Showing posts with label Avengers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Avengers. Show all posts
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Logan's Run in Good sells for $200 bucks
Here is an example of a real sleeper book. First, it is a very hard to find 35 cent variant of a minor title which makes it even tougher. Second, it has a back-up story which just happens to be the first solo story of Thanos. Thanos is going to be the main protagonist of the next Avengers movie so this is a very important book. This is also why a beater copy of this book would bring $200 bucks at auction. Watch what happens when the movie comes out.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Avengers 150
This is it, a special sesquicentennial issue.
The Wasp and YellowJacket arrive at the Avengers mansion to find a crowd of reporters outside the door and learn that the Avengers are picking new members. Jarvis lets them in the door, where Thor calls the meeting to order. Thor announces that he must take a leave of absence. Thor feels that he is a "big fish in a small pond."
Outside, Sam Reuther is reporting on the history of the Avengers. Loki tried to trap Thor and made it look like the Hulk was on a rampage. Instead he bought Iron Man, Wasp and Ant-Man into the battle. Thor brought Loki to the Avengers where Loki had one last trick which was to turn himself radioactive. Ant-Man foiled Loki by trapping him in a lead lined tank and the Avengers decided to become a team.
Thor appoints Iron Man Interim Chairman. In the meantime we learn the history of the Avengers including short stints by Hulk and Wonder Man. Iron Man, GiantMan and Wasp were joined by Hawkeye, turned down by Sub-Mariner and then joined by the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
This is a great read because the book covers the history of the Avengers but we will have to wait until issue 151 to find out what the line-up of the new Avengers will be.
GPA records a sale of a 9.2 in October 2008 for $165. There is also a single sale of a 9.0 in July 2008 for $76.
The CGC census has one 9.6, one 9.4, three 9.2s, and one 9.0 among the nine total certified. I believe that CGC boardmember Cheetah has the single 9.6. Of course, the black cover makes this issue very difficult to find in high grade.
The Wasp and YellowJacket arrive at the Avengers mansion to find a crowd of reporters outside the door and learn that the Avengers are picking new members. Jarvis lets them in the door, where Thor calls the meeting to order. Thor announces that he must take a leave of absence. Thor feels that he is a "big fish in a small pond."
Outside, Sam Reuther is reporting on the history of the Avengers. Loki tried to trap Thor and made it look like the Hulk was on a rampage. Instead he bought Iron Man, Wasp and Ant-Man into the battle. Thor brought Loki to the Avengers where Loki had one last trick which was to turn himself radioactive. Ant-Man foiled Loki by trapping him in a lead lined tank and the Avengers decided to become a team.
Thor appoints Iron Man Interim Chairman. In the meantime we learn the history of the Avengers including short stints by Hulk and Wonder Man. Iron Man, GiantMan and Wasp were joined by Hawkeye, turned down by Sub-Mariner and then joined by the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
This is a great read because the book covers the history of the Avengers but we will have to wait until issue 151 to find out what the line-up of the new Avengers will be.
GPA records a sale of a 9.2 in October 2008 for $165. There is also a single sale of a 9.0 in July 2008 for $76.
The CGC census has one 9.6, one 9.4, three 9.2s, and one 9.0 among the nine total certified. I believe that CGC boardmember Cheetah has the single 9.6. Of course, the black cover makes this issue very difficult to find in high grade.
Avengers 149
Titled "The Gods and the Gang", Avengers 149 begins with Thor and Moondragon (the Gods) joining the rest of the Avengers (the Gang). Moondragon is trying to convince Thor that he is "slumming" by hanging with the Avengers. The rest of the Avengers are attacked by troopers from the Roxxon Oil army.
The evil Hugh Jones uses the serpent lords power to go across the dimension to the other Earth and communicate with the exposed President Rockefeller who tells him that the Avengers had defeated his world's Squadron Supreme (last two issues). He then decides that he must use the "Final Weapon" which the Serpent Crown provided.
The Avengers are mopping up the troopers when all of a sudden a giant blue arm P-VAMMs all six Avengers in one blow. Captain Baxter plans to kill the Avengers in the most painful way when Thor BLAMs down the wall with his hammer. Baxter calls in Weapon One who turns out to be ORKA - the human killer whale. No, I am no making this up. Thor throws his hammer at Orka which just FOOMs off and Thor discovers that Orka has been changed and made more powerful. Moondragon attacks Orka's mind and talks some smack which Thor finds insufferable and lets Moondragon know that he will blackball her if she tries to become an Avenger. Orka realizes that since he has very little brain, the pain from Moondragon's brain blast is not so bad and he whacks her with his blue arm. Thor gets really angry and K-RAMs Orka through the building.
