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 art. Comic book lots close on Tuesday through Thursday, May 28-30, 2019, starting at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT each evening. The original art session closes on Tuesday, June 4. This article covers the comic book highlights in the auction. A separate article in this week’s issue of Scoop will cover the original art offerings.
“The most important and valuable comic book within this auction is the Fantastic Four #5 CGC 9.6 from the White Mountain pedigree. It features, of course, the first appearance of Doctor Doom, the #1 villain in the Marvel Universe. 9.6 is the highest graded level for this major key and this is one of only two ever assigned that elusive Near Mint+ designation, which is virtually unheard of for a 1962 Marvel,” ComicLink founder and Managing Director Josh Nathanson said. “With its newsstand fresh white pages, this is the finest example of this historic comic book known to exist. Doctor Doom has been a huge part of the Marvel Universe since this book came out 57 years ago. While his majestic yet ominous presence has never been properly translated to the movie screen, that is very likely to change over the next few years now that Marvel Studios has gained back the rights to the character. We could see Doom taking over from Thanos as the huge threat in the next phase of Marvel’s magnificent films.”
Key comic books closing soon include Incredible Hulk #1 (first Hulk and origin) CGC 8.0, Superman #13 (WWII cover) CGC 9.2 (single highest graded), Amazing Fantasy #15 (first Spider-Man and origin) CGC 6.5, Amazing Spider-Man #1 CGC 7.5, #28 (black cover, first Molten Man) CGC 9.6, and Annual #1 (first Sinister Six) CGC 9.6 Curator pedigree, Brick Bradford #6 (Schomburg robot cover) CGC 9.4 (top three), Detective Comics #33 (first origin of Batman) CGC 3.0 and #225 (first Martian Manhunter) CGC 8.5 (top four), Marvel Spotlight #5 (first Ghost Rider) CGC 9.6, Fantastic Four #1 (first Fantastic Four and origin) CGC 7.0, and X-Men #1 (first X-Men and Magneto) CGC 8.5.
Other major keys are Avengers #1 (first Avengers) CGC 8.5, #4 (first Silver Age Captain America) CGC 9.6, and #57 (first Vision) CGC 9.8, All-Star Comics #8 (first Wonder Woman and origin) CGC 2.0, Iron Man #1 CGC 9.8 (first generation CGC label) and #55 (first Thanos and Drax) CGC 9.8 double cover, Silver Surfer #1 (origin of Surfer) CGC 9.6 and #4 (Thor battle cover/story) CGC 9.8 CVA Exceptional, Showcase #22 (first Silver Age Green Lantern and origin) CGC 7.5, Daredevil #1 (first Daredevil and origin) CGC 9.4, Tales of Suspense #39 (first Iron Man and origin) CGC 7.5 Signature Series (Stan Lee and Gene Colan), and Giant-Size X-Men #1 (first Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler, second full Wolverine) CGC 9.8. There are also many high grade EC comics from the Gaines File collection.
A couple of special Modern Era offerings drawing to a close are Albedo #2 (first Usagi Yojimbo) CGC 9.8, and the seldom seen Turtlemania Special #1 (including the Silver Edition as well as the extremely rare Gold Edition which was limited to a 10-copy print run of which only 2 have been CGC-graded.
An extensive list of comics in the Featured Auction include Action Comics #33 (Superman cover) CGC 9.0 (single highest graded) and #252 (first Supergirl and origin) CGC 7.0 CVA, All-Star Western #10 (first Jonah Hex) CGC 9.8, Amazing Fantasy #15 (first Spider-Man and origin) and CGC 4.0, Amazing-Man Comics #19 CGC 8.0 CVA (top two), Amazing Spider-Man #1 (second Spider-Man, first Jameson) CGC 7.0, CGC 6.0, and CGC 4.5, #7 (second Vulture) CGC 9.4, #10 (first Enforcers) CGC 9.8, #13 (first Mysterio) CGC 9.2, #26 (fourth Green Goblin) CGC 9.8 (highest, one of five), #27 (Green Goblin) CGC 9.6, #30 CGC 9.8, #60 (Kingpin cover) CGC 9.8 (highest, one of five), #101 (first Morbius) CGC 9.6 Northland pedigree, #129 (first Punisher) CGC 9.8 and CGC 9.6, #194 (first Black Cat) CGC 9.8, #212 (first Hydro-Man) CGC 9.9 (single highest graded), and #300 (first full Venom) CGC 9.8, and Avengers #1 (first Avengers) CGC 7.5, #2 CGC 9.4, and #11 (first Spider-Man in Avengers) CGC 9.6.
