ComicLink’s Spring Featured Auction will soon be drawing to a close, with a large selection of certified comic books and comic and fantasy related original artwork. Comic book lots close on Tuesday through Thursday, May 22-24, 2018 starting at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. The original art session closes on Tuesday, May 29 (art highlights are covered under a separate article in this issue of Scoop).

“The most important and valuable comic book within this auction is the Journey Into Mystery #83 (first Thor) certified CGC Near Mint 9.4 with white pages,” ComicLink CEO Josh Nathanson said. “Issued near the dawn of Marvel’s Silver Age in the same month as Amazing Fantasy #15, this issue has always been one of the most difficult Silver Age books to procure in Near Mint condition. There are only a handful of comparable examples, and of the mere eight certified in CGC Near Mint 9.4, we have brought to market only two examples since 2005, and they have sold for as much as $275,000. Neither of these had the distinguishing feature of white pages! The argument can be made that this example is the second best existing next to the lone 9.6 on the CGC census.”

Other major key issues offered from the Silver Age are Tales of Suspense #39 (first Iron Man) CGC 9.4 and #52 (first Black Widow) CGC 9.6 (highest, one of four), plus Fantastic Four #1 (first Fantastic Four) CBCS 8.5 and the Boston pedigree example of #52 (first Black Panther) CGC 9.8. Hailing from the Golden Age are Batman #1 (first Joker and first Catwoman) CGC 2.0, Captain America Comics #3 CGC 6.5 featuring a classic Red Skull cover and Stan Lee’s first published story, Pep Comics #22 (first Archie, Betty, and Jughead) CBCS 9.6 Restored, and Action Comics #23 (first Lex Luthor) CGC 5.5. Classic Golden Age covers abound within this auction, with high grade examples of two outstanding Alex Schomburg covers leading the pack ‒ Terrific Comics #5 CGC 8.0 and Starting Comics #49 CGC 8.5.

Bronze and Modern Age keys include Giant-Size X-Men #1 CGC 9.8 and Incredible Hulk #181 CGC 9.6 as well as two of the most important books of the Modern era in New Mutants #98 CGC 9.9 (introducing Deadpool) and The Walking Dead #1 9.9.

The comic book portion of the auction includes Detective Comics #34 CGC 5.0, Captain America Comics #29 (Schomburg WWII cover) CGC 8.0, Marvel Mystery Comics #40 (Schomburg Zeppelin Cover) CGC 5.0, Daredevil #1 (first Daredevil) CGC 9.6, Amazing Spider-Man #1 (second Spider-Man, first Jameson) CBCS 8.5, #3 (first Doc Ock) CGC 9.4, and #129 (first Punisher) CGC 9.8, Fantastic Four #4 (first Silver Age Sub-Mariner) CGC 9.0, #45 (first Inhumans) CGC 9.6 Twin Cities Pedigree, #46 (first full Black Bolt) CGC 9.8 Rocky Mountain Pedigree, #48 (first Silver Surfer and Galactus) CGC 9.6, #67 (first Him/Warlock) CGC 9.8, and Fantastic Four Annual #3 (wedding of Reed and Sue) CGC 9.8 (highest, one of three), Avengers #1 (first gathering of the Avengers) CGC 8.5, and X-Men #1 (first X-Men and Magneto) CGC 8.0, #4 (first Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch) CGC 9.4, and #14 (first Sentinels) CGC 9.6 Signature Series (single highest graded).

Highlights also include Tales of Suspense #57 CGC 9.6 (first Hawkeye), Captain America #100 (first issue, classic cover) CGC 9.8, Strange Tales #110 (first Doctor Strange) CGC 9.0 and CGC 8.5, Doctor Strange #169 (first issue) CGC 9.8, Sub-Mariner #1 CGC 9.8, Action Comics #252 (first Supergirl) CGC 8.0, Batman #139 (first original Batgirl) CGC 9.2 (top five) and #181 (first Poison Ivy) CBCS 9.6, The Flash #105 (first issue, first Mirror Master) CGC 8.0, Brave and the Bold #28 (first Justice League) CGC 7.5, Justice League of America #1 CGC 8.0 and #23 (first Queen Bee) CGC 9.8 (single highest graded), Green Lantern #1 (first Guardians of the Universe) CGC 8.5 and 8.0, Aquaman #1 CGC 8.5, Incredible Hulk #181 (first full Wolverine) CGC 9.6, Giant-Size X-Men #1 (first Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus) CGC 9.8 and 9.6 Signature Series, All-Star Western #10 (first Jonah Hex) CGC 9.8, and Spawn #1 (first Spawn) CGC 9.9.

This auction also has several high grade comic books from the John G. Fantucchio Pedigree collection including Amazing Spider-Man #129 (first Punisher) CGC 9.6 and Brave and the Bold #85 (first revamped Green Arrow, classic Adams cover) CGC 9.8 (highest graded, one of two), as well as other issues of Brave and the Bold, plus examples from great Silver Age titles like Journey Into Mystery, Thor, The Flash, Showcase, Captain Atom, and Teen Titans.

ComicLink is currently accepting consignments of comic books, original artwork, and other collectibles for upcoming auctions including the June Focused Auction which will begin on June 7 (which will also showcase certified sports card in conjunction with SportscardLink), the July Focused Auction, and the Summer Featured Auction which will begin on August 15. Interested 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. 

The original art auction session, auction schedule, Comic Book Exchange, and Comic Art Exchange can all be viewed on ComicLink’s website.