In the meantime, Baxter has the rest of the Avengers hooked up to an "Electro-Incinerogram" which with "one flick of a switch, and these...people...won't even leave any ashes."
Thor's hammer blows are having little impact on Orka other than to knock him out of the building. Once Thor joins him outside he summons a huge thunderstorm and ZOTs a lighting bolt at Orka which knocks Orka out.
We rejoin Baxter and the other Avengers where Baxter is ready to incinerate them especially his ex-wife Hellcat. At that moment Hellcat escapes her bond and attacks Baxter.
Thor turns to find that Moondragon was not completely unconscious and is happy that Thor has proved that he is more powerful than the rest of the Avengers combined.
Hugh Jones figures that this is the time to fry the rest of the Avengers and he calls Baxter to do it. Baxter, of course, has met his match with Hellcat and when Hugh goes to find out why Baxter is not responding, he runs into all the freed Avengers.
There is no record of a NM- or higher sale of this issue. There are three sales recorded - an 8.5 sold in 2009 for $25, a 7.5 sold in 2004 for $16, and a 3.5 sold in 2003 for $10. You will have to use sales of other high grade Avengers as a guide if one ever shows up at auction.
The CGC census shows a total of eleven graded with four 9.4s, a single 9.2, and two 8.5s as the highest graded.
The evil Hugh Jones uses the serpent lords power to go across the dimension to the other Earth and communicate with the exposed President Rockefeller who tells him that the Avengers had defeated his world's Squadron Supreme (last two issues). He then decides that he must use the "Final Weapon" which the Serpent Crown provided.
The Avengers are mopping up the troopers when all of a sudden a giant blue arm P-VAMMs all six Avengers in one blow. Captain Baxter plans to kill the Avengers in the most painful way when Thor BLAMs down the wall with his hammer. Baxter calls in Weapon One who turns out to be ORKA - the human killer whale. No, I am no making this up. Thor throws his hammer at Orka which just FOOMs off and Thor discovers that Orka has been changed and made more powerful. Moondragon attacks Orka's mind and talks some smack which Thor finds insufferable and lets Moondragon know that he will blackball her if she tries to become an Avenger. Orka realizes that since he has very little brain, the pain from Moondragon's brain blast is not so bad and he whacks her with his blue arm. Thor gets really angry and K-RAMs Orka through the building.
In the meantime, Baxter has the rest of the Avengers hooked up to an "Electro-Incinerogram" which with "one flick of a switch, and these...people...won't even leave any ashes."
Thor's hammer blows are having little impact on Orka other than to knock him out of the building. Once Thor joins him outside he summons a huge thunderstorm and ZOTs a lighting bolt at Orka which knocks Orka out.
We rejoin Baxter and the other Avengers where Baxter is ready to incinerate them especially his ex-wife Hellcat. At that moment Hellcat escapes her bond and attacks Baxter.
Thor turns to find that Moondragon was not completely unconscious and is happy that Thor has proved that he is more powerful than the rest of the Avengers combined.
Hugh Jones figures that this is the time to fry the rest of the Avengers and he calls Baxter to do it. Baxter, of course, has met his match with Hellcat and when Hugh goes to find out why Baxter is not responding, he runs into all the freed Avengers.
There is no record of a NM- or higher sale of this issue. There are three sales recorded - an 8.5 sold in 2009 for $25, a 7.5 sold in 2004 for $16, and a 3.5 sold in 2003 for $10. You will have to use sales of other high grade Avengers as a guide if one ever shows up at auction.
The CGC census shows a total of eleven graded with four 9.4s, a single 9.2, and two 8.5s as the highest graded.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Avengers 148
Enough of Iron Fist mania and back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Avengers 148 opens with the Squadron Supreme meeting up in their rocket central in space over the other-earth planning their attack on the Avengers who are on the other-earth and possess President Rockefeller's Serpent Crown. The Squadron Supreme uses their eye in the sky to find the Avengers and the battle is on.
