ComicLink’s blockbuster Summer Featured Auction begins next Thursday, August 15, 2019. Highlights include keys like All-American Comics #16 (first Green Lantern) CGC 6.5 (top five), Wonder Woman #1 (origin of Wonder Woman) CGC 8.0, Tomb of Dracula #10 (first Blade) CGC 9.9 (single highest graded), and the recently listed Startling Comics #49 (Schomburg robot cover) CGC 9.6 (highest, one of four), as well as a group of exceptionally high grade Spider-Man comic books from the Federal Hill collection (the single highest graded Amazing Spider-Man #7 CGC 9.8 among them).

A few highlights in the original art selection includes the Jim Lee cover to Infinite Crisis #3 with today’s Batman meeting the Golden Age Superman; a rare twice-up (large art) Tales of Suspense Iron Man title splash from #60 by Don Heck; Marie Severin Captain Marvel #15 cover; John Buscema Marvel Two-in-One #34 cover with the Thing and Nighthawk; Brian Bolland’s Robin #3 cover from the Boy Wonder’s first miniseries; Herb Trimpe’s Defenders #73 cover with Hulk, Hellcat and team; Bill Sienkiewicz’s Savage Sword of Conan #102 painted cover; and a Graham Ingels complete story from Haunt of Fear #21, “An Off-Color Heir” – the story of a man who becomes the reincarnation of Bluebeard.

Those interested in selling in a ComicLink auction can reserve auction placement by emailing buysell@comiclink.com, by calling the sales team at (617) 517-0062 (option 1), or reach out to a sales consultant (Josh Nathanson, Douglas Gillock, Jason Crosby, Jon Signorelli, or Ross Kearney).

The Summer Featured Auction will include the first lots from the new to market Federal Hill Collection, a high grade run of over 2,000 comic books, mostly Marvel issues, covering from the early Silver Age through the Bronze Age. “The average condition of this large collection, which starts in the early Silver Age, is a staggering 9.6,” Nathanson said.

The collection will be auctioned over several months, but first up in the Summer Featured Auction is perhaps the most incredible run of Amazing Spider-Man with highlights that include #3 (first Doctor Octopus) CGC 9.4 Twin Cities pedigree, #5 (early Doctor Doom) CGC 9.6 Pacific Coast pedigree, #6 (first Lizard) CGC 9.6, #7 (second Vulture) CGC 9.8 (single highest graded), #8 CGC 9.8 CVA Exceptional, #9 (first Electro) CGC 9.6 White Mountain pedigree, #11 (second Doctor Octopus) CGC 9.6 Pacific Coast pedigree, #13 (first Mysterio) CGC 9.6, #14 (first Green Goblin) CGC 9.6, #15 (first Kraven) CGC 9.6, #16 (first Daredevil crossover) CGC 9.8, #17 (second Green Goblin) CGC 9.8, #20 (first Scorpion) CGC 9.8, #23 (third Green Goblin) CGC 9.6 CVA Exceptional, #28 (black cover, first Molten Man) CGC 9.6, and #40 (origin of Green Goblin) CGC 9.8 Pacific Coast pedigree (highest, one of four). There are dozens more from the title as well.

Several other Spider-Man keys in the auction include Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 5.0 and CGC 4.0, Amazing Spider-Man #1 (second Spider-Man, first Jameson) CGC 5.0, #4 (first Sandman) CGC 9.0, #18 CGC 9.8, #50 (first Kingpin, classic cover) CGC 9.6, #101 (first Morbius) CGC 9.8, #121 (death of Gwen Stacy) CGC 9.8, #129 (first Punisher) CGC 9.8, and #130 (first Spider-Mobile) CGC 9.9 (single highest graded), Annual #1 (first Sinister Six) CGC 9.2, and #1 Golden Record Reprint CGC 9.8 Signature Series Stan Lee (highest, one of five).

Other Silver Age and early Bronze Age Marvel books include Avengers #1 (first Avengers and origin) CBCS 9.4, #2 CGC 9.6 Mass pedigree, #6 (first Zemo and the Masters of Evil) CGC 9.6, #9 (first Wonder Man) CGC 9.4, #11 (first Spider-Man in Avengers) CGC 9.6, and #12 CGC 9.6, Daredevil #1 (first Daredevil and origin) CBCS 9.6 Stan Lee Verified Signature and #7 (first red costume, Wood Sub-Mariner battle cover) CGC 9.6 (highest, one of three), Fantastic Four #6 (second Doctor Doom) CGC 9.0, #12 (first Hulk crossover) CGC 9.4, #50 (Silver Surfer cover) CBCS 9.6, and #67 (first Adam Warlock) CGC 9.8.

