ComicConnect is in the midst of the July Mega Monthly Auction, but there’s already plenty to preview for the upcoming Event Auction 59, including the most significant release yet of rare books from the Ruben Blades Collection.
In addition to decades as a popular musician and actor, Ruben Blades has been a prominent figure in the comics community and collector of Golden Age titles. “The passion and excitement that Ruben has brought to building this astounding collection is simply incredible,” ComicConnect President Vincent Zurzolo said. “More than once when diving into the thousands upon thousands of comics in his collection, my team and I found comics we hadn’t seen in years or never at all.”
Beloved titles from the Ruben Blades Collection include a Detective Comics run featuring Batman’s debut in issue 27, the classic vampire tale in issue 31, and pre-Batman issues going back to Detective Comics #1. That’s in addition to firsts such as Wonder Woman’s cover debut in Sensation Comics #1, Flash Comics #1, and Alex Schomburg’s epic WWII cover for All Select #1. The Human Torch shows up for his second appearance in Marvel Mystery Comics #2. There’s more Golden Age greatness via Schomburg’s cover for Suspense Comics #3, plus Hitler’s trip to Hell in Great Comics #3 and Gus Ricca’s work for Punch Comics #12.
There are scarce Golden Age gems like a run of Catman Comics with some CGC Census-toppers. The Ruben Blades Collection has barely distributed offerings like All-Negro Comics #1 from pioneering journalist Orrin C. Evans, along with an unrestored Green Giant Comics #1 6.0. There’s further lost finds with L.B. Cole’s controversially creepy cover for Startling Terror Tales #11, the violent Red Dragon #7, and The Eagle soaring into Science Comics #1.
“Whenever I speak with someone who knows Ruben’s work, their eyes light up and they talk of fond memories of growing up on his music and how much it meant to them and their families,” Zurzolo said. “It’s my hope that comic collectors will be affected in a similar way for years to come when they see comics from his collection.”