Here is the order of battle.
The Beast is telling Hellcat that he calls her Patsy because he knows that she is Patsy Walker. Cap'n Hawk attacks and goes after Hellcat. It doesn't say much about Cap'n Hawk's manhood or smarts that he would attack Patsy rather than the Beast in a surprise attack, but he WHAM!s her and he misses.
The Beast WOP!s Cap'n Hawk but then gets ZAK!ed by Tom Thumb.
Then Amphibian tries to sneak up on Hellfire but he gives her the opportunity to surrender becauses it is not his habit to harm the weaker sex. Hellfire TOK!s him and Amphibian KRASH!s into a storefront.
Page 7 contains comic book buy and sell advertising from Comic Sales Company, Black Gold Comics, International Comics Exchange, and Max Seeley. Also, on this page you can mail a coupon and 10 cents to Charles Atlas and get his book on how to build an Atlas Body in 7 Days.
Tom Thumb sneaks his micromodule behind Hellfire and SPLOOD!s (covers) her with paste. Yes, I know that doesn't read real well - Tom Thumb using his micromodule to cover Hellfire with paste. Where is Fred Werthem when you need him?
The Beast then KBAM!s Tom Thumb's micromodule and BONK!s Tom Thumb on the head.
Page 12 is advertising for Comic Book Savers which is a notebook to hold 12 Titanic Titles. It came with a full page of comic book character stickers. If anyone has one of these, particularly with stickers and a box, let me know. This would be a really cool thing to store a few variants in.
Then the Beast K-RASHS! Cap'n Hawk.
A short break in the battle teases us with Thor flying over the Avengers homeworld being questioned by Moondragon as to why Thor remains an Avenger. Thor tells her "Silence Woman!" and we are told that we will learn more next month.
The Whizzer WHOOM!s Captain America and Iron Man by streaking past them.
Then Dr. Spectrum KLANG!s Iron Man and the Whizzer POW!s Captain America.
Then the Whizzer runs circles around Captain America and creates some kind of super vortex that causes Cap to CHUNK! to the ground.
Captain America gets up and throws his shield at the Whizzer but the Whizzer vibrates at superspeed and the shield passes harmless through him. The Whizzer BAM!s Cap on the chest but then is surprised when Cap's shield boomerangs and FWAM!s him on the back of the head.
Page 18 is the Mighty Marvel Checklist and all the pictured issues are the regular issues rather than variant ones.
Page 19 is the Avengers Assemble letters page with four fan letters. One is from Peter Sanderson, a student at Columbia University. Another is from Jo Duffy, a student at Wellesley.
Page 20 is an advertising page and includes buy and sell comic advertising from Robert Bell, Pacific Comics, Richard Alf, Comic Kingdom, Grand Book, Inc.
When we rejoin the story, Dr. Spectrum notices that Cap has taken the Whiz (sorry, couldn't resist) and inadvertantly loosens his grip on Iron Man which allows Iorn Man to wriggle free and activate the "ultra-violet beam which nullifies Dr. Spectrum's gem by going beyond the range of its spectrum." No, I am not making this stuff up and this happened before inIron Man 64.
After dispatching the Squadron Supreme, the Avengers meet up and decide they must escape the Other-World but not before they do what they can to save it.
Meanwhile, back on earth Mrs. Pym and Yellowjacket are getting released from the hospital. Dr. Horrigan pronounces them "fit as fiddles," but Yellowjacket is unsure if he will join the Wasp who is going back to the Avengers.
Page 23 is another advertising page with comic advertising from David Belmont, Jack Hunt, Passaic Book Center and some unnamed person in Santee CA.
The Squadron Supreme meets up with President Rockefeller at the White House to tell them that they have failed. President Rockefeller confesses that he and the other corporate and conglomerate executives have taken over control of the county which disturbs the Squadron Supreme until they realize that President Rockefeller is really the Beast in disguise. The Beast escapes after telling them the truth and the Golden Archer shoots an arrow at the Beast which THUNK!s into the ground.
The Beast escapes to another room in the White House where the rest of the Avengers have President Rockefeller tied upin a bondage panel in just his boxers and sock garters. I'll leave that one to your imagination or you can read it yourself.