Batman #2 (second Joker, second Catwoman and first use of that name) CGC 4.0, #7 (Joker story) CGC 7.5, #11 (first Joker cover in title) CGC 7.0, #23 (Joker chess cover) CGC 7.0 CVA Exceptional, #36 CGC 9.4 (highest, one of five), #47 (Batman origin cover, finds parents’ killer) CGC 6.5, #62 (first origin Catwoman and first use of “Selina Kyle”) CBCS 8.5, #66 (Joker cover) CGC 9.4 (highest, one of three), #68 (Two-Face cover) CGC 9.0 CVA Exceptional, #234 (first Modern Two-Face) CGC 9.8, and #251 (Adams Joker cover) CGC 9.6, Batman Adventures #12 (first Harley Quinn in comics) CGC 9.8, Black Cat Mystery #50 (face melting cover) CGC 2.5, Blue Beetle #54 (GGA cover) CGC 5.5, Brave and the Bold #25 (first Suicide Squad) CGC 7.5 and #28 (first Justice League) CGC 6.0, Captain America Comics #13 (WWII cover) CGC 7.0, #19 (horror cover) CGC 8.5, #33 (“Brenner Pass” Schomburg cover) CGC 5.5, and #58 (Schomburg cover) CGC 9.2 Ohio Pedigree (top five), Conan the Barbarian #1 (first Conan in comics) CGC 9.8, Daredevil Battles Hitler #1 CGC 4.5, and Daring Comics #9 (Schomburg Timely heroes cover) CGC 9.0 (top two).
Highlights are Detective Comics #3 CGC 5.0 (top two, one of only six CGC Universal graded examples), #38 (first Robin and origin) CGC 1.8 and a restored CGC 5.0 Mod (C-3), #69 (Robinson Joker cover) CGC 3.0, #118 (Joker cover) CGC 9.0, #137 (Joker cover) CGC 9.0 CVA, and #168 (origin of Joker, first Red Hood) CGC 5.5 CVA, Famous Funnies #216 (Frazetta cover) CGC 9.4, Four Color #9 (first Barks Ducks) CGC 8.0, and #386 (Uncle Scrooge #1) CGC 9.2, Fantastic Four #1 (first Fantastic Four and origin) CGC 6.0, CGC 5.0, and CGC 3.0, #2 (first Skrulls) CGC 9.0, #5 (first Doctor Doom) CGC 9.6 White Mountain pedigree (highest, one of two), #12 (first Hulk crossover) CGC 9.2, and #48 (first Silver Surfer and Galactus) CGC 9.6 and 9.4, Giant-Size X-Men #1 (first Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler, second full Wolverine) CGC 9.6, Green Lantern #1 (first Guardians) CGC 8.0, Haunt of Fear multiple issues from the Gaines File pedigree, Human Torch #1 (first Toro and origin) CGC 5.0, and Incredible Hulk #1 (first Hulk and origin) CGC 6.5 and CGC 3.0, #2 (first Green, Hulk) CGC 9.0, #180 (first Wolverine, cameo) CGC 9.8, and #181 (first full Wolverine) CGC 9.6.
The auction includes Iron Man #1 CGC 9.6 CVA, Exceptional, Justice League of America #6 (first Amos Fortune) CGC 9.6 (highest, one of two), Marvel Mystery Comics #7 (Schomburg cover) CGC 8.5, #10 (Schomburg cover) CGC 7.5, and #36 (Schomburg Nazis invade New York City cover) CGC 7.0 Chicago pedigree (top four), Marvel Tales #93 (first issue) CGC 8.0 (top three), Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (first Carol Danvers) CGC 9.4, More Fun Comics #14 (1936, key “Superman Tryout” with Dr. Occult in costume) rare CGC 6.5 (second highest, one of the top four graded overall), #55 (first Dr. Fate) CGC 2.0, and #67 (first origin of Dr. Fate) CGC 6.5, Ms. Marvel #1 (Carol Danvers becomes a superhero) CGC 9.8, Mystery Men Comics #3 (Lou Fine cover) CGC 5.0, Mystery Tales #1 (Atlas) CGC 9.0 (highest, one of three), Peanuts #1 (1953, scarce only issue, Snoopy cover) CGC 3.5, Phantom Lady #17 (Baker cover) CGC 3.5, Planet Comics #38 first Mysta of the Moon cover) CGC 9.4 Mile High pedigree (highest, one of two), and Police Comics #1 (first Plastic Man and first Phantom Lady) CGC 2.5.