There’s also Silver Surfer #1 (origin of Surfer) CBCS 9.8 and #4 (Thor battle cover) CGC 9.8 CVA Exceptional, Journey Into Mystery #83 (first Thor) CGC 3.0, #89 (Kirby Thor cover) CGC 9.4 and other early issues with Thor that include #105 CGC 9.8 (highest, one of three), #107 (first Grey Gargoyle) CGC 9.8 (highest, one of three) and others, plus Thor #165 (first full Adam Warlock) CGC 9.6, X-Men #1 (first X-Men and Magneto) 9.2 (PGX) and CGC 5.0 and #3 (first Blob) CGC 9.6, Giant-Size X-Men #1 CGC 9.8 and CGC 9.6, Tomb of Dracula #10 CGC 9.8, Incredible Hulk #1 (first Hulk and origin) CGC 2.0 and #181 (first full Wolverine) CGC 9.6 and CGC 9.4, Tales of Suspense #39 (first Iron Man and origin) CBCS 7.5 Verified Signature Stan Lee, #52 (first Black Widow) CGC 9.0, #55 (Mandarin cover) CGC 9.6 (top five), and #57 (first Hawkeye) CGC 9.6 Curator pedigree, Iron Man #1 CGC 9.6 and #55 (first Thanos and Drax) CGC 9.8, Werewolf By Night #32 (first Moon Knight) CGC 9.6, Doctor Strange #169 (first issue) CGC 9.8, Sub-Mariner #1 CGC 9.8, Special Marvel Edition #15 (first Shang-Chi) CGC 9.8, and Conan the Barbarian #1 (first Conan in comics) CGC 9.8.

Silver Age and early Bronze Age DC highlights include a just added Aquaman #1 CGC 9.2, Batman #121 (first Mr. Freeze) CGC 8.5, #234 (first Modern Two-Face) CGC 9.8, and #251 (Adams Joker cover/story) CGC 9.6, Detective Comics #359 (first Barbara Gordon Batgirl) CGC 9.2 and #411 (first Talia) CGC 9.4, Flash #114 (Captain Cold cover) CGC 9.4 (highest, one of four), #119 (Mirror Master cover) CGC 9.4, and #137 (classic cover, first Silver Age Vandal Savage, JSA comes out of retirement) CGC 9.6, Brave and the Bold #28 (first Justice League) CGC 8.0, #34 (first Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl and origin) CGC 9.0, and #67 (first Batman/Flash team-up) CGC 9.8 (highest, one of two), Action Comics #252 (first Supergirl) CGC 8.0, Showcase #4 (first Silver Age Flash and origin) CGC 3.5, Superboy #89 (first Mon-El) CGC 9.4 (highest, one of two), Green Lantern #63 (first Neal Adams Green Lantern cover) CGC 9.8 (highest, one of four), Forever People #1 (first full Darkseid) CGC 9.8, Justice League of America #9 (origin of JLA) CGC 9.4 and #38 (third JLA/JSA team-up) CGC 9.8, Sergeant Bilko #1 (1957 DC, rare in high grade) CGC 9.4 Bethlehem pedigree (single highest graded), Vampirella #1 (first Vampi, Frazetta cover) CGC 9.6, and Betty and Me #16 CGC 9.2 (single highest graded).

Golden Age lots include Timely books like All Winners Comics #19 (first Marvel Superhero Team – All Winners Squad) CGC 9.0 (single highest graded) and #21 (second All Winners Squad) CGC 6.5, 24 issues from the Captain America Comics run including #1 (first Captain America and origin) CGC 3.0 (B-3) #18 CGC 8.5, #23 CGC 9.2 San Francisco pedigree (top four), #35 (Schomburg cover) CGC 9.0, #46 (Schomburg WWII Holocaust cover), other Schomburg WWII covers and #74 (Red Skull “Weird Tales” cover) CGC 5.0, Human Torch #14 (Schomburg cover) CGC 8.5 (highest, one of three) and #23 (Schomburg robot cover) CGC 9.0, Marvel Mystery Comics #25 CGC 9.4 Chicago pedigree (single highest graded), Namora #1 CGC 8.5, and Marvel Tales #109 (Atlas, Everett cover) CGC 9.6 (highest, one of two).