Page 28 is the Mavel BullPen Bulletins page which include Stan Lee's Soapbox where Stan the Man is pitching the Marvel-Con at NYs Hotel Commodore on April 23, 24, and 25th. I didn't make that one. Also on this page, the bullpen explains what "those little boxes in the left-hand corner of all our mags on sale this month are...The box is called "The Universal Product Code" (U.P.C for short), and this has been put on everything from comics to containers, from magazines to matchboxes, in order to sell the product in all stores. Fact is, you've probably already seen this on all other comics, and now Marvel has it too." Yes, this is the first month that the U.P.C. was printed on the cover, and apparently for once, Marvel conceded that it was second to DC.
The Squadron Supreme rush the Avengers but the Scarlet Witch steps forward and casts a spell which creates some gigantic plant that entangles all of the Squadron. The Avengers have deduced that the President must have a portal to Earth inside the White House and they find the portal and escape through it.
The Squadron Supreme escape the plant and just as they are about to chase the Avengers through the portal they see President Rockefeller in bondage and begin to wonder if what the Beast told them was true. They decide to stay on their planet and we are ready for the Grand Finale in Issue 149.
The only NM- issues that have come up in the last couple of years have been two sales of CGC 9.2s for $75 in 2008 and $125 in 2009. The CGC census shows one 9.8, two 9.6s, and three 9.4s.
Avengers 148 opens with the Squadron Supreme meeting up in their rocket central in space over the other-earth planning their attack on the Avengers who are on the other-earth and possess President Rockefeller's Serpent Crown. The Squadron Supreme uses their eye in the sky to find the Avengers and the battle is on.
Here is the order of battle.
The Beast is telling Hellcat that he calls her Patsy because he knows that she is Patsy Walker. Cap'n Hawk attacks and goes after Hellcat. It doesn't say much about Cap'n Hawk's manhood or smarts that he would attack Patsy rather than the Beast in a surprise attack, but he WHAM!s her and he misses.
The Beast WOP!s Cap'n Hawk but then gets ZAK!ed by Tom Thumb.
Then Amphibian tries to sneak up on Hellfire but he gives her the opportunity to surrender becauses it is not his habit to harm the weaker sex. Hellfire TOK!s him and Amphibian KRASH!s into a storefront.
Page 7 contains comic book buy and sell advertising from Comic Sales Company, Black Gold Comics, International Comics Exchange, and Max Seeley. Also, on this page you can mail a coupon and 10 cents to Charles Atlas and get his book on how to build an Atlas Body in 7 Days.
Tom Thumb sneaks his micromodule behind Hellfire and SPLOOD!s (covers) her with paste. Yes, I know that doesn't read real well - Tom Thumb using his micromodule to cover Hellfire with paste. Where is Fred Werthem when you need him?
The Beast then KBAM!s Tom Thumb's micromodule and BONK!s Tom Thumb on the head.
Page 12 is advertising for Comic Book Savers which is a notebook to hold 12 Titanic Titles. It came with a full page of comic book character stickers. If anyone has one of these, particularly with stickers and a box, let me know. This would be a really cool thing to store a few variants in.
Then the Beast K-RASHS! Cap'n Hawk.
A short break in the battle teases us with Thor flying over the Avengers homeworld being questioned by Moondragon as to why Thor remains an Avenger. Thor tells her "Silence Woman!" and we are told that we will learn more next month.
The Whizzer WHOOM!s Captain America and Iron Man by streaking past them.
Then Dr. Spectrum KLANG!s Iron Man and the Whizzer POW!s Captain America.
Then the Whizzer runs circles around Captain America and creates some kind of super vortex that causes Cap to CHUNK! to the ground.
Captain America gets up and throws his shield at the Whizzer but the Whizzer vibrates at superspeed and the shield passes harmless through him. The Whizzer BAM!s Cap on the chest but then is surprised when Cap's shield boomerangs and FWAM!s him on the back of the head.
Page 18 is the Mighty Marvel Checklist and all the pictured issues are the regular issues rather than variant ones.
Page 19 is the Avengers Assemble letters page with four fan letters. One is from Peter Sanderson, a student at Columbia University. Another is from Jo Duffy, a student at Wellesley.
Page 20 is an advertising page and includes buy and sell comic advertising from Robert Bell, Pacific Comics, Richard Alf, Comic Kingdom, Grand Book, Inc.
