ComicConnect has opened Event Auction 59 for bidding. It features the Ruben Blades Collection as part of over 2,800 comic books from every era, plus over 250 pieces of original art and rare memorabilia ranging from animation cels to Golden Age legal documents.

In addition to decades as a popular musician and actor, Ruben Blades has been a prominent figure in the comics community as a collector of Golden Age titles. Those include Wonder Woman’s cover debut in Sensation Comics #1, Flash Comics #1, and Alex Schomburg’s epic WWII cover for All Select Comics #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 haunting work for Punch Comics #12. There are scarce Golden Age gems like a run of Catman Comics, and barely distributed books like All-Negro Comics #1 and Green Giant Comics #1 6.0.

The Ruben Blades Collection also sports a Detective Comics run featuring Batman’s debut in issue 27. Other EA59 firsts include Superman #1, the birth of the Marvel Universe via Marvel Comics #1, and the Joker and Catwoman introduced in Batman #1. There’s more Golden Age premieres with Captain America Comics #1, Green Lantern #1, Flash Comics #1, Daring Mystery Comics #1, and Wonder Woman #1. Barry Allen’s Flash accelerates the start of DC’s Silver Age in Showcase #4, and for Marvel, the Silver Age keys include Fantastic Four #1 (first appearance of the team) and #5 (Dr. Doom’s debt), and the first Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 and Amazing Spider-Man #1.

EA59’s original art listings include Mac Raboy’s preliminary cover art for Captain Marvel Jr. #31, plus Jack Kirby’s art (with Wally Wood finishing) on a signed page from Tales of Suspense #72 featuring the Red Skull. Kirby sends the God of Thunder time-traveling in Journey Into Mystery #86, and a display of Kirby’s machinery looms over the Bronze Age title page of Captain America #194, matched by Gene Colan’s splash from the Falcon’s co-billing debut from Captain America #134. Cover art from Captain America #269 shows Mike Zeck’s skills on the title in the ’80s.

Steve Ditko is whimsically ghastly for the cover art of Ghostly Haunts #27. Bronze Age beauties include John Byrne’s Kirby tribute on a 1986 pin-up of the Hulk from the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe. Sal Buscema’s own Hulk is showcased via Glenn Talbot’s death from Incredible Hulk #260, on the issue’s sole page inked by Walt Simonson. There’s another Bronze Age artifact with a signed Frank Miller page from Daredevil #172, as Klaus Janson inks Daredevil, the Kingpin, Bullseye, Vanessa Fisk, and Turk. Dale Keown appears as a Modern master through a page of from his Marvel duties for Incredible Hulk #385. There are X-Men pages covering the ages, from X-Men #18 interiors by Werner Roth and Dick Ayers to Joe Madureira and Tim Townsend’s work for X-Men #235. Modern offerings include a Travis Charest original of Wolverine from WildC.A.T.S./X-Men: The Golden Age #1.

Sessions for ComicConnect’s Event Auction 59 close as follows:

Session 1: (original art, memorabilia, pulps, foreign comics) ends September 30, 2024
Session 2: (Action Comics - Young Allies) ends October 1
Session 3: (Ruben Blades Collection: 100 Pages of Comics - Eerie Tales) ends October 2
Session 4: (Ruben Blades Collection: Exciting Comics - Sensation Comics) ends October 3
Session 5: (Ruben Blades Collection: Sensation Comics - Zoom Comics) ends October 4

The catalogue for Event Auction 59 is available for downloading. New bidders can get full details here on how ComicConnect runs their online events on their website. ComicConnect is already working toward their next Event Auction. Consignors can reach peterb@comicconnect.com about comics and original art; and they can call (212) 260-4147 or (888) 779-7377.