmark 1993 miniseries Al Williamson inks.

There is no time like the present to consign and take full advantage of range of the promotion ComicLink does for each of its auctions. The firm is also taking consignments for the September Focused Auction (a preview will post soon). Interested sellers are encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible to reserve placement, as auction slots tend to fill up quickly for some items. Sellers may contact ComicLink 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.