When we rejoin the story, Dr. Spectrum notices that Cap has taken the Whiz (sorry, couldn't resist) and inadvertantly loosens his grip on Iron Man which allows Iorn Man to wriggle free and activate the "ultra-violet beam which nullifies Dr. Spectrum's gem by going beyond the range of its spectrum." No, I am not making this stuff up and this happened before inIron Man 64.
After dispatching the Squadron Supreme, the Avengers meet up and decide they must escape the Other-World but not before they do what they can to save it.
Meanwhile, back on earth Mrs. Pym and Yellowjacket are getting released from the hospital. Dr. Horrigan pronounces them "fit as fiddles," but Yellowjacket is unsure if he will join the Wasp who is going back to the Avengers.
Page 23 is another advertising page with comic advertising from David Belmont, Jack Hunt, Passaic Book Center and some unnamed person in Santee CA.
The Squadron Supreme meets up with President Rockefeller at the White House to tell them that they have failed. President Rockefeller confesses that he and the other corporate and conglomerate executives have taken over control of the county which disturbs the Squadron Supreme until they realize that President Rockefeller is really the Beast in disguise. The Beast escapes after telling them the truth and the Golden Archer shoots an arrow at the Beast which THUNK!s into the ground.
The Beast escapes to another room in the White House where the rest of the Avengers have President Rockefeller tied upin a bondage panel in just his boxers and sock garters. I'll leave that one to your imagination or you can read it yourself.
Page 28 is the Mavel BullPen Bulletins page which include Stan Lee's Soapbox where Stan the Man is pitching the Marvel-Con at NYs Hotel Commodore on April 23, 24, and 25th. I didn't make that one. Also on this page, the bullpen explains what "those little boxes in the left-hand corner of all our mags on sale this month are...The box is called "The Universal Product Code" (U.P.C for short), and this has been put on everything from comics to containers, from magazines to matchboxes, in order to sell the product in all stores. Fact is, you've probably already seen this on all other comics, and now Marvel has it too." Yes, this is the first month that the U.P.C. was printed on the cover, and apparently for once, Marvel conceded that it was second to DC.
The Squadron Supreme rush the Avengers but the Scarlet Witch steps forward and casts a spell which creates some gigantic plant that entangles all of the Squadron. The Avengers have deduced that the President must have a portal to Earth inside the White House and they find the portal and escape through it.
The Squadron Supreme escape the plant and just as they are about to chase the Avengers through the portal they see President Rockefeller in bondage and begin to wonder if what the Beast told them was true. They decide to stay on their planet and we are ready for the Grand Finale in Issue 149.
The only NM- issues that have come up in the last couple of years have been two sales of CGC 9.2s for $75 in 2008 and $125 in 2009. The CGC census shows one 9.8, two 9.6s, and three 9.4s.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Avengers 147
After a two issue detour, Avengers returns to the Squadron Supreme Saga in Issue 147. The story picks up with both teams transported to the Squadron's world. The two teams face off and Patsy Walker who found the discarded costume of the Cat faces off with Hyperion. The Vision takes on Lady Lark. The Golden Archer ends up with Captain America. The Scarlet Witch faces Dr. Spectrum and we have a battle royal.
Vision notices that while they are fighting, Army helicopters, tanks and troops surround them. They are back on the alternative Earth and the out of the last chopper comes President Nelson Rockefeller wearing the Serpent Crown on his head. The Serpent Crown contains an ancient evil intelligence. The Vision decides it is best to disappear and then he reappears to snatch the crown off the head of the President and toss it to the Scarlet Witch.
We then learn that the Secret of the Serpent Crown. "It and its twin on our Earth, and all the others scattered throughout the myriad realms of reality - are all mere infestations of a single serpentine nethermind, older than antiquity! The are numberless, and they are one - and each and every human being who places one on his head becomes its slave for forever, in contact with all the others." President Rockefeller contacts Hugh Jones who wore the crown on our Earth. In the meantime, the Avengers are hiding out on the alternative world and the Scarlet Witch somehow has been exploring the crown without wearing it and discovers that all the heads of the major conglomerates on the alternative Earth have worn the helmet. The effort exhausts her and she collapses.