Science Comics #4 (Simon sci-fi cover) CGC 7.0 (top two graded), Shadow Comics #1 (first Shadow and first Doc Savage in comics) CGC 7.0, Silver Streak Comics #6 (first Golden Age Daredevil and origin) CGC 4.5, Showcase #23 (second Silver Age Green Lantern) CGC 8.5 and #30 (first solo Aquaman try-out) CGC 9.0, Spirou #1071 (first Smurfs) CGC 9.6 (single highest graded) and #1072 (first Smurfs cover) CGC 9.6 (single highest graded), Startling Comics #20 (Nazi KKK cover) CGC 7.0 and #52 (Schomburg airbrush cover) CGC 9.4 (top three), Strange Tales #110 (first Doctor Strange) CGC 7.5, Sub-Mariner Comics #9 (Schomburg WWII flag cover) CGC 8.0, Superman #35 (Lois Lane cover) CGC 9.6 Hawkeye pedigree (one of the top two graded), Superman #199 (first Superman/Flash race) CGC 9.4, Tales of Suspense #39 (first Iron Man and origin) CGC 7.0 and #57 (first Hawkeye) CGC 9.2 Curator pedigree, Tales to Astonish #35 (first Ant-Man in costume) CGC 8.5, Thor #165 (first full Warlock) CGC 9.6, Tomb of Dracula #10 (first Blade) CGC 9.8, and Thrilling Comics #41 (WWII Hitler cover) CGC 6.5 will be sold.
Highlights also include Underworld Crime #7 (pre-code crime cover) CGC 7.0 (top five), Uncanny Tales group of scarce mid-to-high grade examples from the pre-code horror Atlas title, USA Comics #10 (Schomburg WWII Captain America cover) CGC 7.0, Vampirella #1 (first Vampi) in a rarely available CGC 9.6, Vault of Horror Gaines File examples including #28 (Craig voodoo cover) CGC 9.8 (highest, one of five), #33 CGC 9.8 (highest, one of five), #38 CGC 9.8, and #39 CGC 9.8, Venom Lethal Protector #1 (first solo Venom story) CGC 9.8 black cover error edition, Voodoo Annual #1 (1952, 100 pages) CGC 7.5 (highest, one of two), Werewolf By Night #32 (first Moon Knight) 9.8 (PGX), Wonder Woman #6 (first Cheetah) CGC 5.5, #25 CGC 9.4 (top four), #32 (sci-fi cover) CGC 9.2 (highest, one of two), and #34 (robot cover) CGC 9.6 (highest, one of two), X-Men #1 (first X-Men and Magneto) CGC 7.5, CGC 6.5 and CGC 5.0, #76 CGC 9.6, #79 CGC 9.8 (highest, one of two), and #101 (first Phoenix) CGC 9.8, plus Mile High pedigree examples and more Gaines File pedigree examples including multiple in CGC 9.8 and CGC 9.6.
These and many other lots are open for bidding in the Spring Featured Auction.
ComicLink is now accepting seller consignments for the next Focused Auction launching in June, which will also be an exciting one as it will promote other categories of collectibles including certified coins (both U.S. coins and ancients), cards, WATA-certified video games, movie posters, and more. The firm is also accepting consignments for the Focused Auction launching in July and the Summer Featured Auction launching in August (previews will post soon). Sellers interested in consigning may contact ComicLink at buysell@comiclink.com or (617) 517-0062 (option 1) to speak with Josh Nathanson, Douglas Gillock, Jason Crosby, Jon Signorelli, or Ross Kearney. Upfront cash advances are available upon receipt of seller material.