There are many Golden Age Batman keys including Batman #1 (first Joker, first Catwoman, Batman origin) CGC 1.5Q (centerfold married), #5 (Joker story) CGC 7.0, #7 (Joker story) CGC 6.5, #11 (first Joker cover in title) CBCS 2.0, and #20 (first Batmobile cover) CGC 8.5, Detective Comics #13 (pre-Batman Flessel cover) CGC 5.5, #36 (first Hugo Strange) CGC 1.8, #39 (second Robin) CGC 6.5, #40 (first Joker cover, first Clayface) CGC 1.8, #62 (Robinson Joker cover) CGC 4.5, #71 (Robinson Joker cover) CGC 2.0, #91 (Joker cover) CGC 9.0, #140 (first Riddler) CGC 2.0, #164 (Bat signal cover) CGC 9.2 Palo Alto collection (top five), and #168 (Joker origin/first Red Hood) CGC 4.5 with white pages, and World’s Finest Comics #3 (first Scarecrow) CGC 4.0.

Other Golden Age DC issues include More Fun Comics #73 (first Aquaman, Green Arrow and Speedy) CGC 1.5, Wonder Woman #7 (Wonder Woman for President cover) CGC 7.0, Action Comics #5 (fifth Superman) CGC 5.5, #17 (early Superman cover) CGC 5.0, and #48 (WWII cover with Superman punching a Japanese plane) CGC 9.0 Mile High pedigree (highest, one of two) – this is a rare opportunity to own a Mile High Action Comics copy from the first 50 issues of the title, Superman #13 (WWII cover) CGC 7.0, #14 (classic patriotic cover) CGC 5.5, #17 (Hitler/Hirohito cover) CGC 5.0, and #35 (Lois Lane cover) CGC 9.8 Hawkeye pedigree (highest, one of two), and Flash Comics #86 (first Black Canary) CGC 3.5.

There are several high grade EC issues from the Gaines File pedigree including Weird Fantasy #13 CGC 9.6 (top three) and #22 (final issue) CGC 9.8 (single highest graded), Weird Science #11 CGC 9.6, Vault of Horror #27 CGC 9.8, and Haunt of Fear #2 (first Old Witch) CGC 9.8 and #11 CGC 9.8 (highest, one of three).

Archie books include three hard to find Golden Age keys: Jackpot Comics #4 (first Archie cover, same month as Pep #22) CGC 5.0 and Pep Comics #30 (first Miss Grundy) CGC 8.0 and #31 (first Mr. Lodge, Veronica's dad Hiram) CGC 7.5.

Other Golden Age include Blue Bolt #105 (L.B. Cole sci-fi cover) CGC 7.0, Planet Comics #1 CGC 5.5 and #63 CGC 9.6 Mile High pedigree (single highest graded), Harvey Comics Library #1 (“Teenage Dope Slaves” cover) CGC 7.5, Jungle Comics #1 (Lou Fine cover, origin and first appearance of Kaanga, Wambi) CGC 8.0, Captain Marvel Adventures #2 (World War II cover) CGC 8.0 (highest, one of three), Marvel Family #1 (first Black Adam) CGC 5.5, Speed Comics #22 (Simon WWII cover, rare) CGC 7.0 (single highest graded), Weird Comics #3 (Joe Simon cover) CGC 7.5 (top three), Wonderworld Comics #9 (Lou Fine cover) CGC 7.0, Fantastic Comics #8 CGC 7.5, Zip Comics #1 (first Steel Sterling) CBCS 8.0, and Brenda Starr #14 (Kamen cover) CGC 6.0.

One memorabilia item in the auction of note is an Operator 5 premium ring produced in 1934. Operator 5 was a pulp magazine that was published from 1934 to 1939, featuring the exploits of Jimmy Christopher, America’s Undercover Ace. Jimmy wore a ring featuring a memorable skull design with the number “5” embossed on its forehead. A premium ring based on Jimmy’s ring was offered to readers who signed up for a fan club. The ring is considered one of the most sought-after and elusive of all premium rings. It is estimated that only about 12 of these rings have ever appeared on the market, so any offering is quite rare.