Next we meet Thor, Hawkeye, Moondragon and Two-Gun Kid who has time-traveled 100 years to meet the Avengers in the Arizona desert. I am not sure if they were legal or illegal aliens, but it is 1976, so it doesn't matter. Hawkeye leaves the Avengers (to be seen again with Two-Gun Kid in Marvel Spotlight) to go with Two-Gun to hunt wild broncos.
The story returns to the alternative world where the Scarlet Witch has been taken over by the Serpent Crown and attacks her husband, the Vision. The Vision chases after her after she decides to return the crown to the President. The Scarlet Witch runs into the Squadron Supreme and is grabbed by Hyperion. The Vision yells "Unhand her, Hyperion - Now!!" Hyperion refuses and the Vision starts to kick some Squadron Supreme tail. First he BWAMs Hyperion. Then the Golden Archer shoots a Detonation Arrow at Vision which passes through him. Then Lady Lark tries her Larksong but the Vision blasts her with solar energy forn his eyes which must have singed a few feathers. The Golden Archer fires a Ultra Sonic Siren Arrow at the Vision and Hyperion "Crumps" him with a light pole. Meanwhile, unnoticed, the Scarlet Witch is doing battle with the Crown. Finally, the Vision takes out Hyperion and just when Lady Lark is about to take out Vision, Lady Lark is silenced by the ... Scarlet Witch. Apparently the Scarlet Witch's mutant soul was able to overcome the horrible mental onslaught of the Serpent Crown or maybe it was her love for the Vision.
Anyway, the Vision takes the Crown thinking that it won't be able to attack his Computer Mind and if he is mistaken, he too will be saved by love. If I am Nelson Rockefeller, I think I would be a little upset that I didn't have enough love to overcome the power of the Serpent Crown.
CGC has only certified nine copies of this price variant issue. The condition census is one 9.4, three 9.0s and two 8.5s. The last 9.0 sold in August of 2008 for $150.
Vision notices that while they are fighting, Army helicopters, tanks and troops surround them. They are back on the alternative Earth and the out of the last chopper comes President Nelson Rockefeller wearing the Serpent Crown on his head. The Serpent Crown contains an ancient evil intelligence. The Vision decides it is best to disappear and then he reappears to snatch the crown off the head of the President and toss it to the Scarlet Witch.
We then learn that the Secret of the Serpent Crown. "It and its twin on our Earth, and all the others scattered throughout the myriad realms of reality - are all mere infestations of a single serpentine nethermind, older than antiquity! The are numberless, and they are one - and each and every human being who places one on his head becomes its slave for forever, in contact with all the others." President Rockefeller contacts Hugh Jones who wore the crown on our Earth. In the meantime, the Avengers are hiding out on the alternative world and the Scarlet Witch somehow has been exploring the crown without wearing it and discovers that all the heads of the major conglomerates on the alternative Earth have worn the helmet. The effort exhausts her and she collapses.
Next we meet Thor, Hawkeye, Moondragon and Two-Gun Kid who has time-traveled 100 years to meet the Avengers in the Arizona desert. I am not sure if they were legal or illegal aliens, but it is 1976, so it doesn't matter. Hawkeye leaves the Avengers (to be seen again with Two-Gun Kid in Marvel Spotlight) to go with Two-Gun to hunt wild broncos.
The story returns to the alternative world where the Scarlet Witch has been taken over by the Serpent Crown and attacks her husband, the Vision. The Vision chases after her after she decides to return the crown to the President. The Scarlet Witch runs into the Squadron Supreme and is grabbed by Hyperion. The Vision yells "Unhand her, Hyperion - Now!!" Hyperion refuses and the Vision starts to kick some Squadron Supreme tail. First he BWAMs Hyperion. Then the Golden Archer shoots a Detonation Arrow at Vision which passes through him. Then Lady Lark tries her Larksong but the Vision blasts her with solar energy forn his eyes which must have singed a few feathers. The Golden Archer fires a Ultra Sonic Siren Arrow at the Vision and Hyperion "Crumps" him with a light pole. Meanwhile, unnoticed, the Scarlet Witch is doing battle with the Crown. Finally, the Vision takes out Hyperion and just when Lady Lark is about to take out Vision, Lady Lark is silenced by the ... Scarlet Witch. Apparently the Scarlet Witch's mutant soul was able to overcome the horrible mental onslaught of the Serpent Crown or maybe it was her love for the Vision.
Anyway, the Vision takes the Crown thinking that it won't be able to attack his Computer Mind and if he is mistaken, he too will be saved by love. If I am Nelson Rockefeller, I think I would be a little upset that I didn't have enough love to overcome the power of the Serpent Crown.
CGC has only certified nine copies of this price variant issue. The condition census is one 9.4, three 9.0s and two 8.5s. The last 9.0 sold in August of 2008 for $150.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Avengers 146
We review the ever-popular Avengers 30 cent variant issues next. There are five Avengers 30 cent variant issues 146 - 150. "Heed the call, then - for now, the Avengers Assemble!
Issue 146 is the second of a two-parter begun in issue 145. These two issues are the Assassin stories which either came before or after the Squadron Supreme/Kang saga. The Assassin has been offered ONE BILLION DOLLARS for the destruction of the Avengers. The Scarlet Witch is worried about Captain America dying as a result of an unknown weapon from an unknown assailant. The Beast lets us know that "Reed Richards is working on the theory that Cap was put away by a new form of Radiation Poisoning."
We cut to the Assassins agents gloating that "the Plan is working to perfection! The Avengers are so concerned about Captain America that they've left their own defenses down."
Chapter Two begins with Cap on the operating table where Dr. Don Blake is placing the counter-radiation capsules inside Cap. Since Dr. Don is operating, Iron Man is making sure the LMD (Life Model Decoy) of Thor (we can't have people discovering the connection between Thor and Dr. Don) is working. A nurse approaches Iron Man, Hawkeye, and he Vision with some coffee. She thoughtfully provides Iron Man a straw so that he doesn't have to remove his mask. Unbeknownst to the Avengers, the nurse has drugged the coffee and just when they realize the coffee has been drugged, the "B" Squad of the Assassin's Agents attacks. Hawkeye collapses from the poisoned coffee first. Then Iron Man is gassed before he can operate his eye-and-mouth shields. The agents then turn their attention to Thor (actually Thor's LMD) and shoot him in the back where the LMD drops like a sack of bricks. The Agents ask themselves "Can we have slain a God? Dr. Don continues to operate on Cap while the Vision fights on against a seemingly endless supply of enemy agents. The vision has turned himself diamond hard (this is before the days of Viagra, when anyone can do it) and the Assassin appears and slaps something on the Visions back which prevents him from controlling his body and the Vision collapses. The Assassin lets us know that the drug he has poisoned the Avengers with produces unconsiousness and then when it reaches their hearts - instantaneous death. The assassin receives a report form agent B-12 (also a good name for a vitamin) that they have killed Thor. He goes to check and realizes that the agents have just killed a robot and that Dr Donald Blake is Thor and that while "Thor is immortal -- Dr. Blake can die and since only Blake has the ability to save Captain America, with one bullet - I kill two Avengers!"
Chapter 3 begins with the hand holding the gun secretly pointed at Dr. Black being speared with one of Hawkeye's arrows. Apparently Hawkeye "spilled his cookies" before the poison reached his heart and of course Iron Man has a synthetic heart which the poison apparently did not work on. Hawkeye and Iron Man then removed the device from the back of the Vision. The Assassin gets the drop on Hawkeye and keeps Iron Man and the Vision at bay with a gun pointed at Hawkeye's head. Dr. Blake surprises the Assassin from behind and the Vision transforms the Assassin's weapon to a useless piece of slag. Then Iron Man used his repulsor rays to rip the costume off the Assassin - where the Avengers find that the Assassin is actually the Nurse who poisned them. Paging Michael Turner to draw this page. Please. Pretty please... The nurse has a special gas bomb hidden in the back of her tattered dress which she hurls at the Avengers to cover her retreat. She escapes but realizes that she doesn't have her radio to call her Agents to her aid. As she approaches the first two Agents, they do not recognize her as the Assassin and fearing that something is wrong and that they have been spotted, they blast her to her death. The Avengers then mop up all the Agents.
Issue 146 is particularly hard to find in high-grade. The cover is primarily black including the spine and both the top and bottom corners. Only three copies of the regular issue have been graded at 9.8, the last sale of a 9.8 in July 2008 for $432. Only twelve copies of the 30 cent price variant have been certified in all grades with one 9.4, one 9.2, two 9.0s and two 8.0s comprising the condition census. One 9.0 sold in June 2009 for $103.