Late Bronze/Modern Age (post 1975) includes Teaching With Calvin and Hobbes #nn CGC 9.6 (one of only two graded) – rare publication officially authorized by Bill Watterson, who has always maintained a strict policy against merchandising his characters. Another is Turtlemania Special #1 (white cover edition) CGC 9.4 – this is a rare 1986 publication with cover and art by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

Others highlights from the post-1975 era include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (first Turtles and origin) CGC 8.0, Walking Dead #1 (first Rick Grimes) CGC 9.8, X-Men #101 (first Phoenix) CGC 9.8, Iron Fist #14 (first Sabretooth) CGC 9.8, Bone #1 (first Bone) CGC 9.8, and Goon #1 (first Goon) CGC 9.8.

Original art items in the Summer Featured Auction preview include the Jim Lee page from Justice League #4 with a large image of Aquaman and page from #5 with Green Lantern battling Darkseid; Nick Cardy Superman #285 cover, a rarely available Bronze Age cover from the title; Daniel Clowes Eightball #2 page 2 title splash from “Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron”; Al Milgrom Avengers #234 cover featuring the saga of the Scarlet Witch, packed with the many beloved characters from her past; Gil Kane Omega the Unknown #8 cover; Mike Zeck Captain America #329 cover with a great horror scene; Al Willamson and Frank Frazetta John Wayne Adventure Comics #3 page; Greg Capullo Batman #4 page 1 title splash with a large image of Batman; Gene Colan Captain Marvel #1 page; Barry Windsor-Smith pages from Conan the Barbarian #3 and #6, an unused Hela pin-up from 1968 and cover painting from the K'ing Kung-Fu paperback series; Todd McFarlane Infinity, Inc. #24 unused cover; Sal Buscema Sub-Mariner #34 page 1 title splash featuring a huge image of the Hulk and the title “Titans Three!” – this was the first “Defenders Prelude” issue that brought together Namor, Hulk and the Silver Surfer for the first time; Marie Severin Tales to Astonish #100 battle page with Hulk vs. Sub-Mariner; David Finch Justice League International #11 cover with the JLI in battle; Frank Brunner Howard the Duck #2 cover recreation; and Tony Daniel Batman #712 cover with Batman battling Two-Face.

Steve Ditko artwork includes the finale page from Journey Into Mystery #55, an inkwash page from Creepy #16 and the cover to Marvel’s Monster Menace #2, an early 1990s publication which features Ditko’s depictions of the popular “Kirby Monsters” of the early Silver Age, including Groot and Fin Fang Foom.

Additional original art includes Stephen Platt Prophet #5 wraparound cover – highly detailed including Marvel characters and a splash from Marc Spector: Moon Knight #57; Mark Texeira Black Panther #4 cover; Chris Ware Quimby the Mouse page; Mark Bagley/Al Williamson cover to Marvel Age #89 featuring the New Warriors in a preview to the first issue of their own series; Sam Kieth’s painted cover to The Maxx: Maximized #29, featuring Kieth’s signature creation; George Pérez X-Men Annual #3 page with Terry Austin inks featuring Wolverine, Storm and Cyclops and Crisis on Infinite Earths #10 page with Jerry Ordway inks featuring Superman, Batman and dozens of other characters in the key battle with the Anti-Monitor that ended the DC Multiverse; and Kevin Eastman Raphael #1 splash with Raphael and Casey Jones from the latter’s first appearance.

Other highlights are John Byrne pages from Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man; J. Scott Campbell Gen 13 #12 title splash with a large image of Caitlin Fairchild; Kim Deitch Search for Smilin’ Ed cover; Erik Larsen Amazing Spider-Man #324 page 1 title splash with a huge image of Spidey – also Larsen’s first work on the title and the Nova #7 cover with Nova vs. Venom; Ed McGuinness Secret Wars II Omnibus cover with Marvel’s biggest characters; Mike Mignola Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #3 cover; and Doctor Tomorrow #1 cover with WWII superhero action; John Romita Jr. Detective Comics #51 variant cover with an armed and dangerous Batman, Spectacular Spider-Man #255 cover with Green Goblin taking Norman and Normie Osborn for a ride; Wolverine #30 complete 23-page interior with Klaus Janson inks; and Tim Sale Batman: Dark Victory page 1 title splash with the Joker.

ComicLink’s auction schedule, Comic Book Exchange, and Comic Art Exchange can be viewed on their website.