Interestingly, the first page of the issue contains the offer of a special bullpen bonus: an autographed NO PRIZE for the true believer who can tell exactly where this two-part tale falls in the Avengers Continuity. I don't know who won the NO-PRIZE, but for questions about Avengers Continuity, you should go here http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/avengers/avchron2.txt
Issue 146 is the second of a two-parter begun in issue 145. These two issues are the Assassin stories which either came before or after the Squadron Supreme/Kang saga. The Assassin has been offered ONE BILLION DOLLARS for the destruction of the Avengers. The Scarlet Witch is worried about Captain America dying as a result of an unknown weapon from an unknown assailant. The Beast lets us know that "Reed Richards is working on the theory that Cap was put away by a new form of Radiation Poisoning."
We cut to the Assassins agents gloating that "the Plan is working to perfection! The Avengers are so concerned about Captain America that they've left their own defenses down."
Chapter Two begins with Cap on the operating table where Dr. Don Blake is placing the counter-radiation capsules inside Cap. Since Dr. Don is operating, Iron Man is making sure the LMD (Life Model Decoy) of Thor (we can't have people discovering the connection between Thor and Dr. Don) is working. A nurse approaches Iron Man, Hawkeye, and he Vision with some coffee. She thoughtfully provides Iron Man a straw so that he doesn't have to remove his mask. Unbeknownst to the Avengers, the nurse has drugged the coffee and just when they realize the coffee has been drugged, the "B" Squad of the Assassin's Agents attacks. Hawkeye collapses from the poisoned coffee first. Then Iron Man is gassed before he can operate his eye-and-mouth shields. The agents then turn their attention to Thor (actually Thor's LMD) and shoot him in the back where the LMD drops like a sack of bricks. The Agents ask themselves "Can we have slain a God? Dr. Don continues to operate on Cap while the Vision fights on against a seemingly endless supply of enemy agents. The vision has turned himself diamond hard (this is before the days of Viagra, when anyone can do it) and the Assassin appears and slaps something on the Visions back which prevents him from controlling his body and the Vision collapses. The Assassin lets us know that the drug he has poisoned the Avengers with produces unconsiousness and then when it reaches their hearts - instantaneous death. The assassin receives a report form agent B-12 (also a good name for a vitamin) that they have killed Thor. He goes to check and realizes that the agents have just killed a robot and that Dr Donald Blake is Thor and that while "Thor is immortal -- Dr. Blake can die and since only Blake has the ability to save Captain America, with one bullet - I kill two Avengers!"
Chapter 3 begins with the hand holding the gun secretly pointed at Dr. Black being speared with one of Hawkeye's arrows. Apparently Hawkeye "spilled his cookies" before the poison reached his heart and of course Iron Man has a synthetic heart which the poison apparently did not work on. Hawkeye and Iron Man then removed the device from the back of the Vision. The Assassin gets the drop on Hawkeye and keeps Iron Man and the Vision at bay with a gun pointed at Hawkeye's head. Dr. Blake surprises the Assassin from behind and the Vision transforms the Assassin's weapon to a useless piece of slag. Then Iron Man used his repulsor rays to rip the costume off the Assassin - where the Avengers find that the Assassin is actually the Nurse who poisned them. Paging Michael Turner to draw this page. Please. Pretty please... The nurse has a special gas bomb hidden in the back of her tattered dress which she hurls at the Avengers to cover her retreat. She escapes but realizes that she doesn't have her radio to call her Agents to her aid. As she approaches the first two Agents, they do not recognize her as the Assassin and fearing that something is wrong and that they have been spotted, they blast her to her death. The Avengers then mop up all the Agents.
Issue 146 is particularly hard to find in high-grade. The cover is primarily black including the spine and both the top and bottom corners. Only three copies of the regular issue have been graded at 9.8, the last sale of a 9.8 in July 2008 for $432. Only twelve copies of the 30 cent price variant have been certified in all grades with one 9.4, one 9.2, two 9.0s and two 8.0s comprising the condition census. One 9.0 sold in June 2009 for $103.
Interestingly, the first page of the issue contains the offer of a special bullpen bonus: an autographed NO PRIZE for the true believer who can tell exactly where this two-part tale falls in the Avengers Continuity. I don't know who won the NO-PRIZE, but for questions about Avengers Continuity, you should go here http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/avengers/avchron2.txt
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